TREC Report Tracks Major Shifts in North American E-Bike Incentive Programs

A new report from the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University (PSU) finds that e-bike incentive programs across North America are evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on point-of-sale discounts, equity, and safety standards. “An Update of E-Bike Purchase Incentive Programs in North America,” authored by TREC researchers John MacArthur, Kyu Ri Kim, and Cameron Bennett, provides an updated scan of 118 e-bike incentive programs in the United States and Canada. The report builds on a previous 2022 scan and offers insights for policymakers seeking to expand e-bike adoption as a low-carbon transportation option. The research was funded by PacTrans, a U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center, and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), a global organization focused on developing and advocating for safety standards across products, services, and systems.

New Guide Gives Cities the "Batteries Included" Toolkit to Close Gaps in Walking and Biking Networks

For transportation planners and engineers, the problem is visible every day: the sidewalk that ends abruptly in the grass, the bike lane that vanishes at a dangerous intersection, or the neighborhood cut off from a nearby park by a highway. These are gaps in the active transportation network. While the need to fix them is obvious, quantifying the benefits to justify the funding has historically been a stumbling block. A newly published report, Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks: A Guide, aims to solve this problem. Developed by a research team led by Alta Planning + Design, in partnership with Portland State University (PSU), Safe Streets Research + Consulting, and Cambridge Systematics, the guide provides a comprehensive framework for agencies to estimate the economic, health, and social benefits of connecting their communities.

HUD Thriving Communities Technical Assistance: Incorporating Housing into Transportation Planning

Transportation Data Education: Intro to R

March 18 - 20, 2026, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Tired of finding errors in your spreadsheets that perpetuate and cascade through your work? Still trying to cram “big” data into tiny worksheets? Wish you had an easier way to easily share data and results with others? Want to better manage and maintain your workflow? Always wanted to learn R and version control but never found the time? If any of your answers are yes, then this course is for you! After several years of hiatus, we are excited to host an "Intro to R" workshop where we will cover the following:

• Coding and scripting basics

• Intro to data wrangling and visualizations

• Version control & best practices

• Where to go for help and how to expand your skills

Reclaiming Streets for Students: The Open Streets for Schools Program

May 15, 2025, 12 - 1 PM Pacific

In New York City, many schools lack outdoor space for play, learning, sports, and safe active commuting. As a response to this issue and the COVID-19 pandemic, NYC’s Open Streets for Schools program launched to reclaim the streets in front of schools during recess, physical education, or pick-up and drop-off periods. While the city appears to provide more resources to implement, support, and sustain the Open Streets for Schools program in underserved neighborhoods, there are no evaluations of health equity in the program by measuring who has access to the program, and who is benefiting (or not benefiting). This is a common evidence gap in public space and active transportation plans and programs, which results in persistent physical activity disparities among low-income children and children of color. Katie Burford of NCSU & Columbia University will present on ongoing efforts to evaluate health equity and physical activity impacts of the NYC Open Streets for Schools program. 

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

• How to Create a Simple, Streamlined Safe Routes Project Action Plan: A two-part webinar offered in March and April by the Safe Routes Partnership.
• 2026 Rural Road Safety Webinar Series February Kickoff: Offered through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with a followup webinar in May.
• Facilitation, Engagement, and Collaboration in Environmental Conflicts Training: Leaders in government agencies, join CDR Associates March 10-12 in Portland, OR.
• MIT researchers just mapped New York City foot traffic for the first time ever: The effort could supply data that finally gives pedestrian infrastructure the funding it deserves.
• Congress debates federal regulation on self-driving cars: Under the proposals being debated, AV companies would be required to submit detailed documentation showing how their systems are designed, tested, and validated.

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.