Capstone Papers

Capstone papers are original research projects that are required for a Master of Science in Transportation Management (MSTM) degree. Each student selects a topic of interest that has significant policy or management implications and a practical focus, conducts independent research, and writes a thesis-quality paper complete with recommendations. The list below represents several of these papers. 

These papers represent the individual efforts and opinions of the students who wrote them and are in no way intended to reflect the views or positions of the Mineta Transportation Institute or its staff.

2016

Do race-neutral measures have a positive effect on Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) utilization in the number of BART federally funded professional services agreements and has there been an increase in the number of agreements and total dollar amounts received by DBEs during Fiscal Years 2012 - 2015? – Alma Basurto

Low or No Emissions Transit Bus Implementation Rulemaking Recommendation for the California Air Resources Board’s proposed Advanced Clean Transit Rule – Catharine Crayne

Optimizing the effectiveness of the 3+ toll policy on State Route 91 – Jillian Guizado

Preserving Future Transit Rights of Way in the Face of New Development: A New Approach – Bernadette Lambert

2015

Caltrain Gopass Cost-Effectiveness – Michael Eshleman

Evaluation of the VTA Trial Biodiesel Program – Daniel Hecht, P.E.

Transportation Equity in San Diego Bicycle Networks: Using Traffic Stress Levels to Evaluate Bicycle Facilities – Allie Scrivener

2014

Transportation Options and Mode Choice for Seniors and People with Disabilities in Alameda County – Naomi M. Armenta

Bus Route Span of Service Changes: Ridership Impacts on Unaltered Hours – Jacob Simmons

Beyond the Requirements: Establishing Citizen Advisory Committees to Enhance the Public Hearing Process and Increase the Social Capital of Small Urban Public Transit Operators – Deanna Smith

2013

Selecting the Optimum Paratransit Service Delivery Model for Orange County - Scott Arbuckle

Evaluation of Service Design Characteristics for Concurrent BRT and Local Bus Service in Santa Clara County and Other Urban Corridors - Martin M. Barna

Identifying Potential Freeway Segments for Dedicated Truck Lanes - Christopher J. Espiritua

2011

Measuring the Performance of Livability Programs - Lisa Fabish

Local Transportation Agency Cost Estimating Practices: A Case for Improvement -Daren T. Grilley, P.E.

Video-Based Driver Risk-Management Systems: Evaluating Effectiveness at Improving Transit Safety - Michael A. Litschi

High-Speed Rail in the US: Will It Be a More Attractive Terror Target than Inter-city Rail? – Donna R. Maurillo

To Hire or Contract Out: A Comparative Analysis of Facility Maintenance Strategies - Robin W. Reynolds

Can Employer-Subsidized Commute Assistance Programs be Effective in a Free Parking Environment? The City of San Jose and the Eco-Pass Program - Ray Salvano

Assessing the need for Subsidized Personal Mobility Options for Low-Income Families in San Mateo County, California - Matthew Sandstrom

2007

How Transit Agencies Can Improve the Public Involvement Process to Deliver Better Transportation Solutions - Brandi M. Childress

Improving accountability for transportation project delivery in California:Can We get there from here? - Andrea G. Glerum, PE

Geographic Equity in Highway Funding in the Nine-County San Francisco Bay Area - Kenneth Kao

An Evaluation of Caltrans Management of Employee Probation - Wesley Zinke

2005

Transit Privatization: An Overview of the Industry With A Closer Look At Non-Operations Contracting - Joseph Rye

Traffic Impact Mitigation Fees: Should California´s Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have legal authority to impose? - Nicholas Deal

2004

The ADA Complementary Paratransit Requirement: Case Studies in Smaller Transit Agency Challenges and Solutions - Gregory M. Kausch

A Case For Congestion Pricing and Toll Indexing With the Public Response - Lee Rennacker

Developing a Nighttime Transportation Service for Seniors: Assessment of Needs and Recommendations - Melina Takahashi

2003

The Future of Excluded State Employees´ Labor Relations in California - Leanne "Lee" Provost

Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Community Development: Building Coordination Between Two Departments - Joanne McDermott

Aligning and Marketing Transportation Service to Achieve Community Goals - James R. Helmer

A Review of the Los Angeles Transportation System - Mary C. Frederick

2002

Constructability: A case study in Transportation Project Delivery: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge New East Span - Sarah Picker

Challenges In Selecting, Administering and Managing Local-State Transportation Program Projects in California, With Sacramento County Projects as Case Study - Meshack Okpala

Air Pollution Regulation In California and the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate - Jeremy Ketchum

Should California Revisit SB 45? - James Chai

2001

Capstone Papers SJSU MSTM Class of 2001

2000

Japan´s High-Speed Rail System Between Osaka and Tokyo and Commitment to Maglev Technology: A Comparative Analysis with California´s High Speed Rail Proposal Between San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles Metropolitan Area - Robert Kagiyama

Rationale for Alternate Fuel Vehicle Technology - T. Michael Lechner