Pedestrian safety, CAV projects





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Transportation Research Update
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TRAFFIC AND SAFETY

Impact of Start Time on Students Walking and Biking to School [ [link removed] ]

Grade school students walking to school on snowy sidewalk

Recent research has determined that early school start times do not discourage students from walking or biking to school. A stated preference survey distributed to parents and caregivers of elementary school-age children in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area asked parents and caregivers how their children commuted to school and to rank factors (including start time) that impacted if their children walked or biked to school. Mobile-sourced data based on smartphone tracking also indicated if a student walked or biked to school.

Study results showed that students actually walked or biked more in February, when the sun rose later, than in September. Parents and caregivers also indicated that distance was the top factor for whether a student walked or biked to school followed by the student’s age, presence of comfortable commuting options such as sidewalks and bike trails, and difficult or high-traffic road crossings. Traveling to school before sunrise or after sunset ranked sixth out of 11 choices.



Rural Pedestrian Crossings [ [link removed] ]

Crosswalk in rural setting

With increasing trends and public requests for crosswalks, agencies are seeking resources on best practices for pedestrian crossings to improve safety, comfort, and consistency of the transportation network. This guidebook provides a comprehensive overview of rural pedestrian crossings for both pedestrians and drivers by examining Minnesota statutes, summarizing key features of pedestrian crossings, synthesizing findings from existing research reports and studies, and integrating other relevant resources.



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ENVIRONMENTAL

Comparison of Compost and Proprietary Soil Amendments for Vegetation Establishment [ [link removed] ]

wildflowers along freeway roadside

New research has developed guidance for MnDOT and local transportation agencies to establish roadside vegetation growth after road construction projects. These projects often damage roadside vegetation, which is important for managing stormwater, limiting erosion and improving soil stability. This project analyzed the effectiveness of adding organic and proprietary amendments to roadside topsoil to rapidly reestablish vegetation.

Researchers measured the impact of these amendments on the physical, chemical and biological properties of roadside soils, along with plant biomass and coverage, to determine combinations and blends that provide the nutrients needed for rapid vegetation establishment. The project involved extensive soil and amendment analyses; greenhouse experiments, including a study that simulated the effects of rainfall; and field studies on nine experimental plots. Results provided recommended amendment application rates to balance vegetation growth with water quality considerations. The recommendations will be incorporated into guidelines to promote cost-effective implementation.



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DESTINATION CAV

Our colleagues at Destination CAV [ [link removed] ] recently published project summaries of their research into connected and automated vehicles in the MnDOT Digital Library [ [link removed] ]. Please take some time to browse through them and see what they have been doing.

CAV test car

Project Summaries

* Assessment of Pedestrian Safety and Driver Behavior Near AVs [ [link removed] ]
* Automated Waze Imports [ [link removed] ]
* Centralized SPaT and MAP Data Sharing [ [link removed] ]
* Community Driven CAV [ [link removed] ]
* Connected Corridor [ [link removed] ]
* Connected Vehicle Traveler Alert System [ [link removed] ]
* Cost/Benefit Analysis of Fuel-Efficient Speed Control using SPaT Data [ [link removed] ]
* Drive MN [ [link removed] ]
* Dynamic Flashing Yellow Arrow Phase Mode Selection [ [link removed] ]
* Fiber Optic Feasibility and Partnership Study [ [link removed] ]
* Lane Boundary Guidance System for Snowplow Operations [ [link removed] ]
* MnDOT Autonomous Bus Pilot [ [link removed] ]
* MnDOT Traffic Camera Maximizer [ [link removed] ]
* Passive Pedestrian Detection Analysis [ [link removed] ]
* Real-Time Integration of Arrow Board Messages into Traveler Information Systems [ [link removed] ]
* Rochester Automated Shuttle Pilot: Med City Mover [ [link removed] ]
* Smart Snelling [ [link removed] ]
* Variable Pedestrian Clearance Interval (VPCI) [ [link removed] ]
* White Bear Lake Automated Shuttle Pilot: Bear Tracks [ [link removed] ]
* Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx): CARS eXchange [ [link removed] ]

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UPCOMING EVENTS

* *May 2, 2025,* NBER Spring 20205 Conference [ [link removed] ], Economics of Transportation in the 21st Century (livestreamed on YouTube)
* *May 6, 2025*, *9:15–11:30 a.m*., CTS Seminar: Unpacking Freight: Routing, VMT Reduction, and Curb Management [ [link removed] ] (in person at McNamara Alumni Center, UMN)
* *May 23, 2025, 1:00–2:30 p.m.*, CTS Webinar: Freight and Commercial Vehicle Safety in Roundabouts [ [link removed] ]
* *August 5th, 2025, *Bolton & Menk: *2025 Salt Symposium [ [link removed] ] (l*ivestream only)
* *Aug. 25 to 27, 2025*, 2025 MAASTO Annual Conference [ [link removed] ]
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