Transportation Research Center (University of Vermont)

In a their newly published paper, TRC researcher's Clare Nelson and Greg Rowangould find that only 32% of U.S. residents currently support a mileage fee to replace the gas tax. Misconceptions about mileage fees and the gas tax are abundant and simple educational experiences can address them - increasing support for mileage fees significantly in the U.S. Find out more in the free open access article here:

Lacking knowledge or lacking support? An informed choice study of support for mileage fees as an alternative to gas taxes Governing bodies are continuing to research, conduct pilot programs, and adopt policy for mileage fees as alternatives to the gas tax, yet public supp…

A new study published in Transport Findings by UVM TRC researchers Clare Nelson and Gregory Rowangould finds that public support for milage fees to replace state gas taxes in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine depend on what people know about these fees and that public support for mileage fees is likely larger than what most public opinion studies would find.

Does Policy Knowledge Affect Public Support for Gas Tax Alternatives? A Case Study in Northern New England | Published in Findings By Clare Nelson, Gregory Rowangould. Public opinion polls may be providing misleading results: After the public is educated about policy cost and relevance, polling results shift substantially.

UVM TRC to be part of new US DOT Climate Change and Transportation Research Center.

This week, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $1.7 million in research funding for a Climate Change and Transportation Research Center based at the University of California, Davis but including multiple partner institutions including the University of Vermont.

The new Center for Emissions Reduction, Resiliency, and Climate Equity in Transportation will help develop and advance research and technologies in alignment with the Nation’s clean energy goals while looking to improve the resiliency of our transportation infrastructure and identify existing and potential inequities.

UVM Civil and Environmental Engineering Professors Dana Rowangould and Greg Rowangould will help lead the center’s research efforts on equitable greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from transportation in small and rural communities where households and businesses are traditionally more reliant on personal vehicle travel.

https://ow.ly/BBBW50RGfRt

Congratulations to the TRC's Dr. Dana Rowangould who received the UVM Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, recognizing a faculty member who has achieved excellence in displaying and enacting responsiveness, availability, concern, respect, and depth of knowledge in undergraduate academic advising.

New report by TRC researchers Clare Nelson and Dr. Gregory Rowangould evaluating support in the U.S. for replacing the gas tax with a mileage based user fee.

Education as a Key Factor in Policy Support: An Evaluation of National Mileage Fee Support as it Varies with Information and Attitudes Author(s): Nelson, Clare; Rowangould, Gregory | Abstract: As governing bodies continue to explore mileage fees as an alternative to the gas tax, the uncertainty surrounding public support remains a critical barrier to policy uptake. This study examines the extent to which public perceptions of milea...

Policy Brief: Evaluation of the Safety of Pedestrian Crossing Treatments in Small and Rural Communities TRC Policy Brief: Rural areas often lack adequate pedestrian infrastructure, resulting in elevated safety risks for pedestrians. The combination of higher speed limits and reduced driver awareness amplifies the potential for pedestrian collisions when crossing the roadway. This study addresses uncer...

Recent research by the TRC’s Parsa Pezeshknejad and Dr. Dana Rowangould demonstrates the safety of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) for pedestrian crossings in rural areas using a rigorous before-after observational study in Vermont. This study was recognized as one of 16 High Value Research projects nationwide in 2023 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Evaluating safety and compliance of pedestrian crossings in rural contexts: A before and after study of RRFBs and LED-embedded signs Improving the safety of pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure is critical for reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Pedestrian traffic saf…

New research by published by UVM TRC researchers Clare Nelson and Gregory Rowangould find that replacing the gas tax with a revenue neutral per mile fee would reduce costs for rural and low income households in Vermont.

Data-Driven Analysis of Rural Equity and Cost Concerns for Mileage-Based User Fees in Vermont - Clare Nelson, Gregory Rowangould, 2023 Examining substitutes to the current state and federal gasoline and diesel fuel excise taxes has become a pressing issue, exacerbated by the rise of high-effici...

Faculty, staff and students affiliated with the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center will be participating in 23 presentations and activities at the 103rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in Washington, DC this January. Learn more at the link below about the research we will be presenting at this year's meeting.

www.uvm.edu

The 2023 CATMA summit was a success!!
Students and faculty were able to show off their research and network with other transportation professionals. Thank you to CATMA and the UVM Davis center for this event, see you next year!

The 2023 CATMA summit will be held tomorrow in the Davis center with TRC faculty and students to represent the team's research. Get your tickets by visiting the CATMA website or use the link in the post.
Hope to see everyone tomorrow!!

Congratulations to Clare Nelson, Parker King, and Meg fay on their awards from the Dwight D Eisenhower Fellowship Program.
For more information check out the TRC website!