Our White River Junction, Vermont office is hosting the “Safe & Healthy Communities” track of the Vermont Walk/Bike Summit today.

The summit, organized by the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee and Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commissions in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, connects community members, employers, planners, and researchers for in-depth sharing on current efforts, new ideas, and networking to advance more livable communities throughout Vermont.

RSG’s Ben Swanson was on the organizing committee and RSG’s Erica Wygonik will be giving two presentations—“Bike Crash Analysis on State Roads” and “A Sidewalk Success Story: 3 Years of Teamwork.”

With the prevalence of online shopping, it isn’t all that surprising that many consumers are now using the internet to purchase their groceries as well. Buyers that once couldn’t imagine not personally picking out their produce are now turning to grocery delivery services for the ease and convenience. But, with that ease and convenience come environmental and societal implications. Recognizing this, food-centered site Epicurious explored the issue in their article “Everything You Should and Should Not Feel Guilty About When Ordering Groceries.”

The article quotes RSG Director Erica Wygonik’s research on the topic, which found that “ordering groceries online could reduce carbon emissions anywhere from 20 to 75 percent.” But, before you fill up your virtual shopping cart, the article also points out that “though there is potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions, there are other toxic side effects of delivery trucks that are felt more immediately.”

Learn more and check out the full article at: https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/environmental-impact-online-grocery-shopping-article

RSG’s household travel diary study in the Twin City region was recently featured in the Metropolitan Council’s newsletter. The article highlights this spring’s data collection, which is using a smartphone-based travel survey (rMove™) for the first time. We’re excited to get rMove in the hands of Twin City residents and to help the region keep pace with all the factors changing the way we travel.

RSG Director Chris Leggett was published in the University of Chicago Journal Marine Resource Economics. His article, titled “Assessing the Economic Benefits of Reductions in Marine Debris at Southern California Beaches: A Random Utility Travel Cost Model,” evaluates the influence of marine debris on an individual's choice of which beach to visit for recreation.

RSG Director Chris Leggett was published in the University of Chicago Journal Marine Resource Economics. His article, titled “Assessing the Economic Benefits of Reductions in Marine Debris at Southern California Beaches: A Random Utility Travel Cost Model,” evaluates the influence of marine debris on an individual's choice of which beach to visit for recreation.

RSG’s Ryan Haac is presenting at the AWEA Wind Project Siting & Environmental Compliance Conference in Memphis tomorrow. His session is titled “Attitudes of Wind Project Neighbors: Deep Dive with Berkeley Lab Researchers on National Survey,” and will include an RSG-led investigation of various predictors of reported ability to hear turbines and stated sound annoyance.

Ryan is also hosting an RSG booth along with Eddie Duncan. If you’re at the conference, come visit us in the exhibit hall!

RSG’s Ryan Haac is presenting at the AWEA Wind Project Siting & Environmental Compliance Conference in Memphis tomorrow. His session is titled “Attitudes of Wind Project Neighbors: Deep Dive with Berkeley Lab Researchers on National Survey,” and will include an RSG-led investigation of various predictors of reported ability to hear turbines and stated sound annoyance.

Ryan is also hosting an RSG booth along with Eddie Duncan. If you’re at the conference, come visit us in the exhibit hall!

RSG is a proud sponsor of the 2018 Utah Bike Summit taking place in West Valley City, UT.

The summit brings together everyday riders, bicycle and trail advocates, representatives from Utah’s bicycle industry, planners, engineers, representatives from Utah’s tourism industry and health fields, and local and state government officials in order to make Utah more bicycle friendly.

RSG’s, Steve Gayle, will be co-presenting the webinar titled, “Creating a Regional Transportation Planning Organization to Help on the Road to Zero” on March 20^th.

The webinar is hosted by the National Center for Road Safety and will include an overview of the FHWA funded RTPO Fact Sheets: an RTPO 101 series and an RTPO Noteworthy Practice, as well as, case studies from Ohio and Washington. Steve will present information on “RTPO State of the Practice,” an RSG project with the FHWA Office of Planning.

For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit the link below.

RSG’s Erica Wygonik was featured in a recent article on the redevelopment of the historic McIntyre Federal Building in Portsmouth, NH. She provided expertise at the city’s public input session on transportation and parking for the redevelopment project.