8:00–8:45am • REGISTRATION - BREAKFAST
8:45–9:45am • MORNING KEYNOTE WITH MOLLY POPPE
BIO
Molly Poppe joined the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in June 2019 as the Agency’s first Chief Innovation Officer. At the CTA, she is laser focused on enhancing the transit rider experience through innovation from improving the Agency’s many digital tools like bus and train tracker and the Ventra app to launching new fare products and investing in new technologies that will improve service reliability and make the service safer. Molly and the Innovation Department managed many customer and employee initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now focused on developing and implementing the strategic policy solutions and new technology deployments for CTA’s post-pandemic future. The Innovation Department works to identify third-party partnerships to launch integrated products and services that will help reduce mobility friction amongst transportation services and within CTA. She also works closely with CTA departments to foster a culture of innovation across the Agency. Prior to joining the CTA, she spent over seven years working for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city of Chicago in various roles, including serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development where she led the city of Chicago’s Mobility Task Force and the creation of the Roadmap for the Future of Transportation and Mobility in Chicago. Prior to her work at the city of Chicago, she worked for the Obama 2012 presidential campaign. She is a proud graduate of George Washington University.
10:00–11:00am • SESSION 1
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Red Line
Red Line Extension Transit-Supportive Development Plan
CM | 1 Moderator: Colin Fleming, AICP; Transportation Planner, CDM Smith Speakers:
DESCRIPTION
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is proposing to extend the Red Line from the existing terminal at 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street. The 5.6-mile extension would include four new stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and 130th Street. This once in a generation investment in transit infrastructure will transform neighborhoods through increased transit connectivity and improved access to job centers and destinations throughout the city. At the same time, the transit investment provides opportunities to foster economic development surrounding each new station. But how do you plan for this? Our panel will discuss how to proactively plan for the station areas and economic development opportunities through the development of RLE Transit-Supportive Development (TSD) Plan. This multi-agency panel will be a moderated presentation that will provide a brief overview of the TSD Plan and discuss plan elements in more detail. This will include learning about both qualitative and quantitative methods used to develop the TSD Plan with a focus on the development sites analysis process and goals to increase housing opportunities. |
Blue Line
Where Are We Going, Anyway? The Old Normal, the Abnormal, and the New Normal: Changes in TNC Travel and Usage in Chicago CM | 1
Brent Selby; Senior Associate, Cambridge Systematics DESCRIPTION
With almost 3 years of data since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study will assess how Chicago’s travel patterns and volumes have continuously changed through phases from pre- to post-pandemic. This study will focus on transportation network company (TNC) – i.e. Lyft and Uber - usage by analyzing the rich data set of trips available through the city of Chicago data portal. After the initial plummet in ridership in the spring of 2020, TNC usage has steadily increased aside from a few smaller drops coinciding with later viral surges. The volume of trips remains below 70% of the 2019 level, with especially low levels to and from the loop, as these TNC trips experienced the most drastic decrease. Pooled rides which were suspended for 2 years have made only a small comeback. This work will explore geographic, temporal, and fare patterns of TNC usage over the years 2019-2022. This includes comparisons to auto and bikeshare modes, which rebounded more quickly, as well as transit, which has been slower. The trips are given by community area and tract, allowing for the assessment of TNC activity with respect to socio-economics, neighborhoods and built environment. TNC fare data will inform trends in pricing, as well as supply (drivers) and demand (riders) fluctuations. This study will provide an update on where we are as a region and insight into temporary and longer lasting changes to local travel. An Exploration of Accessibility and Ridership trends of the CTA Train System: 2019-2021 CM | 1
Adrian Serrano; Student, Elmhurst University DESCRIPTION
There were nine CTA rail stations that were below the network’s average ridership in 2019 but rose to the top half of ridership in 2021. All but one was located near large minority population, areas of low-income, poverty, or all the above. Similarly, stations that dropped from above average ridership in 2019 to below average in 2021, were located near more affluent, and heavily Caucasian neighborhoods. The biggest reason for the drop in ridership at stations in more affluent and in more heavily Caucasian areas, is the workforce’s ability to shift their work online, from their homes. An unprecedented event like the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic can certainly create unpredictable data, but at times create equally unprecedented glimpses into how and why public services are being used. By isolating a study area based on walking distance to CTA “El” stations, we can see the tracts where both the most and least affected by ridership tell a story of the demographics truly served by public transportation. Stations that saw the least reduction in ridership by average are found predominately in areas of high density of minority residents, or in areas of low income and poverty. Ridership across the entire CTA train line has diminished due the COVID-19 pandemic, however stations within low-income areas, or neighborhoods of color have seen lesser reduction in ridership due to a continued, and disparate dependence on public transportation as compared to other areas. Four Seasons of the CTA: Lessons from a New Commuter's Transit Diary CM | 1
Stacey Swearingen White; Dean, UIC College of Urban Planning and Planning Affairs DESCRIPTION
In April 2022, I moved to the Chicago area to begin a new position at UIC. The ability to take the CTA to work was a driving factor in where I chose to purchase a home. For the last year, I have ridden the blue line (and occasionally the green line) as a commuter, keeping a transit diary on my phone to record my experiences. In each entry, I record the date, time, weather, and any observations I have both on the platform and while riding. This presentation will reflect on my experiences as a new CTA customer who is committed to supporting public transportation. The CTA has faced ongoing scrutiny and criticism for its post-pandemic operations, with concerns about safety and reliability being most prominent. A transit diary is a unique window into the opportunities and challenges that confront the CTA and other transit systems attempting to build back ridership after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a goal-oriented content analysis approach, I will analyze the entries for themes related to safety and reliability, while also considering the ways that a commuter’s perceptions of those topics may evolve over time, both in response to CTA changes and becoming more familiar with the train system. Lessons from this analysis will show that reliability concerns are more prominent than safety concerns and that these concerns depend on choices made by the individual rider as well as circumstances both within and beyond the control of the CTA. |
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Green Line
Future of Infrastructure Future for Freight - Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway
CM | 1 Rob Nichols P.Log; Managing Director, Domestic Intermodal Sales, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway DESCRIPTION
On April 14th, Canadian Pacific (“CP”) and Kansas City Southern (“KCS”) combined to create Canadian Pacific Kansas City (“CPKC”), creating the first single-line railway connecting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. CPKC is the only railway connecting North America and has unrivaled port access on coasts around the continent, from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to Lázaro Cárdenas on Mexico’s Pacific coast, with Chicago at its heart. The new combined company has a much larger and more competitive network, operating approximately 20,000 miles of rail, and employing close to 20,000 people. Full integration of CP and KCS is expected to take place over the next three years, unlocking the benefits of the combination. CPKC will bring a new safety standard to the North American rail landscape. CP has been the safest railroad in North America for 17 straight years. CPKC plans capital investments in new infrastructure of more than US$275 million over the next three years to improve rail safety and the capacity of the core north-south CPKC main line between the U.S. Upper Midwest and Louisiana. Anticipated environmental benefits of CPKC include the avoidance of more than 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the anticipated improved operational efficiency of CPKC versus current operations and another 300,000 tons of GHG emissions with the diversion of 64,000 trucks to rail for a total reduction of 1.9 million tons of GHG emissions over the next five years. Diverting 64,000 long-haul truck shipments to rail annually with new CPKC intermodal services will reduce total truck vehicle miles traveled by almost 2 billion miles over the next two decades, saving US$750 million in highway maintenance costs. CPKC will also support the expansion of Amtrak and other passenger services on the CPKC network. Rebuilding and Revitalizing the Eisenhower Expressway: Challenges and Opportunities CM | 1
Dominick Scafidi; Organizer, Rebuild I-290 DESCRIPTION
The findings of this presentation will focus on the major issues that have caused safety issues and congestion on I-290 over many decades. These issues include the unsafe left-side entrances and exits, the inconsistency of lane width and roadway design, and the built-in congestion spots that produce mass amounts of pollution daily. The presentation will also explore the lack of collaboration and communication between transportation organizations, including I-DOT, CTA, RTA, CMAP, and the City of Chicago, and the economic losses in terms of productivity and pollution caused by the current state of I-290. Finally, the presentation will conclude by providing potential solutions and opportunities for rebuilding and revitalizing I-290, including multimodal concepts and planning, innovative highway design, and public-private partnerships. Building Something Better: Community-led Solutions to Damaging Urban Transportation Infrastructure CM | 1
Audrey Wennick; Senior Director, Metropolitan Planning Council DESCRIPTION
In an effort to prepare agencies in the Chicago Region for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities grant opportunities, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) documented the equity and environmental harm that transportation infrastructure has historically caused in the region and sought community-generated ideas to mitigate those harms, to set a path for local agencies to apply for future grant opportunities. The effort and project recommendations are documented the Reconnecting Communities Report. As a historic freight rail hub, Chicago's transportation network serves as a barrier to community mobility. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, Chicago developed a network of highways that caused displacement and environmental burden to communities while creating barriers that still limit their access to desired destinations. MPC gathered data across the region identifying environmental and socioeconomic justice issues such as asthma prevalence, noise, and income in areas near to transportation infrastructure. Via a web-based engagement tool, MPC documented over 120 community-generated project ideas, most of them in proximity to highways and freight rail corridors. Community members suggested projects, such as underpass parks, highway caps, or complete streets. MPC developed scoring criteria based on the Reconnecting Communities Grant’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, evaluating each proposed project based on its potential to address Economic and Environmental Burden Risk, benefit Historically Transportation Disadvantaged Communities, and incorporate Climate-Resilient Infrastructure. The study team reviewed the projects with an advisory committee that included local transportation agencies and community-based organizations and conducted interviews with community organizations to refine the top 22 projects listed in the report. This report seeks to change the narrative around the harm that transportation infrastructure has caused in the Chicago region and elevate transportation and neighborhood improvement ideas from community members, with the ultimate goal of helping secure resources to implement them. |
Brown Line
International Rail Best Practice: Integrated Service Design
CM | 1 Michael Cornfield; Principal, DB E.C.O. North America DESCRIPTION
How is Metra learning from international peers to modernize the service design process? In the US, rail operators are challenged to (1) balance service goals from different stakeholders, (2) plan integrated service with passenger and freight on shared rights of way, and (3) coordinate with host railroads. Metra faces these challenges operating in a dynamic, complex environment with so many network users and stakeholders competing for limited capacity. The German rail network faces incredible demand for service; tens of thousands of high-speed, intercity, regional, and local passenger trains and freight operated by multiple companies to/from multiple countries are managed every day. Deutsche Bahn (DB) has developed a service design process that allows the network to balance capacity needs, deliver stable operating plans with high on-time performance, and maximize return on investment. DB’s process empowers planners to integrate strategic policy goals and technical operating parameters, develop feasible operating concepts for refinement, and ultimately deliver service with high precision. Metra and DB will present a comparative analysis of challenges to service planning practices in the US, lessons to be drawn from international peers in more effectively managing service design, and how US agencies can begin to put those lessons into practice. |
11:15am–12:15pm • SESSION 2
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Red Line
Making the Right Turn Towards Safety Jacobs: Improving Chicago's Complex Intersections CM | 1
DESCRIPTION
Chicago’s Complex Intersections represent an outsized opportunity to improve traffic safety, vehicle operations, and travel comfort for all users of city streets. CDOT, Jacobs, and Sam Schwartz have been working together to develop a framework plan to help improve these intersections in the city of Chicago. Our tasks so far have included (1) Identifying, (2) Prioritizing, and (3) Developing concept plans for the top 100 complex intersections. While the work is ongoing, this presentation would describe the process and results so far of each of these three steps. The Identification and Prioritization Steps involved extensive data analysis to determine which intersections qualified as complex and then from those, which 100 should we develop concept plans. We used diverse data sets such as crashes, transit ridership, census, travel time, and more to decide where to spend our limited efforts in the next phase. The Concept Plan Step is still ongoing and focuses on identifying core issues at each intersection and then developing ideas that could improve the intersection for all users. These concept plans are not meant to be construction-ready but are there to serve as a foundation for others such as property developers or other infrastructure projects at the intersection. New Insights into the Traffic Safety Crisis CM | 1
Victoria Barrett; Senior Transportation Planner, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning DESCRIPTION
The Chicago region has seen a growing number of annual traffic fatalities since 2014, and a sharp spike that started during the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues today. This is the first time that reduced travel is associated with an increase in traffic fatalities. What are the factors contributing to the current safety crisis and who is being most affected? This presentation will provide an overview of data related to the national and regional traffic safety crisis and describe recent findings in an analysis of speeding-related crashes, including patterns related to location and severity. The presentation will include a discussion of ways to address the safety crisis through a Safe System Approach that seeks to manage speeds and improve equity outcomes through improved roadway design, reduced speed limits and equitable use of enforcement that is centered in safety. Recent successes in peer cities will be shared. The presentation will conclude with priority recommendations for transportation professionals, advocates, and decisions makers to address speeding and improve equity. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and share experiences in addressing traffic safety. Intersection Corner Design: Innovative Approach to Improve Ped/Bike Safety CM | 1
Sagar Sonar; Senior Project Manager, Kimley-Horn DESCRIPTION
The typical intersection corner design approach for all types including stop-controlled, signalized, and roundabout is focused on accommodating the largest vehicle. The largest vehicle evaluated is often a multi-unit (MU) truck or Over size overweight (OSOW) vehicle. This approach often results in large intersection corners and longer crossing distances for pedestrians and bicyclists that are vulnerable users. The larger corners also encourage higher vehicle turning speeds and negatively affect sight distances. This typical intersection design approach results in unsafe design that prioritizes infrequent vehicles. The presentation will discuss design challenges and corner design methods to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclist. |
Blue Line
Strengthening transit in northeastern Illinois: CMAP’s Plan of Action for Regional Transit CM | 1
Moderator: Martin Menninger; Program Lead, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Speakers:
DESCRIPTION
The Chicago region’s transit system faces a fiscal cliff of unprecedented size and urgency. Buoyed by federal COVID relief funding, transit operations in northeastern Illinois have continued throughout the pandemic even while ridership and revenues have fallen. But once federal funding is fully exhausted in 2026, regional transit agencies anticipate an annual operating budget shortfall of $730 million to return to pre-COVID service levels, let alone to make new investments in a stronger transit system. In response, the Illinois General Assembly has required the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to develop recommendations to ensure the long-term financial viability of the regional transit system. Through this Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART), CMAP will recommend a suite of short- and long-term solutions to achieve financial viability, regional coordination, safety, security, cleanliness, efficiency, and transit-supportive land use –while also addressing racial equity, climate change, economic development, and the Regional Transportation Authority’s strategic plan. In this session, CMAP’s Elizabeth Scott will provide an overview of the PART process and facilitate a discussion on the challenges facing transit and the strategies that the region could pursue in response. The panelists, including PART steering committee members and other regional stakeholders, will discuss their perspectives on those challenges and potential strategies. Audience members will also be invited to share their own questions and to consider how they can personally and/or professional support the success of regional transit. |
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Green Line
Looking in the Toolkit: Methods for Transportation Planning Engagement Strategies to Electrify your Community CM | 1
Jane Wilberding; Senior Mobility Manager, HNTB Sarah Edwards; Environment & Sustainability Program Manager, Cook County DESCRIPTION
Electric vehicles are here and there is a great need to invest in both physical and social capital related to EV charging infrastructure in order to reap the economic, health, and environmental benefits this technology could provide our communities. However range anxiety due to limited access to EV charging is a primary barrier to EV purchases. For this reason, it is critical for municipalities to engage with residents and community members on the local level to maximize the benefits EVs bring, particularly at the local level. Join us to hear about Cook County’s recent outreach and education program in which the project team identified locations for public EV charging stations in communities of economic hardship throughout Cook County. Key strategies that will be discussed include the deployment of a robust survey mapping tool, branding, and an educational outreach campaign. These efforts were used to inform the public about EV and EV charging in general, and identify where public EV chargers should be specifically located. The resulting priority locations will be implemented by the County. This session will be lead by a representative from HNTB and Muse and will discuss current EV-related policy trends; lessons learned from the Cook County team on locating and funding stations; best practices in EV related engagement/outreach; and how public EV charging fits into the larger context of sustainable, equitable, and resilient communities. The Path to Mobility Interoperability CM | 1
Nate Seeskin; Program Coordinator, Shared-Use Mobility Center DESCRIPTION
Since 2021, the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) has convened a Specs to Standards working group in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In these meetings for the working group, advocates, planners, and policymakers from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors discussed the need for data standardization across the shared mobility industry. As a product of this working group. SUMC recently released "The Path to Mobility Interoperability". This resource is an experimental tool for partners in the mobility industry to refer to when looking to implement solutions to achieve interoperability-related solutions, like adopting new data standards, software, or other assets. In the tool is a Logic Model that outlines a suggested implementation process for interoperability solutions: 1. Set goals; 2. Identify needs; 3. Fill gaps; 4. Implement data standards and elements; and 5. Continue management and maintenance. For this presentation at Transport Chicago, Nate plans to review the tool and its development process while providing a primer on mobility interoperability and data standardization. Analyzing Transportation Equity in Chicago: Using GIS to Address Transit Deserts and Support Transit-dependent Communities CM | 1
Anton Rozhkov; Ph.D. Candidate, Instructor, University of Illinois Chicago DESCRIPTION
Chicago, which is a city with one of the largest public transit authorities in the US, is still facing the challenge of underserved communities. There is still an unanswered question as to whether and to what extent Chicago’s transit access disparities is the cause of the growing socioeconomic disparities in the metroplex. Within the last two decades only, Chicago has grown more inequality challenges regarding various sociodemographic factors. What is the transit access role in addressing these challenges? To answer this question, in this study, we evaluated transportation equity throughout the city by a series of spatial analyses, identifying the transit-dependent hot spots within the city and transit-desert areas, for which we use datasets of current service quality. Then, we compared these transit desert areas to a multitude of socioeconomic factors to identify populations in Chicago who are at a higher risk of transportation inequality and the role of transit desert areas in the growing socioeconomic disparities in the region. The objective of this work is to follow the ongoing research about transit deserts and develop a scalable methodological approach using Geographic Information Systems as a primary tool that allows to spatially identify transit deserts in cities. The results of this study found multiple areas that had a high demand for transportation but were not being met with adequate transit access. The findings of this study present a methodological framework for identifying the transit-dependent communities and transit-desert areas and second to aid in policy developments and planning transportation equity challenges. |
Brown Line
Unlocking Potential: Discovering Service-First Improvements for Legacy Systems to Benefit Riders and Operators CM | 1
DESCRIPTION
Legacy system operators face a daunting challenge. How can they improve operations—reimagining service philosophy, updating operating practices, evaluating infrastructure and procurements, upgrading the physical environment—while maintaining existing systems and being entrenched in day-to-day operating habits? Agencies strive to provide state-of-the-art service for riders and their operators, but they are often straddled with limited capital budgets and systems inherited from prior operators and owners, or from prior generations that have not conducted a comprehensive review. In this panel discussion we will highlight three case studies: BART Future Operating Plan Development, SEPTA Trolley Modernization, and Virginia Performance Monitoring. All three demonstrate service-first approaches to assist agencies in limiting capital expenditures, reducing fleet needs and infrastructure requirements by identifying high-leverage locations, and utilizing modeling and planning to identify priority infrastructure necessary to accomplish goals. |
Outdoor Session
CTA Electric Bus Tour
Richard Lin; Assistant Chief Bus Equipment Engineer, Chicago Transit Authority
Ralph Cerant; Senior Project Manager - Bus Engineering, Chicago Transit Authority
Bruce Sullivan; Bus Instructor, Chicago Transit Authority
Richard Lin; Assistant Chief Bus Equipment Engineer, Chicago Transit Authority
Ralph Cerant; Senior Project Manager - Bus Engineering, Chicago Transit Authority
Bruce Sullivan; Bus Instructor, Chicago Transit Authority
DESCRIPTION
Join us on a special trip aboard one of the newest CTA electric buses. The trip will start outside of the hotel on Orleans at Wolf Point Plaza, end at the Navy Pier terminal, and then return back to the hotel. CTA Bus Engineering will talk about the agency's transition plan to a fully electrified fleet by 2040 and showcase the features of the electric bus, as well as the charging infrastructure at Navy Pier.
12:30–1:00pm • LUNCH
1:00–2:00pm • AFTERNOON KEYNOTE WITH MONALI SHAH
BIO
Monali Shah believes through intention, innovation, and investment we can transform. She has applied this mindset to address major societal challenges such as transportation safety, sustainability and equity. She also applies this to personal and team transformation. She believes we can joyfully co-create ideas and solutions by fostering openness, authenticity and creativity.
The spaces where she creates include the tech sector, public sector, and nonprofits. Her newest venture is co-founder of Impact Mākars, a social enterprise that uses creative expression to create connection within organizations. In her work with Google Public Sector, she helps transportation agencies bring the power of AI and analytics to improve safety, resilience and community engagement. As board chair of ITS America, she works across government, companies and academia to foster innovation and collaboration in transportation. Through Social Venture Partners, she invests in community organizations through executive coaching, advising and amplifying.
She serves on the advisory boards for US Department of Energy’s Smart Mobility Consortium and University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. She previously served as the Director of Intelligent Transportation at HERE Technologies and led the company's work in the areas of smart cities, automated driving, and traffic management. At Nokia and NAVTEQ, she spearheaded product innovation in several location-based products. She started off her career as an Environmental Engineer and Six Sigma Blackbelt at Avery Dennison. Ms. Shah has a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
The spaces where she creates include the tech sector, public sector, and nonprofits. Her newest venture is co-founder of Impact Mākars, a social enterprise that uses creative expression to create connection within organizations. In her work with Google Public Sector, she helps transportation agencies bring the power of AI and analytics to improve safety, resilience and community engagement. As board chair of ITS America, she works across government, companies and academia to foster innovation and collaboration in transportation. Through Social Venture Partners, she invests in community organizations through executive coaching, advising and amplifying.
She serves on the advisory boards for US Department of Energy’s Smart Mobility Consortium and University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. She previously served as the Director of Intelligent Transportation at HERE Technologies and led the company's work in the areas of smart cities, automated driving, and traffic management. At Nokia and NAVTEQ, she spearheaded product innovation in several location-based products. She started off her career as an Environmental Engineer and Six Sigma Blackbelt at Avery Dennison. Ms. Shah has a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
2:00–2:45pm • POSTER SESSION
Details
A Practical Comparison of Machine Learning and Probabilistic Models for Predicting Non-Mandatory Trip Departure Time
Fateme Hafizi; Ph.D. Candidate, Illinois Institute of Technology
Fateme Hafizi; Ph.D. Candidate, Illinois Institute of Technology
Description
Urban regions frequently experience significant traffic congestion, which leads to lost time, increased fuel usage, noise and air pollution, as well as increased accident risks. Effective transportation demand management is crucial to addressing this problem, and promoting peak-to-off-peak departure timings is one solution. In transportation planning, choosing an ideal departure time is important,especially for not mandatory trips which enable greater flexibility in scheduling.
This study investigates two practical approaches for predicting the time of departure for non-mandatory trips using machine learning and probabilistic techniques: the Probabilistic Support Vector Machine (PSVM) model and the Multinomial Logit (MNL) model. Our analysis makes use of real data collected through paper questionnaires in Qazvin, Iran, with a concentration on not mandatory home-based trips within different traffic zones, sorted by socioeconomic features and land uses.
There are no straightforward to understand parameters in the non-parametric PSVM model. The MNL model, on the other hand, offers interpretability and enables us to find relationships between independent and dependent variables. The findings from the MNL model show that trips including shopping, visiting, or recreational activities are less likely to take place during morning or noon peak hours, whereas people who prefer active modes of transportation are more likely to travel during these periods.
To evaluate the prediction accuracy, we examine both the MNL and PSVM models. We examine at the MNL and PSVM models to try evaluate prediction accuracy. The MNL model focuses only a limited number of statistically significant coefficients, howeverthe PSVM model can use all variables for calibration. The PSVM-All model shows the highest accuracy in predicting departure times for the test dataset in comparison to the PSVM-Selected and MNL models. The PSVM model's accuracy is greatly increased if it includes all variables. On the other hand, the MNL model outperforms the PSVM model in regarding prediction accuracy when the same number of variables are taken into account. Notably, the MNL model outperforms the other models in predicting the evening peak option.
Using machine learning models can provide industry communities with enhanced predictive accuracy. However, if the primary goal is to interpret relationships between variables, the differences in prediction performance among these models may be minimal.
This study investigates two practical approaches for predicting the time of departure for non-mandatory trips using machine learning and probabilistic techniques: the Probabilistic Support Vector Machine (PSVM) model and the Multinomial Logit (MNL) model. Our analysis makes use of real data collected through paper questionnaires in Qazvin, Iran, with a concentration on not mandatory home-based trips within different traffic zones, sorted by socioeconomic features and land uses.
There are no straightforward to understand parameters in the non-parametric PSVM model. The MNL model, on the other hand, offers interpretability and enables us to find relationships between independent and dependent variables. The findings from the MNL model show that trips including shopping, visiting, or recreational activities are less likely to take place during morning or noon peak hours, whereas people who prefer active modes of transportation are more likely to travel during these periods.
To evaluate the prediction accuracy, we examine both the MNL and PSVM models. We examine at the MNL and PSVM models to try evaluate prediction accuracy. The MNL model focuses only a limited number of statistically significant coefficients, howeverthe PSVM model can use all variables for calibration. The PSVM-All model shows the highest accuracy in predicting departure times for the test dataset in comparison to the PSVM-Selected and MNL models. The PSVM model's accuracy is greatly increased if it includes all variables. On the other hand, the MNL model outperforms the PSVM model in regarding prediction accuracy when the same number of variables are taken into account. Notably, the MNL model outperforms the other models in predicting the evening peak option.
Using machine learning models can provide industry communities with enhanced predictive accuracy. However, if the primary goal is to interpret relationships between variables, the differences in prediction performance among these models may be minimal.
How Europe Converted To Regional Rail And How The U.S. Can Convert Faster Using Crossrail Chicago As Prototype
Robert Munson; Council Representative from Illinois, Rail Passengers Association
Robert Munson; Council Representative from Illinois, Rail Passengers Association
Description
My poster synthesizes much of what I've learned in my disciplined study and reporting of central stations since 2014. My proposed poster for Transport Chicago is derived from the Flash Presentation and poster that will be critiqued on April 27 at The Transportation Research Forum. I will add a slide illustrating how the proposed Crossrail Chicago serves as a prototype through-route for the U.S.
Europe's conversion of major legacy terminals is now nearly complete and facilitated the growth of regional rail suitable to serving metropolises in the 21st Century. However much of U.S. commuter rail still runs as it did 100 years ago. This poster identifies the six ingredients that helped Europe's rails evolve over the seven decades of its conversion. The poster then suggests how these ingredients can be applied within the U.S. federal structure and achieved in a mere 17 years; necessary given how trains can ameliorate the multiple crises now upon major metros and, by extension, the planet.
The proposed Crossrail Chicago should serve as a prototype for using federal authority to expand regional authority in at least six other legacy metros. Crossrail's through-route and Chicago's core train infrastructure make this a particularly appropriate prototype for the nation to learn from if we are to use the efficiency of trains better than when these routes were turned over to the public sector.
Europe's conversion of major legacy terminals is now nearly complete and facilitated the growth of regional rail suitable to serving metropolises in the 21st Century. However much of U.S. commuter rail still runs as it did 100 years ago. This poster identifies the six ingredients that helped Europe's rails evolve over the seven decades of its conversion. The poster then suggests how these ingredients can be applied within the U.S. federal structure and achieved in a mere 17 years; necessary given how trains can ameliorate the multiple crises now upon major metros and, by extension, the planet.
The proposed Crossrail Chicago should serve as a prototype for using federal authority to expand regional authority in at least six other legacy metros. Crossrail's through-route and Chicago's core train infrastructure make this a particularly appropriate prototype for the nation to learn from if we are to use the efficiency of trains better than when these routes were turned over to the public sector.
Railyards Redevelopment and Environmental Justice in Chicago
Wataru Morioka; Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Julie Cidell; Professor of Geography & GIS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Wataru Morioka; Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Julie Cidell; Professor of Geography & GIS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Description
Chicago is one of the transportation hubs of North America, including many railyards. In the last decades, many of them have been reused and redeveloped in two main ways. One is complete redevelopment, where the site no longer has a transportation function. For instance, this includes conversion into commercial facilities, high-rise condos, parks, and other urban amenities, which attract people and increase land value. The other is for intermodal use, intensifying the freight transportation function more to handle urban logistics. Because of severe noise, air pollutants, and other negative impacts, it would be a disadvantage to live in the neighborhood of the railyards and intermodal yards.
This study aims to understand spatial patterns of railyards conversion per type. We are also interested in what are the implications for the neighborhoods surrounding those two different kinds of land uses from the viewpoint of environmental justice. These objectives were achieved by the following steps. First, referencing historical maps and documents, we plotted these yards using GIS. Second, we collected longitudinal demographic and socio-economic data at the census tract level from the National Historical GIS. Third, overlaying the buffers of railyards and the NHGIS data, we compared the socio-demographics of surrounding neighborhoods between the two main types of conversion.
The spatial analysis found that 1) redevelopment use tends to be concentrated in the North and Northwest directions; and 2) the spatial inequality of accessing valuable resources or suffering in disadvantaged environments exists and worsens over the years and is related to people’s race/ethnicity and socio-economic status.
This study aims to understand spatial patterns of railyards conversion per type. We are also interested in what are the implications for the neighborhoods surrounding those two different kinds of land uses from the viewpoint of environmental justice. These objectives were achieved by the following steps. First, referencing historical maps and documents, we plotted these yards using GIS. Second, we collected longitudinal demographic and socio-economic data at the census tract level from the National Historical GIS. Third, overlaying the buffers of railyards and the NHGIS data, we compared the socio-demographics of surrounding neighborhoods between the two main types of conversion.
The spatial analysis found that 1) redevelopment use tends to be concentrated in the North and Northwest directions; and 2) the spatial inequality of accessing valuable resources or suffering in disadvantaged environments exists and worsens over the years and is related to people’s race/ethnicity and socio-economic status.
Tactile Signage at CTA Bus Stops
Quentin Shipley-Mellon; Traffic Planner, Chicago Transit Authority
Quentin Shipley-Mellon; Traffic Planner, Chicago Transit Authority
Description
Poster showing information relating to CTA's tactile signage pilot roll out.
The Use of Sensory Biometrics as a Means of Enhancing Passenger Engagement: The Case of AMTRAK
Efstathios (Stathis) Kefallonitis; Scientist, Experimental Psychology
Efstathios (Stathis) Kefallonitis; Scientist, Experimental Psychology
Description
Sensory biometrics can help us re-visiting the passenger journey and create a stronger and more memorable passenger experience. Using methods to elicit and understand passenger feelings and emotions throughout passenger-contact areas, is vital in improving the journey. Revisiting and enhancing those passenger-contact interactions can create differential value. Onboard experience has come a long way but still a lot remains to be done to meet and excel a traveler’s expectations. Current work on passenger emotional and behavioral biometrics looks at every stage of the passenger journey and links scientific findings to onboard hospitality provider objectives. Sensory biometric findings can be used as an in-depth analysis to strengthen the product and service design and their evaluation. Such data can contribute to a goal-oriented and focused passenger experience that can make passengers happier and more satisfied.
Surface and Air Purification for Public Transportation
Daniel (Dan) Holter; Tech Specialist, ActivePure Technologies
Daniel (Dan) Holter; Tech Specialist, ActivePure Technologies
Description
Transit Companies/Agencies transport people in various states of health conditions 24/7 which potentially imposes serious health threats. One person’s exhale becomes the next person’s invasive inhale. EXAMPLES: Antibiotic Resistant Superbugs: MRSA lurks airborne and then lives on surfaces up to seven months. SARS CoV2 variants are continually on the horizon and to be expected. The presenter will present how the application is applied to approach these threats to public transportation with the following evidence:
Conclusions:
- PATENTED: Space Technology inducted into NASA Space Foundation Hall of Fame 2017 addresses SURFACE and AIR purification in occupied indoor spaces.
- VALIDATION: Testing at University of Texas (UTMB) Biomedical Safety Lab where the FDA, CDC and U.S. Military perform Biomedical testing found live airborne SARS CoV2 was inactivated in 60 seconds.
- VETTED: ActivePure ™ is cleared as FDA Class II Medical Device Technology.
Conclusions:
- PROVEN to reduce 99.9% surface and airborne contaminants: SARS Cov2, MRSA, Viruses, Bacteria, Influenzas, Mold, VOCs by actively nullifying invaders.
- VERIFIED: ActivePure ™ Medical Grade surface and air decontamination provides Real Time 24/7 mitigation solutions as statistically verified in Ochsner Medical Center. Currently a two year double blind study is being conducted at Cleveland Clinic within surgical suites.
- ASSURANCE/PROTECTION: Michael K. Dorsey, Co-Founder and Director of Center for Environmental Health, “Winning on Health and Climate Means Embracing Cutting Edge Indoor Air Tech,” Newsweek July 14, 2021
ThinMobility: Definition and Applications
Michael Weiser; Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Commuter Cars Corporation
Michael Weiser; Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Commuter Cars Corporation
Description
I coined the term ThinMobility, defined as vehicles one meter wide with supporting narrow lane and parking space access. The definition includes bikes with bike lane access and motorcycles with legal lane splitting rights. My presentation focuses on innovative 100% electric ThinMobility weather and road protected vehicles like the Carver, City Transformer, Tango, LitMotors C-1, and Nimbus, as well as the four different ways the vehicles stay upright including speed limiting, leaning, ballast, and gyroscope.
2:45–4:00pm • SESSION 3
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Red Line
CTA’s Innovative Customer Experience Strategy in the Making CM | 1
Rebecca McCormack; Market Research Coordinator, Chicago Transit Authority Emily Drexler; Senior Strategic Planner, Chicago Transit Authority Lucien Liz-Lepiorz; Customer Experience Innovation Project Manager, Chicago Transit Authority DESCRIPTION
The COVID-19 pandemic was a big disrupter to public transportation in Chicago and across the country, causing both short- and long-term changes to people’s trip making patterns and transportation habits. As a result, CTA has been looking to better understand customer perceptions of the transit system on a more frequent basis as it grapples with challenges from the pandemic. Prior to 2020, CTA conducted approximately annual surveys to collect information about satisfaction and travel behaviors. However, in the wake of the pandemic, CTA initiated more frequent, quarterly surveys to keep a better pulse on changing habits and preferences, which were clearly changing and evolving more quickly. CTA utilized in-house resources to administer surveys via email, car card advertisements, and flyers. The surveys informed the development of the CTA’s customer- centric Meeting the Moment Action Plan (released in August 2022), and are helping CTA to understand the impact of changes and investments made as part of that plan, such as how improvements to schedule information and real-time arrival information impact satisfaction with service reliability. Simultaneously, CTA’s Innovation Department started expanding a customer experience strategy for the agency. To understand the contours of current customer pain points, demographics, and behaviors, CTA mapped key survey takeaways to specific moments in our customer journey. Additionally, Ventra ridership and sales aggregate data are providing a view into rider behavior and typologies to create customer segments. Viewing these interconnected datasets through a unified lens allows internal stakeholders to quickly understand complex relationships and make strategic, customer-centric decisions for short- and long-term improvements at the agency. |
Blue Line
Innovative and holistic perspectives on mobility justice
CM | 1
DESCRIPTION
This session combines four presentations on mobility justice that incorporate new practices and holistic perspectives with each innovative perspective summarized in the following. First, transit systems are tangible but are also embodied in various ways including through the built environment, mobility itself, and spatial variables. Dr. Purifoye will present research that examines the spatial, material, and embodied experiences of transit systems as people and public transportation vehicles themselves move through the urban platform. Second, walk indexes are often used with limited examination. Lowe will present collaborative research (with Dr. Anna Brand, UC Berkeley) on the construction of walk indices. She will explain how one in specific, Walk Score, correlates with concentrations of affluent white residents in Chicago and is tied to real estate profit seeking. Next, one way to bridge the gap between transportation agencies and marginalized communities is through arts and culture. Cidell will present collaborative research (with Dr. Brenda Kayzar, UrbaneDrK Consulting) on case studies that demonstrate how arts and culture approaches can produce better transportation outcomes and work to heal past wounds, focusing on the financial and organizational contexts of the projects. Finally, within the environmental and mobility justice movements, the movement of goods and the negative externalities it has on local communities has emerged as a key issue due to the high impacts of concentrated diesel pollution. Acosta-Córdova will present on how freight is impacting local communities in the Chicago area, and how local organizations are fighting for reform at the local and state levels. |
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Green Line
Pedals and Progress: Cycling Trends and Strategies for a Two-Wheeled Future Chicago Cycling Strategy CM | 1
DESCRIPTION
The Chicago Department of Transportation recently released the Chicago Cycling Strategy to expand the bike network and grow everyday cycling. Learn more about the strategy, which was built from over a decade of experience building bikeways in neighborhoods throughout Chicago. Key to the strategy is the recognition that every neighborhood has different opportunities, challenges, and perceptions of biking. The strategy lays out flexible approaches which can be tailored to individual communities. This includes a a community-driven approaches for building connected Neighborhood Bike Networks to rapidly expand the network, one neighborhood at a time. E-Bike Trends and Best Practices: Latest Research, Emerging Challenges, and Innovative Solutions CM | 1
Mark Bennett; Transportation Planner & Urban Designer, Sam Schwartz DESCRIPTION
In 2021, nearly 900,000 electric bikes (e-bikes) were estimated to have been sold in the US—a figure 30% higher than the number of electric cars sold that year. E-bike sales are projected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years. In what ways should we expect e-bikes to transform our transportation landscape (if at all)? What are the expected challenges, and how does policy and infrastructure need to begin responding to those challenges? A broad review of emerging policies and challenges in Chicago and other US cities as well as a review of existing academic research begins to show the benefits and challenges ahead. Namely, e-bikes appear to have substantial benefits for mode shift from vehicles (and thus carbon reduction), the potential to increase bike access and appeal to older, non-white, and non-male populations, a major impact on shared micromobility, and significant potential for innovation in urban cargo delivery. Meanwhile, cities, including Chicago, are grappling with how to develop policies and infrastructure that safely and comfortably accommodate e-bike travel, that provide more robust storage solutions, that combat battery fire safety concerns, and that increase access to residents for whom e-bikes are financially out-of-reach. This session will explore the latest research, insights on e-bikes in Chicago (including Divvy), key challenges, early solutions being implemented to meet these challenges, and key lessons learned so far that planners and policymakers can use to make informed decisions backed by research and lessons from other cities. New Rails to Trails Projects in Chicago: The Englewood Line and the Kenwood L Embankment CM | 1
DESCRIPTION
The conversion of abandoned rail lines into recreational trails provides opportunities to create new linear open spaces for local residents in which they are able to walk and bicycle away from motor vehicles. With its long history as a rail hub, the Chicago area already contains several notable examples of rails-to-trails conversions, such as the Illinois Prairie Path in the western suburbs, the Mayor Taylor Trail in the south side of Chicago and the 606/Bloomingdale Trail on Chicago’s north side. This panel will highlight the current state of the planning and redevelopment of the Englewood line and the Kenwood L embankment in the south side of Chicago. The panel will include representatives from the Chicago Departments of Planning & Development and the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways. The discussion will highlight the overall integration of trails into local bike networks and the current state of development of the two former rail facilities and how the redevelopment of these rail lines will benefit the local community. |
Brown Line
Transport Midwest: Plains, Lakes, and Fewer Automobiles Transit is the Answer: Securing Funding to Expand the Free and Reduced Fare Program CM | 1
Peter Kersten; Program Manager, Regional Transportation Authority |