Peter G. Furth

Peter G. Furth is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University's College of Engineering. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has established himself as a leading expert in transportation engineering, particularly in traffic signal control, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and transit operations.

Dr. Furth's research focuses on three main areas:

• Traffic signal control including transit signal priority and better serving pedestrians
• Bicycle safety and bicycle network analysis, where he invented the widely used "Level of Traffic Stress" criteria
• Transit operations analysis and planning

His innovative work in traffic signal control has pioneered the concept of "speeding opportunities," demonstrating how traditional signal timing creates incentives for drivers to speed, and developing alternative approaches that drastically reduce speeding while maintaining good traffic flow. In bicycle transportation research, his Level of Traffic Stress method has become a standard for evaluating bike network accessibility and safety, earning him the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals.

Dr. Furth's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on improving urban transportation systems, with recent work examining pedestrian safety at intersections, multi-stage bicycle crossings, low-stress bike network connectivity, and traffic signal control to limit speeding opportunities. His research shows a progression toward more integrated approaches that consider multiple transportation modes simultaneously.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards:

• 2023 Best Paper – Committee on Traffic Signal Systems, Transportation Research Board
• 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP)
• 2017 ITE Innovation in Education Award
• 2004 Best Paper – Committee on Traffic Signal Systems, Transportation Research Board
• 1987 Best Paper – Committee on Transit Performance and Management, Transportation Research Board
• 1985 Excellence in Teaching – Northeastern University Chi Epsilon chapter

As an advisor, Dr. Furth has mentored numerous graduate students, including PhD candidates and master's students working on transportation-related research. His consulting work has extended to more than 25 transit agencies nationwide, demonstrating the practical application of his research. Each summer, he teaches a 5-week course in the Netherlands on sustainable urban transportation, exposing American students to Dutch best practices in bikeway design, transit priority, and traffic safety.

Dr. Furth leads several significant research projects, including "Using Traffic Signals to Reduce Speeding Opportunities" funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, "Low-Stress Bicycle Network Planning" funded by the Helen and William Mazer Foundation, and "Traffic Signal Design and Operations Strategies for Non Motorized Users" funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. His work bridges theoretical research with practical implementation, directly influencing transportation policy and infrastructure design.