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Tuesday, February 25, 2020 Subscribe
Transportation in the face of communicable disease
TRB News
Transportation in the face of communicable disease
If you work in the transportation industry, you probably have a plan for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). After all, part of the service you provide depends on the ability to keep people safe and healthy regardless of their travel plans. A growing list of airlines and governments have banned flights from China. Fortunately airports,...
 
Changing trends in public transit lead to innovative strategies
Research shows a concerning trend in transit ridership. Overall transit ridership is down. Bus ridership is down the most in mid-size cities (populations of 200,000 500,000), and, after six years of consecutive decline, it is at its lowest point overall since the 1970s. Exceptions to this new downturn is commuter rail and demand-responsive...
 
TRB Centennial and Black History Month - Research Profiles - Michael Townes
In 2000, Michael S. Townes, was executive director of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads and responsible for managing transportation needs in the southeastern region of Virginia--the nation's twenty-sixth largest Standard Metropolitan Area and its thirty-third most congested. The traffic choke points of the seven cities of...
 
Featured Centennial Paper - Resource Conservation and Recovery
The Standing Committee on Resource Conservation and Recovery continues today much as it has in the past, by evaluating trending topics that relate to our expanding scope such as managing risk associated with contaminated materials, utilizing recycled materials, looking for ways to be sustainable and resilient, and maximizing the resources we have...
 
Tell Us Our Story

What is a significant contribution you think that TRB has made to transportation and why? Please submit your responses in to this month's question by February 29, 2020. TRB welcomes all stories: small or large, profound or light-hearted, sobering or humorous. The TRB Tell Us Our Story" centennial activity is designed to allow as many of you...

 
TRB Webinar: How to preserve your pavement through better crack seal
Pavement preservation can be achieved in several ways, one of which is sealing cracks. TRB is hosting a webinar on Monday, February 24, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern that will explore better crack sealing projects. The presenters will introduce key definitions and processes for crack sealing. They will also recommend project selection methods and...
 
TRB Webinar: Emergency events and their damage to assets
Risk -based asset management is essential to long-term management of transportation infrastructure, including preparation for and recovery after emergency events. TRB is hosting a webinar on Thursday, February 27, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern that will explore how state departments of transportation can conduct statewide evaluations of roads,...
 
TRB Webinar: Greener in two ways Innovative sustainability solutions for airports
How can airports be more sustainable? Airport personnel, regulators, airport consultants, and airport tenants are invited to a TRB webinar on Monday, March 2, 2020, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Eastern to find out. The webinar will discuss ways in which airports use sustainability initiatives to increase economic viability, enhance social equity,...
 
TRB Webinar: Quantifying the performance of your pavement preservation
Pavement preservation treatments can be evaluated and quantified in several different approaches. TRB is hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 5, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern that will explore three different approaches to quantifying the effects of pavement preservation treatments on pavement performance. The presenters will present findings from
 
TRB Webinar: Making your budget work Stormwater management projects at airports
When airports are considering expanding or improving their stormwater facilities, conducting a benefit-cost analysis helps illuminate options and prioritize investments. TRB is hosting a webinar on Monday, March 16 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern that will highlight the steps airports can take to evaluate and promote environmentally friendly...
 
TRB Webinar: How rough is your pavement?
Because of their unique features, current practices for estimating urban and low-speed pavement roughness could lead to inappropriate or misleading data. Make your measurements more accurate. TRB is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 17, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern that will describe methods for measuring, characterizing, and reporting roughness ...
 
Workshop on Traffic Simulation and CAV Modeling: Extended Abstracts Due March 31, 2020
TRB is sponsoring the Workshop on Traffic Simulation and CAV Modeling from November 16-18, 2020 in Irvine, CA. Traffic simulation is widely used to support the business processes of transportation agencies, and supports the planning, design, operation, and management requirements of increasingly complex traffic systems. Contributing to this need...
 
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Recently Released TRB Publications
Unsignalized Full Median Openings in Close Proximity to Signalized Intersections
Many agencies discourage access within the functional area of a signalized intersection, as recommended in current access management guidelines, which also suggests that unsignalized median openings be bidirectional openings designed for only left turns from the roadway (and possibly U-turns). The TRB National Cooperative Highway Research...
 
Minutes Matter: A Bus Transit Service Reliability Guidebook
Transit reliability is critical to the operation and attractiveness of public transportation services. With the current unprecedented evolution in transportation services, including new competition from mobility service providers such as Uber and Lyft, improving transit reliability has taken on an even greater level of importance. The TRB...
 
Adaptive Prestressing System for Concrete Crossties
A new prestressing system, named Adaptive Prestressing System, has been proven in this study to be an innovative technique that holds great promise as a transformative, more efficient, and safer prestressing method for concrete crossties in railway systems. The TRB IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Program's Rail Safety IDEA...
 
Legal Issues Related to Large-Scale Airport Construction Projects
Large-scale, complex airport construction projects have the same issues as construction projects on a smaller scale, but they present a series of specialized legal issues.

The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Legal Research Digest 38: Legal Issues Related to Large-Scale Airport Construction Projects focuses on those legal issues...

 
Analysis of Recent Public Transit Ridership Trends
Transit ridership is down across all modes except commuter rail and demand response. Bus ridership is down the most in mid-size cities (populations of 200,000 500,000), and, after six years of consecutive decline, it is at its lowest point overall since the 1970s. The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Research Report 209:...
 
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Federal Research News
US NHTSA: Motor vehicle occupant safety
The results of the most recent motor vehicle occupant safety survey are outlined in 2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey, Volume 4: Emergency Medical Services, Crash Injury Experience, and Other Traffic Safety Topics, a report from the U.S. Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This report focuses on emergency medical...
 
US CRS: Funding highways
An overview of the Federal-Aid Highway (FAHP) program is outlined in Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP): In Brief. The FAHP is an umbrella term for the separate highway programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration, and are almost entirely focused on highway construction.
 
US CRS: Funding public transportation
An overview of the public transportation program section of the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act is provided in Federal Public Transportation Program: In Brief, a report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The program has evolved to support operational expenses in some circumstances, as well as safety oversight,...
 
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State Research News
MDT: Testing geosynthetics
Controlled laboratory testing of geosynthetic tools is discussed in Large-Scale Laboratory Testing of Geosynthetics in Roadway Applications, a report from the Montana Department of Transportation. Within the field of roadway construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation, geosynthetics are used as reinforcement and stabilization, and it is...
 
KYTC: Managing public ferries
How the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet should reimburse publicly operated ferries is determined in Analysis and Assessment of the Reimbursement Rates and Mechanisms for Kentuckys Publicly Funded Ferries, a report from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. This report also identifies how to handle funding, oversight, and closure of ferries.
 
MnDOT: A compound for pavement repair
A taconite/mining by-product-based repair compound was developed in Optimized Taconite-Based Pavement Repair Compound and Deployment System, a report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The goal of this report is to identify pavement failures under various seasonal weather conditions.
 
VDOT: Testing bolted connections
Slip coefficient testing of bolted connections are conducted in Slip Coefficient Testing of ASTM A709 Grade 50CR Steel and Dissimilar Metal Slip-Critical Bolted Connections, a report from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The goal of this report is to determine how a specific steel bolt fits into the current bridge design specifications.
 
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University Research News
UC Berkeley: Congestion management and social equity
Social equity impacts of various congestion management strategies are discussed in Social Equity Impacts of Congestion Management Strategies, a report from the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California Berkeley. The report includes a comprehensive list of congestion management strategies and a discussion of...
 
UC Davis: Life cycle of urban hardscapes
The life cycle impacts of urban hardscapes are examined in A Combined Urban Metabolism and Life Cycle Assessment Approach to Improve the Sustainability of Urban Hardscapes, a report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation at the University of California at Davis. Urban hardscapes can contribute significantly to a citys resource...
 
University of Minnesota: Traffic detector data
A tool for exploring the quality of traffic detector data is developed in Improve Traffic Volume Estimates from MnDOTs Regional Traffic Management Center, a report from the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. This report provides descriptions of the detector health parameters, principles applied, server...
 
University of Minnesota: Installing roadside turfgrass
Turfgrass on roadside installations are evaluated in Expanding the Success of Salt-Tolerant Roadside Turfgrasses Through Innovation and Education, a report from the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. The report tests irrigation systems and develops an online education program for installers of roadside turf.
 
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International Research News
ICCT: Reducing marine fuel use and emissions
Limiting engine power as a means to reduce fuel use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is explored in Limiting Engine Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions From Existing Ships, a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. This report uses the International Maritime Organizations greenhouse gas strategy, which aims to reduce the CO2...
 
ITF: Safe micromobility
The traffic safety of pedal cycles, electrically assisted cycles, and electrically powered personal mobility devices is examined in Safe Micromobility, a report from the International Transport Forum. The report proposes a framework to define micromobility, and suggests certain limits on mass and speed to classify them.
 
Austroads: Creating safer streets for vulnerable road users
Guidance for ensuring safety of pedestrians and bicyclists on roads is outlined in Integrating Safe System with Movement and Place for Vulnerable Road Users, a report from Austroads. The goal of these guidelines is to create liveability of places and decrease exposure to the risk of crashes.
 
Austroads: Testing modified binders accurately
The handling procedures for testing modified binders are outlined in Protocol for Handling Modified Binders in Preparation for Laboratory Testing, a report from Austroads. Modified binders are heat-sensitive, and improper heating may produce inaccurate test results.
 
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In The Know
AAA: Semi-automatic vehicles and driver behaviors
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) effects on driver behavior are investigated in Understanding the Impact of Technology: Do Advanced Driver Assistance and Semi-Automated Vehicle Systems Lead to Improper Driving Behavior?, a report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The goal of this report is to raise drivers awareness about risks ...
 
Hearing: Looking Forward: The Future of Americas Aviation Maintenance and Manufacturing Workforce
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on February 11, 2020 to determine steps needed to ensure the future workforce of aviation maintenance and manufacturing. Witnesses from the federal government, high schools and universities, and the private sector provided...
 
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The TRB Transportation Research E-Newsletter regularly covers transportation research developments in the United States and abroad. This document is not a report of the National Research Council or of the National Academies of Sciences. The opinions expressed in reports highlighted in TRB's Transportation Research E-Newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Transportation Research Board or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
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