WTI News
NEW PROJECT: Supporting Mobility Options in Meigs County, Ohio
WTI is launching a new project to provide technical assistance to a small county in southern Ohio. Led by Principal Investigator Andrea Hamre, the research team
NEW PROJECT: Could Public Transportation Systems in Rural Areas Deliver Packages?
WTI is launching a new project to investigate innovative “last mile” package delivery systems and how rural public transportation systems may have a role in the
STUDENT NEWS: Welcome, Sam Coulter!
Meet WTI’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Sam Coulter. A Senior at MSU, Sam will be helping Andrea Hamre with the Commercial Package Delivery through Public Transportation Systems
In the News: Ennis Traffic Calming Project Featured in Local News
The Madisonian, a newspaper for Montana’s Madison Valley, reports on a completed WTI research study in a recent feature article. “Traffic calming data released” summarizes the
In the News: Traffic and Transit Magazine Showcases Rural Research Roadmap Project
An NCHRP project led by WTI is the focus of a current feature article in Traffic and Transit, a national transportation publication. “Mapping the Future of
TRB Annual Meeting Zooms Into Week Three
The NAS Transportation Research Board continued its revamped Annual Meeting last week, holding virtual technical committee meetings on a wide range of research topics. In this
In Memoriam: Dr. Bill Jameson
We are saddened to share that former WTI staff member Dr. Bill Jameson passed away on January 2. Bill joined WTI in 2003 as a Senior
2021 30th Annual UTC Outstanding Student of the Year Awards
Congratulations to Ali Rahim-Taleqani of North Dakota State University (NDSU). Ali has been recognized as a 2020 Outstanding Student of the Year by the University Transportation
TRB Annual Meeting Kicks off Four Weeks of Virtual Events
Each January, the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board holds its Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., a week-long forum that brings together thousands of transportation
IN THE NEWS: WTI Road Ecologist Offers Insights Into Utah Project
In 2018, the Utah Department of Transportation completed the state’s largest wildlife crossing, which traverses six lanes of traffic on Interstate 80. The crossing structure made
NEW REPORT: Innovative Strategies to Reduce the Costs of Effective Wildlife Overpasses
The U.S. Forest Service has released a new report authored by wildlife crossing experts from WTI, ARC Solutions, and other partner research organizations, which compiles key
RESEARCH NEWS: Winter is coming — What’s new in Cold Climate research?
Montana is not the only place concerned with keeping the roads clear and safe during the winter months. Over the last year, WTI’s Cold Climate Operations
STUDENT NEWS: Gaining Research and Testing Experience in the Cold Climates Lab
The Cold Climate Operations and Systems program has new student support in the Lab! WTI is pleased to welcome Lura Johnson as an undergraduate lab technician,
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH: Researchers Highlight Mobility Issues at UNESCO Conference
In 2015, WTI’s Small Urban and Rural Livability Center and West Region Transportation Workforce Center embarked on a collaborative project with partners from the Russian University
NEW REPORT: What is the Impact of a Local Gas Tax in Montana?
As one source of funding for transportation projects, the federal government and all states place a tax on fuel purchases. However, at the local and regional
Milestones in Service: Faculty and Staff Honored at Virtual Ceremony
On November 5, Montana State University hosted the 7th annual Milestones in Service celebration with a virtual awards ceremony to honor faculty and staff for their
Student Research Opportunities: Five Positions Available with Bozeman Commute Rebrand Project
Summary: The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is seeking five MSU students for part-time, paid positions to support the development and implementation of a project to rebrand
STUDENT NEWS: Students in CATS Program Spearhead Local Stormwater Survey
The City of Bozeman and Montana State University (MSU) students are partnering up to strengthen stormwater outreach efforts. Dr. Sarah Church, a professor in MSU’s Department
NEW PROJECT: MSU Researcher Receives Seed Grant for Commuter Project
Congratulations Matt Madsen! He received a seed grant from MSU’s Outreach and Engagement Council, which will support a collaboration between MSU students and community partners, including
In the News: Humboldt County Transit Study Collecting Public Input
The Redheaded Blackbelt, a local online news outlet in Northern California, has published a feature story about a WTI-led transit study that is getting started in
ARC Solutions Presents Former WTI Director with a Lifetime Road Ecology Leadership Award
On October 20, ARC Solutions presented former WTI Director Steve Albert with a Lifetime Road Ecology Leadership Award in recognition of his enduring legacy in making
Vermont Travel Study Featured in TRB Newsletter
The National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board (TRB) is raising awareness of a new WTI study on travel behavior, by highlighting it in its weekly
In the News: NBC Montana Highlights Traffic Calming Project in Ennis
In the small town of Ennis, Montana, local officials and residents are concerned for the safety of pedestrians and motorists on Main Street (US 287), which
New Facility Ready for Fish Passage Studies
Researchers in Montana have a new tool for designing fish passage structures that meet the needs of both fish and agricultural producers. A feature article by
In the News: 60 Minutes Highlights Grizzly Bear Research in Montana
On October 11, the CBS News Show 60 Minutes aired an in-depth feature story on grizzly bears in Montana and the impacts of the growing populations
On the Air: Podcast Digs into Snow and Ice Topics
Winter is coming – Did you know that the Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program (SICOP) offers a podcast “devoted to all things winter maintenance”?
MSU News Highlights Upcoming Webinar on Workforce Development
The West Region Transportation Workforce Center (WRTWC), which is based at WTI, will host a webinar on October 7 (11 am Mountain Time), which will focus
Transportation Research Board Highlights WTI’s Severe Weather Index Project
WTI has completed a project to create a severe weather index for the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the final report was featured in a recent
Distinctly Montana Explores the Future of Transportation with Ahmed Al-Kaisy
In its Fall 2020 issue, Distinctly Montana continued its series of articles on “Montana in 30 Years.” To explore the topic of transportation, the magazine interviewed
MSU Homecoming — WTI Enters Two “Floats” in Virtual Parade
Here at Montana State University, the university just finished celebrating Homecoming Week. Actually – due to current health precautions – it was “Stay HOME-coming” Week. Nonetheless,
WRTWC Will Kick Off Webinar Series on Transportation Workforce Development
MSU Speakers will highlight successful program offering professional development and career exposure to university students How do we inspire the next generation of transportation professionals and
New Project: Conserving Monarch Butterfly Habitats Along Idaho Highways
Researchers from the Montana State University Ecology Department and WTI’s Road Ecology program will investigate the roadside habitats of monarch butterflies in Idaho, as part of
Time for Kids Introduces Wildlife Crossings to Young Students
WTI Road Ecologist Rob Ament is featured in a recent issue of Time Magazine for Kids. A feature article called “Safe Travels” describes the large number
MSU Research Expenditures Hit an All-time High
Congratulations to Montana State University (MSU), for achieving a record high level of research expenditures for 2019-20. The total of $167 million represents an 8% increase
National Safety Council Selects Safety Center as Finalist for Green Cross Award
Congratulations to the National Center for Rural Road Safety, which was recently named as one of three finalists in the country for the 2020 Green Cross
Will Passenger Rail Return to Southern Montana? Join the Conversation on Sept. 17!
Passenger rail service through southern Montana ended 41 years ago, and now advocates across the state are working to bring it back. Interested in learning more?
New Publication: Safe Interactions Between Vehicles and Bicyclists
The Journal of Safety Research has published an article that examines the influence of traffic safety culture on a driver’s behavior when interacting with bicyclists on
Save the Date: Rural Road Safety Awareness Week
The National Center for Rural Road Safety is proud to announce the inaugural Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW), which will take place the week of
NEW PROJECT: WTI to Conduct Transit Study for Humboldt County, CA
WTI recently launched a new project to conduct a transit study in Humboldt County, a coastal county in northern California. The goal is to provide the
WTI Co-hosts National Event on Rural Transportation Safety
On Wednesday, August 12, the Western Transportation Institute (WTI), Montana State University (MSU), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) co-hosted a national forum to
STUDENT NEWS: MSU ITE Student Chapter Honored at Annual Meeting
The Montana State University (MSU) Student Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has worked hard in recent years to grow its membership and its
Rural Road Safety Summit – Registration Now Open!
The National Center for Rural Road Safety is excited to announce that the Third National Summit on Rural Road Safety will take place September 29 –
Student News: Meet our summer intern
2020 will always be remembered as the year we all worked remotely – even our summer interns! WTI is pleased to welcome Jonathan Fisher, who is
Technology Transfer News: New Mexico DOT Funds Culvert Assessments from WTI Study
WTI research is being put into practice! The New Mexico Department of Transportation has approved a $500,000 project to develop and implement a culvert assessment management
In the News: Washington Post Interviews WTI Road Ecologist on Reductions in Wildlife Vehicle Collisions
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Washington Post is reporting on a wide range of impacts, including the effects on wildlife. In a recent feature, “Pandemic
New Publication: Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity through Ecological Networks and Corridors, an international resource with best practices
David Kack named WTI Director
Last week, Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering (NACOE) Dean, Brett Gunnink, named David Kack as Director of WTI. David has served as Interim Director since last
Catching Up with the Fellows
The placement year for the Class of 2019-2020 Public Land Transportation Fellows (PLTF) is drawing to a close. Over the last three weeks, Naomi Fireman, Nate
Look What’s Popping Up in Bozeman
On Saturday, May 2, WTI and the City of Bozeman teamed up to assemble pop-up calming installations in a West Bozeman neighborhood on Yellowstone Avenue. Staff
Why did the bear cross the road? Because he had it all to himself
Discover Magazine Interviews WTI Researcher about Wildlife Behavior during Pandemic Humans are staying home more and traveling less during the current COVID-19 restrictions. What does that