Strengthen Research Expertise and Knowledge Development
Project Showcase
CTS produces and shares leading-edge transportation research and technology in a range of topics. Here are some highlights of our work in FY22.
Researchers assess the impacts of pandemic telecommuting
When the COVID-19 pandemic began—and for the first time in history—a large portion of Minnesota’s workforce shifted temporarily to telecommuting. What were the impacts of so many people working from home, and what could our state’s transportation agencies learn that might help in their planning efforts? Researchers gathered feedback from employers and workers about their telecommuting experiences and their plans for the future.
Toolkit aids community engagement in transitway planning
Effective public engagement for transit planning needs to involve community members from the very beginning. Technologies such as Zoom that gained wider use during the pandemic have made participation possible for many more people—especially underrepresented groups. Researchers developed an engagement toolkit for use by community members, transit planners, and municipal works staff.
Guidance will help designers create safe, effective bike facilities
Many cities across the US are adding separated bike lanes to their transportation networks. Despite the growing demand for these lanes, design guidance was incomplete. Researchers filled gaps and provided engineers and policymakers with much-needed information for making critical decisions about bicycle infrastructure.
Tools help agencies better plan, maintain stormwater management facilities
Infiltration facilities such as rain gardens can clean up stormwater runoff from roads, but they have a relatively high chance of failure if they aren’t put in the right place or maintained over time. Researchers created tools to help designers and maintenance crews choose good sites and keep them working. The tools make the process more efficient, accurate, and standardized.