WTI News
Traffic Safety Culture Pooled Fund Webinar: Review of Phase 1 and Launch Phase 2
On Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Mountain Time), the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the Center for Health and Safety
Suffrage, Social Justice and the Bicycle
As part of Women’s History Month, the Montana State University Women’s Center invited WTI Researcher Dani Hess to make a presentation last week on the bicycle
WTI explores alternative transportation options in Whitefish, Montana
Last week, the Whitefish Pilot reported on efforts by the town of Whitefish, Montana to address growing congestion in its downtown area. WTI is conducting an
Pop-up Traffic Circle Installed in Helena, Montana
A new traffic calming device is making its debut in Helena! WTI, Bike Walk Montana, and neighborhood volunteers teamed up to install a pop-up traffic circle,
Big Sky Considers Options to Address Growing Congestion
Explore Big Sky recently published a feature article on regional traffic congestion and described some of the current efforts to alleviate growing traffic on the major
Where in the World is WTI? Road Ecologist presents workshop in South Africa
The expertise of WTI researchers is in high demand for research collaborations, presentations, and academic exchanges around the world. “Where in the World is WTI?” will
International Conference on Low Volume Roads – Registration Now Open!
Plan now to attend the 12th TRB International Conference on Low Volume Roads, being held September 15–18, 2019 in Kalispell, Montana. Register by May 15 to
New Report: National Key Deer Refuge – Strategies for Reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions
WTI has released a new report investigating Key Deer mortality along a segment of Highway 1 within the National Key Deer Refuge in Florida. Road Ecologists
2019 Positive Culture Framework Training Program – Registration Now Open
This fall, the Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) will host a training workshop on the fundamentals of Positive Culture Framework. Registration is now open
Matt Bell Competes in Finals of Three Minute Thesis Competition
Final 7! On Friday, March 1, the MSU College of Engineering hosted the finals of its Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Road Ecology Graduate Student Matt
New Report: Wildlife Mitigation Measures for Refuges in Chesapeake Bay
WTI Road Ecologists Marcel Huijser and James Begley have completed recommendations for reducing wildlife road mortalities on highways that serve two national wildlife refuges along the
MSU News Promotes Parenting Montana Website
More great coverage for the new ParentingMontana.org website! In case you missed our recent article, MSU News has published an in-depth feature story on the toolkit
Brazilian road ecologist with WTI connections wins prestigious international conservation award
Fernanda Abra, a Brazilian Ph.D. student who has conducted wildlife research with a leading WTI road ecologist for nearly a decade, is one of only three
It’s Never Too Cold for Alternative Transportation in Bozeman!
Winter Bike to Work Day and new campus shuttle promote transportation options Snow is falling and so are the temperatures, but hearty Bozeman residents never shy
New Publication: How effective are flashing beacons at crosswalks?
WTI Program Manager Ahmed Al-Kaisy is the lead author of “Motorists’ voluntary yielding of right of way at uncontrolled midblock crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons,”
New Publication: Testing the swimming capabilities of Arctic Grayling
Northwest Science has published the journal article “Swimming Capabilities of Artic Grayling.” The article, authored by Joel Cahoon, Audrey Jones, and Kathryn Plymesser of MSU’s Civil
New Publication: The role of social capital in traffic safety citizenship
Traffic safety citizenship is an emerging approach to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Civic and Political Studies recently
February 28 Webinar will present highlights of National Safety Summit
The National Center for Rural Road Safety (Safety Center) is hosting a FREE, 1.5-hour online webinar on February 28, entitled “Bridging the Gap: Recap of Safety
Governor Launches Parenting Website Created by CHSC
Attention Montana parents! The Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC), in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, has created ParentingMontana.org
Rural Transit – Deep in the heart of Texas
Natalie Villwock-Witte traveled to San Augustine, Texas in January to report on a rural transit pilot program to the Deep East Texas Council of Governments
North Carolina Newspaper Features Huijser Interview
When the Citizen Times in North Carolina wants to know about wildlife crossings, its reporters call on WTI Road Ecologist Marcel Huijser. Columnist Bill McGoun interviewed
Pop-up Traffic Circle Planned for Helena, Montana
WTI, Bike Walk Montana, and neighborhood volunteers are teaming up to install a pop-up traffic circle in Helena,Montana in March. The traffic calming project is designed
TRB – The Show Must Go On
WTI researchers braved heavy snow, transit closures, and the partial government shutdown to attend the 2019 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in
Public Lands Transportation Fellows to Present posters at TRB 2019
Three Fellows from the Public Lands Transportation Fellows program had the opportunity to present posters highlighting their current projects: Corinne Jachelski presented on trail, bicycle, and
UTC Students Honored at TRB
The 2019 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting kicked off over the weekend in Washington, D.C. At the Council of University Transportation Center (CUTC) banquet on
Big Sky Transportation Grant Named Top News Story of 2018
Last week, Explore Big Sky published a special feature on its picks for the most important local news stories of the year. Top of the list
Huijser Interview on Wildlife Crossings
The Asheville (NC) Citizen Times interviewed WTI Research Scientist Marcel Huijser for the feature article “Bridges for Bears: Do Wildlife Corridors Work?” Marcel discusses wildlife crossing
Natalie WillwockWitte to present at TRB
Natalie will be presenting about her recent work; Characteristics & Reported Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrastructure for Communities of Less Than 10,000 People in Maine, Minnesota and
WTI Director Looks Forward to 2019, Launching New Projects and Hosting National Event
With the start of the new year, WTI Director Steve Albert sees a busy calendar ahead for himself and the organization as a whole – and
WTI Studies Small Town Public Transportation Options
WTI recently completed a public transportation feasibility study for the City of Lebanon, a community of approximately 15,000 people in southcentral Missouri. The City of Lebanon
Bozeman Commuter Project Launches Pilot Vanpool Program
Riders sought from Three Forks, Livingston and other nearby towns The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) in partnership with the City of Bozeman and Montana State University
Second Annual Summit Hosted by the National Center for Rural Road Safety a Success
The 2nd National Summit on Rural Road Safety (Savannah 2018) was a success! We were honored to have Ms. Brandye Hendrickson, Deputy Administrator at Federal Highway
Dr. Nic Ward Featured in The Spokesman – Review
The Spokesman – Review of Spokane, Washington interviewed Center Director, Dr. Nic Ward, about a recent survey done by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the
WTI Presents Implementation Tools and Solutions at NRITS Conference
WTI Researchers traveled to Fort McDowell, Arizona last week for the National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference and Exhibit, held in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary
Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Highlighted at Society of Women Engineers Conference
At the annual meeting of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in Minneapolis in October, WTI Researcher Natalie Villwock-Witte and her research partners at Minnesota Department
New Publications Released on Traffic Safety Culture and Traffic Safety Citizenship
A Strategic Approach to Transforming Traffic Safety Culture to Reduce Deaths and Injuries The Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has released
Coming up Soon! December Summit will Focus on Rural Road Safety
Following a highly successful inaugural forum in 2016, the National Center for Rural Road Safety and the National Association of County Engineers will host the 2nd
WTI Researcher Assists with Asiatic Cheetah Research Article
The October issue of Current Biology will feature an article entitled “Roads threaten Asiatic cheetahs in Iran,” about the impacts of wildlife vehicle collisions on the
Major Milestones
Congratulations to the WTI staff members who were recognized last week for their years of service to Montana State University. Many of them were able to
New Publication on the Effects of Wildlife Fencing
Road Ecology Researcher Marcel Huijser and his colleagues have a newly published journal article in Biological Conservation. “A fence runs through it: A call for greater
NEW PROJECT: CHSC to Develop Safety Culture Training Modules
Transportation, law enforcement, and public health organizations are showing growing interest in incorporating the principles of traffic safety culture into their safety programs. As a result,
NEW PROJECT: Helping DOTS Create a Strong Safety Culture
Many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have adopted the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) vision as part of their work towards the elimination of fatal and serious
Road Ecology Researchers Take the Spotlight at International Conference
In September, the Infra Eco Network Europe (IENE) held its International Conference in the Netherlands, focusing on the theme of “Crossing borders for a greener and
In the News: WTI gets a “shout out” for its contribution to MSU research expenditures
In two news stories last week, WTI was one of the MSU departments noted for its strong annual research totals: “The Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: CHSC Welcomes Jubaer Ahmed
Graduate students who are interested in the emerging field of traffic safety culture are finding intriguing research opportunities at the Center for Health and Safety Culture
NEW PROJECT: How do you measure the value and benefits of transit services?
WTI is excited to be working with the Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University to find
NEW PROJECT: WTI to Create a Guidebook for Transportation Agencies on Unpaved Roads
For roads with very low traffic volumes, some transportation agencies have found that that these roadways can be maintained more economically and at a higher level
NEW PROJECT: MDT and WTI to Continue Research on Bridge Support Systems
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has found concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) piles connected at the top by a concrete pile cap to be a very
In the News: Streamline Bus Service Celebrates Three Million Rides
The Streamline Bus Service in Bozeman achieved a major milestone in August – 12 years of service and three million rides! KBZK Channel 7 visited the
WTI helps NW Bozeman neighbors bring their vision for safer streets to life!
WTI’s Bozeman Commuter Project is working with Bozeman neighborhoods to implement Pop-up Traffic Calming projects to reduce drivers speeds on residential streets, and bring more visibility