PSU Research Delivers Blueprint for Safer Oregon Roads with Speed Safety Cameras

Research shows that automated enforcement can reduce both speeds and crashes, making roads safer for everyone. A study led by researchers at Portland State University is helping shape the future of speed safety camera use across Oregon. The project was led by professor Miguel Figliozzi and graduate research associate Sophia Semensky, with collaborators from Oregon State University. The report combines national and international best practices to give the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) a clear, evidence-based roadmap for how to expand speed safety camera use responsibly across the state. Key guidance includes:

• Choosing locations based on crash data, speed patterns, and equity considerations.
• Building public trust through transparency, such as publishing camera locations and outcomes.
• Improving operations by setting clear contracts and timelines for vendors.
• Targeting repeat offenders through interventions that focus on high-risk drivers.

At TREC, We're Thankful for the People Who Keep Our Communities Moving

• Outstanding students who get involved with hands-on projects that benefit communities;
• World-class faculty from many disciplines who conduct cutting-edge research with transportation impacts;
• Practitioners who put research into practice, creating better places for people to live and move;
• Educators who are preparing the next generation of transportation professionals;
• A regional transportation consortium to share data and tackle challenges with the research community.

Transportation Data Education: SQL Workshop

December 1–8, Online: Three days plus 1 bonus day

Join us for a multi-day online workshop on databases and SQL taught by TREC's Head of Programming and Development for PORTAL and BikePed Portal, Basem Elazzabi. Each day will be a combination of a lecture and practical. We will cover: Introduction to relational databases; Structured query language (SQL); How to setup a PostgreSQL database on your local machine and use it to analyze PORTAL data; and an introduction to to the underlying infrastructure of PORTAL, PSU's centralized data repository that is freely available to the public. Instructional days are December 1, 3, and 5, with one additional day on Monday, December 8 for those interested in extra help, practice problems, and follow-up. General Registration: $285; Non-profit and community-based organizations: $95; PSU students: $10; TransPort members: Free for the first 20 spots.

Request for Project Proposals: 2026 Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) Workshop

Community Partners: Apply by Friday, December 6

In Winter and Spring 2026, graduate students in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program at Portland State University will work in teams of 5-6 members to complete applied planning projects. The Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning is in search of proposals for projects that involve "Problems, Places and People." Past MURP projects have included Nixyáawii Watikš Multi-Use Trail Planning, Gorge and Mt. Hood Regional Park and Ride Assessment, Bridgeless to Better Burnside: Reclaiming Burnside, Reconnecting the West Side, and many more. We are seeking proposals from community clients that advance key values of the MURP program, including social equity and environmental sustainability. Use the link below to find details about what makes a good project, how to apply, and next steps.

Transportation Alumni Highlight: Milad Souri, Class of 2021 

Milad Souri graduated from Portland State University in 2021 with a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. While at PSU, he devoted his doctoral research to the Development of a Design Guideline for Pile Foundations Subjected to Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading with advisor Arash Khosravifar. He now works as a Project Engineer at GRI.

How did your experience at PSU shape your path into the transportation field?

PSU gave me the opportunity to connect academic research with practical engineering challenges. During my PhD I worked on projects focused on the seismic behavior of foundations and waterfront structures, which sparked my long-term interest in how transportation and port systems respond to earthquakes. The mentorship and collaboration I experienced at PSU really shaped how I approach engineering combining rigorous analysis with real world impact.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

• Oregon ITE Traffic Bowl Is TODAY: The 34th Annual Bill Kloos Traffic Bowl will be held from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the Portland DoubleTree.
• WTS Scholarship Applications Open: WTS is offering nine scholarships totaling $40,000 this year, for high school, undergraduate, & graduate students. Apply by Dec 21.
• America Walks Launches Interactive Walkability Tool: The new interactive Walkable Land Use Index from America Walks shows how walkability varies across the U.S. 
• Safe Routes to School Community Engagement Workshop: A 2-day workshop (Dec 4 & 11) by the Safe Routes Partnership in collaboration with Colorado Safe Routes.
• Transportation Networking Event: YPT Portland is joining STEP + Planning Club at PSU to host a mixer in the Urban Center at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, November 25.
• Sunday Parkways 2025 Annual Report: PBOT has released a report outlining highlights of the 2025 Sunday Parkways season, program objectives and impacts.
• NW and SW Broadway Bike Improvements Projects Evaluation Report: A 2025 report from PBOT shows outcomes of two projects from the Central City in Motion Plan.

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.