Author: Karen E. Philbrick (Karen E. Philbrick)

Last year, 1,889 highway-rail grade crossing collisions occurred in the United States. In California, 40 individuals lost their lives in these collisions, and 55 more were injured. And while rail collisions are declining—there were more than 3,500 collisions in 2010 for comparison—there are still nearly 2,000 preventable deaths occurring each year. Public awareness campaigns and...

Miles of bumpers and brake lights. Impassable traffic jams. These daily sights on urban highways may feel inescapable, but many of these issues would improve or resolve with some serious transportation infrastructure repair. California road conditions rank among the worst in the nation, and the Bay Area and Southern California are the second and third...

The clothes we wear, the devices we use, and the food we consume—or at least the way we get it—is contributing to the global climate crisis. Increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accumulate in the atmosphere and cause global warming, disrupting our lives and negatively impacting our health. Environmental consequences like rising sea levels, drought, and...

Do you remember the sitcom the Jetson’s? They were a 1960’s futuristic family living with robotic inventions — they had smartwatches, drones, holograms, jetpacks, robotic help and more. But what was once unimaginable in this innovative cartoon is now commonplace. For example, sales of wearable electronic devices — including smartwatches — are projected to top...

As this challenging year draws to a close, many Americans are looking forward to the holidays — even if they might look a little different this year. Traditionally the holiday season inspires travel plans and joyful gatherings but this year health officials are pleading with people to stay home. As we were reminded on social...

In 2019, people boarded public transportation 34 million times each day. It gets us where we need to be and provides essential transport to millions of Americans. The internet, too, has become essential, and yet many people, especially the most vulnerable, lack access to the near-limitless resources provided by high-speed internet connectivity. Fortunately, a unique...

As our country continues to reel from COVID-19 and the pandemic of systemic racism, effective leadership is needed to bring a sense of justice and hope to this grieving nation. Effective leaders understand and give voice to the needs, concerns and hopes of others. They adapt, persevere and strive for fairness and equity. They also...

On Caltrain, it’s quiet. There are no hurrying commuters, no noisy tourists, no need to rush to snag a window seat or grab a spot in the bike car. Empty. In the midst of COVID-19, crowded busses, trains and subways have become reminders of a pre-pandemic daily routine that for more than 300 million people...

Envision a city street, each day traversed by more than 21,000 vehicles, suddenly devoid of traffic. The incessant honking of horns and revving of engines quieted. The danger of cars rushing past you instead replaced with a safe space for walking, bicycling and public transit. Just last year, New York City closed off one of...

As you approach an intersection, you see flashing red lights and hear a bell alerting drivers that a train is approaching. You take a quick peek and see that the train is still several thousand feet away and you think, ‘surely I have enough time to beat it.’ Think again. Trains can be deceptively silent...