ChrisMcCahill

ChrisMcCahill, 1 month ago to academia

Spread the word. I'm hiring!

We're looking for a Transportation Researcher with a passion for sustainable and equitable transportation strategies and a background in planning, engineering, or a related field. Applications due May 5. https://ssti.us/join-our-team/

#Academia #Job #Research #UrbanPlanning #TrafficEngineering

ChrisMcCahill, 2 months ago (edited 2 months ago) to madisonwi

#BRT stations are taking shape on State Street in #MadisonWI. These were scaled down from their original design after business owners raised concerns that they’d be too intrusive. #PublicTransit

ChrisMcCahill, 2 months ago to academia

I realize academic writers love acronyms, but sometimes a camera is just a camera.

#AcademicChatter #Academia

ChrisMcCahill, 3 months ago to random

Job opportunity!

My partners at Smart Growth America are looking for someone to help grow the National Complete Streets Coalition. Don't miss out on the chance to join the team. https://smartgrowthamerica.org/now-hiring-complete-streets-policy-manager/

#CompleteStreets #RoadDesign #UrbanPlanning #UrbanPolicy

ChrisMcCahill, 4 months ago to random

Two weeks after it closed, Madison's Lake Street garage is coming down. In its place will be a new public parking garage, an intercity bus terminal, and private development above. https://madison.com/news/local/government-politics/madison-lake-street-garage-bid-redevelopment/article_4554dbf0-801a-11ee-a278-c765533b0aad.html

ChrisMcCahill, 4 months ago to random

Apparently a consultant for Michigan DOT found one mile of rail construction produces 400X the GHG emissions as one mile of road. 🤔 Now they're compelled to show the benefits outweigh the impacts.

This is from a webinar hosted by AASHTO's Center for Environmental Excellence.

ChrisMcCahill, 4 months ago to random

The pandemic made it super clear how important VMT is in driving transportation emissions. But this report from the California Air Resources Board shows the same relationship during the recession. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2022-SB150-MainReport-FINAL-ADA.pdf

ChrisMcCahill, 4 months ago to random

“America has focused on using EVs as a one-to-one replacement for gas guzzlers […] meaning emissions targets are likely to be missed and other transportation problems will continue to go unaddressed.” https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-ev-sales-prices-problem-transportation-2024-1

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

Something seems wrong here.

A teen "ignored" a walk signal (while trying to catch the bus, then got hit by a driver who fled).

While a driver "misread" a red light (causing a rollover crash that sent someone to the hospital).

An article from the Wisconsin state journal says "the driver misread the lights signals"

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to transit

Even as transit ridership dropped during the 2010s, high-visibility crosswalks seemed to help, according to a new study from UC Berkeley.

Two new riders for every 1% increase in hi-vis crosswalks.

Rising car-ownership, however, especially among low-income households, contributed to the decrease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2023.103926

#Transit #PublicTransport

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

"Roughly 60 million people are estimated to be at risk of losing access to intercity bus services. In many cases, Greyhound and other companies have relocated these depots further away from city centers to places not easily reached via public transit." https://www.newsweek.com/millions-americans-poised-lose-primary-transportation-1853176

#PublicTransport #IntercityBus #Bus

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

USDOT announced the full list of SS4A recipients. There are 48 implementation grants across 28 states for a total of about $600 million. https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/announcement

That's an increase from 37 implementation grants in February. The number of planning grants went from 474 to 337.

As reported earlier, Madison, Wisc., will get $6 million for improved crossings.

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

Madison, Wisc., was awarded $6 million from the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program, according to Sen. Baldwin.

The city will get more than half of Wisconsin’s total amount for safer, more accessible crossings. https://www.nbc15.com/2023/12/12/city-madison-receives-62-million-toward-improving-road-safety/

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

The recent rise in pedestrian deaths has happened almost entirely at night, according to the Times. Theories range from cell phone use to new patterns of poverty.

Interestingly, pedestrian deaths from smaller vehicles are also up more than 70%, suggesting larger vehicles can't explain it all.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/11/upshot/nighttime-deaths.html

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to random

Virginia's SMART SCALE program has been a national model for transportation funding. Local advocates worry recent changes "could hurt the region’s attempts to create safer, more walkable urban environments." https://dcist.com/story/23/12/05/virginia-transportation-board-approves-project-funding-changes/

It's especially disappointing to see land use eliminated as a scoring criteria. It was one of the few examples of how a state DOT could reward efficient land uses.

On a personal note, I helped design the land use metric and would have loved to see it made better.

ChrisMcCahill, 5 months ago to madisonwi

#Bus ridership in #MadisonWI is up by more than 26% since last year, Metro's GM told Transportation Commission.*

Another reason the buses get so packed now: The ratio of peak to off-peak buses is now 2:1, compared to 3:1 before the pandemic. Service is now spread more evenly throughout the day and on weekends.

Metro is hoping to roll out some 60-foot articulated buses on campus next June, before the official launch of BRT.

• The raw count is 20% but there are data quirks.

ChrisMcCahill, 6 months ago to random

I've been hearing this a lot: center-running buses force people to cross traffic.

I currently have to cross six lanes to catch the nearest bus. Pretty soon, I'll cross three in the morning and three in the afternoon.

(Do I wish it was fewer? Sure!)