Best M Transportation Institute Podcasts (2025)

1
Ride Smart, Stay Alive: Motorcycle Helmets Reduce Risks for Injury or Death for Riders 32:12

18d ago32:12

32:12

Motorcyclists love the freedom of the open road. But freedom isn't free, and sometimes the price incautious riders pay after a crash is severe brain injury or even death; both, the statistics tell us, are avoidable by wearing a helmet certified by testing. Outfitting with appropriate riding gear is key to maximizing the odds of--literally--walking …

1
Score! We look at Texas roads and bridges in light of ASCE's 2025 Infrastructure Report Card. 32:46

1M ago32:46

32:46

Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues its Report Card for America's Infrastructure. Expressed in reader-friendly letter grades, the ratings document the current state of the country's major infrastructure assets, while also identifying needed improvements and contextualizing the relative health of these assets over…

1
Eyes on the Road! Encouraging Behaviors to Reduce Distracted Driving 32:19

3M ago32:19

32:19

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 40,000 Americans died on U.S. roadways in 2023. We talk with TTI safety experts Emily Martin and Srinivas Geedipally about how distracted driving can lead to tragedy and what we can do, as drivers and passengers, to make…

1
It Takes a Village: In the Air or on the Ground, Safety Takes Teamwork 36:45

5M ago36:45

36:45

Tracing its origins to the Air Commerce Act of 1926, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established in 1967 as an independent agency inside the U.S. DOT charged with investigating why transportation accidents happen. In 1974, it became an independent federal agency separate from the DOT. Although largely focused on aviation, the ag…

1
Our 100th Episode! Celebrating 75 Years of the TTI-TxDOT Partnership 47:37

5M ago47:37

47:37

In 1950, the Texas A&M Board of Directors charged the Texas Transportation Institute (now the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, or TTI) to enlist the broad resources of the college across the spectrum of transportation research to benefit Texas, while also providing unique educational opportunities for students to study and work in the field. Thi…

1
Revisited: Crash Data and an Aging Population Raise an Issue: How old is too old to drive? 26:23

6M ago26:23

26:23

Folks are living longer thanks to medical breakthroughs and healthier lifestyles, and that means our overall U.S. population is skewing older. The Texas Demographic Center notes that the U.S. population aged 65 and older spiked between 2010 and 2020, the largest 10-year growth on record. That means more drivers on the road are older too, and statis…

1
The Math Doesn't Lie: Roundabouts Make Driving Safer, More Reliable, and Less Technology Dependent 40:29

7M ago40:29

40:29

Roundabouts and other innovative intersections offer a number of advantages over more traditional designs, including improved sustainability, reliability, and resilience--and astonishing benefits to traffic safety for drivers. Amanda Austin, the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) lead in implementing these alternative designs, and TTI R…

1
Revolution Requires Evolution: We Need New Roadside Safety Standards for Electric Vehicles 23:50

7M ago23:50

23:50

In June 2024, TTI's Roadside Safety and Physical Security Team crashed a Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) into a heavy-duty guardrail at 62 miles per hour. When the EV blew right through the barrier, researchers were stunned. TTI Senior Research Engineer Roger Bligh, whose 38 years of roadside safety barrier testing experience oversaw the test, …

1
Innovation, Education, Communication: TTI's University Transportation Centers 41:14

8M ago41:14

41:14

Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the University Transportation Centers Program provides grants to college and university consortia across America. With an emphasis on innovating transportation technologies, educating the next generation of transportation professionals, and transferring technology to share lessons learned, the …

1
Trending Teens: What TTI's Latest Research Says about Young Driver Attitudes and Behaviors 22:53

8M ago22:53

22:53

For more than two decades, TTI has championed young driver safety, preventing injury and saving lives through education, empowerment, and peer-led outreach. Supported by public- and private-sector sponsors, the Institute's Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program recently published Texas Trends, 2024, which captures data regarding young driver att…

1
Bridge to Everywhere: How to Keep International Trucks Moving While Expanding The Bridge of the Americas. 30:52

9M ago30:52

30:52

International commerce depends on trucks crossing national borders regularly, reliably, and securely. Ports of entry like the bridges connecting the United States and Mexico in El Paso, Texas, are vital to both nations' economic vitality. But what happens when a major conduit like The Bridge of the Americas is closed for updating? Where does that t…

1
Virtual Degree, Real-World Opportunity: Texas A&M Online Master's of Engineering Offers Recipients New Career Options 25:29

10M ago25:29

25:29

Texas A&M University's Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering offers an online master of engineering in engineering degree designed for engineering professionals interested in management. Led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), this program offers valuable real-world experience from qualified instructors in topics like working wit…

1
Long Trains Runnin': How Freight Trains Impact U.S. Communities According to a Recently Released Study Requested by Congress 36:29

10M ago36:29

36:29

On September 17, 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released a report following a study of freight trains longer than 7,500 feet and their impacts on local communities. Requested by the U.S. Congress, the report recommends empowering regulatory agencies to address challenges such as safety concerns and traffic delays…

1
EVolving Attitudes, Expanding Infrastructure: Electric Vehicles Are Charging Ahead Thanks to Public Sector Incentives. 50:21

11M ago50:21

50:21

The Washington Post recently reported that electric vehicles (EVs) now outnumber gas-powered cars in Norway, the first country to claim that distinction. The U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation--a shared agency of the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation--was created in 2021 under the bipartisan infrastructure law to help facili…

1
Revisited: Alone in the Crowd: Long-haul truckers fight isolation through satellite connections. 25:27

11M ago25:27

25:27

With National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 15-21) just around the corner, it seemed a good time to revisit our interview with Mark Willis from almost exactly one year ago. This is the week in which the trucking industry celebrates the contributions of roughly 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide, who deliver the essential good…

1
Celebrating a Lifetime Storyteller: Bernie Fette passes the baton to our podcast's new host, Allan Rutter. 35:21

12M ago35:21

35:21

This 89th episode of Thinking Transportation is a landmark event. Host Bernie Fette, who is retiring from service to the state of Texas after more than 30 years, is passing the podcast hosting baton to Allan Rutter, TTI's Freight Practice Leader. Included in his decades of transportation-related employment, Allan served as Federal Railroad Administ…

1
Not So Fast! Can driver behavior influence how speed limits are set? 29:44

12M ago29:44

29:44

Factors that determine speed limits on a given roadway have a lot to do with physical conditions along the route, but how fast drivers want to go figures into the equation, too.By Bernie Fette, Marcus Brewer

1
Revisited: At the Intersection of Engineering and Psychology -- How a diverse team manages special event traffic. 24:51

1y ago24:51

24:51

When special events set new records for attendance, they tend to do the same for roadway gridlock. To ensure success, experts rely on the right mix of traffic planning and outreach.By Bernie Fette, Debbie Albert

1
The Never Ending Story? Why road projects take so long to complete. 29:12

1y ago29:12

29:12

Building a new highway involves a complex and painstaking process, one that begins years before the folks in hard hats and orange vests arrive on the scene.By Bernie Fette, Bill Eisele

1
Anchors Aweigh: How maritime interests occupy a vital link in the freight industry. 26:17

1y ago26:17

26:17

We rely upon waterborne shipping for most of the products we buy and use every day. We hardly give that reliance any thought at all – until something goes wrong.By Bernie Fette, Jim Kruse

1
Is Traffic Back to Pre-COVID Levels? That depends on where you live. 33:04

1y ago33:04

33:04

It’s not enough to know that traffic is bad and getting worse. We also need to know where, when, and why. TTI Senior Research Scientist and urban mobility expert David Schrank joins us to discuss the "how" of answering those questions.By Bernie Fette, David Schrank

1
Revisited--Exit This Way: Research informing upgrades in hurricane evacuation planning. 20:05

1y ago20:05

20:05

As the 2024 hurricane season approaches again, climate experts across the United States are predicting an especially active season, driven largely by higher-than-average sea surface temperatures. This makes ever more important the research and planning that begins long before extreme weather strikes, and continues long after the storm has passed.…

1
A Two-Edged Sword: In-vehicle technologies can either help us or hurt us. 37:01

1y ago37:01

37:01

As car makers focus on protecting drivers and passengers, do their computer-based innovations really make us safer, or might they in some cases compromise our safety?By Bernie Fette, Mike Manser

1
Bhatt and Winfree: Two industry leaders and their shared optimism for the future. 45:54

1+ y ago45:54

45:54

FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt and TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree reflect upon a wide range of mobility challenges and opportunities, with references to Star Wars, Dick Tracy and hair styles.By Bernie Fette, Greg Winfree, Shailen Bhatt

1
Will AI Help Us Realize Our Highest Hopes or Our Deepest Fears? 32:10

1+ y ago32:10

32:10

Artificial intelligence seeks to replicate the analytical and creative capabilities of the human brain. Perhaps that lofty ambition helps to explain why so many humans are leery of the idea.By Bernie Fette, Bob Brydia

1
More Transit Agencies Are Jumping on the Battery-Powered Bandwagon. 28:47

1+ y ago28:47

28:47

Cities working to become leaders in clean transportation are electrifying their bus fleets, and learning that the road to success can be a bumpy one.By Bernie Fette, John Overman

1
Neil Pedersen Has a Question: Are we willing to stick our necks out? 46:23

1+ y ago46:23

46:23

The former leader of TRB may have stepped away from full-time employment, but he hasn’t stepped away entirely from the industry he has helped to guide for half a century.By Bernie Fette, Neil Pedersen

1
Roadside Mysteries: When utilities pose unique challenges for roadway construction. 27:20

1+ y ago27:20

27:20

Every road construction project involves the hidden element of utilities in the right of way. That work isn’t necessarily as visible, but it’s every bit as consequential.By Bernie Fette, Cesar Quiroga

1
Is Public Transit Back to Pre-pandemic Normal? That depends on where you look. 32:22

1+ y ago32:22

32:22

The transit industry is better equipped to work through a public health crisis than it was before COVID-19. And even as it faces persistent challenges, public transportation continues to play a central role in everyday mobility.By Bernie Fette, Michael Walk

1
Crash Data and an Aging Population Raise an Issue: How old is too old to drive? 26:04

1+ y ago26:04

26:04

Drivers over age 80 are more prone to serious and deadly crashes. As this population segment grows, researchers are working toward fresh countermeasures.By Bernie Fette, Myunghoon Ko

1
Behind the Wheel, What We Think and What We Do Can Define Who We Are. 25:40

1+ y ago25:40

25:40

Attitudes and behaviors related to driving reveal our traffic safety culture. Like other forms of culture, it has a way of changing over time— and not always for the better.By Bernie Fette, Katie Womack

1
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: How it’s easy to overlook our reliance on GPS. 32:58

1+ y ago32:58

32:58

With near-magical precision, GPS applications reliably guide multiple functions for us every moment of every day. But as they hold great promise, those applications also face vulnerabilities.By Bernie Fette, Greg Winfree

1
How to Ensure That US Infrastructure Remains Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts. 17:54

1+ y ago17:54

17:54

America’s infrastructure was built to last, but it wasn’t built to last forever. The Center for Infrastructure Renewal is focusing on how to ensure the resilience of the collective physical systems that America runs upon.By Bernie Fette, Edith Arámbula Mercado

1
Can Imperiled Creatures Survive and Thrive amid Widespread Roadway Construction? 39:36

1+ y ago39:36

39:36

The well-being of creatures protected under the Endangered Species Act is a high priority for transportation agencies. That’s good for the critters, and for agency operations as well.By Bernie Fette, Andrew Birt

1
Can Solar Panels in Highway ROW Be the Next Big Step in Renewable Energy? 25:22

2y ago25:22

25:22

In using roadsides for the collection of solar power, can we succeed in achieving both environmental and economic goals? It all depends on how you define “success.”By Bernie Fette, Brianne Glover, Edgar Kraus

1
We Rank the 2,138 Most Congested Roads in Texas. Is your daily drive on the list? 29:23

2y ago29:23

29:23

Traffic congestion is relative, because what constitutes gridlock depends a lot on where you live. Clearly, though, it’s no longer just a big city problem.By Bernie Fette, David Schrank

1
Revisited--Big and Bright: The view from TxDOT CEO Marc Williams’ Chair. 38:28

2y ago38:28

38:28

As we gather for the 97th Annual Transportation Short Course, we're revisiting our interview with Texas Department of Transportation CEO Marc Williams from approximately one year ago. Despite some Texas-sized mobility challenges and worldwide supply-chain obstacles, the guy in charge of the Texas Department of Transportation wants you to know he’s …

1
Alone in the Crowd: Long-haul truckers fight isolation through satellite connections. 25:18

2y ago25:18

25:18

Thousands of long-haul truck drivers in America share a common and constant challenge of remoteness. They find insight and community through the vast reach of satellite radio.By Bernie Fette, Mark Willis

1
When Mobility Needs Are Like Snowflakes: TTI’s outposts focus on singular urban challenges. 32:04

2y ago32:04

32:04

It’s been said that all politics is local. Given the unique nature of major population centers everywhere, the same could be said for transportation.By Bernie Fette, Jason Crawford

1
Minor Stress Factors Can Cause Major Problems, Even in the Best Driving Conditions 30:37

2y ago30:37

30:37

Obvious pressures when we’re driving on the roadways—like aggressive drivers, stormy weather, and unruly passengers—are widely recognized. But less conspicuous triggers can compromise safety, too.By Bernie Fette, Mike Manser, Ioannis Pavlidis

1
Lofty Ambitions Are Fueling the Move Toward Sustainable Transportation 29:15

2y ago29:15

29:15

Decarbonizing the transportation sector—the single-biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions—won’t happen overnight. But the U.S. Department of Energy has a plan.By Bernie Fette, Michael Berube

1
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Pedestrian deaths are at a 40-year high. 30:01

2y ago30:01

30:01

The dangers for those who travel on foot have constituted a public health challenge for as long as we’ve had motor vehicles. Why are pedestrian deaths increasing so fast? And what can be done to stem the tide?By Bernie Fette, Ben Ettelman

1
What If? ... How modelers envision the worst to enable the best response. 24:06

2y ago24:06

24:06

Disasters – whether natural or man-made – can cripple transportation systems. Sophisticated modeling can go a long way in minimizing disruptions and restoring routine conditions.By Bernie Fette, Jeff Shelton

1
Is America’s Infrastructure Turning a Corner? 30:50

2y ago30:50

30:50

Two years have passed since America’s last road and bridge report card, and we’ll wait another two years for the next one. An unofficial mid-term grade suggests that conditions are improving.By Bernie Fette, Charles Gurganus, Nasir Gharaibeh

1
The Texas Transportation Hall of Honor: Recognizing vision, passion, and purpose. 26:17

2y ago26:17

26:17

Texas owes its transportation primacy in large part to an elite group of visionary leaders whose contributions merit permanent and meaningful places in the Lone Star State’s history.By Bernie Fette, Dennis Christiansen

1
Fewer Motorcycle Safety Coaches, More Unlicensed Riders, More Crashes: Is there a link? 39:48

2y ago39:48

39:48

In recent years, roughly half of the motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in Texas were unlicensed. Safety advocates are working to enlist more instructors who can help riders develop the safety skills they need.By Bernie Fette, Cathy Brooks, Michael Strawn

1
Charging Ahead: How the Electrified Mobility Collaborative envisions a radical shift. 27:21

2y ago27:21

27:21

Nearly 300 million vehicles are on American roads today. Nearly all of them run on gasoline or diesel, so a large-scale shift to electric power would be transformative. A new Texas A&M University System venture is working to figure out how that might work.By Bernie Fette, Tara Ramani

1
For Bernie Wagenblast, both career and life have been all about transition. 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

As a transportation journalist, Bernie Wagenblast has been weaving narratives of a professional sort for more than 40 years. As it turns out, one of her most recent stories is more personal.By Bernie Fette, Bernie Wagenblast

1
Hidden Treasures: Remote community airports play an essential role in Texas life. 27:26

2+ y ago27:26

27:26

The value that small general aviation airports deliver far exceeds what their modest size might suggest. To many local government officials, those facilities represent “the most valuable mile of pavement in the county.”By Bernie Fette, Jacki Kuzio

1
Revisited--Highway to the Danger Zone: Hazards abound where road work advances. 22:27

2+ y ago22:27

22:27

As we’re about to observe National Work Zone Awareness Week and in light of a work zone crash last month in Maryland, in which 6 workers were killed, we're revisiting a discussion with TTI's Jerry Ullman, research engineer and highway work zone safety expert. The number of fatal crashes in America is up by about 7 percent over the past decade. But …

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