As my colleague Dan Sperling likes to say, the transportation field has never been as exciting as it is right now. The upheaval caused by car-sharing companies, bike-sharing programs, and ride-hailing services over the last decade has spawned yet other services (e.g., scooters) that are rapidly expanding the range of options available for daily travel, particularly in urban areas. The uncertainties are unprecedented: How will travelers respond over the long-term? How will providers—public and private alike—adapt as the use of these services evolve? What are the implications for our communities—economic, social, and environmental?

The rapid pace of innovation and the uncertainties that accompany it present both opportunities and challenges for researchers. Research is more important than ever as a basis for new policies and practices that will steer the transportation system toward a sustainable future, yet conducting research is more challenging than ever as the system to be studied has become something of a moving target. At the same time, researchers face the challenge of making further progress on old problems that remain after the easiest solutions have been tried. At the NCST, we are taking on these challenges front and center.

In 2018, the NCST supported a wide array of projects across our themes of zero-emission vehicles and fuels, multi-modal travel and sustainable land use, and environmentally responsible infrastructure that address current problems and anticipate future ones. Recent white papers provide direction on topics such as the possibility of redeveloping failing malls as transit-oriented developments, ways to more effectively incorporate long-distance travel into transportation planning, the potential for onboard feedback to promote eco-driving, and strategies for ensuring that the transition to electric vehicles yields a sustainable outcome. We shared our results through presentations, webinars, and social media, and many of our researchers worked directly with policymakers, agency officials, and private industry to shape policies and practices.

We look forward to another exciting year in 2019!

Susan Handy
Director

Transportation Research Board Legislative Briefings
January 16-17, 2019
Location: Washington, D.C.

The 3 Revolutions in Transportation: Governance Needs & Opportunities
On Wednesday, January 16th, the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy and the 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program will host a briefing to explain why the advent of the "3 Revolutions" era requires reevaluation of roles for federal, state, and local authorities. It will also cover ways to enable innovation while respecting privacy, proprietary, and safety concerns. Experts will discuss research findings and perspectives on how to harness the 3 Revolutions for the benefit of all. Register Here

Research Highlights from the NCST: Better Governance Through a Strong Workforce and Effective Incentives

On Thursday, January 17th, the NCST will host a briefing to highlight recent research findings. Dr. Carol Vallett from the University of Vermont will discuss workforce retention at State Departments of Transportation, and Dr. Alan Jenn from UC Davis will discuss the effectiveness of incentives on the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States.

Register Here