The United States is criss-crossed by roadways large and small, traveled by millions of vehicles each day. However, many of those roads are aging and in need of repair. Now, a consortium led by Cornell University scientists is being tasked with studying the best ways to improve our nation's transportation infrastructure. Our Philip O'Driscoll explains what they'll be looking at.
ITHACA, N.Y. -- People may not think about them in much detail, but the roads they drive on are an integral part of daily life and across the country, many of those pathways have become outdated or inefficient.
However, thanks to a five year federal grant of $1.4 million a consortium of scientists, lead by Cornell University, will study how to best to improve transportation.
"We can use this very poor shaped infrastructure as an opportunity to innovate to leap frog so that the US can lead again in this area," said Oliver Gao Director of the newly formed CTECH consortium.
Civil engineer Oliver Gao hopes the team's research will be able to solve two pressing problems. One being improved efficiency, the other involving scientists of non-engineering disciplines.
"The goal of this Center for Transportation, Environment and Community Health is to bring all these environmental and health dimensions into the consideration and design of our future infrastructure systems," Gao said.
All research local planners will be keeping a close eye on.
"We're always happy to hear new ideas, new concepts, new insights. I mean it will be great to have a different set of eyes looking at the transportation problems and hopefully coming up with news ideas," said Fernando de Aragon, staff director of the Ithaca-Tompkins Transportation Council.
Ithaca, like all other municipalities face their own unique challenges to infrastructure improvement.
"Ithaca you notice has no interstate service and some say that's a problem, others say that's a blessing," de Aragon said.
Even with a network of buses, Ithaca does experience heavy rush hour volumes. That's because many workers come from beyond Tompkins County by a more common means.
"Those longer commutes usually take place in a car with single occupancy vehicles, people driving by themselves, which is very inefficient," de Aragon said.
While car travel is unlikely to decrease anytime soon, de Aragon and others are pushing for a return to a more communal option.
"About 11 percent of our working population carpools. We would love to see that number be higher particularly for the longer distance commuters," de Aragon said.
He says 20 percent carpooling locally would have a noticeable impact on area infrastructure. For now Cornell's research will explore all improvements to infrastructure and health to benefit areas locally and beyond.