Archive
Practices and Performance Measures for Local Public Agency Federally Funded Highway Projects
Practices and Performance Measures for Local Public Agency Federally Funded Highway Projects
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 442: Practices and Performance Measures for Local Public Agency Federally Funded Highway Projects explores what performance measures, delivery practices, strategies, and tools are currently used in relation to federally-funded local public agency (LPA) highway project development and delivery, and how they are used to measure success in project administration.
Observed Customer Seating and Standing Behaviors and 2 Seat Preferences Onboard Subway Cars in New York City
Source: Transportation Research Board
Using an observational sampling methodology, this study explores seat occupancy patterns found in New York City subway cars under non-crowded conditions based on special attributes of otherwise highly homogenous plastic bench seats. Onboard seating patterns, measured as relative seat occupancy probabilities, are explained in terms of interactions between railcar design, layout, customer preferences, and resulting behaviours. Prior research has generally focused on passengers distribution between cars within long trains, or desirability of attributes common to all seats, rather than passengers seating patterns within a single car. Results, based on seating- and standing-room occupancy statistics, show customers have a clear preference for seats adjacent to doors, no real preference for seats adjacent to support stanchions, and disdain for bench spots between two other seats. On cars featuring transverse seating, customers prefer window seats, but have almost equal preference for backward- or forward-facing seats. No gender bias was detected amongst all seated passengers, but as load factor increased, men have higher probabilities of being standees compared to women. 90% seat utilization is only achieved at 120% load factor; furthermore, standing customers strongly prefer to crowd vestibule areas between doors (particularly in cars with symmetric door arrangements), and hold These findings are consistent with published anecdotes. Future cars should be designed with asymmetric doors, 2+2+2 partitioned longitudinal seats, and no stanchions or partitions near doorways. Further research should be conducted in commuter rail vehicles with suburban layouts, booth seating, and also other cities’ subways, to further understand customer seating preferences.
Guidebook for Construction Management Practices for Rural Projects
Guidebook for Construction Management Practices for Rural Projects
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Results Digest 381: Guidebook for Construction Management Practices for Rural Projects focuses on tools and techniques that may be used to help improve aspects of construction management in the rural environment. Tools and techniques covered in the report address issues such as construction administration, engineering, operation, and safety; cost estimation; scheduling; quality control and assurance; and claims and disputes.
NCHRP RRD 381 defines rural projects as those that cost less than about $2 million and occur in an area with a population less than 50,000 people.
Guidebook: Project Management Strategies for Complex Projects
Guidebook: Project Management Strategies for Complex Projects
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Renewal Project R10 has released a prepublication, non-edited draft version of a report titled Guidebook: Project Management Strategies for Complex Projects that is designed to facilitate the application of the five-dimensional management approach for complex projects. The objective of the guidebook is to identify and communicate the critical factors involved in successfully managing complex transportation design and construction projects. A training course based on the information in the guidebook was also developed.
In addition, SHRP 2 Renewal Project R10 developed a report titled Project Management Strategies for Complex Projects that describes the five-dimensional management approach for complex projects. The goal of the five-dimensional approach is to identify issues that should be planned and managed proactively, rather than retroactively. The five areas of the new project management approach address cost, schedule, engineering requirements, external influences, and financing.
Improving our Understanding of How Highway Congestion and Price Affect Travel Demand
Improving our Understanding of How Highway Congestion and Price Affect Travel Demand
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Capacity Project C04 has released a prepublication, non-edited draft version of a report titled Improving our Understanding of How Highway Congestion and Price Affect Travel Demand that synthesizes travel demand models that predict how travelers’ behavior changes in response to changes in traffic congestion and in the price of travel.
Traffic Control Devices, Visibility, and Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
Traffic Control Devices, Visibility, and Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2298 consists of 11 paper that explore the timing of yellow and red intervals, stop paddles with embedded lights, the dilemma zone, international and domestic nonstandard symbol signs, train arrival time on crash frequency at highway–railroad grade crossings, safety at railway level crossings, environmental lighting conditions, high-beam usage on low-volume rural roads, and relationships between nighttime driving behavior and roadway visibility features.
Methodologies to Estimate the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to the Goods Movement System
Methodologies to Estimate the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to the Goods Movement System
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 732: Methodologies to Estimate the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to the Goods Movement System describes the impacts of bottlenecks and interruptions to the flow of goods through the nation’s major freight corridors and intermodal connectors, the dynamics of that flow in response to disruptions, and the full economic impact on public and private entities beyond just the critical infrastructure and the carriers that depend on that flow.
TRB — Environment 2012
Source: Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2270 consists of 22 papers that explore laboratory tests of tire-pavement noise for hot mix asphalt, temperature effects on onboard sound intensity measurement of tire-pavement noise, annoyance of traffic noise on roads and rail, alternative uses of highway rights-of-way, wildlife crossing structures location and design, use of MOVES and AERMOD emissions models for conformity analysis, generating heavy-duty truck activity data for MOVES emissions model, and exposure of bicyclists to air pollution.
This issue of the TRR also examines engine idling emissions from nonroad diesel construction equipment; air quality at bus stops; modeling roadway link PM2.5 emissions; environmentally conscious design of crest vertical curves; carbon footprint of dedicated truck lanes on I-70; predictive ecocruise control system; analysis of intersection emissions with MOVES emissions model; vehicle emissions estimates using traffic microsimulation models; inclusion of regional transit emissions in local greenhouse gas inventories; in-vehicle exposure to traffic-induced emissions; environment-responsive traffic control impact on roadside particulate matter and nitrogen oxides; decomposition analysis for carbon dioxide emissions from car travel; duty cycles, fuels, and emission control technologies of heavy-duty trucks; and quantitative decision-making framework for evaluating environmental commitment tracking systems.
Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling
Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 158: Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling presents a sketch planning model and regional models designed to help metropolitan planning organizations and transit operators better estimate the probable future demand for Americans with Disability Act (ADA) complementary paratransit service, as well as predict travel by ADA paratransit-eligible individuals on all public transportation modes.
Both models permit more detailed forecasts and deeper understanding of the travel behavior of ADA paratransit-eligible people. All model parameters and coefficients are contained in the report and a fully implemented version is available on a CD-ROM that is included with the print version of the report.
An Ecological Approach to Integrating Conservation and Highway Planning, Volume 2
An Ecological Approach to Integrating Conservation and Highway Planning, Volume 2
TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP 2) Report S2-C06-RW-2: An Ecological Approach to Integrating Conservation and Highway Planning, Volume 2 is designed to help transportation and environmental professionals apply ecological principles early in the planning and programming process of highway capacity improvements to inform later environmental reviews and permitting. Ecological principles consider cumulative landscape, water resources, and habitat impacts of planned infrastructure actions, as well as the localized impacts.The report introduces the integrated ecological framework, a nine-step process for use in early stages of highway planning when there are greater opportunities for avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impacts and for planning future mitigation strategies.Information developed as part of the project that produced SHRP 2 Report S2-C06-RW-2 is included on the on the Transportation for Communities: Advancing Projects through Partnerships website.This publication is only available in electronic format.
Guidebook for Implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems Elements to Improve Airport Traveler Access Information
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 70: Guidebook for Implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems Elements to Improve Airport Traveler Access Information provides descriptions, component details, and examples of how airport ground access information can be disseminated using various intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies.
The guidebook contains tables to help airport operators determine the applicability of certain ITS strategies based on airport operational needs and airport size.
The printed version of the report includes an interactive CD-ROM designed to help explore and evaluate the information needs of various airport traveler market segments and to identify ITS technologies that best meet the needs of the airport user.
The CD-ROM also contains a decision support tool that allows users to identify appropriate methods of delivering airport traveler information based on the airport traveler market segment.
The CD-ROM is also available for download from TRB’s website as an ISO image. Links to the ISO image and instructions for burning a CD-ROM from an ISO image are provided below.
Public-Sector Aviation: Graduate Research Award Papers, 2010-2011
Public-Sector Aviation: Graduate Research Award Papers, 2010-2011
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2266 consists of 10 graduate research award papers that examine the interaction of high-speed rail and aviation; prediction of potential cracking of airfield rigid pavements; predictors of home-based trips for the Atlanta, Georgia airport; and dynamic airspace configuration.
This issue of the TRR also explores transitioning the U.S. air transportation system to higher fuel costs; transportation systems planning for high-speed rail; sustainable paving material for airfields; airline frequency competition in airport congestion pricing; risk assessment of bird–aircraft strikes at commercial airport; and analysis of taxiway aircraft traffic.
The Graduate Research Award Program in Public-Sector Aviation Issues is managed by TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration. The program is designed to encourage applied research on airport and related aviation system issues and to foster the next generation of aviation community leaders.
Walking and Cycling in Western Europe and the United States: Trends, Policies, and Lessons
Walking and Cycling in Western Europe and the United States: Trends, Policies, and Lessons
Source: Transportation Research Board
A featured article in the May-June 2012 issue of the TR News provides an overview of cycling and walking trends and policies in Western Europe and draws lessons for programs that might succeed in the United States. Highlights include improvements in the transportation infrastructure, with a focus on safety; traffic calming in residential neighborhoods; coordinating walking and cycling with public transport; compact, mixed-use development; and other importable, foundational features.
Neighborhood Crime and Transit Station Access Mode Choice
Neighborhood Crime and Transit Station Access Mode Choice
Source: Transportation Research Board
There are considerable environmental and public health benefits if people choose to walk, bicycle, or ride transit, instead of drive. Threats posed by possible criminal activity in a person’s home neighborhood can play a major role in their decision to drive, take transit, walk or ride a bicycle, even over short distances. The findings of Phase 2 of this research suggest that walking and bicycling trips–often shorter distance trips than auto or transit trips–are particularly sensitive to neighborhood crime levels. Transit trips, on the other hand, appear to respond to neighborhood crime levels in a similar way to auto trips, wherein high crime neighborhoods appear to encourage transit mode choice. However, follow-up analysis performed for Phase 2 found that (though based on a small sample size) transit access trips (walking, bicycling or driving to a transit station) are sensitive to neighborhood crimes as well, wherein high crime neighborhoods discourage walking and bicycling transit access trips and encourage driving.
Use of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) by State Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 434: Use of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) by State Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations describes ways that transportation planners are using the PUMS data.
The report is designed to serve as a reference for transportation planners who may be able to exploit these data. Census microdata are the confidential records of specific individuals and housing units from whom Decennial Census or American Community Survey responses have been obtained.
The U.S. Census Bureau also draws a sample from the full set of microdata and makes these sampled records available in the PUMS data products, so that users can develop their own tabulations.
These data are being used by state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations for studies, such as analyses of the commuting characteristics of population subgroups, and for supporting travel demand model and land use models.
Methodology for Determining the Economic Development Impacts of Transit Projects
Methodology for Determining the Economic Development Impacts of Transit Projects
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Web-Only Document 56: Methodology for Determining the Economic Development Impacts of Transit Projects explores development of a method for transit agencies to assess whether and under what circumstances transit investments have economic benefits that are in addition to land development stimulated by travel time savings.
As part of the project a spreadsheet tool was developed that may be used to help estimate the agglomeration-related economic benefits of rail investments in the forms of new systems or additions to existing systems.
Transportation Systems for Livable Communities
Transportation Systems for Livable Communities
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s Conference Proceedings on the Web 6: Transportation Systems for Livable Communities summarizes the results of an October 2010 conference that explored the challenges of incorporating livability into transportation programs and projects.
The proceedings consist of presentation summaries from the opening sessions and panels, and summaries of key research needs and possible performance measures identified in the discussion groups.
Report to the U.S. Congress on the Outcomes of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program
Report to the U.S. Congress on the Outcomes of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program
Source: Transportation Research Board
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released a report that examines the implementation and analysis of the locally devised strategies of four communities to increase the use of nonmotorized transportation, and the impacts this strategy may have on safety, health, and the environment.
+ Full Report (PDF)
Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation—Ways to Improve It
Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation—Ways to Improve It
Source: Transportation Research Board
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 188: Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation—Ways to Improve It includes suggestions on ways to potentially improve the Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation. Areas covered by the report include definition of major terms, post-submission data checks, improved accessibility, non-transit related ferry funding, and overall data collection.
The Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation report, which is prepared under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Public Transit Association, includes information on state-level public transportation funding, the source of funds, the potential use of funds, and the method of funding distribution for each transit program.
+ Full Report (PDF)
Practices and Procedures for Site-Specific Evaluations of Earthquake Ground Motions
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 428: Practices and Procedures for Site-Specific Evaluations of Earthquake Ground Motions identifies and describes current practice and available methods for evaluating the influence of local ground conditions on earthquake design ground motions on a site-specific basis.The report focuses on evaluating the response of soil deposits to strong ground shaking.
+ Full Document (PDF)
