RSG Chief Operating Officer Jay Evans will participate in two events at the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) 2025 International Annual Meeting and Exhibition, in Orlando, Florida, from August 10–13, 2025.

Jay will contribute to discussions on transportation data and safety as part of his leadership role within ITE. As Chair of the ITE Data and Analytics Committee, Jay brings deep expertise in the application of advanced analytics to transportation systems.

Who? Jay Evans, Chief Operating Officer (RSG)

What? Two sessions: “ITE Data and Analytics Committee Showcase and Meeting” and ” Concurrent Technical Session: Addressing Data Challenges for Safer Transportation Systems”

Where and When? ITE 2025 Annual Meeting and Exhibition at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Jay will chair the ITE Data and Analytics Committee Showcase and Meeting on Monday, August 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET. He will also be participating in the Concurrent Technical Session on Addressing Data Challenges for Safer Transportation Systems on Tuesday, August 12, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.

The ITE Annual Meeting brings together transportation professionals from across North America to explore emerging trends, share research, and advance the field. RSG is proud to support Jay’s continued leadership in helping shape the future of transportation analytics.

A recent article in The Press Democrat (subscription required) highlighted how RSG’s work with the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) is helping the region update its understanding of commuting behaviors following the pandemic. The study used advanced data analytics and survey methods to quantify the region’s shifting travel patterns, confirming that remote work, rising living costs, and new mobility preferences have dramatically reshaped how and when people commute in Napa County.

The 2024 Napa Valley Travel Behavior Study Update, commissioned by NVTA and led by RSG, revealed a 12% decline in inter-county commute trips compared to prior years, reflecting fewer residents, fewer local jobs, and more people working from home. Released in 2025, the findings highlight a simultaneous 10% rise in pass-through drivers, or travelers moving through Napa County without stopping. This shift suggests the county is increasingly functioning as a corridor rather than a destination.

“This study gives NVTA a clear, data-backed understanding of how travel in the region has changed, and it provides a roadmap for how to respond,” said Kevin Johnson, RSG's project manager for this work. “It’s a great example of how cutting-edge tools and approaches grounded in mobility data analytics can produce high-value insights that shape long-term planning.”

The findings delivered by RSG have provided NVTA with rich, location-based data that validated anecdotal observations and uncovered trends that would have been costly or difficult to detect using traditional methods. These insights enable NVTA to make more informed transportation investments, improve service delivery, and enhance residents’ quality of life.

A new research article in the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board highlights work by RSG’s Justin Curtis, Mark Fowler, and Eric Kapner, in collaboration with Aniss Bahreinian from the California Energy Commission. The study draws on qualitative focus group data collected in 2016 and 2024 from both residential and commercial light-duty vehicle owners.

The research found that familiarity alone does not drive adoption of alternative fuel and autonomous vehicle technologies. Instead, adoption is more likely when consumers perceive these technologies as useful and easy to use, and when adequate infrastructure is in place to support them.

“Understanding how people actually perceive and engage with emerging vehicle technologies is essential,” said RSG's Justin Curtis. “This research shows that successful adoption depends less on awareness and more on whether people see real value, ease of use, and have the infrastructure to support new technologies.”

This research advances the study of technology adoption and underscores the value of qualitative market research in understanding consumer behavior and informing future transportation policy.

A newly released report from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) documents RSG’s work to improve access to intercity bus data nationwide. Published as NCHRP Research Report 1150, Implementation of the National Intercity Bus Atlas details our team's work to develop the first publicly available, interactive map of intercity bus services in the United States.

RSG led the project, working with industry stakeholders and government agencies to expand carrier participation, onboard data in the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format, and create user guides and technical tools to support ongoing maintenance and use of the atlas.

“Too often, intercity bus service is an invisible mode. We know it is essential for mobility, especially in rural and underserved areas, but it is often overlooked in data systems,” said RSG's Jay Evans, who served as the project's principal investigator. “This research report supports changing that. It shows how thoughtful engagement, technical innovation, and public-private collaboration can illuminate gaps, connect communities, and support smarter transportation planning.”

NCHRP Research Report 1150 also outlines a roadmap for sustaining and expanding the atlas, ensuring it remains a vital tool for planners, policymakers, and transit providers nationwide.

RSG managing consultants Jonathan Slason and Kevin Johnson will present at the TRB National Conference on Tools of the Trade, held from June 23–25, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jonathan and Kevin will co-lead a workshop titled “When Can VisionEval Substitute for Travel Models?” This hands-on session will guide participants through the application of the VisionEval strategic travel model in the context of long-range transportation planning.

Kevin will also present a session titled “Data-Driven Solutions for Understanding Travel Behavior in the Lake Tahoe Region.” This presentation will explore the integration of big data and detailed nonmotorized network modeling to refine the understanding of visitor travel patterns.

Who? Jonathan Slason, Managing Consultant (RSG), and Kevin Johnson, Managing Consultant (RSG)

What? One workshop and one presentation session: “When Can VisionEval Substitute for Travel Models?” and “Data-Driven Solutions for Understanding Travel Behavior in the Lake Tahoe Region.”

Where and When? TRB National Conference on Tools of the Trade at The Clyde Hotel, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jonathan Slason and Kevin Johnson’s co-led workshop will be on Monday, June 23, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. MT. Kevin Johnson’s presentation session will be on Tuesday, June 24, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. MT.

The TRB National Conference on Tools of the Trade focuses on multimodal transportation planning for smaller communities and public lands. Through workshops, technical sessions, and networking, the event highlights practical tools and strategies related to decision-making, agency coordination, emerging mobility, and support for vulnerable road users.

RSG Modeling Analyst Matthew Hui will moderate the question-and-answer portion of a Transportation Research Board (TRB) webinar titled “Changing Trends in Urban Rail Ridership—Evaluation and Response.”

The webinar will cover strategies for strengthening ridership resilience, adapting to new travel behaviors, and implementing effective fare policy responses. It will bring together perspectives from academia, a transit agency, and a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) to bridge research and practice. Attendees will gain practical insights on meeting diverse travel needs, attracting new riders, and enhancing long-term system viability and resilience.

This webinar requires preregistration to attend. Registration is free for employees of TRB sponsors, standing technical committee chairs, involved CRP panel members, tribal government employees, media, congressional staff, and TRB or National Academies staff. Registration is $100 for all other attendees.

Who? Matthew Hui, Modeling Analyst (RSG)

What? “Changing Trends in Urban Rail Ridership—Evaluation and Response”

Where and When? TRB webinar on Monday, June 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

RSG Senior Analyst Emma Butterfield, Consultant Ryan Haac, and Analyst Hugo Rost will present at NOISE-CON 2025 in Stowe, Vermont, from June 9-11, 2025.

Emma Butterfield will share insights during her session, “Evaluation of Sound Emitted from a Solar Energy Facility Equipment Pad,” which investigates tonal sound emissions from equipment such as transformers and inverters in commercial-scale solar projects. Emma will also chair a session on Tuesday, June 10.

Ryan Haac is co-presenting a session titled “Identification of Metrics to Assess Community Response to Leisure Sounds,” exploring how existing noise ordinances often fall short in addressing community concerns about sounds from leisure activities and proposing improved metrics for assessing community acceptance. Ryan will also chair a session on Monday, June 9.

Hugo Rost will present “Review of Airship Noise Observations and Literature,” a review of historical and contemporary research on airship noise emissions, identifying data gaps and opportunities for future research to support the responsible development of airship platforms.

RSG’s Ken Kaliski is also serving as a conference chair of NOISE-CON 2025, helping shape the event’s programming and ensuring a rich experience for all attendees.

Who? Emma Butterfield, Senior Analyst (RSG), Ryan Haac, Consultant (RSG), and Hugo Rost, Analyst (RSG)

What? Three technical sessions: “Evaluation of Sound Emitted from a Solar Energy Facility Equipment Pad,” “Identification of Metrics to Assess Community Response to Leisure Sounds,” and “Review of Airship Noise Observations and Literature.”

Where and When? NOISE-CON 2025 at the Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont. Emma's session will be on Monday, June 9 from 10:15 to 10:35  a.m. ET. Ryan's session will be on Tuesday, June 10 from 9:00 to 9:20 a.m. ET. Hugo's session will be on Wednesday, June 11 from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. ET.

About NOISE-CON 2025: NOISE-CON 2025 is the premier conference for professionals and students in noise control and acoustics. This year’s event offers three days of educational programming and networking opportunities focused on the harmony between acoustics and the natural world. RSG is a proud sponsor of this year's Sunday Student Symposium.

RSG Consultant Justin Curtis will present at the Connecticut Governor's Workforce Council (GWC) Quarterly Meeting, scheduled for June 5, 2025.

His presentation will summarize RSG’s ongoing work with the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, known as the Transportation Pilot Research and Feasibility Study. This project aims to identify and design one to two pilot programs to improve transportation access for workers and their families across Connecticut. The presentation will review RSG’s background research into transportation gaps and outline two proposed pilot concepts: a car purchase and repair assistance program, and a mobility wallet program.

Who: Justin Curtis, Consultant, RSG

What: Presentation on RSG's Transportation Pilot Research and Feasibility Study

Where and When: Justin will be presenting during the GWC Quarterly Virtual Meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

RSG Principal Joel Freedman will speak at the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Travel Forecasting Subcommittee meeting, hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), on May 16, 2025.

His presentation, titled “COG/TPB GEN3 Travel Model: Status Report,” will provide an update on the calibration and validation of the Gen3 Travel Model. Joel will discuss the motivation behind the recalibration effort and walk through the model’s calibration and validation results, highlighting key performance metrics and improvements.

The Gen3 Travel Model supports long-range regional transportation planning efforts and helps ensure the model's outputs accurately reflect observed travel patterns in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Who? Joel Freedman, Principal (RSG)

What? COG/TPB GEN3 Travel Model: Status Report

Where and When? Joel will present virtually during the TPB Travel Forecasting Subcommittee meeting on Friday, May 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET. Joel will deliver his presentation starting at 10:05 a.m. ET.

RSG Principal Ken Kaliski will chair a session and present at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) from May 18-23, 2025.

The presentation, titled “Updating ISO 1996-1: Standardizing on the Community Tolerance Level for evaluating long-term noise annoyance,” highlights efforts to refine how long-term noise annoyance is assessed. As part of an ongoing ISO revision, the Community Tolerance Level (CTL) is being considered as a more consistent way to compare noise impacts across communities. The talk will also address when other approaches may be more appropriate. His presentation is part of the session he is chairing, titled “Exposure Response and Community Tolerance Level.”

Who? Ken Kaliski, Principal (RSG)

What? “Updating ISO 1996-1: Standardizing on the Community Tolerance Level for evaluating long-term noise annoyance”

Where and When? 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), New Orleans, Louisiana, on Thursday, May 22, from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET