Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program (TPEC)
Persistent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/253213
This collection contains progress reports, white papers, and other publications from the Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program (TPEC). TPEC was created in response to a directive by the Minnesota Legislature for the Minnesota Department of Transportation to fund research at the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies, including research on "transportation policy and economic competitiveness, including, but not limited to, innovative transportation finance options and economic development, transportation impacts of industry clusters and freight, and transportation technology impacts on economic competitiveness."
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Item Mapping the Midwest's Future: Regional Innovation Clusters and Competitiveness(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2014) Center for Transportation StudiesThis report summarizes the keynote presentation, two transportation-related sessions, and a session on knowledge creation and education from the first day of the conference, Mapping the Midwest’s Future: Regional Innovation Clusters and Competitiveness, held September 29-30, 2014, at Cowles Auditorium (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis).Item Minnesota Transportation Funding Redistribution (2009-2014): Who Contributes More, Who Receives More?(Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program, University of Minnesota, 2017-03-04) Zhao, Jerry; Lari, Adeel; Lou, ShengnanThe focus of this analysis is the redistribution of transportation funding across Minnesota. Transportation funding comes from all levels of government – the federal government, the state government, and local governments that include counties, cities, and townships. Transportation funding that are directly generated by local taxes and fees are used in corresponding local jurisdictions. Federal or state transportation funding – generated through a variety of federal or state revenue sources – are also contributed by people in local jurisdictions, but these revenues are allocated through certain budgetary procedures and may or may not be used in the original point of collection. Hence are the questions of transportation funding redistribution: What are the areas that contribute more to transportation funding? What are those that receive more? What are the areas that contribute more than they receive, or verse versa? Those are empirical questions to be answered in this report, for the purpose to facilitate informed decision making.Item Minnesota Transportation Finance Database (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2017-04) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief describes the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database created by TPEC researchers.Item Industry Clusters and Freight Infrastructure (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2017-04) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes the National Freight Economy Atlas and other efforts by TPEC researchers to identify industry clusters in various MnDOT districts.Item Gauging the Impacts: Self-Driving Vehicles (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2017-04) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes the 2014 conference Automated Vehicles: The Legal and Policy Road Ahead and a series of 2016 roundtables about the impacts of the digital infrastructure and self-driving vehicles.Item Self-Driving Vehicle Task Force Write-up: Issues, Opportunities, and Next Steps(Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program, University of Minnesota, 2017-06) State and Local Policy Program, Humphrey School of Public AffairsThis report summarizes activities of the Self-Driving Vehicle Task Force, including issues, opportunities, and next steps. The appendix contains a Matrix of Users chart designed to cross-compare geography, barriers to participation, and the potential forms of self-driving transportation that may be implemented in Minnesota.Item 2013-2017 Progress Report(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2017-09) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis progress report highlights TPEC activities from 2013 to 2017, including the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database, the National Freight Economy Atlas, industry clusters in Minnesota regions, a 2014 conference Automated Vehicles: The Legal and Policy Road Ahead, and other events.Item Minnesota Transportation Funding Redistribution (2010-2015): Who Contributes More and Who Receives More?(Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program, University of Minnesota, 2018-03) Zhao, Jerry; Lari, Adeel; Fonseca, CamilaThe focus of this analysis is the redistribution of transportation funding across Minnesota. Transportation funding comes from all levels of government – the federal government, the state government, and local governments that include counties, cities, and townships. The redistribution of transportation funding arises the following questions: What areas contribute the most to transportation funding? What areas receive more funding? What areas contribute more than what they receive? Or verse versa. This report aims to answer these empirical questions with the purpose of facilitating informed decision making. In this report, we aggregate or allocate data to the county level for analysis and then present the aggregated results at the district level for a six-year period, between 2010 and 2015. We found that local governments fund a huge proportion of the transportation infrastructure in Minnesota, primarily through the property taxes they collect. The Twin Cities metro district contributes slightly more than what it receives. In addition, this district receives the largest share of funding for transit services. Districts in Greater Minnesota receive more funding that they contribute, mainly due to lower population density. Finally, we found a cost of 7 cents per vehicle mile traveled in the state. This cost tends to be much higher in counties located in the north.Item Evolving Grain Markets and Supply Chains (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2018-06) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes how market forces and changes in the grain supply chain directly influence the way grain producers and wholesalers navigate their local freight networks.Item Equity Issues of Self-Driving Vehicles (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2018-06) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes TPEC work regarding equity in the development and implementation of self-driving vehicles. It corresponds to Self-Driving Vehicle Task Force Write-up: Issues, Opportunities, and Next Steps.Item Minnesota Transportation Finance Database: Data Updated, New Analyses (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2018-06) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes a new analysis of transportation funding redistribution in Minnesota, which resulted in updating the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database. It corresponds to Minnesota Transportation Funding Redistribution (2010-2015): Who Contributes More and Who Receives More?Item Minnesota’s Booming Medical Sector Relies on Airports (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes recent TPEC work on air cargo and medical goods.Item Connected and Automated Vehicles: Opportunity for Safety, Accessibility, and Equity (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes TPEC's recent community engagement and takeaways regarding connected and automated vehicles (CAV) in Minnesota.Item Minnesota's Motorization Trends Reshape Roadway Funding (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes the 2019 report Motorization Trends in Minnesota.Item Minnesota Transportation Finance Database: Visualization Tool Enables Access and Usage (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief describes a data visualization tool added to the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database.Item Minnesota Transportation Funding: How Are Federal and State Funds Redistributed? (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page research brief summarizes how federal and state transportation funding is redistributed in Minnesota.Item Motorization Trends in Minnesota(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Zhao, Jerry; Lari, Adeel; Fonseca, Camila; Bean, NateThe analysis of motorization trends in the state of Minnesota is important because it reveals changes in driver behavior that impact transportation planning and funding across the state. Changes in traveling habits have implications for transportation revenue streams in Minnesota, particularly for roadway infrastructure investment. This report presents an analysis of motorization and highway and roads funding trends in Minnesota between 1980 and 2016. Key motorization patterns include the number of registered vehicles, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and fuel consumption. In addition, this report analyses the evolution of roadway revenues and expenses at the federal, state, and local levels. The analysis in this report includes an overview of the general trends for the state as well as an overview of the changes by county. Data for the analysis come from the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database. The report has several interesting findings about motorization in Minnesota. For instance, the number of registered vehicles has continually increased since 1980, although it has slowed since the 2000s. Over the same period of time, distance travelled, measured by VMT, and fuel consumption increased, although their per capita measures have been decreasing. Overall, Minnesota?s trends are consistent with the national pattern. The persistence of these trends in the future will have consequences in future roadway funding. In particular, fuel consumption and its long term declines due to increases in fuel efficiency standards could cause continuous revenue reductions unless the state roadway funding structure is adjusted.Item Blockchain: A Disruptive Technology for Transportation? (Research Brief)(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-02) Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness ProgramThis two-page brief describes blockchain and proposed TPEC research in this area.Item Identifying the Opportunities and Obstacles of Connected and Automated Vehicles in Rural Minnesota: Community Engagement in Greater Minnesota(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2019-06) Douma, Frank; Lari, Adeel; McNiel, DanielConnected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies have advanced toward implementation stages and will eventually arrive on Minnesota roadways. The advent of CAV technology highlights the importance of facilitating policy conversations that will help plan for the uncertainties of these new modes of transportation. Rural communities in Minnesota experience distinct barriers to safe and affordable transit and have the potential to benefit greatly from the advancements of CAV technology. Automated vehicles present new ways of improving transportation safety, increasing accessibility for transportation disadvantaged populations and spurring economic growth. However, there is growing need for elected officials and city staff to initiate advanced planning regarding CAVs while these technologies continue to be developed and tested, as without policy intervention and intentional planning, CAV technologies have the undesired potential to perpetuate inequities especially in rural areas, where transit service can be very limited, or non-existent. Rural areas will likely require the development of different CAV transit models that blend the functions of high speed and low speed public transit. Examining the challenges that rural transit operators currently face in Greater Minnesota can help to guide the development of policy that promotes rural driverless transit. At the University of Minnesota, the Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program (TPEC) has been examining equity issues and opportunities related to CAV technology since 2014. The TPEC program focuses on conducting research, creating tools for policymakers, and engaging in outreach to better understand the relationship between transportation and economic development in Minnesota. In the Spring of 2017, TPEC researchers organized a CAV Task Force to identify how various SDV deployment strategies could improve mobility and access for transportation dependent Minnesotans. The work of the Task Force highlighted the need for further outreach and engagement with communities in Greater Minnesota to better understand considerations for implementing CAVs in rural contexts. The TPEC team then conducted community discussions with municipalities throughout the state to better understand how CAV technologies present opportunities to improve safety, accessibility, and equity in Greater Minnesota. The insights gained from these community discussions can help assist Minnesota lawmakers design future CAV policy that is responsive to the needs of residents.Item Minnesota Medical Device Industry Cluster: Development, Linkages, and Transportation(Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness Program, University of Minnesota, 2019-10-30) Munnich, Lee; Horan, TomMinnesota’s medical device industry cluster is not only one of the biggest driving economic forces in the state, it is also a leader in global medical device arena. For this reason, the Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness (TPEC) program at University of Minnesota has undertaken a multi-phased analysis of the medical device industry, with particular attention to transportation implications. This analysis has featured both quantitative (e.g., spatial) analysis as well as qualitative (e.g., interviews) analysis. These analyses have addressed economic competitiveness, economic development, transportation implications, and research and data needs. These issues as well as transportation policy implications are summarized in this white paper.