blog

We Can, and Should, Account for the Consequences of Expanding Highways

Publication Date

March 21, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Induced Travel Calculator Technical Assistance

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View blog

Related Publications

policy brief

Environmental Reviews Fail to Accurately Analyze Induced Vehicle Travel from Highway Expansion Projects

research report

The Induced Travel Calculator and Its Applications

published journal article

Induced Vehicle Travel in the Environmental Review Process

policy brief

Traffic Management and Data Networking for Autonomous Transportation Systems

Publication Date

March 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Infrastructure-to-vehicle Communications for Autonomous Vehicle Systems

Areas of Expertise

Intelligent Transportation Systems, Emerging Technologies, & Big Data

View policy brief

Related Publications

conference paper

Millimeter Wave Data Networking for Autonomous Vehicle Systems

published journal article

Infrastructure-Aided Networking for Autonomous Vehicular Systems

published journal article

Traffic management and networking for autonomous vehicular highway systems

research report

Hydrogen Infrastructure Requirements for Zero-Emission Freight Applications in California

Publication Date

March 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Hydrogen Infrastructure Requirements for Zero-Emission Freight Applications in California

Author(s)

Guozhen Li, Joan Ogden, Marshall Miller

Areas of Expertise

Freight, Logistics, & Supply Chain Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View research report

Abstract

Zero-emission vehicles are seen as key technologies for reducing freight-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. California’s 2016 Sustainable Freight Action Plan established a target of 100,000 zero-emission freight vehicles utilizing renewable fuels by 2030. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a promising zero-emission technology, especially for applications where batteries might be difficult to implement, such as heavy-duty trucks, rail, shipping, and aviation. However, California’s current hydrogen infrastructure is sparse, with about 25 stations, primarily sited to serve fuel cell passenger vehicles and buses. New infrastructure strategies will be critical for implementing hydrogen freight applications. The researchers analyzed hydrogen infrastructure requirements, focusing on hydrogen fuel cells in freight applications, using a California-specific EXCEL-based scenario model developed under the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways program (STEPS) at the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis (Miller et al, 2017). Hydrogen vehicle adoption and demand was estimated for trucks, rail, shipping, and aviation, for a range of scenarios out to 2050.

research report

Answers from the Margins: Participatory Planning with Disadvantaged Communities

Publication Date

March 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Answers from the Margins: Participatory Planning with Disadvantaged Communities

Author(s)

Rebecca van Stokkum, Sarah McCullough

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

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Abstract

The public mandate to engage the public in transportation planning processes is in the process of becoming more rigorous and democratic. Transportation agencies are recognizing the limitations of past modes of engagement and seek to connect more dynamically with the public, particularly with historically marginalized communities. Doing this work well is a topic of interest to a growing number of transportation professionals. This study identified four successful engagement processes with historically marginalized communities in California by surveying transportation professionals. Stakeholders at each site were interviewed and public documents from the processes were reviewed to identify common themes for positive public inclusion. Interviewees included community leaders, transportation staff, and consultants. Interviews were coded and analysis was conducted using a mobility justice and critical race studies framework. Ten key themes of successful community engagement with historically marginalized communities were identified. These themes are: (1) trust is crucial; (2) treat community-based organizations as equal partners; (3) pay community partners fairly; (3) let community-based organizations decide what good community engagement is; (5) translate technical jargon; (6) engage in community concerns beyond the scope of the project; (7) address major community concerns such as displacement, policing, and youth development; (8) know local histories of transportation injustice; (9) include the community in the final reporting process; and (10) follow-up on planning with implementation in a timely manner.

Related Publications

policy brief

Answers from the Margins: Participatory Planning with Disadvantaged Communities

blog

Electric Vehicle Owners Drive Less Than We Thought

Publication Date

February 16, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Understanding Household Electric Vehicle Charging Patterns in California to Improve Electricity Demand Estimates

Author(s)

Catherine Wolfram

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View blog

Related Publications

research report

Estimating Residential Electric Vehicle Electricity Use

other

Working Paper: Low Energy: Estimating Electric Vehicle Electricity Use

policy brief

Electric Vehicles May Be Using Less Electricity than Assumed by California Regulators and Utilities

op-ed

Electrifying Transportation May Be Harder Than We Think

op-ed

Electrifying Transportation May Be Harder Than We Think

Publication Date

February 16, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Understanding Household Electric Vehicle Charging Patterns in California to Improve Electricity Demand Estimates

Author(s)

James Bushnell, David Rapson, Catherine Wolfram

Areas of Expertise

Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View op-ed

Related Publications

research report

Estimating Residential Electric Vehicle Electricity Use

other

Working Paper: Low Energy: Estimating Electric Vehicle Electricity Use

policy brief

Electric Vehicles May Be Using Less Electricity than Assumed by California Regulators and Utilities

blog

Electric Vehicle Owners Drive Less Than We Thought

policy brief

Best Practices for Pavement: Pavement Condition Index

Publication Date

February 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

City and County Pavement Improvement Center (Years 2-8)

Areas of Expertise

Infrastructure Delivery, Operations, & Resilience

View policy brief

Related Publications

published journal article

Development of a Pavement Design Catalog Through CalME and Life Cycle Cost Analysis

policy brief

Hot Mix Asphalt - Local government Model Specification

policy brief

Concrete pavement sample specifications

policy brief

Asphalt concrete compaction sample specifications

policy brief

Life Cycle Cost Analysis Comparison Spreadsheet

policy brief

Best Practices for Pavement When did you last review your concrete specifications? Writing concrete mix specifications to improve durability and sustainability

policy brief

Best Practices for Pavement: Is your asphalt only living half as long as it could? Writing and enforcing specifications for asphalt compaction

policy brief

What Can You Do With A County Road That You Can’t Afford to Maintain?

policy brief

California Can Simplify the Housing Element Law to Reduce Administrative Burdens and Improve Social Equity

Publication Date

February 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Accessibility, Affordability, and the Allocation of Housing Targets to California’s Local Governments

Author(s)

Douglas Houston, Huixin Zheng, Jae Hong Kim, Nicholas Marantz

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View policy brief

Abstract

California’s Housing Element law requires all local governments to adequately plan to meet the state’s existing and future housing needs. The law establishes processes for determining regional housing needs and requires regional councils of governments (COGs) with allocating these housing needs to cities and counties in the form of numerical targets. Local governments must update the housing element of their general plans and adopt policies to accommodate the housing targets. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviews all local housing elements and determines whether the elements comply with state law.

Related Publications

research report

Accessibility, Affordability, and the Allocation of Housing Targets to California’s Local Governments

policy brief

Can Plug-in Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid Improve Resiliency?

Publication Date

February 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Resiliency Impacts of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid

Author(s)

Ghazal Razeghi, Scott Samuelsen

Areas of Expertise

Infrastructure Delivery, Operations, & Resilience Zero-Emission Vehicles & Low-Carbon Fuels

View policy brief

Abstract

While the impact of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on electricity generation and transmission has been studied extensively, the impact of PEVs on the resiliency of the local electricity distribution system has not been addressed in detail. Understanding resiliency impacts is important as the increased use of PEVs, and especially the clustering of PEVs in one area (such as a neighborhood), place additional pressures on already aging power grid infrastructure. As an example, charging a large population of PEVs during normal operations can stress system components (such as transformers) resulting in accelerated aging or even failure, which reduces resiliency of the system. On the other hand, PEVs can also increase system resiliency. When connected to the grid, PEVs are an energy resource that can provide electricity for critical services (such as community shelters) during grid outages and facilitate grid restoration by providing electricity to support the restart of transformers and other utility assets.

Related Publications

research report

Resiliency Impacts of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid

research report

Accessibility, Affordability, and the Allocation of Housing Targets to California’s Local Governments

Publication Date

February 1, 2021

Associated Project(s)

Accessibility, Affordability, and the Allocation of Housing Targets to California’s Local Governments

Author(s)

Douglas Houston, Huixin Zheng, Jae Hong Kim, Nicholas Marantz

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View research report

Abstract

California’s Housing Element law establishes processes for determining regional housing needs and allocating these housing needs to cities and counties in the form of numerical targets. This study assesses whether the state’s housing allocation process achieves the state’s goals of promoting housing development in areas accessible to transit, jobs, and socioeconomic opportunities. The first analysis compares the mechanism that the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) uses to allocate housing units to local governments with two simpler alternatives. For all three allocation mechanisms, the research team assesses whether the resulting allocations align with the goal of promoting housing development in areas with high social mobility and near transit and jobs. The team finds that the Southern California Association of Governments’ allocation method may be unnecessarily complex and that simpler allocation methods – which are less susceptible to technical difficulties and political wrangling – could achieve the state’s policy objectives with less administrative burden. The second analysis, based on case studies of two Southern California cities, provides preliminary evidence that current enforcement mechanisms adopted in California may be insufficient to ensure that local governments accommodate their housing targets and promote housing development near transit and job centers.

Related Publications

policy brief