Preview of Portland State University Transportation Research at TRB 2026

As the transportation world converges once again on Washington, D.C. for the 105th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) next month, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers will come together to explore tomorrow’s mobility challenges. This year, Portland State University (PSU) brings a lineup of work that reflects emerging priorities: multimodal safety, climate resilience, innovative data and modeling approaches, and community-centered planning. At TRB, held from January 11–15, expect to see PSU presentations that bridge the gap between scholarship and real-world impact. Our faculty, students, and partners continue to contribute to global conversations about the future of mobility. Use the link below to explore some highlights of what PSU researchers are bringing to the program!

IBPI Study Abroad: Sustainable Transportation in Denmark

A New Roadmap for Safer Streets: PSU to Guide National Active Transportation Priorities

As traffic deaths among people walking and biking continue to rise—and as new mobility technologies rapidly reshape how we all move—Portland State University (PSU) has been selected to lead a major national effort to improve roadway safety and accessibility. The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at PSU has been awarded a contract from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to develop a new Modern Active Transportation Research Roadmap. This roadmap will help the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) set priorities and guide future investments in active transportation across the country. The new project builds on previous work by PSU. In 2021, TREC partnered with Toole Design Group to create the existing Council on Active Transportation (CAT) Research Roadmap. The coming update—led by PSU's Jennifer Dill, Nathan McNeil, Sirisha Kothuri, and John MacArthur in collaboration with Toole Design and Safe Streets Research & Consulting—will provide a refreshed plan that reflects a rapidly changing transportation landscape.

PSU Transportation Students Take Second Prize In Oregon Traffic Bowl

Last month, a team of four Portland State University (PSU) students competed in the 34th Annual Bill Kloos Traffic Bowl, hosted by the Oregon chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). The PSU team took second place, with Oregon State University (OSU) as the first-place winners. Second prize was a cash award of $400, which PSU's ITE student chapter, Students in Transportation Engineering and Planning (STEP), has added to its club funds. The funds, and the excitement of receiving a big cardboard check, weren't the only rewards for PSU team members Pabitra Kumar Roy, Elias Peters, Sammy Won, and Jacob Hoopes. They also gained experience and confidence, along with some new knowledge. Traffic Bowl is a social evening with dinner and drinks for transportation professionals, academics, and students to connect. “It’s a great opportunity to catch up with our many alums working in the area, cheer on our students, and test our own knowledge,” said Jennifer Dill, TREC Director. 

PSU Transportation Seminar: Leading Pedestrian Interval Implementation Guidelines in Phoenix, Arizona: A Data Driven Approach

January 8, 2026, 12:30 PM

As part of work to reduce pedestrian-motor vehicle conflicts and crashes at signalized intersections, researchers within the AZTrans Lab at Northern Arizona University worked with the City of Phoenix, Arizona to develop data-driven, qualitative, public-facing guidelines for Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) implementation within the City of Phoenix. The research effort included a comprehensive literature review, a crash analysis using Arizona Department of Transportation crash data, and hours of video analysis logging multiple data points. Join us with Dr. Edward J. Smaglik of Northern Arizona University for a presentation which summarizes this project, presenting lessons learned and ideas for future research.

Transportation Alumni Highlight: Adam Moore, Class of 2012

Adam Moore graduated from Portland State University in 2012 with a Master's of Science in Civil Engineering. He now works as a traffic engineer for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) in Portland, Oregon.

"I’m just wrapping up work on the $21 million SW 4th Ave “Central City in Motion” project, which has been a big part of my professional life since it began design about five years ago. The project rebuilt SW 4th Ave through the heart of downtown, adding a new bike lane, transit lanes, and improvements for pedestrians and drivers as well. I led the signal and street lighting components of the project through design and construction. Construction was particularly challenging as we navigated many conflicts to install poles and electrical conduits. Now I’m fine-tuning the operations by programming the signals, making observations, and adjusting parameters to ensure all users are served safely, efficiently, and intuitively," Moore said.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

• Share Your Feedback With ODOT: The Oregon Department of Transportation is updating its Public Involvement policy, and is accepting public comments until January 23, 2026.
• Vital Bus Service Returns on I-84: ODOT awarded Northwestern Stage Lines with a federal grant to restore vital intercity bus service for rural cities between Portland, Oregon and Boise, Idaho on Interstate 84.
• Parks and Nature Annual Report: Learn how Metro invested in parks and nature across greater Portland in fiscal year 2024-25.
  
• Join the BIKETOWN Youth Ambassador Program: Students 16 years or older at Roosevelt, McDaniel, and Parkrose high schools are invited to apply by December 15.

Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research.