We have written previously about our work associated with the I-59/20 bridge replacement project in downtown Birmingham. If you live or work in the area, you already know that the interstate bridges are back open! Jeff Stephenson and I had the opportunity to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, January 17, and on the following Sunday, the bridges were…
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Did you know the state departments of transportation oversee all construction and maintenance of our Interstate System, but the federal government maintains oversight to interstate access? Therefore, any change of access to the Interstate System requires approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). I recently attended an FHWA workshop at the Tennessee Department of Transportation…
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Did you know a new traffic law went into effect in Alabama on Sunday, September 1st? The new law, also known as Act 2019-386 or SB 254, requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to use seat belts (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency). You read that right. Up until now, back seat passengers did not have…
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Alabama drivers saw a 6-cent state gas tax increase this past weekend starting September 1st. This was the first increment of the 10-cent tax approved this year by the legislature and Governor Kay Ivey. Alabama’s Fuel Tax of 18 cents per gallon on gas and 19 cents on diesel was the fifth lowest in the…
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We sat down with Charles Cochran, P.E., PTOE, RSP, to learn about the ins and outs of connected vehicles. Q: What are Connected Vehicles? A: Connected Vehicles use communication technologies to “talk” to other vehicles, drivers, pedestrians, and infrastructure. For example, as a vehicle approaches an intersection outfitted with connected vehicle technology, the traffic signal…
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A project to implement new traffic signal technology for Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville is nearing completion. The project includes new traffic signal controllers and additional vehicle detectors for the nine signalized intersections along Cobbs Ford Road from Silver Hills Drive to I-65. These signals are also being connected to a database and interconnected with…
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Created in 2000, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign dedicated to educating and encouraging safe driving through work zones. It also honors those whose lives have been lost due to a work zone accident. This year, the 20th annual campaign will take place April 8-12 with the theme: “Drive Like You Work…
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On March 13-15, the Alabama Transportation Planners Association (ATPA) gathered in Gulf Shores for its annual conference. The mood was decidedly more cheerful this year, thanks to passage of the Rebuild Alabama Act, which will provide more money to fund transportation infrastructure needs in Alabama. In addition to celebrating the good news for funding, participants got to…
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If you live anywhere close to the Birmingham area or if you have traveled through Birmingham within the past several months, you are certainly aware of the construction taking place on I-59/20 in the Central Business District (CBD) of downtown Birmingham. The emphasis of the project is to replace the aging bridges on I-59/20 between…
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Travel Demand Forecasting involves the use of a variety of models to duplicate Trip Generation, Trip Distribution, Mode Choice (e.g. car, transit, bicycle, etc.), and Highway/Transit assignment in a metropolitan region. The models are coded using a program language that is typically executed using Cube or TransCAD software. The primary inputs into the model are…
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