transportation geography


Human Geography

National Transit Map 

There is a new effort to create a national transit map to find the places in America that are being under-serviced (or not serviced at all) by public transportation methods. A new initiative by the U.S. Transportation Department is compiling transportation data from transportation companies around the country to find transit deserts.

Human Geography

World’s Deadliest Roads

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a reported on global road safety which analyzed data from countries around the world.  The report found that around “1.3 million people die each year on the world’s roads, and between 20 and 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries”.  Other findings of the report include: […]

Human Geography

Networks of principal roads (both solid and dotted lines; the thickness represents the number of lanes). (a) Boston-Cambridge area, (b) London, UK, and (c) New York City. The color of each link indicates the additional travel time needed in the Nash equilibrium if that link is cut (blue: no change, red: more than 60 seconds additional delay). Black dotted lines denote links whose removal reduces the travel time, i.e., allowing drivers to use these streets in fact creates additional congestion. This counter-intuitive phenomenon is called ”Braess’s paradox.”Networks of principal roads (both solid and dotted lines; the thickness represents the number of lanes). (a) Boston-Cambridge area, (b) London, UK, and (c) New York City. The color of each link indicates the additional travel time needed in the Nash equilibrium if that link is cut (blue: no change, red: more than 60 seconds additional delay). Black dotted lines denote links whose removal reduces the travel time, i.e., allowing drivers to use these streets in fact creates additional congestion. This counter-intuitive phenomenon is called ”Braess’s paradox.”

Closing Roads to Help Cut Traffic

Three scientists have concluded that having more routing options can actually slow down the overall rate of travel. More access routes results in Braess’s Paradox.

Human Geography

Congestion Cities

INRIX, a traffic-information provider released their list of the top 100 most congested cities in the United States.  Not surprisingly, some of the most populated metropolitan areas rank at the very top of the list.   According to the press release, “The INRIX Scorecard takes a micro look at traffic problems […]

Human Geography

Highspeed Rail Plans for the U.S.

Popular mechanics has an article in their December issue that provides an overview of highspeed rail plans for the United States.  The article looks at steel-wheel and maglev lines as a possible solution for easing the air and roadway gridlock.  The second page of the article has an interactive map […]