Current Projects
Systemic safety implementation tool for active transportation in Utah
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2024–present, PI
The overall objective of this project is to develop a robust tool to select systemic safety treatments to improve active transportation safety in Utah, implementing the results of a recent systemic safety analysis.
EV adoption and use in rural and urban Utah
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2024–present, PI
The primary objective of this research project is to understand differences in (and factors affecting) the trends and patterns of electric vehicle adoption, use, and charging behavior in rural and urban Utah. To achieve this overall objective, there are three sub-objectives: (1) Identify factors affecting the adoption (purchase or rental) of EVs, including any differences in urban and rural areas of Utah; (2) Measure differences in the use of EVs and non-EVs (travel patterns and behaviors of EV and non-EV users), in urban and rural areas of Utah; (3) Measure differences in the charging behaviors of EVs (EV users) between urban and rural areas of Utah. This knowledge will then be utilized to inform EV-related policies and decisions, including siting charging stations, but also potentially including education or public awareness actions.
Effectiveness of signalized intersection treatments for pedestrian safety
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2024–present, PI
The objective of this research project is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments at signalized intersections that are designed to improve pedestrian safety, mainly through adjustments to motor vehicle and pedestrian operations. Treatments to be analyzed include pedestrian signal priority (e.g., leading through/pedestrian intervals), left-turn treatments (e.g., dyanamic delay/omit of flashing yellow arrow on pedestrian detection), and right-turn treatments (e.g., no right-turn-on-red signs).
Toolkit for incorporating community mental health and wellbeing into planning processes
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2024–present, PI
This project answers the question: How do transportation planning processes intentionally incorporate community mental health and wellbeing into the decision-making process? The objective of this research is to identify metrics and create a toolkit for measuring how transportation projects affect community mental health and wellbeing for all users. The toolkit will identify specific wellbeing metrics, including for each metric: what to measure, how to measure it, and qualitative criteria for building mental health and wellbeing as part of the planning process. Further, this work will recommend where to implement this into the transportation planning and project development initiatives that UDOT uses, including community planning, long and short-range planning, solutions development, context classification, and safe systems, among others.
Wasatch Front Multi-Modal Corridor Electrification Plan
US Department of Energy (DOE), 2023–present, key person
The project plans to develop a community, state and industry action plan to improve air quality in communities most impacted by high density traffic in the greater Salt Lake City region. The project will leverage real-world results on technologies being evaluated at pilot projects funded by the State of Utah and Rocky Mountain Power. These include projects with the Utah Inland Port Authority on wired and wireless charging solutions for trucks; with Stadler, which is developing a battery-electric train; and with the Utah Transit Authority on multimodal charge management solutions.
Developing snow performance measures for public information
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2023–present, PI
Snow is a significant and recurring hazard in Utah. While snow (and ice) can cause headaches, travel delays, and safety issues, it is seen as a “normal” pitfall in daily Utah life. Therefore, Utahns may be less forgiving of the response to snow events. This study surveys the general public about their perceptions around snow clearance and winter roadway maintenance practices, and offers insights for UDOT's snow performance measurement and response.
Validating the collection of skid data by assessing correlation with crash data
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2022–present, PI with co-PI Michelle Mekker
Pavement friction may be linked to traffic safety outcomes. To examine this hypothesis, this study assembled crash data and other infromation for an interstate highway and a non-interstate highway within the state of Utah, spanning multiple years. For each segment, data included traffic volumes, pavement friction values, roadway geometric characteristics, and crashes by type (wet vs. dry weather, property damage only vs. injury-related, and total). Analysis involved estimating negative binomial crash frequency regression models and generating safety performance functions and crash modification factors.
Pedestrian safety and traffic operations near transit stops
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) & Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC), 2022–present, PI with co-PI Michelle Mekker
Prior UDOT-funded research has identified transit stops as places that see disproportionately high numbers of pedestrian crashes, all else equal. There is a need to identify why transit stops are hot spots for pedestrian crashes. The primary objective of this research project is to investigate the impacts of transit stops on pedestrian safety and traffic operations at intersections and provide recommendations for improving both. Tasks include reviewing literature, analyzing safety and operational datasets, and developing recommendations.
UDOT pedestrian data platform
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2022–present, PI
Previous Utah-based research has identified how big data about pedestrian push-button presses, archived in the ATSPM system, is useful for estimating pedestrian volumes and monitoring pedestrian traffic. There is a need to make these data more accessible and useful to practitioners, who are interested in planning, safety analysis, and operational tasks. This research projects takes a phased approach towards developing a robust online pedestrian data and analytics platform for multiple users. Year 1 tasks involve implementing a planning-level interface, developing templates for sharing historical and live data, and engaging stakeholders and potential users.
Increasing affordability, energy efficiency, and ridership of transit bus systems through large-scale electrification
US Department of Energy (DOE), 2022–present, key person
The overarching research project seeks to advance transportation electrification in the public transit market. Multiple subprojects help to achieve this goal. One effort involves surveys of public transit riders in Salt Lake City and Portland to understand their experiences and perceptions of electric buses and electric micromobility modes as a first-mile/last-mile solution. Another effort involves interviews with public transit agency staff about their plans and thoughts on electrifying their bus fleets. Quantitative and qualitative analyses offer important insights.
- Flaris, K., Gkritza, N., Singleton, P. A., Graul, A. R. H., & Song, Z. (2023). Riders’ perceptions towards transit bus electrification: Evidence from Salt Lake City, Utah. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 177, 103642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103642
Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE)
National Science Foundation (NSF), 2021–present, key person
ASPIRE is a multi-year NSF-funded engineering research center with the mission to “improve health and quality of life for everyone by catalyzing sustainable and equitable electrification across the transportation industries.” There are many coordinated and interleaved efforts involved within ASPIRE, including research thrusts and projects. The Adoption research thrust helps direct research and personnel that contribute to understanding and promoting the use of EVs and other electric transportation modes and systems. The System of Systems research project includes work to establish baselines for adoption, sustainability, policy, and equity regarding transportation electrification. More information is available online: https://aspire.usu.edu/.
- Soltani Mandolakani, F., & Singleton, P. A. (2024). Electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment: A discussion of equity and justice theories and accessibility measurement. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 24, 101072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2024.101072
Western Smart Regional EV Adoption and Infrastructure at Scale, Subproject 1: National park and recreation electrification
US Department of Energy (DOE), 2021–present, key person
In order to support climate change and energy goals, multifaceted efforts are needed to move electric vehicles (EVs) from a niche market to something that the majority of consumers consider and/or purchase and use. While the overall grant focuses on adoption and infrastructure initiatives across multiple western US states, several subprojects focus in on different areas or markets of particular importance. Subproject 1 focuses on filling gaps and improving electric vehicle access to/from and within National Parks and recreation areas. Other subprojects are focused on understanding and demonstrating opportunities for EV use in the ride-hail and delivery markets (drivers for transportation networking companies like Uber and Lyft, or delivery services such as DoorDash) as well as for car-share systems at affordable housing developments. Specific efforts include surveys to understand perceptions and behaviors of EV (and non-EV) drivers in these critical and emerging markets.
Impacts of wildfire smoke and other area-wide air pollution on multimodal traffic volumes
Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC), 2021–present, PI with co-PI Keunhyun Park
To improve public health disaster preparedness, it is important to know how people’s travel behaviors are affected by wildfire smoke and other sources of air pollution; yet, such research is lacking. There are needs to look at impacts across multiple transportation modes, and to consider how impacts on multimodal traffic volumes may vary in different temporal and spatial contexts. The overarching goal of this research is to understand how wildfire smoke and other area-wide air pollution affect traveler behaviors in Utah. This project: (1) quantifies the impacts of air pollution on multimodal traffic volumes; (2) identifies aggregate-level travel behavior changes; and (3) characterizes and explains geospatial variations in how air pollution affects multimodal travel.
Transportation—health impact modeling and scenario planning for Utah
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), 2019–present, PI
Transportation agencies and public health agencies seek tools and analytical methods to better quantify transportation–health linkages. New tools are recently available—including the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) and the Integrated Transport and Health Impact Modeling (ITHIM) tool—that utilize epidemiological research to quantify the human health impacts (in dollars or quality of life (years of life lost or with a disability)) of transportation projects and plans. However, such tools require local calibration. This research project develops methods and identifies best practices for Utah transportation—health impact modeling and scenario planning utilizing existing data and travel demand forecasting model outputs. Results may be able to enrich the transportation planning process and contribute towards improved planning outcomes.