WTI News
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
Summer Postcards: Alternative Transportation Takes Many Forms Around the World
Even while on vacation, WTI staff members can’t help but notice new and interesting ways that people travel from place to place. Check out David Kack’s
CHSC Researchers Invited to Present at National Conferences
Two researchers from the Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) will be traveling to major national conferences in the coming weeks to present their research
Society of Women Engineers selects WTI Researcher to lead workshop at Annual Meeting
Each year, the Society of Women Engineers receives more than 1000 submissions to present at its Annual Meeting, known as the “The World’s Largest Conference for
Summer Postcards: Researchers on the Road
WTI Research Engineer Natalie Villwock-Witte just returned from Cascade Locks, Oregon, where she participated in the mid-year meeting of Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on the
Safety Center Announces August Webinar on Rural Bike Safety
The National Center for Rural Road Safety (Safety Center) is hosting a free 1.5-hour online webinar, entitled “Designing for Rural Bike Safety.” This webinar will provide
Teachers Translate Transportation Research into Classroom Experiences
At the West Region Transportation Workforce Center (WRTWC), the first Research Experience for Teachers in Innovative Transportation Systems (ITS-RET) program is well underway. Ten middle, high
WTI Road Ecologist Selected as Keynote at International Conference
When the Infra Eco Network Europe (IENE) meets for its International Conference this fall, one of the keynote speakers will be WTI Research Scientist Tony Clevenger.
AARP Highlights Bozeman Traffic Calming Project in National Publication
In 2017, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) awarded a Community Challenge grant to WTI and the City of Bozeman to purchase a mobile Pop-up
Student Success: Two WTI students join Professional Staff
When WTI hires and mentors great students, it is a win-win for the organization and for aspiring young professionals. WTI’s two most recent hires both started
International Audience Attends CHSC Inaugural Symposium on Positive Culture
At the end of June, the Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) hosted its first research symposium on the role of positive culture in promoting
Webinar: Rural Roundabouts are Saving Lives
This webinar will provide an overview of the safety and design of rural roundabouts in the United States. It will include case studies of rural roundabouts
Blanketing the Roadsides: Wool Erosion Control Blankets Nurture Revegetation
MSU News is highlighting a successful collaboration between WTI and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to use blankets made of Montana wool to prevent erosion
Welcome to the new Public Lands Transportation Fellows (PLTF)
The Public Lands Transportation Fellows (PLTF) Program hosted a three-day orientation in late June to welcome its incoming class of participants. Since 2013, the program has
New Publication: Identifying Wildlife Species from Roadkill Data
In September 2018, the journal Biological Conservation will publish an article whose lead author is Fernanda Abra, one of Marcel Huijser’s Ph.D. students at the University
Teton County Approves Wildlife Crossings Plan
At a recent meeting, the county commissioners of Teton County, Wyoming approved a wildlife crossings master plan, which will now become part of the region’s Integrated
David Kack Named “Business Person of the Year” by Big Sky Chamber of Commerce
Congratulations to WTI’s own David Kack, who was honored with a Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Award at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner last week. David was
Cover Stars: Graylings from Fish Technology Center Grace the Cover of MSU Magazine
Mountains and Minds is Montana State University’s premier print publication for showcasing the institution’s people, events, and accomplishments. Published only twice a year, Mountains and Minds
Caltrans Launches Aviation Website Developed in Partnership with WTI
Last week, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced that a new aviation portal is now available to provide crucial information for pilots, airport operators, first
Montana selected for CUTC 2020 Meeting
Congratulations to the Small Urban, Rural, and Tribal Center on Mobility (SURTCOM), which was selected to host the 2020 meeting of the Council of University Transportation
Postcards from the field: Brazilian adventures
A few weeks ago, we reported that WTI Research Ecologist Marcel Huijser had departed for Brazil to serve as a guest professor and researcher at the
New Project: Exploring Driverless, Electric Paratransit Systems for Rural Areas
A Feasibility Study of a Driverless, Electric Para-Transit System in Rural Areas PI: Yiyi Wang Paratransit systems can improve transportation access for disabled, elderly, and other
How do you say “collaboration” in Italian?
In ongoing efforts to expand international research partnerships, WTI is developing a memorandum of agreement with Francesca Russo, PhD of the Road Infrastructures and Transportation Systems
New Paper Released: Environmental challenges for the Belt and Road Initiative
WTI Researcher Tony Clevenger was co author on a recently released paper, “Environmental challenges for the Belt and Road Initiative.” The Belt and Road Initiative will
In the News: Wildlife Vehicle Crossings in California
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has begun the planning and development of a wildlife crossings bridge on Highway 17, a commuter corridor that passes through
New Project: Creating Safe Road Crossing Structures for Small Wildlife Species
Many wildlife crossing structures are designed to create safe passage for large animal species. However, there is also a need to reduce the impacts of roads
Can the Next Generation of Wildlife Crossing Structures be Made from Plastic?
WTI Hosts International Workshop to Inspire Creative Designs In early May, WTI hosted a group of engineers, ecologists, and landscape architects from Canada and the U.S.
New Project: 2018 Transportation Fellows to Serve in National/International Wildlife Refuges
The Public Lands Transportation Fellows (PLTF) program provides fellowships to outstanding graduates in a transportation-related field to spend eleven months working directly with staff of Federal
Wildlife Crossings Master Plan Featured in Jackson Hole News
Last week, the Jackson Hole News and Guide published a feature article on the Teton County (Wyoming) Wildlife Crossings Master Plan developed by WTI. The draft
Shankwitz to speak at Wonderlust event
Montana State University’s Wonderlust program will offer two free public presentations on innovative MSU research at the Belgrade Community Library this month. WTI Senior Research Scientist