TY - RPRT AN - 01370068 AU - Chu, Xuehao AU - National Center for Transit Research AU - Florida Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - An Assessment of Public Transportation Markets Using NHTS Data PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 147p AB - This study assesses a range of public transit markets for Florida and the U.S. as a whole. Data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey are used. The public transit markets are defined with trip purpose and seven personal, household and travel characteristics of persons in these transit markets, including driver status, immigration status, existence of medical conditions that make it difficult to travel out of the house, household income, vehicle availability, race and ethnicity, and monthly frequency of transit use. Based on an approach of cross tabulations, this study assesses these transit markets from five perspectives: 1. Market Size - how the overall transit market is distributed across these transit sub-markets. 2. Modal Share - how people within each transit market travel using various modes, including transit. 3. Attitudes - how people within each transit market feel about a set of transportation issues 4. Socio-Demographics - personal, household, location, and travel characteristics of transit markets 5. Trip Characteristics - transit-specific and general trip characteristics of transit markets. The assessment of Florida is limited to the first three perspectives due to sample size issues. The results presented are useful to operating agencies for strategic planning and to other government bodies for developing policies and funding programs for improving mobility of those who are transportation and economically disadvantaged and for improving the transportation system in general. KW - Attitudes KW - Demographics KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Florida KW - Markets KW - Modal split KW - National Household Travel Survey KW - Strategic planning KW - Transit operating agencies KW - Travel behavior KW - Trip purpose KW - United States UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_PTO/FDOT_BDK85_977-17_rpt.pdf UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_PTO/FDOT_BDK85_977-17_rpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138650 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369605 AU - Gliebe, John P AU - Strathman, James G AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development and Sensitivity Testing of Alternative Mobility Metrics PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 140p AB - The Oregon Highway Plan’s (OHP) mobility policies guide various planning and programming activities of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Among these activities are ODOT’s land use change review responsibilities under the Transportation Planning Rule, as adopted by the state’s Land Conservation and Development Commission. This report examines supplemental transportation performance metrics beyond the volume-to-capacity metric that currently supports OHP mobility policies. Selected supplemental metrics are empirically analyzed using a travel demand model calibrated for a Medford, Oregon study area. KW - Highway planning KW - Land use planning KW - Medford (Oregon) KW - Metrics (Quantitative assessment) KW - Mobility KW - Oregon KW - Oregon Department of Transportation KW - Programming (Planning) KW - Sensitivity analysis KW - Travel demand KW - Volume-to-capacity ratio (Traffic) UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR716_Mobility.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138331 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369604 AU - Dixon, Karen AU - Xie, Fei AU - Oregon State University, Corvallis AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of the Safety Edge SM Application in Oregon PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 87p AB - This report summarizes a recent assessment of the Safety Edge SM that was performed to determine the feasibility of using this pavement edge treatment on Oregon construction projects. The report includes a review of research that has been published about the performance of the Safety Edge SM. The report also incorporates a state of practice review of the states currently using or considering the use of this treatment. Specifications, standard drawings, or technical documents developed by other agencies are included in the report appendix. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) performed one demonstration project and assessed the ease of use, time to train, and issues related to deploying the Safety Edge SM treatment in Oregon. It was found that the initial mounting of the shoe on the paving equipment was straightforward and could be done with limited training required. The site selected was free of guardrail and driveways, so the researchers could not assess functionality of the shoe at locations with obstructions. As a result of this research effort, the research team developed draft language for a sample Oregon specification for the Safety Edge SM as well as a Technical Bulletin that addresses key issues related to benefits, cost, deployment, and similar for the Safety Edge SM. Though the Safety Edge SM will likely benefit most pavement projects, it should particularly be considered if the following conditions are present: a history of run-off-the-road crashes; numerous sharp horizontal curves subjected to off-road tracking; locations subject to roadside erosion; or locations where vehicles can be expected to frequently exit and re-enter the active lane (i.e. rural mailbox clusters). It should be acknowledged that the guidance included in the Technical Bulletin as well as the details given in the draft specification are based on the findings of the current research effort. As projects begin to incorporate use of the Safety Edge SM and ODOT staff and contractors become more familiar with the application process, it is expected that the specific guidance may be modified. KW - Dropoffs (Pavements) KW - Oregon KW - Paving KW - Safety edge (Pavement safety feature) KW - Specifications KW - State of the practice UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44500/44501/SPR714_SafetyEdge.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138332 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369603 AU - Goebel, Jake H AU - Johnson, Brandon A AU - Higgins, Christopher AU - Oregon State University, Corvallis AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Strength and Durability of Near-Surface Mounted CFRP Bars for Shear Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Bridge Girders PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 123p AB - During the interstate expansion of the 1950s, many conventionally reinforced concrete deck girder bridges were built throughout the country. These aging bridges commonly exhibit diagonal cracking and rate inadequately for shear; thus, they are candidates for shear strengthening to extend their useful life. Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are emerging as effective materials for strengthening and rehabilitating such bridges. Near surface mounting (NSM) is a newer technique for application of CFRP for retrofitting bridge members that provides advantages over other strengthening techniques. The technique is still new and uncertainties remain regarding strength, long-term durability, and design, including the influence of member proportions, flexural reinforcing steel, and CFRP spacing. Bridge girders retrofitted with NSM-CFRP may be exposed to millions of load cycles and environmental conditions and the influence of these exposures on performance are not established. To address these issues, laboratory tests were performed on ten full-size reinforced concrete girders, representative of in-situ bridge members, to determine the performance of NSM-CFRP retrofitting for shear strengthening. One of the specimens was exposed to fatigue loading, two were subjected to environmental exposures, and one was subjected to combined environmental exposure and fatigue loading. Results indicated that NSM-CFRP retrofitting provided significant shear capacity increases, and the high-cycle fatigue and environmental exposures considered did not adversely affect the strength or behavior of the girders. Environmental exposures of some of the adhesives considered did show somewhat reduced performance; therefore, careful selection of materials is important to ensure performance over the expected lifetime. Recommendations for shear strength design with NSM-CFRP are made. KW - Carbon fibers KW - Durability KW - Fatigue tests KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Girders KW - Near surface mounted reinforcement KW - Reinforced concrete bridges KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Retrofitting KW - Shear strength KW - Strengthening (Maintenance) UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR712_NSM_CFRP.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44466/SPR712_NSM_CFRP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138333 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368816 AU - Andereck, Kathleen L AU - Arizona State University, Phoenix AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Impact of Arizona Highways Magazine on Tourism PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 99p AB - The purpose of this study was to: 1) examine the effect of Arizona Highways Magazine (AHM) on tourism, 2) determine trip characteristics of AHM subscribers traveling in Arizona, and 3) calculate a benefit/cost ratio for AHM based on the magazine’s cost and revenues as well as the value-added economic impact. KW - Arizona KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Economic impacts KW - Subscribers KW - Tourism KW - Traveler information and communication systems UR - http://apps.azdot.gov/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ686.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44355/AZ686.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137376 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368795 AU - Theimer, Tad AU - Sprague, Scott AU - Eddy, Ellyce AU - Benford, Russell AU - Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Genetic Variation of Pronghorn across US Route 89 and State Route 64 PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 43p AB - This study investigated whether highways acted as barriers to gene flow for pronghorn in northern Arizona. Deoxyribo Nucleic AcidEdit (DNA) samples from 132 pronghorn were analyzed using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Samples represented animals living on opposite sides of US Route 89 (US 89) and State Route 64 (SR 64). Two different modeling approaches indicated that both US 89 and SR 64, and to a lesser extent US Route 180 (US 180), acted as barriers to gene flow. The genetic structuring caused by highways, especially across US 89, is consistent with behavioral data that demonstrated pronghorn rarely cross this highway. This study found no evidence of inbreeding or reduced genetic variation in any of the populations examined, but those effects may take longer to appear. Based on these results, the researchers recommend future genetic monitoring of these populations or assessment of genetic variation across highways with larger traffic volumes or longer histories to determine whether the barrier effects documented here lead to loss of genetic diversity. KW - DNA analysis KW - Gene flow KW - Genetics KW - Highways KW - Northern Arizona KW - Pronghorn UR - http://apps.azdot.gov/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ659.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44356/AZ659.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137273 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368698 AU - Quiroga, Cesar AU - Fernando, Emmanuel AU - Oh, Jeongho AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Energy Developments and the Transportation Infrastructure in Texas: Impacts and Strategies PY - 2012/03//Technical Report SP - 218p AB - In recent years, Texas has experienced a boom in energy-related activities, particularly in wind power generation and extraction of oil and natural gas. While energy developments contribute to enhance the state’s ability to produce energy reliably, many short-term and long-term impacts on the state’s transportation infrastructure are not properly documented. Examples include the impact of frequent truckloads on state highway infrastructure such as pavement structures and shoulders, as well as impacts on roadside infrastructure such as driveways and drainage facilities. There is also a lack of documentation on the impact on Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT’s) ability to manage the state highway right-of-way effectively, e.g., with respect to driveway access and utility crossings. This report describes the work completed to measure the impact of increased level of energy-related activities on the TxDOT right-of-way and infrastructure, as well as develop recommendations to reduce and manage TxDOT’s exposure and risk resulting from those activities. The report addresses a number of topics, including the process to develop a geodatabase of energy developments in the state, field visits, pavement impacts, roadside impacts, operational and safety impacts, and economic impacts. The geodatabase includes non-renewable energy datasets, renewable energy datasets, energy use datasets, and geology-related datasets. The recommendations for implementation were grouped into the following categories: early notification and coordination (five recommendations), road maintenance and repair (four recommendations), roadside management (two recommendations), and funding (five recommendations). KW - Driveways KW - Economic impacts KW - Energy KW - Energy development KW - Geodatabases KW - Impacts KW - Infrastructure KW - Pavements KW - Public utilities KW - Recommendations KW - Right of way (Land) KW - Roadside KW - Safety KW - Strategic planning KW - Texas UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6498-1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44463/0-6498-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137347 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368421 AU - Butterworth, Bruce Robert AU - Dolev, Shalom AU - Jenkins, Brian Michael AU - San Jose State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Security Awareness for Public Bus Transportation: Case Studies of Attacks Against the Israeli Public Bus System PY - 2012/03 SP - 104p AB - This report presents 16 case studies of attacks planned or carried out against Israeli bus targets, along with statistical data on the number, frequency, and lethality of attacks against bus targets that have taken place in Israel since 1970. The statistical data come from the Mineta Transportation Institute's Database on Terrorist and Serious Criminal Attacks Against Public Surface Transportation. The report also includes an analysis of the effectiveness of different improvised explosive devices and methods of delivering them and raises questions for future discussion. The case studies of bus attacks were selected not because they are statistically representative, but because they provide a variety of interesting observations. They include both lethal and nonlethal attacks, attacks in which security measures were effective or were not followed or were ineffective, and attacks in which the attackers’ tactics and/or devices were lethal or failed or reduced the lethality of the attack. The cases and the accompanying analysis may increase understanding of what can happen and of what can deter, prevent, and/or mitigate the occurrence of terrorist attacks against public bus systems. KW - Bus transit KW - Case studies KW - Explosives KW - Israel KW - Passenger security KW - Security KW - Security checkpoints UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/2978-israeli-bus-public-transportation-attacks.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134659 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368221 AU - Goldbaum, Jay E AU - Colorado Department of Transportation AU - Colorado Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Cost-Benefit Evaluation of Short-Term Warranties for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 139p AB - The purpose of this report is to provide the reader with the ten-year analysis for the cost-benefit of hot mix asphalt projects constructed using the three and five-year warranty specifications developed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). There were eight projects evaluated using the three-year warranty specifications and two projects evaluated using the five-year warranty specifications. Each warranty project was evaluated with a comparable non-warranty (control) project. Overall, 214.6 lane-miles of warranty projects were constructed and compared to 276.6 lane-miles of control projects. After ten years of comparison performance information between the warranty and control projects, the three and five-year, short-term warranty pavements had a rougher ride, slightly deeper ruts, a few more transverse cracks, and slightly less longitudinal cracking. The initial cost to construct the warranty projects was $12,635 per lane-mile more than the control projects. This cost could be reduced by about $5,548 per lane-mile if CDOT were to eliminate the Pavement Evaluation Team and the need to construct weigh-in-motion stations. As of January 1, 2012, the average annual cost of maintenance for the warranty projects was $5,616 per lane-mile less than the control projects. There is a shift in risk and responsibility as a result of the warranty projects, but there was no tangible benefit in extended life identified. Based on the evaluation of these pavements, the implementation of short-term warranties of hot mix asphalts (HMAs)is currently not a cost-effective tool for CDOT. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Pavement performance KW - Rutting KW - Specifications KW - Warranty UR - http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/research/pdfs/2012/shorttermwarranties.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44432/shorttermwarranties.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136905 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368215 AU - Abu-Farsakh, Murad Y AU - Chen, Qiming AU - Louisiana Transportation Research Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of the Base/Subgrade Soil under Repeated Loading: Phase II– In-Box and ALF Cyclic Plate Load Tests PY - 2012/03//Final Report - Phase II SP - 97p AB - This research study aims at evaluating the performance of base and subgrade soil in flexible pavements under repeated loading test conditions. For this purpose, an indoor cyclic plate load testing equipment was developed and used to conduct a series of large-scale in-box tests and full-scale field tests on several pavement sections. The in-box cyclic plate load tests were conducted to evaluate the performance and benefits of geogrid base reinforcement in flexible pavements. A total of 12 tests were performed on unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced pavement sections. The parameters investigated in this study included the aperture shape (geometry) of the geogrid, location of the geogrid within the base layer, and geogrid tensile modulus. The stress distribution and permanent vertical strain in the subgrade, the development of excess pore water pressure in the subgrade, and the strain distribution along the geogrids were also investigated. The test results showed that the inclusion of geogrids can significantly improve the performance of flexible pavements on weak subgrades [California Boring Ratio (CBR) ≤ 1%], and that the traffic benefit ratio (TBR) can be increased up to 15.3 at a rut depth of 0.75 in. (19 mm). Better performance was observed when the geogrid was placed within the upper one third of the base aggregate layer. The inclusion of geogrid helps redistribute the applied surface load to a wider area on top of the subgrade layer, thus reducing the accumulated permanent deformation within the subgrade. Full-scale field tests were also conducted on several test lane sections built at the Pavement Research Facility (PRF) site using two types of loadings: cyclic plate load test and rolling wheel load test. These sections include blended calcium sulfate (BCS), stabilized BCS, stabilized recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), and stabilized soil as base/subbase materials. The differences in pavement responses of the tested sections to cyclic plate and rolling wheel loads were investigated. The measured rut depth caused by rolling wheel load, in all test sections, were much higher than those measured from the cyclic plate load test. The difference can be as much as 3 to 7 times between these two types of loading. This is mainly due to the effects of principal stress rotation and lateral wander on the permanent deformation of pavements. The field test results also indicate that the cyclic plate load test can be a good performance indicator test for the evaluation and pre-selection of pavement sections for field tests. KW - Deformation KW - Geogrids KW - Load tests KW - Pavement performance KW - Repeated loads KW - Subgrade (Pavements) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44440/fr_471.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136909 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367387 AU - Williams, Kevin W AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - An Investigation of Sensory Information, Levels of Automation, and Piloting Experience on Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Performance PY - 2012/03//Final Report SP - 24p AB - The current experiment was intended to examine the effect of sensory information on pilot reactions to system failures within a UAS control station simulation. This research also investigated the level of automation used in controlling the aircraft and the level of manned flight experience of the participants, since these also have been shown to influence pilot effectiveness. While the presence of sound did improve responses to engine failures, it did not improve responses to failures in heading control. The prediction that higher levels of automation would lead to complacency or vigilance decrements was not supported. The finding that pilots, in the manual conditions, flew significantly closer to the flight path than non-pilots was unexpected. The results suggest differences between those with manned aircraft experience and those without, but it is unclear whether these differences are due to manned aircraft training and flight experience or whether other factors, such as personality, may be evident. KW - Air pilots KW - Automation KW - Drone aircraft KW - Flight simulators KW - Personnel performance KW - Pilot experience KW - System failure UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201204.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136121 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01566743 TI - Highway Safety Manual Implementation AB - The objectives of the study are (1) to advance ongoing efforts by lead states to implement the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), and (2) to expand implementation to all states. This study would be coordinated with other ongoing and planned implementation activities sponsored by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Transportation Research Board (TRB), including National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 17-50 "Lead States Initiative for Implementing the Highway Safety Manual". It will also be coordinated with projects that develop content for future editions of the HSM including NCHRP Project 17-45 "Enhanced Safety Prediction Methodology and Analysis Tool for Freeways and Interchanges" NCHRP Project 17-54 "Consideration of Roadside Features in the Highway Safety Manual" and Transportation Pooled-Fund Study TPF-5(099) "Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvements." KW - Freeways KW - Highway safety KW - Highway Safety Manual KW - Implementation KW - Interchanges UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/484 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358399 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01548900 TI - Traffic Analysis and Simulation AB - The goal of this study is to improve the state-of-the-practice in traffic analysis and simulation so public agencies can make the best possible transportation investment decisions based upon high-quality traffic analyses. The objectives of this study are to assemble regional, State, and local agencies, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to: (1) identify challenges and issues common among those responsible for conducting, managing, and/or approving traffic analysis and simulation studies; (2) suggest approaches to addressing identified issues; (3) initiate and monitor projects intended to address identified challenges and issues; (4) provide guidance and recommendations and disseminate results; (5) provide leadership and coordinate with other agencies, groups, or forums interested in traffic analysis and simulation; and 6) promote and facilitate technology transfer related to traffic analysis and simulation issues nationally. KW - Decision making KW - Information dissemination KW - Investments KW - Simulation KW - State of the practice KW - Technology transfer KW - Traffic analysis UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/403 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1336375 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01495907 TI - Improving Resilient Modulus (MR) Test Procedures for Unbound Materials AB - The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide requires that the resilient modulus of the subgrade be used to design the pavement thickness for both asphalt concrete and portland cement concrete(PCC) concrete pavements. Due to the complexity of the test, test results have been inconsistent. For example, data to date has shown that: (a) Two different laboratories testing split samples of the same soil or aggregate layer get widely different results. (b) Two technicians on the same equipment would also get widely different results. (c) Repeated tests on the same sample by one technician on the same equipment would not always produce consistent results. The resilient modulus of a soil or unbound aggregate material is the recoverable stress/strain relationship of the soil. The greater the resilient modulus of the soils is, the "stiffer" the soil will be, and the greater the strength will be for supporting transmitted wheel loads. This parameter is considered to be the best indicator of a subgrade's strength since the test replicates the dynamics of moving wheel loads. This pooled fund study has three primary goals to: (1) reduce the variability currently associated with resilient modulus testing of unbound materials; (2) conduct a precision and bias study of the test procedure; and (3) provide assistance to states to properly equip and setup a laboratory for successful resilient modulus (MR) testing. KW - Laboratory tests KW - Resilient modulus KW - Soils KW - Stiffness KW - Test procedures KW - Unbound aggregates UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/404 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1265848 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01560765 TI - Evaluation of Test Methods for Permeability (Transport) and Development of Performance Guidelines for Durability AB - The primary purpose of this project is to develop a test procedure that directly evaluates the permeability (transport properties) of concrete and relates these to anticipated performance with the use of exposure conditions. This consists of the following distinct objectives: (1) Evaluation of existing permeability (transport) test procedures. (2) Development of new, or improvement of existing test, procedures to evaluate permeability (transport) properties of concrete. (3) Correlation between permeability (transport) properties and measured material response to existing durability tests. (4) Develop guidelines to relate permeability, exposure conditions, and field performance for use in specifications and quality control processes. KW - Concrete KW - Durability tests KW - Performance based specifications KW - Permeability KW - Properties of materials KW - Quality control KW - Test procedures UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/406 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1351328 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01560757 TI - HY-8 Culvert Analysis Program - Phase Three of Development Efforts AB - The HY-8 is a computerized implementation of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) culvert hydraulic approaches and protocols. The FHWA publication "Hydraulic Design Series 5: Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts" (HDS-5) [publication FHWA-NHI-01-020, May 2005 revision] documents the technical methods applied in the HY-8 program and should be considered the primary technical reference for the software. In 2005, the FHWA contracted with the Brigham Young University to develop a 32-bit (and 64-bit) Windows compatible version of HY-8. This version provided graphical user interface (GUI) for the same hydraulic calculations performed in DOS versions of HY-8. FHWA intended to plan and fund this development effort using a series of planned phases. The first phase resulted in an initial release (version 7.0) that performed basic culvert hydraulics. The second phase (version 7.1) incorporated energy dissipater module; performed hydraulic analyses of embedded culverts; allowed use of modified outlet loss coefficients; incorporates dynamic culvert shape database with new materials; and implemented various improvements, technical updates, and bug corrections. The objective of this research effort is to continue the phased development of HY-8. The effort would be funded by FHWA and other State departments of transportation (DOTs) contributors (PFP members). The anticipated scope of work consists of continued development efforts on the HY-8 software (beginning with phase three of the on-going development effort). KW - Culverts KW - Databases KW - Graphical user interfaces KW - HY-8 (Computer model) KW - Hydraulic modeling software KW - Hydraulic structures KW - Software UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/428 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1351320 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01560732 TI - Evaluation of Guide Sign Fonts AB - The objective of this study is to conduct a field evaluation of new available highway fonts versus the Series E (Modified) and Clearview 5WR fonts for use on guide signs. This study will provide the analysis necessary for decision to be made on inclusion of fonts for older drivers in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). In previous studies comparing Clearview fonts to previously used types, legibility distance, the distance at which a subject can read an unknown word, has been a robust measure of effectiveness. Researchers believe that in order to test the proposed font against the current standard, nighttime data collection in which participants drive an instrumented vehicle along a closed course while researcher's record data would be most conducive. KW - Clearview font KW - Legibility KW - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices KW - Nighttime driving KW - Sight distance KW - Sign fonts UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/490 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1351295 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368700 AU - Wei, Heng AU - Liu, Hao AU - Lu, Mingming AU - Yi, Ping AU - University of Cincinnati AU - Ohio Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Integrating Traffic Operation with Emission Impact using Dual-loop Data PY - 2012/02/22 SP - 47p AB - The goal of this research project was to develop a methodological framework for integrating the improved dual-loop models and the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) emission model to estimate the emission impact of traffic flow operation by utilizing the data source available at dual-loop monitoring stations in highways. The presented framework is validated using video based vehicle trajectory data. The traffic parameters generated by the framework have the same pattern as it is revealed by the video based ground truth data. A case study is presented to demonstrate the application of the presented framework. It is found that the impact of traffic flow operation on vehicle emission along a specific roadway section can be associated with three quantified traffic flow variables, i.e., operating mode distribution, traffic volume, and traffic fleet composition. On the other hand, the data analysis shows that traffic flow phase can be mathematically featured with those traffic parameters. The connection between traffic operation and vehicle emission impact has been established through the application of the three traffic parameters. This study makes it feasible for a project level mobile source emission impact study to be performed by using microscopic real-world traffic data. In the future, more comprehensive ground truth data are needed to further validate the proposed methodology. It is also desirable to expand the methodology in order to take advantage of other similar traffic data sources such as radar data and video detection data sources. KW - Case studies KW - Dual loop detectors KW - Exhaust gases KW - Microscopic traffic data KW - Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic volume KW - Vehicle mix KW - Vehicle operating modes UR - http://www.otc.uakron.edu/docs/UC%202011%20OTC%20Final%20Report[1].pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137375 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01493317 AU - Crampton, Douglas D AU - Holloway, Kurt P AU - Fraczek, John AU - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Incorporated AU - Iowa Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Assessment of Weathering Steel Bridge Performance in Iowa and Development of Inspection and Maintenance Techniques PY - 2012/02/21/Final Report SP - 144p AB - Weathering steel is commonly used as a cost-effective alternative for bridge superstructures, as the costs and environmental impacts associated with the maintenance/replacement of paint coatings are theoretically eliminated. The performance of weathering steel depends on the proper formation of a surface patina, which consists of a dense layer of corrosion product used to protect the steel from further atmospheric corrosion. The development of the weathering steel patina may be hindered by environmental factors such as humid environments, wetting/drying cycles, sheltering, exposure to de-icing chlorides, and design details that permit water to pond on steel surfaces. Weathering steel bridges constructed over or adjacent to other roadways could be subjected to sufficient salt spray that would impede the development of an adequate patina. Addressing areas of corrosion on a weathering steel bridge superstructure where a protective patina has not formed is often costly and negates the anticipated cost savings for this type of steel superstructure. Early detection of weathering steel corrosion is important to extending the service life of the bridge structure; however, written inspection procedures are not available for inspectors to evaluate the performance or quality of the patina. This project focused on the evaluation of weathering steel bridge structures, including possible methods to assess the quality of the weathering steel patina and to properly maintain the quality of the patina. The objectives of this project are summarized as follows: (1) Identify weathering steel bridge structures that would be most vulnerable to chloride contamination, based on location, exposure, environment, and other factors. (2) Identify locations on an individual weathering steel bridge structure that would be most susceptible to chloride contamination, such as below joints, splash/spray zones, and areas of ponding water or debris. (3) Identify possible testing methods and/or inspection techniques for inspectors to evaluate the quality of the weathering steel patina at locations discussed above. (4) Identify possible methods to measure and evaluate the level of chloride contamination at the locations discussed above. (5) Evaluate the effectiveness of water washing on removing chlorides from the weathering steel patina. (6) Develop a general prioritization for the washing of bridge structures based on the structure’s location, environment, inspection observations, patina evaluation findings, and chloride test results. KW - Chlorides KW - Corrosion KW - Deicing chemicals KW - Iowa KW - Maintenance KW - Maintenance of specific facilities KW - Measuring methods KW - Steel bridges KW - Weathering steel UR - http://publications.iowa.gov/14956/1/Iowa_Weathering_Steel_Final_Report_2-21-2013.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1262145 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01457305 AU - Marayong, Panadda AU - Yeh, Harry H AU - Coronado, Edgar AU - Ganji, Vinay AU - Chaudhari, Avadhut AU - METRANS Transportation Center AU - California State University, Long Beach AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Computer-Aided Container Handling Assistance for Ergonomic Crane Operation PY - 2012/02/16 SP - 23p AB - Efficient container handling systems at ports leads to reduced ship waiting time, increased productivity, cost reduction, and fewer emissions. Terminal operators use information from the ships to streamline containers that move from the vessel through cranes to the truck or the rail, and finally transport out of the terminal gate. To improve crane safety and port productivity, an assistive user interface is proposed to integrate visual and haptic (force) feedback to assist crane operators during container handling process. In this phase, the work focuses on the design and construction of a scaled testbed with visual and force feedback system to provide motion guidance. The visual feedback is provided by a camera and the force feedback is provided through a force-feedback joystick, which are integrated in MATLAB/Simulink. The motion guidance is provided as a force cue to alert the operator of surrounding objects and avoid possible collision. A preliminary experiment was conducted and initial results indicate the potential of the system in preventing collision and improved ergonomics. KW - Container handling KW - Ergonomics KW - Gantry cranes KW - Stress (Psychology) KW - Test beds UR - http://www.metrans.org/sites/default/files/research-project/11-24_Marayong.final_0_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1225231 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373105 AU - Hayden, Larry AU - Schoep, Gary AU - Krohn, Justin AU - Hufford, Joseph AU - Parker, Robert AU - Galarus, Douglas AU - Western Transportation Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - 4W1746 Communication Briefcase PY - 2012/02/15/Final Report SP - 85p AB - The purpose of this project was to design and implement a prototype “communications briefcase” for transportation applications in remote rural areas. The original concept was to develop a briefcase that would serve as a gateway to the Internet, providing access to multiple users via a cellular data connection. The concept was changed to investigate instead the potential for multiple devices to provide mesh networking capabilities in similar remote rural areas. An off-the-shelf, consumer-grade router was selected as the primary component for the system, with an enclosure to support the router, as well as a power management system that was custom-developed to manage a set of rechargeable batteries within the enclosure. Flexibility was provided by using various external antennas, including magnetic mount antennas for vehicular operation. The resulting units were called “MeshBoxes” and 10 units were constructed for research and demonstration purposes. The MeshBoxes were demonstrated to transportation professionals at several venues and were well received, although they represented only a first prototype. The principal demonstration of the MeshBoxes occurred during a Department of Homeland Security funded project to demonstrate a mobile, ad-hoc network (MANET) to public safety officials from Wyoming. In conjunction with a rockslide scenario, the MeshBoxes were used to provide connectivity among several simulated and real public safety vehicles. Video was served over the network along with several collaborative applications. Internet access was provided via a satellite connection. During the Wyoming demonstration it was discovered that there was noticeable variation in the performance of the MeshBoxes despite the fact that they were configured identically. Subsequent testing was conducted to determine viable link distances for node-to-node communication. Additional factors such as antenna type were taken into consideration. Ultimately it was determined that much of the observed variability could be attributed to the use of consumer-grade equipment and the battery power of the MeshBoxes. Unfortunately, no industrial equipment was available at the time to provide the same flexibility for research and development in an open, Linux-based system, so there was no apparent alternative. Commercial proprietary mesh networking systems are available, and these could be considered for production deployments. This project demonstrated that there is applicability of mesh networks to transportation and public safety in remote rural areas. Possible applications include remedies for problems with fixed infrastructure such as sensor networks, as well as a variety of mobile applications. KW - Communication systems KW - Prototypes KW - Rural areas KW - Safety KW - Vehicular ad hoc networks (Computer networks) UR - http://www.westerntransportationinstitute.org/documents/reports/4W1746_Final_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141211 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01470780 AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Meteorcomm LLC TI - ITCR Closed Track Test 1: Test Report PY - 2012/02/14 SP - 77p AB - The first phase of closed track testing, referred to as CTT 1, of the positive train control (PTC) communication system entailed the installation and operation of the PTC communication system at the Transportation Technology Center (TTCI) located near Pueblo, Colorado. This facility was used to test the communication system under controlled field conditions using real locomotives and operating at speeds in excess of 100 mph. The installation of the PTC communication system at TTCI included three base radio installations, eight wayside communication site locations, one mobile locomotive, one stationary locomotive site, a simulated local back office at TTCI, and a simulated remote back office located at the MCC facility in Renton, WA. All endpoints, which includes wayside interface unit (WIU), train management computer (TMC), and back office applications were simulated. After installation, basic functionality of the system elements was verified and pretest activities were completed. Pretesting included system configuration and debug, radio frequency (RF) coverage measurements, basic messaging tests, and validation of basic radio network operation. Additionally, the test infrastructure was verified. This included the Test Executive SW, endpoint simulators, IP connectivity to test bed assets, and remote connections to MCC in Renton. KW - Positive train control KW - Radio equipment KW - Radio frequency KW - Test tracks KW - Test tracks (Railroads) KW - Testing KW - Validation KW - Wayside signals UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/2785 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1238783 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01557617 TI - I-95 Corridor Coalition Vehicle Probe Project AB - The objective of the second phase of the project is to continue to push forward to realize the entire vision of the Vehicle Probe Project, that of an ubiquitous and high quality source of travel time and speed data creating a seamless traffic monitoring system that spans the entire eastern seaboard using probe technology, and driving a variety of applications. The applications include not only operations, but also planning and engineering, and not only existing applications, but also uses of the data not previously leveraged. KW - Highway operations KW - I-95 Corridor Coalition KW - Probe vehicles KW - Speed data KW - Traffic surveillance KW - Travel time UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/481 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1347120 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01447515 AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Sicking, Dean L AU - Reid, John D AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Phase I Development of an Aesthetic, Precast Concrete Bridge Rail PY - 2012/02/13/Final Report SP - 360p AB - Precast concrete bridge rail systems offer several advantages over traditional cast-in-place rail designs, including reduced construction time and costs, installation in a wide range of environmental conditions, easier maintenance and repair, improved railing quality, and greater flexibility for aesthetic treatments. The objective of this project was to develop a precast concrete bridge rail system that met the TL-4 impact safety standards provided in MASH. The design criteria for the new bridge rail system included criteria for barrier geometry, provisions for open and closed rail options, constructability, weight limitations, segment length, design impact loads, connection of barrier segments, and connection to the bridge deck among other factors. The research effort proceeded in several phases. First, the research focused on determining the overall concept for the new bridge rail system in terms of the rail configuration and geometry as well as the required barrier reinforcement. Next, design concepts for the joints connecting adjacent rail segments were designed and subjected to dynamic component testing in order to select a design capable of meeting design criteria for the precast bridge rail system. After selection of an appropriate rail joint, the researchers developed connection details for the attachment of the rail to the bridge deck. Once the design of the various precast bridge rail components was completed, a complete set of CAD details for the prototype precast concrete bridge rail system were completed. Following the design effort, recommendations were made regarding the full-scale testing required to implement the new, precast concrete bridge rail system. KW - Aesthetics KW - Bridge railings KW - Design KW - Impact tests KW - Joints (Engineering) KW - Precast concrete KW - Testing UR - http://ne-ltap.unl.edu/Documents/NDOR/TRP-03-239-12%5B1%5D.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46900/46953/Phase_I_Development_of_an_Aesthetic_Precast_Concrete_Bridge_Rail.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1214410 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01444845 AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Sicking, Dean L AU - Reid, John D AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - University of Nebraska, Omaha AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Phase 1 Development of An Aesthetic Precast Concrete Bridge Rail PY - 2012/02/13/Final Report SP - 360p AB - Precast concrete bridge rail systems offer several advantages over traditional cast-in-place rail designs, including reduced construction time and costs, installation in a wide range of environmental conditions, easier maintenance and repair, improved railing quality, and greater flexibility for aesthetic treatments. The objective of this project was to develop a precast concrete bridge rail system that met the Test Level 4 impact safety standards provided in the American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) document entitled Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). The design criteria for the new bridge rail system included criteria for barrier geometry, provisions for open and closed rail options, constructability, weight limitations, segment length, design impact loads, connection of barrier segments, and connection to the bridge deck among other factors. The research effort proceeded in several phases. First, the research focused on determining the overall concept for the new bridge rail system in terms of the rail configuration and geometry as well as the required barrier reinforcement. Next, design concepts for the joints connecting adjacent rail segments were designed and subjected to dynamic component testing in order to select a design capable of meeting design criteria for the precast bridge rail system. After selection of an appropriate rail joint, the researchers developed connection details for the attachment of the rail to the bridge deck. Once the design of the various precast bridge rail components was completed, a complete set of computer-aided design (CAD) details for the prototype precast concrete bridge rail system were completed. Following the design effort, recommendations were made regarding the full-scale testing required to implement the new, precast concrete bridge rail system. KW - AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware KW - Aesthetics KW - Barriers (Roads) KW - Bridge decks KW - Bridge design KW - Bridge railings KW - Impact tests KW - Precast concrete KW - Rail joints UR - http://ne-ltap.unl.edu/Documents/NDOR/TRP-03-239-12%5B1%5D.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212436 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373028 AU - Office of the Secretary of Transportation TI - ARRA Job Data Reporting for FAA Programs - Lessons Learned For Improving Accuracy and Transparency for Future Job Reporting PY - 2012/02/10 SP - 30p AB - This study presents a report on job reporting for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The report found that FAA met the ARRA requirement to provide reports on job data, and improvements in overall reporting of job data over time were noted. A number of areas for improvement are discussed that can serve as lessons learned for the ARRA reports still remaining and for any future job creation efforts. The study also found that while it is clear that ARRA-funded FAA projects have created or sustained jobs, the full extent of this accomplishment is unclear because of errors and inconsistencies in the collection and reporting of job information. Areas are identified where the Department of Transportation (DOT) can clarify aspects of its department-wide job data reports to better meet ARRA’s transparency and accountability requirements. Five recommendations are made to FAA and DOT to improve job reporting and to increase data accuracy and transparency. KW - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 KW - Auditing KW - Data collection KW - Employment KW - Job opportunities KW - Jobs KW - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration UR - http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/FAA%20ARRA%20Programs%20Report%5E2-10-12_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139895 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01563749 TI - Northwest Passage Phase III AB - The North/West Passage Corridor encompasses the states along I-90/I-94 from Wisconsin to Washington. The states within the North/West Passage Corridor are predominately rural and face similar transportation issues related to traffic management, traveler information, and commercial vehicle operations. Within the corridor states, there are numerous systems for collecting, processing, and integrating traveler and road maintenance information. At present, this information is not readily shared across state borders. Recognizing the value of coordinated, cross-border collaboration for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) deployment to address these issues, the states formed the Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF-5(093) in 2003. Building on several projects recommended in the ITS Integrated Corridor Strategic Plan for North/West Passage, Work Plan 4 presents a series of projects targeted for completion in 2008-2009. The projects continue to integrate traveler information systems and coordinate maintenance operations across state borders. KW - Advanced traveler information systems KW - Commercial vehicle operations KW - Highway traffic control KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Maintenance practices KW - Northwest Passage UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/412 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1354931 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01466554 TI - National Research and Innovation Liaison Position at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) AB - The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water (OW) administers Federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, provides support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and takes part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds and sources of drinking water. The OW carries out both regulatory and voluntary programs to fulfill the Agency's mission to protect the Nation's waters. Transportation infrastructure development occurs on a project by project basis as well as in long-term planning through the activities promoted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Project Development and Environmental Review and the Office of Natural and Human Environment. KW - Drinking water KW - Environmental protection KW - Regulations KW - Sewage treatment KW - Strategic planning KW - Water quality management KW - Watersheds UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1234789 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01454131 AU - Sarasua, Wayne AU - Bell, Lansford AU - Davis, William J AU - Clemson University AU - The Citadel AU - South Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Estimating the Lifecycle of Pavement Markings on Primary And Secondary Roads in South Carolina PY - 2012/02/01/Final Report SP - 147p AB - The absence of systematic procedures and standardized methods to quantitatively evaluate pavement marking materials on South Carolina's primary and secondary roads has made it difficult for the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to track performance and determine lifecycle duration of pavement markings from installation to eventual restriping applications. In 2008, SCDOT issued a problem statement for research supporting development of guidelines for pavement marking applications. Objectives of this research focused on determination of evidence-based guidelines and recommendations to support pavement marking best practices for consistent implementation across the state. Through the use of a data-driven research methodology and measured retroreflectivity values systematically collected at selected representative control sites, lifecycle models and degradation models were determined for waterborne, high-build and thermoplastic pavement marking applications for the State’s primary and secondary road network. A comparison of marking lifecycles was performed and recommendations regarding material selection for typical applications were developed. This report summarizes findings of a three-year research project and includes a literature search, discussion of data collection and analysis, development of retroreflectivity degradation models, comparison of marking materials, and identification of recommended guidelines. KW - Best practices KW - Degradation (Materials) KW - Durability KW - Implementation KW - Life cycle analysis KW - Performance KW - Primary highways KW - Retroreflectivity KW - Road marking materials KW - Road markings KW - Secondary roads KW - South Carolina UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46200/46248/SPR_669.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1222346 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370148 AU - Vaynman, S AU - Fine, M E AU - Chung, Y-W AU - Northwestern University, Evanston AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Evaluation and Application of Super-Tough Steel for Use in Tank Cars Transporting Cryogenic Liquids PY - 2012/02/01 SP - 6p AB - The goal of this project was to further develop and market advanced 70-ksi-yield strength super-tough steel (designated as NUCu70ST in the text) for use in tank cars transporting cryogenic liquids, like chlorine, for example. Fracture of these tanks resulted in a number of industrial accidents. One in 2005 in Graniteville, South Carolina led to 9 deaths and at least 250 injuries. In preliminary mechanical and fracture studies performed at Northwestern University, Union Tank Car Company and its contractors, NUCu70ST was shown to significantly outperform all other steels tested, including steels currently used in tank-cars as well as other high-performance steels on the market. KW - Chlorine KW - High strength steel KW - Industrial accidents KW - Safety KW - Tank cars UR - http://www.ccitt.northwestern.edu/documents/2012_FinalReport_Vaynman_CryoSteel.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137233 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01599296 AU - National Aging and Disability Transportation Center AU - Easter Seals Incorporated AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Effective Transportation Advisory Committees: Creating a Group that Reflects all Community Voices PY - 2012/02 SP - 21p AB - Advisory committees present transit agencies with the opportunity to engage directly customers who use their services on a daily basis, citizen advocates and business owners. By involving the public and bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, advisory committees can help transit agencies develop successful initiatives, resolve problems and create an ongoing dialogue that serves everyone in the community. Easter Seals Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation) hopes that this guidebook will serve as a helpful resource to both transit agencies that are considering creating an advisory committee for the first time and agencies that are looking to help their current advisory committee increase its effectiveness. Although this guidebook may be useful to many types of advisory committees, it focuses on groups devoted to increasing accessible transportation. KW - Accessibility KW - Advisory groups KW - Handbooks KW - Public transit KW - Stakeholders UR - http://www.nadtc.org/wp-content/uploads/NADTC-Effective-Transportation-Advisory-Committees.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1407255 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01554183 AU - Alexiadis, Vassili AU - Armstrong, April AU - Cambridge Systematics, Incorporated AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Integrated Corridor Management Modeling Results Report: Dallas, Minneapolis, and San Diego PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 328p AB - This executive summary documents the analysis methodologies, tools, and performance measures used to analyze Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) strategies; and presents high-level results for the successful implementation of ICM at three Stage 2 Pioneer Sites, including 1) the U.S. 75 corridor in Dallas, Texas; 2) the I-15 corridor in San Diego, California; and 3) the I-394 corridor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The executive summary provides an overall summary of benefits, followed by brief descriptions of the corridors, operational conditions and ICM strategies, analyzed, and summaries of estimated benefits for each corridor. It also provides a summary of the analysis methodology employed in the three sites, including model calibration methodology, analysis for different operational conditions, performance measures, analysis plans, and calculation of ICM benefits. Reports providing detailed summaries of analysis approaches used at each of the sites, and benefits, are also provided. KW - Analysis KW - Benefits KW - Calibration KW - Dallas (Texas) KW - Implementation KW - Integrated corridor management KW - Methodology KW - Minneapolis (Minnesota) KW - Performance measurement KW - San Diego (California) KW - Transportation corridors UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/54000/54300/54346/ICM_Modeling_Results_Report__FHWA-JPO-12-037_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1342217 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01547286 AU - Tamayo, Sarah AU - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of High Performance Curing Compounds on Freshly Poured Bridge Decks PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 45p AB - Shrinkage cracking is a critical factor affecting the durability of concrete bridge decks. On their own, these cracks are not typically large enough to compromise the structural integrity of the bridge deck, but the presence of these cracks does allow potentially corrosive substances to enter the interior of the bridge deck (Poole, 2005) accelerating deterioration of the concrete and reinforcement, thus reducing the life span of the bridge. The four main types of shrinkage cracks that occur in concrete are autogenous, plastic shrinkage, drying, and carbonation. Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when water is lost from the surface of freshly poured concrete pavement. This research will focus on plastic shrinkage cracking and is a continuation of the laboratory work completed in TRC 0603. Plastic shrinkage cracking is the most common type of cracking to occur in concrete pavement. These cracks may manifest in two different forms. The first form of cracking is large, shallow, well-spaced, parallel cracks. The second form of cracking that occurs is a shallow, fine, map cracking pattern. The map type cracking pattern is difficult to see on concrete where tining has been introduced (Poole, 2005). Curing compounds can help reduce the amount of shrinkage cracking. Selection criteria for curing compounds can include water retention, pigments, drying time, amount of solids, volatile organic compounds, coating, and viscosity (Poole, 2005). Standard curing compounds typically require the addition of water throughout the curing process. The additional water is typically added through the application of wet burlap, insulation blankets, or misters to keep the surface of the concrete hydrated. Though wet burlap or insulation blankets are typically used, their installation process is labor intensive and time consuming (Cable, Wang, & Ge, 2003). Newer, high performing curing compounds (HPCC) may reduce the amount of shrinkage cracking in bridge decks as well as eliminating the need for the burlap, insulation blankets and misters. These HPCC, also referred to as shield-forming curing compounds, can be lithium-based, and do not require the same curing process as standard curing compounds. Chemical admixtures are the most common uses of lithium in the construction industry. Lithium compounds such as (Li₂CO₃, LiOH, Li₂SO₄) are used in the formulation of set accelerators for calcium-aluminate-cement concrete. Lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH·H₂O) and lithium nitrate (LiNO₃) have been used to control alkali-silica reaction in Portland cement concrete (Thomas, 2007). KW - Bridge decks KW - Concrete curing KW - Cracking KW - Curing agents KW - Lithium compounds KW - Plastic shrinkage KW - Shrinkage UR - http://www.arkansastrc.com/TRC%20REPORTS/TRC%201002.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1332701 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01505640 AU - Kalra, Nidhi AU - Ecola, Liisa AU - Keefe, Ryan AU - Weatherford, Brian AU - Wachs, Martin AU - Plumeau, Peter AU - Lawe, Stephen AU - Smith, Colin AU - RAND Corporation AU - RSG, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Reference Sourcebook for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation Sources PY - 2012/02 SP - 229p AB - The prospect of global warming and increased climate variability has become a major policy issue during the last decade. Since transportation is a major—and growing—contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, transportation agencies will increasingly seek ways to address it by developing ways to mitigate GHG emissions. This will be especially challenging because agencies simultaneously face reduced revenue, increased congestion, and growing demands for transportation. Therefore, agencies will need guidance and information in order to meet climate change mitigation goals amid these other challenges. This report, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), helps address that need. It presents the results of a literature review of GHG mitigation strategies, summarizing what has been published about the GHG effects of different strategies, their costs, and the social feasibility of implementing them. This report does not endorse or recommend particular strategies and did not involve a direct analysis of strategies; therefore, it is best thought of as a sourcebook of information. This information can be used by transportation agencies—principally Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)—to inform decision-making about strategies in their own jurisdictions. This document may also be of interest to other government agencies, researchers, transportation consultants, and students. KW - Climate change KW - Countermeasures KW - Decision making KW - Global warming KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Literature reviews KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Pollutants KW - State departments of transportation KW - Strategic planning KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/climate_change/mitigation/publications_and_tools/reference_sourcebook/referencesourcebook.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1285484 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01497506 AU - Varma, Amit H AU - Sohn, Youngmoo AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Effects of Realistic Heat Straightening Repair on the Properties and Serviceability of Damaged Steel Beam Bridges PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 141p AB - The permanent deformations in steel beam bridges caused by collision with high profile vehicles can be repaired by heat straightening, which is a structurally efficient and cost-effective repair process developed by many engineers over the years. Guidelines for conducting heat straightening repair have been developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and many state departments of transportation (DOTs). The guidelines establish limits for: (a) the maximum damage that can be repaired, (b) the maximum restraining force, and (c) the maximum heating temperature to prevent the side effects of heat straightening repair process. However the heat straightening guidelines are violated in the field due to time and economic issues. These violations include, but are not limited to: (a) underheating below 1200°F, (b) overheating above 1200°F, (c) overstraining above restraining force limit (0.5 Mp) and (d) multiple heat straightening of the same beam more than two times. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of these imperfections in the heat straightening repair process on the condition and serviceability of the damaged-repaired beams. This knowledge is needed to develop more realistic guidelines for evaluating and replacing bridge members subjected to damage followed by imperfect heat straightening repair. The overall goal of this research is to develop recommendations and guidelines for evaluating steel beam bridges in Indiana subjected to damage followed by heat straightening repair with imperfections (overstraining, overheating, or multiple heat straightening). KW - Beams KW - Guidelines KW - Heat straightening KW - Indiana KW - Repairing KW - Steel bridges UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315184 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1266683 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01496658 AU - Goldstein, Thomas AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - National Review on Nonstructural Precast Concrete Elements PY - 2012/02//Program Review Final Report SP - 60p AB - One of the purposes of the national review on nonstructural precast concrete elements was to review the acceptance processes for state highway agencies (SHA) to determine if they allow for enough oversight of precast concrete producers to minimize the risk of material not meeting the specifications for nonstructural precast concrete elements. The other purpose was to verify if producers placed steel reinforcement in the precast concrete elements in accordance with applicable shop drawings and specifications. KW - Acceptance KW - Evaluation KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Oversight KW - Precast concrete KW - Quality control KW - Reinforced concrete KW - Specifications KW - State departments of transportation KW - Steel UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/materials/program_review.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1265759 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01494505 AU - Kang, Thomas H-K AU - Kim, Woosuk AU - Hufnagel, Amy AU - Ibrahim, Moustapha Ary AU - Huang, Yu AU - Choi, Dong-Uk AU - Lee, Chin Yong AU - Holliday, Lisa AU - University of Oklahoma, Norman AU - Oklahoma Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Repair and Retrofit of Concrete Bridge Girders Using Hybrid FRP Sheets PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 83p AB - The use of carbon fibers (CF) and glass fibers (GF) were combined to strengthen potentially non-ductile flexural members. Based on tension tests of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rovings and sheets, as well as theoretical research on hybrid FRP, a volume ratio of (GF/CF) was determined to be about (8.8/1) to produce synergistic hybrid effects and pseudo-ductility. The (8.8/1) ratio was used to fabricate hybrid carbon-glass FRP sheets, and this optimal combination was verified through four-point loading tests of plain and reinforced concrete beams strengthened with single or multiple plies of FRP sheets. The increased flexural strengths were evaluated using available design procedures in conjunction with a proposed force-strain relationship for hybrid carbon-glass FRP sheets. Additionally, data of tensile tests of 94 hybrid carbon-glass FRP sheets and 47 carbon and glass fiber rovings or sheets were thoroughly re-examined in terms of tensile behavior. Based on thorough comparisons between the rule of mixtures for fibrous composites and test data, positive hybrid effects were clearly identified for almost all (GF/CF) ratios. In contrast to the rule of mixtures, the hybrid sheets with relatively low (GF/CF) ratios also produced pseudo-ductility. From the calibrated results obtained from experiments, a novel analytical model for the stress-strain relationship of hybrid FRP sheets was proposed. The effect of various epoxy resins, impregnating degree and specimen grips on the tensile behavior was minimal. KW - Carbon fibers KW - Concrete bridges KW - Deformation curve KW - Ductility KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Flexural strength KW - Girders KW - Glass fibers KW - Repairing KW - Retrofitting KW - Tension tests UR - http://www.oktc.org/otc/files/finalReports/OTCREOS10.1-21-F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1262834 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01493868 AU - Ley, Tyler AU - Sudbrink, Bryan AU - Aboustait, Mohammed AU - Oklahoma State University, Stillwater AU - Oklahoma Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Procurement of Novel Microanalysis Equipment for Construction Materials PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 22p AB - The equipment procured (i.e. an Orbis micro X-ray Fluorescence (MXRF) and an APSEX “personal” Scanning Electron Microscope (PSEM)) is part of the next generation of micro analytical equipment. These tools have the ability to make large volumes of observations with very little human interaction. This ability to make these educated observations will make huge impacts in the future of materials research. These instruments combine recent improvements in computing power, image analysis, automation, optics, and signal intensities to investigate samples autonomously while using higher signal intensities that minimize sample preparation. Within the first year of owning this equipment it has been highlighted in grants that have totaled almost $600K in external grants. These major projects were funded by the Oklahoma DOT and the National Science Foundation. In addition, several seed grants have been obtained that will hopefully turn into future funding. Several technology transfer efforts from this project have been completed. An award winning poster was presented at the ODOT research day. In addition a website (http://oktcml.okstate.edu/) has been launched that describes these microscopes and shows their abilities. Results and findings from two different research efforts are presented and summarized. KW - Building materials KW - Electron microscopes KW - Materials tests KW - Microanalysis KW - Testing equipment KW - X ray fluorescence UR - http://www.oktc.org/otc/files/finalReports/OTCES10.2-06-F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1262837 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01488698 AU - Chadde, Joan AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Great Lakes Maritime Education Program for K-12 Teachers, Year 2 PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 28p AB - Michigan Technological University has led an educational/outreach effort for the Great Lake Maritime Research Institute since 2006. Despite Michigan Tech’s relative isolation and long distance from most locations in the Great Lakes Basin, every state in the Basin has been touched with some aspect of the outreach program. The overall goal of the project is to increase K-12 teachers’ understanding of shipping on the Great Lakes, and increase their ability to teach their students about Great Lakes Maritime Transportation in the core subjects of science, math, language arts, and social studies. KW - Education KW - Elementary school students KW - Great Lakes KW - High school students KW - Middle school students KW - Shipping KW - Teachers KW - Water transportation UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/FR_0505.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1257306 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01488184 AU - Chadde, Joan AU - Michigan Technological University, Houghton AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Great Lakes Maritime Education Program for K-12 Teachers PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 25p AB - Michigan Technological University has led an educational/outreach effort for the Great Lake Maritime Research Institute since 2006. Despite Michigan Tech’s relative isolation and long distance from most locations in the Great Lakes Basin, every state in the Basin has been touched with some aspect of the outreach program. The overall goal of the project is to increase K-12 teachers’ understanding of shipping on the Great Lakes, and increase their ability to teach their students about Great Lakes Maritime Transportation in the core subjects of science, math, language arts, and social studies. KW - Education and training KW - Great Lakes KW - Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute KW - Shipping KW - Teachers UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/FR_04021.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1257068 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01477103 AU - Hunter, Michael AU - Fujimoto, Richard AU - Henclewood, Dwayne Anthony AU - Suh, Wonho AU - Huang, Ya-Lin AU - Li, Ying AU - Stebar, Brian AU - Chari, Prashant AU - Georgia Transportation Institute University Transportation Center (GTI-UTC) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Real Time Estimation of Arterial Travel Time and Operational Measures Through Integration of Real Time Fixed Sensor Data and Simulation PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 188p AB - A wide variety of advanced technological tools have been implemented throughout Georgia’s transportation network to increase its efficiency. These systems are credited with reducing or maintaining freeway congestion levels in light of increasing travel demands. In Georgia these benefits are primarily gained through the Traffic Management Center’s (TMCs) freeway monitoring and quick response in ridding the roadway of any obstacles that may reduce freeway service levels. There have been a number of efforts to leverage the work done by TMCs to provide travelers with more current traffic information such as Georgia 511 and Navigator. In addition, private efforts and partnerships have made the TMC’s information more accessible to travelers, aiding their traveler decisions. The effort presented in this report aims to compliment real-time freeway information by addressing the more limited availability of real-time arterial performance measures. This research project explores the feasibility of integrating real-time data streams with an arterial simulation to support an arterial performance monitoring system. Such information will facilitate increased efficiency in facility utilization by enabling more informed decisions in the use and management of Georgia’s transportation facilities. This objective was accomplished by undertaking the following tasks: (1) Describe the current state of practice concerning the estimation of real-time arterial performance measures. (2) Develop a federated (integrated) simulation test-bed for testing procedures and algorithms. (3) Determine the feasibility of integrating point sens or data with simulation to create a data-driven, on-line simulation tool. (4) Develop procedures and algorithms to calibrate an on-line simulation tool that estimates of travel time and other performance measures in real-time. (5) Determine any potential improvements in travel time estimation resulting from sensors placed in atypical locations, such immediately downstream of an intersection. (6) Field-test the data-driven, on-line arterial simulation tool on a target corridor. (7) Devise method(s) to deliver travel time and other operational characteristics to Georgi Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the general public. KW - 511 (National Travel Information Number) KW - Arterial highways KW - Georgia KW - Level of service KW - Performance measurement KW - Real time information KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic control centers KW - Travel demand UR - http://www.utc.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/projects/reports/hunter_guin_real_time_estimation_of_arterial_travel_time_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1246698 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01475832 AU - Smith, Kurt D AU - Morian, Dennis A AU - Van Dam, Thomas J AU - Quality Engineering Solutions, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Use of Air-Cooled Blast Furnace Slag as Coarse Aggregate in Concrete Pavements—A Guide to Best Practice PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 36p AB - This document contains recommendations for best practices related to the use of air-cooled blast furnace slag (ACBFS) as coarse aggregate in concrete pavements. It is primarily based on the results of a review of available literature regarding the production and use of ACBFS as coarse aggregate in concrete pavements, information provided through interaction with the project’s expert task group, and limited pavement field surveys and petrographic analysis of extracted cores from ACBFS concrete pavements. This best practices document discusses the production, physical, and chemical properties of ACBFS aggregate, highlighting how this material differs from natural aggregates. It also discusses the properties of concrete produced with ACBFS coarse aggregate and identifies specific production issues and quality control practices applicable to ACBFS concrete. The document further provides design and construction recommendations for improving the quality of concrete pavement made using this material. Results from field inspections and laboratory evaluations of concrete pavements made with ACBFS coarse aggregate are discussed. Finally, the life-cycle and maintenance costs associated with concrete pavements incorporating ACBFS aggregate in the concrete are also discussed in the report. KW - Best practices KW - Coarse aggregates KW - Concrete pavements KW - Literature reviews KW - Mix design KW - Pavement performance KW - Petrographic analysis KW - Quality control KW - Slag UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46100/46185/Use_of_air-cooled_blast_furnance_slag_Guide_best_practice.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1244569 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01470767 AU - Rohde, John AU - Terpsma, Ryan J AU - Zhu, Ling AU - Dickey, Benjamin J AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - Mid-America Transportation Center AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Development of a Socketed Foundation for Cable Barrier Posts – Phase I PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 75p AB - Four socketed foundation designs were evaluated for use as a new reusable base for high-tension, cable barrier systems. Each foundation was a reinforced concrete cylindrical shape. The top of the foundation had an open steel tube to accept the post during installation. The four foundation designs were installed in sand and subjected to dynamic component testing in order to simulate a weak/saturated soil and evaluate maximum displacements during impact events. An S4x7.7 (S102x11.5) post was selected for each test assembly after a review of the current Federal Highway Administration-accepted, high-tension cable barrier systems revealed the section to be the strongest and most critical post. Both the 24 in. (610 mm) and 36 in. (914 mm) deep foundations rotated through the soil and were deemed too shallow to prevent excessive deformations. The other two assemblies, both 60 in. (1,524 mm) deep, fractured during the impact event. As a result, the 60 in. (1,524 mm) deep configurations were deemed too weak to sustain the full load capacity of the S4x7.7 (S102x11.5) post. Further, the displacement for the 60 in. (1,524 mm) deep foundations could not be determined due to premature fracture. Therefore, none of the four socketed foundation configurations was found to be acceptable and further development and testing was recommended. KW - Cables KW - Footings KW - Foundations KW - Guardrails KW - Impact loads KW - Median barriers KW - Posts KW - Socket connection UR - http://matc.unl.edu/assets/documents/matcfinal/Rohde_DevelopmentosaSocketedFoundationforCableBarrierPosts-Phase1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1238457 ER - TY - SER AN - 01470180 JO - TRAFFIC TECH PB - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Evaluation of Teen Seat Belt Demonstration Projects in Colorado and Nevada PY - 2012/02 SP - 2p AB - Teens have higher fatality and injury rates in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. The combination of immaturity, inexperience, and underdeveloped decision-making skills (including hazard recognition) contributes to the high crash rates among teen drivers. Observational surveys have indicated that teenagers’ seat belt use is among the lowest of any age group with males and passengers showing even lower belt use within the teen subpopulation. In 2009, 61% of the 16-to-20-year-old passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in crashes were unrestrained. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contracted with the Preusser Research Group to evaluate two seat belt demonstration programs targeting teen drivers and passengers in Colorado and Nevada. The two programs were implemented from September 2007 to September 2008. The programs were based on a Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) model in which publicity and enforcement activity are implemented according to a defined schedule. These two demonstration projects involved four waves of sTEP activity, one of which was implemented in conjunction with the May 2008 Click It or Ticket (CIOT) mobilization. The teen demonstration projects implemented in Colorado and Nevada were strong programs and teen seat belt use increased in both States. The first and last program waves appeared to have the greatest impact in Colorado; the last two waves had the greatest impact in Nevada. The overall gains of 5 percentage points in Colorado and 8 in Nevada were substantial, particularly given that both States have secondary enforcement laws and low fine levels ($20 in Colorado; $25 in Nevada). It is likely that greater gains could be made with the passage of a primary law upgrade and/or increase in fine levels in either or both of these States. KW - Colorado KW - Highway safety KW - Nevada KW - Public information programs KW - Safety campaigns KW - Seat belts KW - Teenage drivers KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic law enforcement KW - Utilization UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/traffic_tech/811570.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1237165 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01470179 AU - Massachusetts Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - 2011 Massachusetts Road Inventory Year End Report PY - 2012/02 SP - 103p AB - This report contains selected 2011 year-end statistics from the Massachusetts Road Inventory file and supersedes the 2010 report issued last year. The Road Inventory file, maintained by the Office of Transportation Planning, contains information on mileage, identification, characteristics, and condition for all roadways in the state. It is a widely used transportation planning resource within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation [MassDOT] and is the foundation of several important programs. The Road Inventory file also serves as the foundation of Massachusetts Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities. It is linked to 1:5,000 Centerlines using ArcGIS and contains approximately 470,000 road inventory records representing over 36,000 centerline miles of roadway. This GIS system allows for easy mapping of any of the 78 attributes in the Road Inventory file at any geographic level (i.e., State, MassDOT Highway District, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Town, etc.). This 2011 year-end report contains centerline and lane mileage data on jurisdiction, functional classification, and federal-aid status at the town, MPO, MassDOT Highway District, and state levels. Please note that not all mileage for ramps are included in any of these reports and that lane miles do not include any shoulders. KW - Geographic information systems KW - Highways KW - Inventory KW - Mapping KW - Massachusetts KW - Roads KW - Statistics KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/17/docs/RoadInventory/2011_ye_rpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1237295 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01469678 AU - Hossain, Zahid AU - Solanki, Pranshoo AU - Zaman, Musharraf AU - Adje, David AU - Lewis, Sharon AU - University of Oklahoma, Norman AU - Langston University AU - Oklahoma Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Test Methods for Use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement in Asphalt Mixes PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 128p AB - Usage of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in the construction of new pavements has increased in recent years due to the movement to conserve energy and raw materials, and reuse waste materials. To assess the effectiveness of RAP materials in new asphalt mixes, it is important to evaluate the properties of the recovered binders and aggregates. he widely used "Abson" method is employed in this study to recover asphalt binder from RAP. Also, the frequency used "NCAT Ignition" method is used to extract aggregates. A laboratory study comprising of two field RAP materials, four simulated RAP materials and corresponding virgin materials, was undertaken to assess possible influences of the aforementioned recovery processes. Gradation, specific gravity, durability (L.A. Abrasion and Micro-Deval), sand equivalent, and insoluble residue of the extracted aggregates, and performance grade (PG), viscosity and penetration values of the recovered binders were evaluated as per the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) standards. It was observed that gradation, specific gravity, durability and sand equivalent of the extracted aggregate were inconsistent with their virgin counterparts, and would result in conservative designs in a majority of cases. On the other hand, acid solubility, percentage of crushed face and surface properties were not influenced by the NCAT ignition oven processes. Binder test results showed that the Abson method positively influenced the critical PG temperatures of the recovered binder by about 4°C. The Abson method did not show any statistically significant influence on the viscosity values of the recovered binders at ODOT mixing and compaction temperatures. The penetration test results of recovered binder via the Abson method were found to be higher than laboratory aged binder in 75% of the time. In regard to the PG grade, based on limited test results, the Abson method is less conservative than the Rotavapor method. The findings of this study are expected to be helpful in the evaluation of RAP for reuse in asphalt paving. KW - Aggregate gradation KW - Asphalt mixtures KW - Binders KW - Durability KW - Mix design KW - Recycled materials KW - Test procedures UR - http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/spr-rip/library/reports/rad_spr2-i2223-fy2012-rpt-final-zaman.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1237829 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01457130 AU - Stewart, Richard D AU - Lautala, Pasi Tapio AU - Ogard, Elizabeth AU - Pouryousef, Hamed AU - Vartiainen, Janne AU - Siers, Alan AU - Chong, Kenneth AU - University of Wisconsin, Superior AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Improving Log Transportation with Data Based Monitoring and Analysis in Northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 90p AB - Minimizing transportation cost is essential in the forest products industry. Logs and wood chips are relatively low value. Logs are a dense heavy weight product to transport, while chips are light and bulky. These handling characteristics along with low value create a supply chain where transportation costs represent a large portion of the final delivered product price. The Midwest forest products industry competes in a global market and the region's value proposition is highly dependent on an affordable and efficient transportation system. Understanding of system efficiencies requires sufficient data, but while most individual forest products companies collect data on truck trip origin and destination, little is known about the actual daily truck activity within the region. One method to collect data on continuous truck movements is with global positioning systems (GPS) data receivers. Since the cell phone coverage in the region is very sparse and unreliable, using satellite based GPS transponders is a logical alternative, but the use of such devices has been limited in the forest products industry, partially due to the high cost of devices and partially due to the fact that the financial benefits of these tracking systems haven's been demonstrated for many owner-operators, not has this data been required for payment for freight invoices. The primary objective of this research effort was to provide transportation time and movement data for actual shipments of logs and chips to gain insights on how to improve system efficiency. Data on actual movements can be used to identify and evaluate the choke points on the system and compare against the anecdotal data by industry stakeholders. While the objective of system improvements is to reduce costs and provide overall economic benefit to the supply chain, the research team was not provided with commercial rate data or cost information to make economic conclusions, but rather concentrated in technical analysis of actual truck movement data. KW - Data collection KW - Global Positioning System KW - Logging trucks KW - Michigan KW - Monitoring KW - Optimization KW - Traffic data KW - Wisconsin UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/FR_CFIRE0410.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1224989 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01447098 AU - Staplin, Loren AU - Lococo, Kathy H AU - Martell, Carol AU - Stutts, Jane AU - TransAnalytics, LLC AU - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Taxonomy of Older Driver Behaviors and Crash Risk PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 107p AB - This project’s objectives were to identify risky behaviors, driving habits, and exposure patterns that have been shown to increase the likelihood of crash involvement among older drivers; and to classify these crash-contributing factors according to a set of underlying functional deficits specific to, or more prevalent among, the older driver population. Such deficits may result from normal aging, age-related medical conditions, or medication use. A further goal was to identify and critically examine behavioral countermeasures with the potential to mitigate functional loss and/or diminish the occurrence of risky behaviors, and thus ameliorate crashes among older drivers. The first task was an analysis of older driver injuries and fatalities using national databases (FARS, GES), to identify driving patterns, driving tasks, and contributing factors associated with crashes by older drivers; more details are available in a separate document, Report No. DOT HS 811 093, “Identifying Behaviors and Situations Associated With Increased Crash Risk for Older Drivers.” Additional project tasks included a review of the literature describing age-related functional changes, and evaluations of existing behavioral countermeasures to reduce older drivers’ crash risk; an expert panel meeting to supplement the information from the database analyses and literature review; and unstructured interviews with older drivers who have had crashes within the previous three years, and an age-matched group who have not had crashes within that period, to determine whether these groups differ in factors such as exposure or use of countermeasures. The outcomes of these project activities were used to develop and refine a taxonomy table that captures critical relationships between topics and subtopics highlighted in the literature review and crash database analyses. This table identifies critical performance errors that underlie crash types where older drivers are most strongly over represented; the functional deficits that are implicated in causing such performance errors; and the countermeasure strategies that presently appear to hold the greatest promise to ameliorate or to accommodate those (age-related) deficits. The taxonomy table is a resource that provides at-a-glance, state-of-the-knowledge information to assist researchers, health care practitioners, and others concerned about older driver safety to identify particular risk factors, and what can be done to reduce the risk. KW - Aged drivers KW - Countermeasures KW - Crash causes KW - Driver interviews KW - Fatalities KW - Functional abilities KW - Literature reviews KW - Risk assessment KW - Traffic safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45700/45717/811468ab.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45700/45718/811468c.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45700/45719/811468d.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1214512 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446273 AU - Deshpande, Yogini AU - Olek, Jan AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Dowel Bar Retrofit Mix Design and Specification PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 287p AB - The focus of this project was on identifying critical properties that control long‐term performance of repair concrete, especially rapid-setting materials extended using pea gravel (maximum size aggregate 9.5 mm). In the first phase of this project, four commercial rapid‐setting materials (CRSMs) were selected and development of mixture proportions in terms of optimum pea gravel content and water content was performed. Optimized mixtures were further evaluated at three different initial temperature conditions. The properties evaluated included workability, setting time, rate of compressive strength developed, slant shear bond strength, freeze‐thaw resistance, air‐void system characteristics of hardened concrete, drying shrinkage and cracking potential. It was observed that some of the CRSMs evaluated did not meet requirements of ASTM C 928. All, except one, CRSMs tested exhibited low resistance to freezing and thawing but all had high resistance to cracking. In the second phase of the project, rapid‐setting self‐consolidating concrete (RSSCC) was developed using ternary blend of cementitious materials, high‐range water reducer (HRWR) and accelerators. Slump flow, visual stability index (VSI), compressive strength at various ages and the power consumption values for the mortar mixer indicated that a five minutes mixing sequence involving a 2‐Step addition of HRWR produces stable RSSCC mixture. The results of various tests carried out indicate that it is possible to develop a small aggregate size‐based self‐consolidating repair concrete that achieves a compressive strength of 19 MPa at the end of 6 hrs, has good bond characteristics and excellent freezing and thawing durability (DF>90%). The sensitivity of RSSCC to aggregate characteristics and production variables was also evaluated. Specifically, the influence of aggregate gradation and aggregate moisture content using different types of mixers and re‐mixing after a period of rest was evaluated. It was observed that variation in aggregate moisture content and aggregate gradation resulted in noticeable changes in fresh concrete properties such as the slump flow, stability and V‐funnel flow values. While changes in moisture content and gradation of aggregates had an impact on the early (6 h) compressive strength, the compressive strength at the end of 24 hours was not significantly affected. KW - Concrete KW - Dowel bar retrofit KW - Durability KW - Mix design KW - Rapid set materials KW - Repairing KW - Self compacting concrete KW - Setting (Concrete) UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284314859 UR - https://engineering.purdue.edu/JTRP/files/2789-Technical-Summary.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45700/45764/fulltext.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212609 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01444820 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Options to the Use of Halons for Aircraft Fire Suppression Systems -- 2012 Update. PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 102p AB - This report reflects the many changes that have occurred in the aircraft fire suppression arena since the last update was published in 2002. Changes have occurred in regulatory restrictions, commercialized halocarbon replacements, halocarbon replacements in development, alternative technologies, and the evaluation of fire fighting effectiveness for the four primary aircraft onboard applications: (1) engine nacelles, (2) hand-held extinguishers, (3) cargo compartments, and (4) lavatory protection. Test-based fire suppression halon equivalency guidance is provided for these applications. KW - Aircraft KW - Airplanes KW - Chemical agents KW - Environmental impacts KW - Fire extinguishers KW - Fire extinguishing agents KW - Fire fighting KW - Fires KW - Hazardous chemicals KW - Vehicle fires UR - http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/11-31.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212132 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380496 AU - Adams, Teresa M AU - Juni, Emil AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Wisconsin Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Compass 2010 Data Analysis and Reporting PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 84p AB - The Compass Reports created in this project are issued annually to provide information on the maintenance condition of Wisconsin’s highways. The information in these reports is being used to help understand trends and conditions, prioritize resources, and set targets for future condition levels of the highway system. As more information is gathered, the reports will also be used to illustrate and understand the consequences of funding and policy shifts, and to demonstrate accountability to decision-makers at Wisconsin Department of Transportation and in the legislature. KW - Bridges KW - Condition surveys KW - Data analysis KW - Drainage KW - Maintenance KW - Pavements KW - Road shoulders KW - Wisconsin UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45500/45596/FR_0504.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147988 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376384 AU - Carrion, Migdalia AU - Guzman, Claire AU - Seedah, Dan AU - Prozzi, Jolanda AU - Walton, C Michael AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - User Manual for the Relational Multimodal Freight Database PY - 2012/02 SP - 17p AB - This document was developed as part of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project 0-6297 entitled: Freight Planning Factors Impacting Texas Commodity Flows. The research team developed a Relational Multimodal Freight Database that can capture relevant publicly-available freight variables required for updating TxDOT freight models and studies. From the Multimodal Freight Database, TxDOT is able to identify any missing data that the public databases do not capture. The missing data can be obtained through purchasing a commercial database or by collecting the relevant data. This user manual provides step-by-step guidance on how to use the TxDOT Relational Multimodal Freight Database Software, as well as information on how the database was developed, and the public databases from which the data were extracted. KW - Commodity flow KW - Computer program documentation KW - Freight transportation KW - Missing data KW - Relational databases KW - Texas UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/digitized/products/0-6297-P3_UserManual.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144143 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376378 AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Relational Multimodal Freight Database Webinar PY - 2012/02 SP - 11p AB - The relational Multimodal Freight Database (MFD) was developed as part of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Research Project 0-6297 entitled Freight Planning Factors Impacting Texas Commodity Flows. This document summarizes the outcome of Task 2: Conduct Multimodal Freight Database Webinar. The objective of Task 2 was to demonstrate the MFD to FHWA freight leaders and TxDOT Division staff to gain support for the development of a national database and to discuss the integration of proprietary data into the existing MFD. The webinar was hosted by Mr. Kirk Fauver (Statewide Planning Engineer, FHWA) and Ms. Jolanda Prozzi (Assistant Director, CTR). The webinar was conducted using Adobe Connect on December 8, 2011 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (CST). KW - Freight transportation KW - Relational databases KW - Texas KW - Webinars UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/5_6297_01_P1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45700/45751/5_6297_01_P1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144146 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376377 AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Relational Multimodal Freight Database Workshops PY - 2012/02 SP - 78p AB - The relational Multimodal Freight Database (MFD) was developed as part of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Research Project 0-6297 entitled Freight Planning Factors Impacting Texas Commodity Flows. This document summarizes the outcome of Task 1: Conduct Multimodal Freight Database Workshops. The objective of Task 1 was to demonstrate the MFD to key potential users for review and comment. Thus, the research team hosted six workshops and invited potential users in TxDOT’s District and Regional Offices, at Texas MPOs, and at Texas cities to attend. During the workshops, the research team (i) reviewed the development of the MFD, (ii) demonstrated the installation and use of the MFD, (iii) provided participants with the opportunity to conduct a number of data searches, (iv) gathered feedback from participants as to their experience using the Database, and (v) gathered feedback as to any improvements that participants deemed necessary to improve the MFD and workshops. KW - Freight transportation KW - Relational databases KW - Texas KW - Workshops UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/5_6297_01_P2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144147 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376247 AU - Ge, Yuning Louis AU - Rosenblad, Brent L AU - Stephenson, Richard W AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Use of Coal Fly Ash and Other Waste Products in Soil Stabilization and Road Construction-Including Non-Destructive Testing of Roadways PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 109p AB - An extensive laboratory testing program was performed on subgrade soils stabilized using fly ash and lime kiln dust. The laboratory program included measurements of: compaction curves, small strain elastic moduli, resilient modulus (Mr), Briaud Compaction Device (BCD) modulus, and unconfined compressive strengths of subgrade soils mixed with various amounts of Class C fly ash and lime kiln dust (LKD). The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify changes with time in subgrade modulus and strength from soil stabilization and (2) evaluate potential nondestructive quality control (QC) methods. The amount of improvement in subgrade modulus varied with soil type and soil stabilizer. Increases in Mr values by a factor of five or more were observed in some cases. Relative changes in resilient modulus with time were compared to changes in modulus values measured from small-strain velocity measurements and the BCD (both of which can be applied in the field for QC) with mixed results. In many cases, the trends in modulus change were in good agreement, but in other cases significant differences were observed. Short-term tracking of wave velocity of stabilized soil showed increases of about 20 to 40% (relative to the unstabilized soil) within 1-hr after compaction. Future studies should focus on evaluation of these NDT methods under field conditions. KW - Fly ash KW - Laboratory tests KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Quality control KW - Road construction KW - Soil stabilization KW - Subgrade materials KW - Waste products UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/R270%20-%20R271.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143791 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376242 AU - Rao, Chetana AU - Sadasivam, Suri AU - Littleton, Paul AU - Ullman, Gerry AU - Mallela, Jagannath AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Virginia I-66 Concrete Pavement Replacement Using Precast Concrete Pavement Systems PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 226p AB - As part of a national initiative sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration under the Highways for LIFE (HfL) program, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was awarded a $1 million grant to showcase and demonstrate the use of precast concrete pavement system (PCPS) technology for the replacement of concrete slabs. The I- 66 rehabilitation project in Fairfax was selected to implement this technology, and the replacement was done on two segments—a 1,020-ft length of the mainline spanning 4 lanes using precast prestressed concrete pavement (PPCP) panels and a 3,552-ft-long segment of the outside lane of the ramp leading to US-50 West using a jointed precast pavement system, Super-Slab®. The construction activities were performed between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. The mainline was repaired using two-lane or three-lane closures, while the ramp was repaired using full ramp closures and providing detours. This report documents all details of this project, including a description of the PCPS technologies and their design, the construction staging techniques and maintenance of traffic, slab installation, and the performance evaluations and economic analysis. This report also contains other items relevant to HfL projects, including a description of HfL goals, other technology transfer activities on the project, and a detailed analysis of data to evaluate if the HfL goals were satisfied. A detailed economic analysis is included in the report to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using the innovative technology. Individual analyses were performed for the mainline and the ramp segments. Overall, it was determined that VDOT met the HfL goals on this project and realized cost savings of about 7 percent relative to cast-in-place alternatives. KW - Highway traffic control KW - Interstate 66 KW - Jointed plain concrete pavements KW - Lane closure KW - Paving KW - Precast concrete pavements KW - Prestressed concrete pavements KW - Replacement KW - Road construction KW - Slabs KW - Virginia UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/va_i66.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143806 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376238 AU - Chou, Eddie Y AU - Salari, Ezzatollah AU - University of Toledo AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Transportation Informatics: An Image Analysis System for Managing Transportation Facilities – Phase II PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 28p AB - One of the most important tasks in maintaining transportation facilities such as highways and streets is the evaluation of the existing condition. Visual evaluation by human inspectors is subjective in nature, therefore has issues of consistency and the speed and frequency of evaluation is limited due to the manual process. Automated evaluation using modern digital image processing and pattern recognition techniques can increase the efficiency and accuracy and decrease the costs of condition evaluation. Several automated condition evaluation systems have been developed, but these systems commonly require special devices such as strobe light, laser beams, etc, which increase the cost and limit the system to certain applications. In this study, a low cost automatic pavement distress evaluation approach is presented. This method can provide real-time pavement distress detection as well as evaluation results based on color images captured from a camera installed on a survey vehicle. The entire process consists of two main parts: pavement surface extraction followed by pavement distress detection and classification. In the first part, a novel color segmentation method based on a feed forward neural network is employed to separate the road surface from the background. In the second part, a segmentation technique based on probabilistic relaxation is used to separate distress areas from the road surface. The geometrical parameters obtained from the detected distresses are then fed to a neural network based pavement distress classifier in which the defects are classified into different types. Simulation results are given to show that the scheme presented in this report is both effective and reliable on a variety of pavement images. KW - Condition surveys KW - Image analysis KW - Neural networks KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement maintenance KW - Surface course (Pavements) UR - http://www.utoledo.edu/research/ututc/docs/Chou%202012%20Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143789 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376230 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - 2011 Vehicle Theft Prevention Quick Reference Guide for the Law Enforcement Community PY - 2012/02 SP - 19p AB - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for establishing and enforcing vehicle antitheft regulations. Motor vehicle theft is a growing problem that results in billions of dollars in losses every year. NHTSA has developed this annual guide to provide the law enforcement community with a concise reference tool to help identify passenger motor vehicles that have been exempted from the parts-marking requirements through model year 2011 and also to assist law enforcement in their prosecution and motor vehicle theft prevention efforts. This new guide provides a quick-reference, comprehensive summary of the vehicles that have been installed with antitheft devices as standard equipment, identifying which vehicles are exempted from the parts-marking requirements, the type of exemption granted (partial or full), and the production year(s) for which the exemption applies. KW - Antitheft devices KW - Law enforcement KW - Prevention KW - Vehicle design KW - Vehicle theft KW - Vehicles UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811541.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143643 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376186 AU - Zeng, Xiaosi AU - Balke, Kevin AU - Songchitruksa, Praprut AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Potential Connected Vehicle Applications to Enhance Mobility, Safety, and Environmental Security PY - 2012/02//Research Report SP - 83p AB - The connected vehicle research initiative is the core of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s intelligent transportation system research program. The initiative is beginning to gain momentum in the research community because of the development of a promising wireless communications technology—dedicated short-range communications. Connected vehicle technology has the potential to transform the transportation industry and significantly improve the quality of life of drivers. This study aims to explore the potential uses of connected vehicle technology in real-world settings. Researchers first conducted a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of connected-vehicle research and technologies. Once researchers had a thorough understanding of the technology, they focused on selecting and developing the near-term practical applications that use connected vehicle technology. The research team then sought expert opinions from the Texas Transportation Institute working group during two brainstorming sessions, which produced two lists of potential applications and prioritized the applications based on deployment feasibility. In particular, a total of five applications were selected for development of the full concept of operations, including two in safety, two in mobility, and one in environmental security. These applications address various problems, including wrong-way driving and unprotected-grade-crossing crashes (safety); work-zone merge efficiency and safety, and freeway speed harmonization (mobility); and slippery-pavement-related crashes (environmental security). KW - Connected vehicle technologies KW - Dedicated short range communications KW - Highway safety KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Mobility KW - State of the art KW - Weather conditions KW - Wireless communication systems UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/161103-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144026 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01375425 AU - Zornberg, Jorge G AU - Freilich, Brian J AU - Guzman, Carlos AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Validation of Field Test Methods for Use of Tire Bales PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 39p AB - This implementation project validates field test methods for checking the conformity of tire bales used in transportation applications. It also provides guidelines for instrumentation of installations involving tire bales. Specific components include field evaluation of tire bale dimensions, tire bale unit weight, tension in the baling wires as well as field assessment of mechanical and thermal properties. New test methods for field application to test the bales are developed. KW - Field studies KW - Instrumentation KW - Mechanical properties KW - Quality control KW - Recycled materials KW - Scrap tires KW - Size KW - Test procedures KW - Thermal properties KW - Tire bales KW - Tires KW - Weight UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/5_5517_01_1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143339 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01375344 AU - Jaiswal, Harshita AU - Ryu, Sungwoo AU - Choi, Pangil AU - Choi, Seongcheol AU - Jayawickrama, Priyantha AU - Senadheera, Sanjaya AU - Yeon, Jeongheum AU - Won, Moon C AU - Texas Tech University, Lubbock AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Rational Use of Terminal Anchorages in Portland Cement Concrete Pavements PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 114p AB - It has long been stated that portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements can grow and push bridges, resulting in damage to bridge structures. To protect bridge structures from damages due to the expansion of PCC pavements, three terminal systems are currently used in Texas: anchor lug (AL), wide-flange (WF), and expansion joint (EJ) systems. However, the effectiveness of these three systems has not been fully evaluated. This study investigated the parameters affecting the movements of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) due to temperature variations near bridge terminal areas, whether thermal expansion of CRCP causes damage to bridge structures, and if it does, which terminal type is the most cost effective. Field evaluations revealed that subbase friction plays an important role, and the movement of CRCP due to temperature variations was not excessive if the subbase friction is adequate and may not cause damage to the bridge structures. Most of the distresses near the bridge terminal areas were due to volume changes or instability in the embankment materials. The end movement of CRCP could be accommodated by a simple EJ system if there is adequate subbase friction. The benefits of WF and AL systems are doubtful considering their higher initial construction costs compared with that of a simple EJ system. On the other hand, it should be noted that in a few CRCP projects, observations were made of CRCP expanding beyond the thermal expansion limits, implying that there are other expansion mechanisms than thermal expansions. The investigation of CRCP expansions due to factors other than thermal volume changes was out of the scope of this project. Simple structural analysis showed that if CRCP expands beyond thermal expansion limits, it is practically impossible to restrain the slab expansions with known methods including the AL system. KW - Anchorages KW - Bridge approaches KW - Continuously reinforced concrete pavements KW - Expansion joints KW - Flanges KW - Friction KW - Lugs KW - Pavement design KW - Subbase (Pavements) KW - Texas KW - Thermal expansion UR - http://www.depts.ttu.edu/techmrtweb/reports/complete_reports/0-6326-1-FINAL_REPORT-2.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56100/56115/TTU_0-6326-1.PDF UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143221 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01375343 AU - Kim, Yungon AU - Quinn, Kevin AU - Satrom, Neil AU - Garcia, Jose AU - Sun, Wei AU - Ghannoum, Wassim M AU - Jirsa, James O AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Shear Strengthening of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Beams Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Sheets and Anchors PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 325p AB - The ability to quickly apply carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials with a minimum of disruption to the use of a structure and with virtually no change in the geometry or weight of the element makes CFRP a viable and attractive material for strengthening existing elements. However, without adequate anchorage of CFRP sheets to the concrete surface, premature failures by debonding of the CFRP from the concrete significantly limit the capacity of CFRP strengthening systems. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using anchored CFRP for shear strengthening of large bridge girders or supporting elements. An extensive experimental program was undertaken on several full-scale T-beams and I-girders to achieve project objectives. CFRP anchors used in the study performed well and were able to develop the full capacity of CFRP sheets thereby precluding debonding failures. Studied anchored CFRP systems were thus able to generate significant shear strength gains of up to 50% of the unstrengthened beam capacity. Experimental results, installation procedures for CFRP sheets and anchors, specifications for fabrication and installation of CFRP anchors, and anchored CFRP shear design guidelines are presented. KW - Anchors (Structural connectors) KW - Bond strength (Materials) KW - Carbon fibers KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Girders KW - I girders KW - Installation KW - Shear strength KW - Strengthening (Maintenance) KW - T beams UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6306_1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143224 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01375253 AU - Farzaneh, Reza AU - Ramani, Tara AU - Krishnan, Anupama AU - Zietsman, Josias AU - University Transportation Center for Mobility AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Performance Measures for Sustainable Freight Movement PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 88p AB - Freight movement by road and rail is a cornerstone of the economy of the United States. However, the movement of freight in the U.S. is increasingly impacted by congestion, overburdened infrastructure, and economic issues. Thus, there is a need to emphasize and improve sustainability of the freight system, by both enhancing the benefits of a robust freight system and minimizing the negative impacts freight movement can have on transportation corridors. In general, sustainability refers to providing for environmental stewardship, economic efficiency and social equity in the present as well as into the future. This project developed a framework and methodology to address the issues of freight sustainability at the transportation corridor level, i.e., for highways and rail facilities. Steps included defining the goals and objectives of sustainability pertaining to freight movement and developing appropriate performance measures that reflect progress toward these goals. A set of performance measures were developed to accommodate the specific needs of both urban and rural corridors. This research also developed a methodology for evaluating individual performance measures for a specific transportation corridor and combined them into an aggregate sustainability indicator. This process enables users to compare results for different corridors or for alternate development scenarios for a specific corridor. This project included a case study for a major freight corridor. The resulting tools provide an analysis methodology for departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and other private- and public-sector officials to use in planning, project development, operations, and other aspects of their businesses. KW - Case studies KW - Economic efficiency KW - Environmental stewardship KW - Equity (Justice) KW - Freight traffic KW - Freight transportation KW - Performance measurement KW - Strategic planning KW - Sustainable development KW - Transportation corridors UR - http://utcm.tamu.edu/publications/final_reports/Zietsman_09-37-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1142365 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374497 AU - Zornberg, Jorge G AU - Thompson, Nathan AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Application Guide and Specifications for Geotextiles in Roadway Applications PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 127p AB - Geotextiles, one among the different geosynthetic products, can be used for a number of functions or applications in pavement design. The benefits of using geotextiles in pavements and other transportation applications have triggered a proliferation of products. While this abundance of new products has led to reduction in costs, it has also made it difficult for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) personnel to choose appropriate products based on their engineering properties. Consequently, this report provides the basis for (i) guidelines for proper use and selection of geotextiles in pavements, (ii) material specifications for geotextiles in pavement applications, and (iii) draft construction specifications. KW - Geotextiles KW - Guidelines KW - Materials selection KW - Pavements KW - Specifications UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_5812_1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55800/55871/FHWA-TX_0_5812_1_APPLICATION_GUIDE.PDF UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1142172 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374455 AU - Aguiar-Moya, Jose Pablo AU - Smit, Andre de Fortier AU - Prozzi, Jorge A AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Monitoring of Experimental Sections Using a Web-based Database PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 132p AB - In recent years, a number of databases have been developed as part of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT’s) Research Program for a diversity of goals and objectives. However, there is no one database that collects and stores lessons learned from long-term field application of different technologies or methods—in particular, after the original research project has concluded. Establishing a database that can hold information from research and construction projects provides TxDOT personnel, practitioners, and researchers with a tool to reference information from past studies to supplement data and avoid duplication of efforts. A database of this type is useful not only for tracking the performance of different types of materials or construction techniques, but also as a warehouse to archive case studies and observations about different projects that can be accessed by TxDOT engineers and others. This access is fundamental for ensuring that the experience and knowledge gained by the TxDOT personnel through the years by developing and implementing research technologies is preserved and the mistakes from the past are not repeated. Besides, the long-term monitoring and documenting of the performance of the various projects could provide valuable information in terms of the effectiveness and the efficiency of the various technologies and products developed during the original study. Based on the analysis of the advantages and limitations of existing database systems developed previously under TxDOT’s Research Program, this project created a wiki-type online database system to house all of the required information and meet the project’s requirements and goals. The availability of wiki tools allowed for the development of an online database system that can store all of the required information and be easily accessed and modified by users to accommodate changing requirements and needs. A wiki consists of a collection of web pages designed to enable anyone with access to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language. The project’s website address is http://pavements2.ce.utexas.edu:8080/txdot. This study was a “low-cost, high-payoff” project because most of the research and expensive testing had already been done but several valuable lessons were missing. This database is a useful tool that can help communicate the experiences and lessons learned not only from different projects, but from engineers themselves. KW - Case studies KW - Data warehouses KW - Databases KW - Knowledge management KW - Monitoring KW - Pavement performance KW - Test sections KW - Texas KW - Web applications KW - Wikis (Websites) UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6357_1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141998 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374403 AU - Ice, Ronald C AU - Bauer, Jocelyn K AU - Loudon, William R AU - Fehon, Kevin AU - Science Applications International Corporation AU - R.C. Ice and Associates AU - DKS Associates AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Transit Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Applying a Regional ITS Architecture to Support Planning for Operations: A Primer PY - 2012/02 SP - 100p AB - This primer offers transportation planners and operations managers a menu of opportunities for applying the regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) architecture to enhance planning for operations. It provides specific entry points for leveraging the regional ITS architecture in integrating operations into the planning process. This primer centers on the use of an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for operations; an approach that can leverage regional ITS architectures given the approach’s emphasis on operational objectives and performance measures and the architecture’s use of data and services to address operational needs. Additionally, the primer leads planners and operators through techniques to make a regional ITS architecture relevant and more accessible to practitioner needs in planning for operations. KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - ITS program applications KW - Regional ITS architecture KW - Technology UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12001/fhwahop12001.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141585 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374396 AU - Ganapuram, Sai AU - Adams, Michael AU - Patnaik, Anil AU - University of Akron AU - Ohio Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Quantification of Cracks in Concrete Bridge Decks in Ohio District 3 PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 108p AB - The development of cracks in reinforced bridge decks is a critical problem, not only in Ohio state, but the whole of United States. Many bridge decks constructed within the last 10 years in Ohio have already shown varying levels and patterns of cracking. Bridge deck cracking is a serious issue because cracks allow harmful and corrosive chemicals to penetrate the concrete and deteriorate the reinforcing steel embedded in it, regardless of the bridge design type, length of spans, deck thickness and concrete mixture designs. Proper precautions need to be taken to avoid rapid deterioration of the bridges which can lead to increased maintenance costs and the need for possible replacement. The Ohio Department of Transportation’s current procedure for bridge inspection requires periodic surveying of the whole bridge. However, this inspection procedure offers only a qualitative assessment of the bridges inspected. In this study, a quantitative measurement strategy was adopted by measuring the crack densities of twelve bridges in District 3. Two types of bridges were inspected: three structural slab bridge decks and nine stringer supported bridge decks. Crack densities were determined based on crack maps corresponding to the surveys for each bridge deck. The crack densities determined for the twelve bridge decks indicated that structural slab bridge decks have slightly higher shrinkage crack densities compared to the bridge decks constructed with stringer supports. However, the “structural” cracks seem to be wider for structural slabs (greater than 0.007 inch). Particularly on bridge ASD-42-0656, which is a continuous slab bridge, there were several large “structural” cracks that were parallel to the intermediate supports. These cracks were very wide (much greater than 0.007 inch). The shrinkage crack densities of the twelve bridge decks determined in this study were considerably lower than the crack densities of similar bridge decks located in other states, demonstrating that Ohio bridge decks in general have lower crack density than those in other states. The shrinkage crack densities of the bridges constructed with Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) type of concrete have lower values than the bridges made with other types of concrete. KW - Bridge decks KW - Corrosion KW - Crack density KW - Cracking KW - Cracking of concrete pavements KW - Ohio KW - Reinforced concrete bridges KW - Service life KW - Structural analysis KW - Tensile strength UR - http://worldcat.org/oclc/798567035/viewonline UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141656 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374310 AU - Rupnow, Tyson D AU - Louisiana Transportation Research Center AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Ternary Cementitious Combinations PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 86p AB - Portland cement concrete (PCC) is the world’s most versatile and most used construction materials. Global demand for PCC sustainability has risen as of late. To meet that need, engineers have looked to alternative binders such as fly ash, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and other supplementary cementitous materials (SCMs) to increase pavement durability while lowering the initial and life-cycle cost. Ternary mixtures were produced and the fresh and hardened characteristics were determined. Fresh concrete properties of air content, slump, unit weight, and set time were determined. Hardened concrete properties measured included: compressive strength, flexural strength, length change, coefficient of thermal expansion, modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, rapid chloride permeability, and freeze-thaw durability. Compressive strength results showed equal to or greater compressive strengths especially at later ages of 56 and 90 days. The compressive strengths of all mixtures with SCM replacements up to 80 percent met LADOTD specifications of 4000 psi. The ratios of the seven to 28 day compressive strengths showed that they are more resistant to early age cracking due to the lower modulus at early ages allowing for more creep. Flexural strengths of the ternary mixtures were generally greater than 650 psi with some reaching 1000 psi. These results show that the mixtures will prove adequate for most concrete paving applications, including interstate applications. The results also indicate that the pavement thickness may be reduced in some instances for certain traffic loading conditions. The length change, or shrinkage, results showed that the ternary mixtures performed the same of better than the control mixtures. This ensures that the risk of shrinkage cracking of properly mixed, placed, and cured ternary concrete mixtures is no greater than that of currently mixed, placed, and cured concrete mixtures. Additional curing may be required to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking. The rapid chloride permeability results show that the ternary mixtures will easily meet the new permeability specifications for all structural class concrete requiring less than 1500 Coulombs at 56 days or 27 kΩ-cm at 28 days of age. The CTE results show that addition of SCMs increase the CTE for certain mixtures, and decrease the CTE values for mixtures containing both class C and class F fly ash. The freeze-thaw results showed adequate freeze-thaw durability when the entrained air content was sufficient to prevent frost damage. The results point to an inadequacy in the ASTM standard for high SCM replacements in that the resulting concrete is usually not of sufficient strength to resist freeze-thaw damage at 14 days of age when the test is started. A change may need to be instituted for states where freeze-thaw damage is of concern where the concrete being tested is allowed to cure for a greater numbers of days before the onset of testing. A portland cement replacement level with SCMs of about 70 percent for LADOTD concrete projects was determined to be reasonable. Care should be taken when interpreting these results and the results apply only to the materials used and tested through the course of this study. Producers and contractors wanting to implement these results are strongly encouraged to produce trail batches with their locally available materials to ensure the mixture’s ability to meet and exceed the standards and specifications. The cost benefit ratio for implementation of the results may be as high as 21 depending upon the mixture used for construction and the number of cubic yards of concrete constructed in the state on any given year. Implementation of ternary mixtures will result in an estimated 62,000 tons of CO2 saved for PCC pavements only and the number will be increased when accounting for structural concrete. KW - Binders KW - Fly ash KW - Granulated slag KW - Paving materials KW - Portland cement concrete KW - Properties of materials KW - Supplementary cementing materials KW - Ternary cements UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2012/fr_486.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141797 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373961 AU - Radlinska, Aleksandra AU - Yost, Joseph AU - McCarthy, Leslie AU - Matzke, James AU - Nagel, Francis AU - Villanova University AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Coatings and Treatments for Beam Ends PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 134p AB - With an aging national transportation infrastructure, many existing bridges require frequent maintenance and repairs. The objective of this project was to conduct an in-depth analysis of new and existing types of beam end coatings and treatments that have been proven to extend the life of new and existing concrete and steel bridge beams. A comprehensive literature review as well as online surveys and phone interviews were conducted to gather information about existing and recently developed technologies. The study revealed that while many promising coatings and treatments are offered on the market, there is a lack of readily available laboratory results that would enable direct comparison of the available methods. This finding applies in terms of the coatings' durability and the potential for extending the service life of existing bridges. Most of the interviewed State departments of transportation personnel assessed the products listed in respective Qualified Products Lists as performing 'well'. However, there was significant variability between states in the products used, and, of the agencies contacted, none was able to suggest the most promising or advanced products either for concrete or steel bridge beam end treatments. This suggests that comprehensive laboratory evaluation would be needed to select the best available beam end treatments and coatings. KW - Beams KW - Bridges KW - Coatings KW - Durability KW - End treatments KW - Maintenance KW - Service life UR - ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete%20Projects/Improving%20Pennsylvania%20Bridges/Coatings%20and%20Treatments%20for%20Beam%20Ends.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141594 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373486 AU - Ross, June AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Department of Transportation TI - Should Oregon DMV Require a Knowledge Test at Renewal? PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 21p AB - Persons renewing their Oregon driver license do not need to take a knowledge test. The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requested that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Research Section review the testing practices of other states to determine what alternative approaches are taken to retesting adult drivers for their knowledge of driving practices and laws. A review of state driving laws and policies was completed. No state requires all driver license renewal applicants to take a knowledge test. Fourteen states require a knowledge test or traffic sign recognition test when renewing the driver license if the driver meets certain criteria. States with requirements primarily use criteria that relate to the driving record and license status. Typically it is suspended and/or revoked drivers who must take the knowledge test. In some cases the age of the driver is a consideration. It was also found that few states provide information on new traffic laws and safe driving tips that will be clearly visible to the driver accessing information on the website about driver license renewal. KW - Driver license renewal KW - Driver licenses KW - Literature reviews KW - Oregon KW - Policy KW - State laws KW - States UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/KnowledgeTestAtRenewal.pdf?ga=t UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141472 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373029 AU - Bickford, Erica AU - Holloway, Tracey AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - University of Wisconsin, Madison AU - Wisconsin Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Sustainable Freight Infrastructure to Meet Climate and Air Quality Goals PY - 2012/02 SP - 43p AB - This report examines the potential for freight modal shift from truck-to-rail in the upper Midwestern U.S. to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions. Two scenarios were generated, one focusing on intra-regional freight movements within the Midwest and the second on through-freight movements into, out of, and through the region. Freight truck and rail emissions inventories were generated corresponding to each scenario and input to a regional air quality model (CMAQ). Results showed the intra-regional scenario had little impact on Midwest air quality, however the through-freight scenario greatly reduced concentrations of NO2 and EC near roadways (up to 27% for NO2 and up to 16% for EC), with corresponding increases near railways. The through-freight scenario also reduced CO2 emissions 31% compared to baseline trucking. Reductions in PM2.5 and O3 were modest, up to 3%. The authors conclude that while truck-to-rail modal shift does improve regional air quality, the motivation for advocating rail over truck lies principally in reduced human exposure to near-roadway pollution, as well as reduction of carbon emissions. KW - Air quality KW - Carbon dioxide KW - Diesel engine exhaust gases KW - Freight traffic KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Modal shift KW - Pollutants KW - Railroad transportation KW - Sustainable transportation KW - Trucking UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/FR_CFIRE0209.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44492/FR_0209.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1140043 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373018 AU - Connor, Robert AU - Fisher, John AU - Gatti, Walter AU - Gopalaratnam, Vellore AU - Kozy, Brian AU - Leshko, Brian AU - McQuaid, David L AU - Medlock, Ronald AU - Mertz, Dennis AU - Murphy, Thomas AU - Paterson, Duncan AU - Sorensen, Ove AU - Yadlosky, John AU - HDR Engineering, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Manual for Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Orthotropic Steel Deck Bridges PY - 2012/02 SP - 291p AB - This Manual covers the relevant issues related to orthotropic steel deck bridge engineering, including analysis, design, detailing, fabrication, testing, inspection, evaluation, and repair. It includes a discussion of some the various applications of orthotropic bridge construction to provide background with case study examples. It also provides basic criteria for the establishment of a cost-effective and serviceable orthotropic bridge cross section with detailing geometry that has been used on recent projects worldwide. The manual covers both the relevant information necessary for the engineering analysis of the orthotropic steel bridge and the requirements for complete design of orthotropic steel bridge superstructures. Additionally, design details such as materials, corrosion protection, minimum proportions, and connection geometry are addressed as well as basic fabrication, welding, and erection procedures. Portions of the manual also cover methods for maintaining and evaluating orthotropic bridges, including inspection and load rating. Wearing surfaces are also covered in depth. The culmination of all the information is demonstrated in two design examples. KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge decks KW - Bridge design KW - Bridge engineering KW - Maintenance KW - Manuals KW - Orthotropic plates KW - Steel bridges UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/pubs/if12027/if12027.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139894 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371314 AU - Wargelin, Laurie AU - Stopher, Peter AU - Minser, Jason AU - Tierney, Kevin AU - Rhindress, Mindy AU - O'Connor, Sharon AU - Abt SRBI, Incorporated AU - Ohio Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - GPS-Based Household Interview Survey for the Cincinnati, Ohio Region PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 64p AB - Past Household Travel Surveys (HTS) in the United States have only piloted small subsamples of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) completes compared with 1-2 day self-reported travel inventory diaries. The Ohio Department of Transportation Research Division, in cooperation with the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI) Council of Governments, in 2009 initiated the first exclusively GPS Household Travel Survey (HTS) (e.g., no diaries). In addition, the ODOT GPS-only HTS is one of a few initial US studies to successfully use a personal devise GPS. Most past subsample studies have installed GPS in vehicles for recording and comparison of auto travel only. Additionally, this study was one of the first completed address-based HTS, which includes cell only households, with Internet recruit available. This research documents the protocols used for GPS deployment to all members of a household over 12 years old for a three-day recording period. Simplified diaries were provided for children under age 12. The main survey commenced in August of 2009. Recruitment of over 5,000 households progressed over a twelve month period, with proportional distribution. The highly stratified address-based sampling method used is described as well as the forms and materials, response rates for recruitment, and the compliance rates and experiences with households. Also described are the logistical challenges of getting 4+ persons households to all carry a GPS unit on a concurrent day and the challenge of loss rates on GPS units not returned. This research documents the Internet-based prompted recall (PR) verification method used and its outcomes. The PR was essentially used to impute mode of travel and trip purpose from GPS recordings. These imputation methods and findings are described. Also presented and discussed is the depth and degree of accuracy of core trip variables obtained using GPS-only methods, including modes, travel time and distance, and purpose at locations. Lessons learned are recorded. The primary conclusion to be drawn from this research is that it is feasible to undertake a GPS-only household travel survey, achieving a high standard of representativeness for the sample, while imputing mode and purpose at a sufficiently accurate level to support modeling work. The high level of accuracy attained in this survey for imputing mode and purpose with 96 percent on mode and around 90 percent on activity (other than detailed breakdowns of the “other” category) is far superior to self-report surveys. The richness of the “ground-truthing” of time, location, distance, speed, and route information from this survey surpasses what can be achieved from any other form of survey. KW - Cincinnati (Ohio) KW - Data collection KW - Global Positioning System KW - Households KW - Imputation KW - Transportation modes KW - Travel surveys KW - Trip purpose UR - http://worldcat.org/oclc/784088238/viewonline UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139547 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371310 AU - Boyles, Stephen D AU - Saha, Promothes AU - University of Wyoming, Laramie AU - Mountain-Plains Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - An Optimization Model for Roadway Pricing on Rural Freeways PY - 2012/02 SP - 67p AB - The main objective of rural roadway pricing is revenue generation, rather than elimination of congestion externalities. This report presents a model that provides optimum tolls accounting for pavement deterioration and economic impacts. This model contains multiple components, because imposing tolls creates “ripple effects” on traffic flow: changing traffic movements, which changes pavement deterioration rates, maintenance schedules, and spending in local economies. The model described here also allows differential pricing for different types of vehicles. Due to the discontinuity of the formulation, simulated annealing is used to find tolls on selected roadway arcs. This model is demonstrated on a network representing the state of Wyoming, along with some discussion of the issues raised by the model’s recommendations. KW - Deterioration KW - Economic impacts KW - Freeways KW - Optimization KW - Road pricing KW - Rural highways KW - Tolls KW - Traffic flow KW - Wyoming UR - http://www.mountain-plains.org/pubs/pdf/MPC12-246.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139603 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371307 AU - Chi, Junwook AU - Matthews, Justin AU - Weddington, Jessica AU - Hamilton, Pamela AU - Rahall Appalachian Transportation Institute AU - West Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Potential Economic Benefits of Public-Private Partnership (P3s) on Reclaimed Mine Sites in the Construction of the I-73/74 NHS Corridor PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 181p AB - A public private partnership (PPP or P3), according to the FHWA, "…is a contractual agreement between a public agency and a private entity for private sector participation in the delivery of transportation projects". One of the most innovative aspects of the King Coal Highway (KCH) is the P3s which have developed and continue to develop. These consist of using surface mine sites as locations for portions of the KCH roadbed. Under this form of P3, after extraction of the coal by surface mining, instead of returning the property to as near as possible its original contour, the mining company agrees to build a section of rough roadbed. When completed, the roadbed will be turned over to the WVDOT for further development. Further, the company which extracted the coal proceeds as a construction company to build the rough road bed on adjacent property. The coal company is allowed to remove all coal located within the right of way. The sale of the coal extracted is used to reduce the cost to the public sector of building the roadbed. This project examines the potential for the expansion of P3 in the construction of the KCH. The analysis also includes an estimation of the possible economic benefits of using P3s along the route of the KCH and the economic development which could result. KW - Coal mines KW - Economic benefits KW - Financing KW - Public private partnerships KW - Regional economics KW - Road construction KW - Subgrade (Pavements) KW - Waste products UR - http://www.njrati.org/wp-content/plugins/research_projects/reports/211085.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139550 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371298 AU - Fine, Philip R AU - Heaton, Karen AU - Stavrinos, Despina AU - Hanowski, Richard AU - McGwin, Gerald AU - Vance, David AU - Foster, P Jeffrey AU - Franklin, Crystal AU - National Transportation Research Center, Incorporated AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - U33: Impact of Distraction and Health on Commercial Driving Performance PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 99p AB - This study examined the interaction of the cognitive and technological aspects of distracted driving as well as physical health among commercial drivers. Participants (n=55; 5 of which were excluded from analyses) were recruited from Alabama-based trucking companies. After Informed Consent was obtained from participants, baseline health, driving, anthropometric, and demographic data were collected. Participants then completed cognitive testing, and drove an 88-mile simulated trip while engaging in one of four secondary tasks (no secondary task, cell phone conversation, texting interaction, and email interaction) in a commercial truck driving simulator. Participants had a mean age of 40.5 years, were mostly male (98.0%), and had, on average, 8.6 years of experience as a commercial truck driver. During the simulation, compared to the no secondary task condition, the emailing and texting conditions were associated with increased collisions, lane deviations, and eye glances off of the road; the cell phone condition was associated with a decreased rate of eye glances off of the road and an increased rate of riding the clutch. Driver characteristics were not associated with driving violations, although increased sleep time was associated with decreased collisions and fewer instances of speeding 15+ miles over the posted speed limit, and increased mean reaction time was associated with a slight increase in the collision rate. Findings from this study impact multiple stakeholders and will contribute to the development of future, large intervention studies targeting driver distraction and health factors in commercial drivers. KW - Cellular telephones KW - Distraction KW - Driving simulators KW - Health KW - Sleep KW - Text messaging KW - Truck crashes KW - Truck drivers KW - Trucking safety UR - http://www.ntrci.org/Uploads/Files/ResearchReports/U33%20Impact%20of%20Distraction%20and%20Health%20on%20Commercial%20Driving%20Performance.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139549 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370384 AU - Margerum, Richard D AU - Brody, Susan AU - Parker, Robert AU - McEwen, Gail AU - University of Oregon, Eugene AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Regional Transportation and Land Use Decision Making in Metropolitan Regions: Findings from Four Case Studies PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 190p AB - Throughout the United States, metropolitan regions face increasingly complex issues related to transportation and land use. The diffuse nature of decision making creates a need to better coordinate land use and transportation to address issues such as: congestion, infrastructure costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Key players in this decision making are regional metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) with transportation planning authority, regional planning responsibilities, and in some cases regional land use planning authority. The goal of this study was to describe and assess efforts by regional agencies to coordinate land use and transportation. Policies and processes in four key topic areas were examined: Governance - formal and informal decision making approaches; Coordination - strategies used to coordinate land use and transportation; Growth Centers - policies to encourage development in higher density centers; and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) - policies to incorporate smart growth criteria in TIP funding decisions. KW - Case studies KW - City planning KW - Coordination KW - Decision making KW - Land use KW - Land use planning KW - Metropolitan areas KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Regional planning KW - Smart growth KW - Strategic planning KW - Transportation Improvement Programs UR - http://otrec.us/main/document.php?doc_id=917 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138946 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370195 AU - Bryson, John M AU - Crosby, Barbara C AU - Stone, Melissa M AU - Saunoi-Sandgren, Emily AU - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities AU - Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Dynamics of Cross-Sector Collaboration: Minnesota’s Urban Partnership Agreement from Start to Finish PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 80p AB - The problems faced by today's public managers are often too large to be solved by a single entity, and require collaboration across government, nonprofit, and business sectors. As new technologies and systematic approaches transform the transportation field, cross-sector collaboration has become an increasingly important policy development and implementation approach. Particularly within the transportation field, an assemblage of technologies is often critical to implementing system-wide strategies aimed at, for example, mitigating traffic congestion. In many cases, designers and implementers of effective transportation policies must combine a variety of technologies with deft relationship building and management. Through the development of comparative case studies of the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) initiatives, this research study will complete the examination from start to finish of the Minnesota UPA, and provide additional comparative information from other UPA sites to enhance the certainty of conclusions, and to develop sound lessons for practitioners. KW - City planning KW - Cooperation KW - Minnesota KW - Partnerships KW - Technology KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic mitigation KW - Urban areas UR - http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/pdfdownload.pl?id=1646 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137412 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370169 AU - McHenry, Michael T AU - Rose, Jerry G AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Railroad Subgrade Support and Performance Indicators — A Review of Available Laboratory and In-Situ Testing Methods PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 39p AB - The quality and support of the subgrade portion of a railroad trackbed are vital to the overall performance of the track structure. The subgrade is an integral component of the track structure and its performance properties must be considered in order to effectively assess its influence on subsequent track quality. European and Asian railways are particularly advanced in implementing subgrade performance indicators into their track designs and assessments. As train speed and tonnage increase in the U.S., the evaluation and influence of subgrade performance will become even more paramount. There are numerous means of measuring and predicting subgrade performance. Both laboratory and in-situ test methods have been used. A review of available testing methods is presented herein in the context of railroad subgrade assessment. Discussion on the applicability of each test to the American railroad industry is also included. In-situ tests likely provide the greater advantage in railway engineering because results can typically be obtained quickly, more cost effectively, and with a larger data set. Newer rail-bound, continuous testing devices, while not testing the subgrade directly, are extremely convenient and will likely become more common in the future. KW - Ballast (Railroads) KW - Field tests KW - Laboratory tests KW - Performance KW - Railroad track beds KW - Railroads KW - Subgrade (Railroads) KW - Subgrade materials KW - Test procedures UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2012/06/KTC_12_02_FR_136_04_6F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138428 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370139 AU - Skaggs, Valerie AU - Norris, Ann AU - Johnson, Robert AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - 2010 Aerospace Medical Certification Statistical Handbook PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 50p AB - The annual Aerospace Medical Certification Statistical Handbook reports descriptive characteristics of all active U.S. civil aviation airmen and the aviation medical examiners (AMEs) that perform the required medical examinations. This information has not been published since 1998, so in response to recent need, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reinstated the annual report. The 2010 annual handbook documents the most recent and most widely relevant data on active civil aviation airmen and AMEs. Medical certification records from 2006-2010 were selected from the Document Imaging Workflow System (DIWS) which is the FAA medical certification database. All medical data were abstracted from the most recent medical examinations with the exception of medical conditions which were historical and current. Only those with a non-expired medical certificate remained in the dataset. AME records were selected from the Aviation Medical Examiner Information System (AMEIS). The current status of each AME was determined for each year of the study period from 2008-2010, retaining only those with an active status. Airman variables include age, issued and effective medical classes, height, weight, BMI, gender, select medical conditions, special issuances, and FAA region of residence. AME variables include AME type, age, gender, medical specialty, pilot license status, senior examiner status, and region. As of December 31, 2010, there were 598,642 medically certified airmen age 16 and older, and 30.9%, 22.1%, and 47.0% were issued a Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 medical certificate, respectively. Across all medical classes, the average age was 44 years and 93.5% of the airmen were male. The mean BMI for both females and males was 24.2 and 27.3 respectively. Six percent of issued certificates required a special issuance. The most commonly reported medical condition was hypertension with medication, at 11%. Of the 3,651 active AMEs, 93% were civilian, 2.4% federal, and 4.6% military. Nearly 50% reported their medical specialty as family practice. Their average age was 59.4 years; the majority (52%) did not hold a pilot license, and 82% were male. In summary, this report contains widely requested data on the active U.S. civil airmen population that has not been readily accessible since 1998. This report will be updated annually and will be used by the aerospace community, including FAA leadership, aerospace researchers, advocacy groups, legislative staff, and the general public. KW - Air pilots KW - Aviation medicine KW - Certification KW - Demographics KW - Medical personnel KW - Physicians KW - Statistics UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201203.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138422 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370133 AU - Bailey, Larry AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Analysis of En Route Operational Errors: Probability of Resolution and Time-On-Position PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 24p AB - The Federation Administration’s Air Traffic Control Organization Safety Management System (SMS) is designed to prevent the introduction of unacceptable safety risk into the National Airspace System. One of the most important safety metrics used in the Air Traffic Organization’s SMS is the rate and severity of air traffic control operational errors (OEs). While OE rates tell us about the frequency of occurrence, the rates in and of themselves do not provide a direct assessment of safety risk. Two additional metrics are proposed for inclusion in the Air Traffic Organization’s SMS. These include the probability of resolution (POR) index and the time-on-position probability (TOPP) index. Whereas the POR is a measure of OE containment (i.e., resolving a loss of separation before the situation worsens), the TOPP is a measure of the occupational risk of an OE occurring due to traffic exposure. In this report, each metric is mathematically developed and empirically evaluated using archival en route data. In Study 1, the utility of the POR is evaluated based on 1293 OEs extracted from an en route OE research database for the period May 1, 2001 to May 31, 2003. In Study 2, the utility of the TOPP is evaluated based on 1,397,206 time-on-position entries from six en route centers for the 2006 calendar year. The results of both studies are discussed within a SMS framework. KW - Air traffic control KW - Aviation safety KW - Human error KW - Mathematical analysis KW - Measurement KW - Operational errors KW - Risk management KW - Safety Management Systems UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201202.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138418 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369577 AU - Silvestri, Chiara AU - Arrington, Dusty R AU - Bligh, Roger P AU - Menges, Wanda L AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development Guidance for Sign Design Standards PY - 2012/02//Test Report SP - 384p AB - Many of the design practices that Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uses for large and small sign mounting were established many years ago. These mounting details may no longer be appropriate, given changes in sign materials, fabrication methods, and installation practices. Further, the vehicle fleet and operating conditions on our highways have changed considerably, and there is a need to assess the compliance of some existing sign support systems with current vehicle testing criteria, and to evaluate new technologies that offer to enhance performance and maintenance. This two-year research project was designed to provide TxDOT with a comprehensive review and update of mounting details and standards for large and small sign supports, and to provide a mechanism for TxDOT to quickly and effectively evaluate and address high priority needs related to sign support systems. The information provided through the project will be used to update standard Sign Mounting Detail (SMD) sheets, revise or set policies and standards, and evaluate new products and technologies. The issues researched under this project are formulated on an annual basis, with the ability to modify priorities as needed. KW - Breakaway supports KW - Design standards KW - Guidelines KW - Impact tests KW - Sign supports KW - Texas KW - Traffic signs UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6363-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138088 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369381 AU - Amdal, James R AU - Jayawardana, Jay AU - Swigart, Stanley L AU - University of New Orleans AU - Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Incorporating Lower Mississippi Port Assets into Emergency Preparedness and Response Initiatives PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 46p AB - The Lower Mississippi River (LMR) and its 5 deep water ports represent a significant national asset as well as a critical portion of a major transportation corridor from the heartland of the country to the Gulf of Mexico. The lower portion of the Mississippi River is particularly subject to major disruptions caused by both manmade and natural disasters. In light of recent events of national significance (Hurricane Katrina of 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010) researchers at the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute (UNOTI) questioned: 1) what assets at the LMR ports are available to respond to these events; and 2) what agreements either exist or are needed to access them during emergency or disaster situations. UNOTI conducted extensive on-site interviews with port officials to determine their existing assets and United State Coast Guard (USCG) officials to determine if these assets are included within their various plans for emergency or disaster response. What the authors discovered is that a variety of assets do exist but, to date, they are not an integral part of any regional or national response plan. In times of disaster affecting the LMR all assets may be called into service. Depending in the magnitude of the event, regardless of the specific plans being utilized, contingency measures call into play all conventional and unconventional assets to deal with the after effects. This was the case in both Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The responses to these events can be used to improve the ability to respond in a more comprehensive and “all hands - all assets - all responses” manner. Appendix A of this report provides the USCG and other organizations with a current inventory of port assets that can be incorporated into their emergency response plans, most specifically the USCG’s Area Contingency Plan (ACP) and identifies what agreements currently exist to access these assets in times of disaster. KW - Assets KW - Contingency planning KW - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, 2010 KW - Disaster preparedness KW - Emergency management KW - Hurricane Katrina, 2005 KW - Hurricanes KW - Inventory KW - Lower Mississippi River KW - Oil spills KW - Ports KW - United States Coast Guard UR - http://scholarworks.uno.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=unoti_pubs UR - http://www.evaccenter.lsu.edu/pub/11-07.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137970 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369380 AU - Tao, Mingjiang AU - Zhang, Mo AU - Worcester Polytechnic Institute AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Update LADOTD Policy on Pile Driving Vibration Management PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 136p AB - The main objective of this project was to update the current Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) policy on pile driving vibration risk management with a focus on how to determine an appropriate vibration monitoring area. The current best practice of managing the risk of pile driving by federal and state highway agencies was identified by conducting a comprehensive literature review and a questionnaire survey. Ground vibration data were collected from previous pile driving projects in the state of Louisiana, which were statistically analyzed on the basis of the scaled-distance concept to develop regression equations for predicting ground vibration Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) values. A rational procedure for determining an appropriate vibration monitoring distance (VMD) was developed for Louisiana’s local conditions based on a 99 percent prediction-level regression equation for predicting PPV values. The findings (the threshold PPV limits and the VMD) obtained from the empirical scaled-distance concept were further verified with dynamic finite element method (FEM) simulations. The results from this study indicated that the vibration criteria specified in the current Louisiana’s special provision are generally too conservative (i.e., a PPV limit of 0.2 in/s for residential buildings and a pre-construction survey distance of 500 ft.) and should be revised. Regarding the threshold PPV limits, the results suggest that 0.5 and 0.1 in/s should be used for a general scenario (neither historic buildings nearby nor loose sandy soil layers present) and for a special scenario (either a historic building or a loose sandy layer existing near pile driving sites), respectively. Consequently, VMDs of 200 and 500 ft. are recommended for general and special scenarios, respectively. The values of VMD in the case of a large pile driving hammer (i.e., its rate energy larger than 100,000 ft-lbf) being used were also recommended. The pre-construction survey distance was suggested to take the same value as the VMD. A specification draft was developed on the basis of the major findings from this study, which is included in Appendix E and ready to be implemented by LADOTD in future pile driving projects. KW - Best practices KW - Literature reviews KW - Pile driving KW - Risk management KW - Surveys KW - Vibration UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2012/fr_483.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137971 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369375 AU - Barnett, Jeff AU - Harrison, Jennifer AU - Steede-Terry, Karen AU - Inner Corridor Technologies, Incorporated AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - DOTD GPS Technology Management Plan PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 92p AB - Over many years, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has been adopted by different sections within the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), with no uniform standards for accuracy, operation, hardware, or software. As a result, it was unknown who was using GPS, what makes and models were being used, and for what purposes. The current state of GPS within the Department needed to be assessed and compared with current best practices as defined by use within the Department, other large agencies, and the GPS industry. Surveys and interviews of GPS at DOTD, other organizations using GPS, and vendors of GPS technology have been utilized to formulate management concepts to be considered as best practices for GPS usage at DOTD. The goal of this project was to create a management plan to guide the Department’s use of GPS technology into the future, based on best practices. The plan proposes at least one high quality GPS receiver at each district office and several for sections located at DOTD headquarters. Receivers are to have laser range finders so points can be collected faster and at safe distances. The plan also proposes GPS management through the implementation of a GPS technology committee within DOTD, comprised of GPS users and GPS technology support staff. The committee will drive the overall vision of GPS usage and set standards for databases, operating procedures, coordinate accuracy, and training. Executing the plans will be a GPS coordinator (either a new position or modification to an existing position). The coordinator will also maintain an inventory of GPS units and manage device maintenance and upgrades. KW - Best practices KW - Data collection KW - Global Positioning System KW - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development KW - Management KW - Standards UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2012/fr_489.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137972 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368822 AU - Puccinelli, Jason AU - Karamihas, S AU - Hall, K AU - Senn, K AU - Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chartered AU - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance Evaluation of Arizona’s LTPP SPS-1 Project: Strategic Study of Flexible Pavement Structural Factors PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 131p AB - As part of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) constructed 16 SPS-1 test sections on U.S. Route 93 near Kingman. The SPS-1 study was designed to study a variety of structural sections in new asphalt concrete construction. Opened to traffic in 1993, the project was monitored at regular intervals until it was rehabilitated in 2006. Surface distress, profile, and deflection data collected throughout the life of the pavement were used to evaluate the performance of various flexible pavement design features, layer configurations, and thickness. This report documents the analyses conducted as well as practical findings and lessons learned that will be of interest to Arizona DOT. KW - Deflection KW - Flexible pavements KW - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program KW - Pavement design KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement layers KW - Pavement performance UR - http://apps.azdot.gov/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ396(1).pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44357/AZ396-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137351 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368815 AU - Sebesta, Stephen AU - Scullion, Tom AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Statewide Implementation of Pave-IR in the Texas Department of Transportation PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 122p AB - This project conducted work to complement implementation of Pave-IR into the Texas Department of Transportation’s hot-mix-asphalt quality control/quality assurance specification. Pave-IR provides real-time thermal profiling of paving operations to detect thermal segregation. To facilitate this implementation, a webinar was first conducted to introduce industry and agency personnel to the background of thermal profiling and how thermal segregation relates to mixture properties and performance. More than 80 attendees comprising both contractor and agency personnel attended the webinar. The webinar materials are available separate of this report as Product 5-4577-05-P1. Next, Pave-IR thermal profiling was demonstrated on eight construction projects. This report presents the results from these demonstrations, which were made of varying mixture types around the state. The thermal profiles collected ranged from projects with little thermal segregation to projects with frequent severe thermal segregation. In all cases, the demonstrations revealed contractor and agency staff eager to learn more about the technology and how the results can be used to place higher quality asphalt mixtures. KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Pave-IR KW - Quality assurance KW - Quality control KW - Real time control KW - Segregation (Aggregates) KW - Technological innovations UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/5-4577-05-1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44200/44282/5-4577-05-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137360 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368812 AU - Benden, Mark AU - Fink, Rainer AU - Stafford, James AU - University Transportation Center for Mobility AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Teen Driver Cell Phone Blocker PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 54p AB - This study was a randomized control intervention to measure the effectiveness of a cellular phone control device that communicates with the vehicles of teen drivers to deny them access to their phone while driving for the purpose of reducing distraction-related negative driving events. Investigators developed and manufactured working samples of the patent-pending cell phone disabling device from the Texas A&M Health Science Center (HSC). The intention was to provide 100 of the devices to families with a newly licensed teen driver. Half of the devices were to be distributed in an urban area (Houston) and the other half in a rural area (Brenham). The 50 participating families and teenagers in each group were to be compared to 50 of their peers (newly licensed teen drivers) who did not receive and install the cell phone disabling device. In total, there were to be 200 teen drivers participating in the project with 100 participants per group: 50 with the device and 50 without the device. Following unforeseen development cost issues and dramatic changes in the target cellular phone market, the HSC device was abandoned for a commercial device already on the market. The comparison with this device was conducted using pre- and post-surveys of parents regarding driving records of teens in both the control (n = 26) and treatment (n = 72) groups. The project analyzed vehicle, crash, and moving violation data. Qualitative data were collected in the form of surveys and analyzed using statistical software. Post-surveys of parents and teens were taken at inception and 1 year after the teen entered the study. Surveys inquired about teen involvement in traffic crashes, awareness of performance decrements, attitudes toward the device, issues with usability and quality, and marketability of the device. Due to technology problems, dramatic dropout rates (54% at 12 months), and low initial participation rates, results were limited to conclusions related to the strong resistance of this market to cell phone inhibiting devices and the challenges associated with implementing them on a large scale. KW - Accident prone drivers KW - Cellular telephones KW - Distraction KW - Highway safety KW - Houston (Texas) KW - Surveys KW - Teenage drivers UR - http://utcm.tamu.edu/publications/final_reports/Benden_10-15-47.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44200/44283/Benden_10-15-47.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137365 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368807 AU - Strathman, James G AU - Kwon, Sung Moon AU - Callas, Steve AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Extraboard Performance: TriMet Case Study PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 36p AB - This paper examines extraboard operations and management at TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland Oregon metropolitan area. The extraboard consists of a pool of operators who fill open work resulting from absences and other causes. The paper first examines the general performance of the extraboard in filling open work, drawing on seven years of daily operations data from three bus garages. It then presents statistical analyses focusing on open work patterns and the effects of selected work rules on operator utilization and service delivery. Lastly, suggestions are made for improving the efficiency of extraboard operations. KW - Buses KW - Extraboards KW - Operations KW - Performance evaluations KW - Statistical analysis KW - Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon KW - Utilization UR - http://otrec.us/main/document.php?doc_id=540 UR - http://otrec.us/project/318 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44406/OTREC-RR-11-14_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137271 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368801 AU - Obermann, William R AU - UrbanTrans Consultants AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Travel Demand Management: A Toolbox of Strategies to Reduce Single-Occupant Vehicle Trips and Increase Alternate Mode Usage in Arizona PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 89p AB - The report provides a suite of recommended strategies to reduce single-occupant vehicle traffic in the urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, which are presented as a travel demand management (TDM) toolbox. The toolbox includes supporting research on how to deliver, monitor, and fund implementation of the strategies, and a framework for the development of performance measures to assess their effectiveness. The research effort included studies of travel behavior in Phoenix and Tucson, reviews of best-practice measures nationally, and those in use in Arizona today, and interviews with local and national TDM professionals. KW - Best practices KW - Phoenix (Arizona) KW - Single occupant vehicles KW - Travel behavior KW - Travel demand management KW - Tucson (Arizona) KW - Urban areas UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44358/AZ654.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137370 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368789 AU - Reeder, Phillip AU - Bhat, Chandra AU - Lorenzini, Karen AU - Hall, Kevin AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Positive Feedback: Exploring Current Approaches in Iterative Travel Demand Model Implementation PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 158p AB - Currently, the models that the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT’s) Transportation Planning and Programming Division (TPP) developed are traditional three-step models (i.e., trip generation, trip distribution, and traffic assignment) that are sequentially applied. A limitation of this sequential approach is an inconsistency between the travel time data used in the different stages of the process that may result in: (1) travel demand models (TDMs), which do not accurately reflect system-wide or corridor-level travel patterns, (2) travel times in alternative analyses that may not reflect accurate results, and (3) inaccurate results being used for the air quality determination process. To resolve these differences in the model sequence, researchers proposed an iterative feedback mechanism as an approach. This project researched current trends, practices, and tools in implementing a feedback approach for potential implementation in the TxDOT TDMs. In general, past research and practice underscores the importance of incorporating feedback loops in the travel demand process, especially in regions with moderate to high levels of traffic congestion during certain times of the day. Since the current TxDOT TDM model does not include any impedance or accessibility measures in the trip generation step, the best current approach is to feed back the output from the traffic assignment step to the trip distribution step. Overall, critical consideration should be given to the relative impact that implementing feedback might have on existing TxDOT-TPP practices. A feedback mechanism necessarily includes additional training and increases the calibration time associated with delivering base year travel models; and possibly could include additional data processing (and collection) related to time-of-day implementation. KW - Feedback KW - Traffic assignment KW - Travel demand KW - Travel patterns KW - Travel time KW - Trip distribution KW - Trip generation UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6632-1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44200/44281/0-6632-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137357 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368699 AU - Rached, Marc AU - Fowler, David W AU - Whitney, David P AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Preliminary Recommendations for Achieving Adequate Surface Friction in Class P Concrete Containing Manufactured Fine Aggregates PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 26p AB - This report summarizes findings and recommendations regarding the usage of manufactured fine aggregates in portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP). The supporting research included both field and laboratory testing of aggregates and concrete properties that relate to skid resistance. Primary results show good correlation between friction values obtained using a Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) and the micro-Deval test for fine aggregates (ASTM D7428). Recommendations on how to blend carbonate sands with low acid insoluble residues are presented in this document. KW - Acid insoluble residue KW - Artificial aggregates KW - Carbonate sands KW - Concrete pavements KW - Dynamic friction tester KW - Field tests KW - Fine aggregates KW - Friction KW - Laboratory tests KW - Micro-Deval test KW - Portland cement concrete KW - Recommendations KW - Skid resistance UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6255_p1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137356 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368697 AU - Walubita, Lubinda F AU - Faruk, Abu N AU - Das, Gautam AU - Tanvir, Hossain A AU - Zhang, Jun AU - Scullion, Tom AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Overlay Tester: A Sensitivity Study to Improve Repeatability and Minimize Variability in the Test Results PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 153p AB - Hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay is one of the most commonly used methods for rehabilitating deteriorated pavements. One major type of distress influencing the life of an overlay is reflective cracking. Many departments of transportation have implemented design-level tests to measure the rutting potential of HMA; these are typically wheel-tracking tests. However, currently, there is no national design-level test for measuring resistance to cracking. Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation uses the Overlay Tester (OT) to evaluate the cracking susceptibility of HMA mixes in the laboratory. While, the OT effectively simulates the reflective cracking mechanism of opening and closing of joints and/or cracks, repeatability and variability in the test results have been major areas of concern. In particular, variability in the OT test results poses a problem with most of the conventional dense-graded HMA mixes, such as Type C and D, which is approximately 75 percent of all the HMA used on Texas highways. This laboratory study presents a comprehensive sensitivity evaluation of the critical steps of the OT test procedure in an attempt to optimize the OT repeatability and minimize variability in the test results. In general, the study indicated that the sample drying method, glue quantity, number of sample replicates, air voids, sample age at the time of testing, and temperature variations are some of the key aspects that have a significant impact on the OT test repeatability and variability. Overall, findings from this study indicate that variability in the OT test results can be minimized if these aspects are improved and/or more clearly specified in the OT test procedure (Tex-248-F). KW - Bituminous overlays KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Laboratory tests KW - Reflection cracking KW - Repeatability KW - Test procedures KW - Testing variability KW - Texas UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6607-1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44464/0-6607-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137348 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368687 AU - Banerjee, Ambarish AU - Aguiar-Moya, Jose Pablo AU - Sivaram, Prasad AU - Smit, Andre de F AU - Prozzi, Jorge A AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Project Report on the Continued Development and Analysis of the Flexible Pavement Database PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 50p AB - The original scope of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Research Project 0-6275 included continuing the development of the Texas Flexible Pavement Database (TFPD) developed as part of Research Project 0-5513. The objective of 0-5513 was to deliver a database capable of hosting the data necessary for new pavement design models that would result in more reliable and economical pavement design. The objective of 0-6275 was to continue the data collection and data population of the flexible pavement databases and to calibrate the models (transfer functions) used in the new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) as well as TxDOT’s mechanistic design checks. In addition, this new project was to review the development conducted in 0-5513 to evaluate whether the database created covered the inference space of pavements in Texas and to make the necessary additions and changes. Therefore, the efforts of 0-6275 were primarily twofold. One aspect was geared towards extensive performance monitoring and material testing for better characterization of the experimental sections included as part of 0-5513 as well as new sections that were to be incorporated in the enhanced version of the TFPD. The other aspect of the study was to look into the calibration of the transfer functions in the newly developed MEPDG as well as Texas ME Design procedure being sponsored by TxDOT through the 0-5798 research study. It was understood that an effort to determine reliable bias correction factors would necessitate a large volume of project-specific information for a number of pavement sections that are well spread out within the state such that differences in materials, traffic, construction practices and climate are captured. The TFPD supplemented by other databases like the DCIS and the LIMS will ensure that the data needs for the calibration exercise are met and fulfilled to the extent possible. When time series data were not available, the researchers utilized relevant data from the FHWA’s Long Term Pavement Performance Studies (LTPP). This interim report summarizes the activities performed during the first 7 months of the project, when the current project was terminated. Therefore, this document reports on the work performed in Tasks 1 through 7. KW - Calibration KW - Databases KW - Flexible pavements KW - Mathematical models KW - Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide KW - Pavement design KW - Texas UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6275_1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137260 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367857 AU - Ranney, Thomas A AU - Baldwin, G H Scott AU - Parmer, Ed AU - Martin, John AU - Mazzae, Elizabeth N AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Distraction Effects of In-Vehicle Tasks Requiring Number and Text Entry Using Auto Alliance’s Principle 2.1B Verification Procedure PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 79p AB - An experiment was conducted to assess the distraction potential of secondary tasks using the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers’ Principle 2.1B verification procedure implemented using specifications obtained from an Alliance member company. Secondary tasks included radio tuning, destination entry, 10-digit dialing, dialing via contact selection, and text messaging. These tasks were performed using the original equipment systems of a 2010 Toyota Prius V and an iPhone 3GS smart phone. Sixty-three participants 35 to 54 years old drove a low-fidelity, PC-based simulator while performing the secondary tasks. The driving scenario required participants to maintain a 150-ft following distance behind a lead vehicle that was traveling at a constant speed of 50 mph. Alliance driving performance metrics included lane exceedance frequency and the standard deviation (SD) of car-following headway. Text messaging was associated with the highest levels of driving performance degradation on both Alliance Principle 2.1B metrics, followed by destination entry. Radio tuning had the lowest levels of driving performance degradation. The two phone dialing tasks (contact selection and 10-digit number dialing) had approximately equivalent amounts of driving performance degradation. Both Alliance Principle 2.1B metrics were correlated with task duration. Use of a duration-adjusted metric revealed that text messaging was significantly more demanding than other secondary tasks and that other differences between tasks were due primarily to differences in task duration. Results using smaller sample sizes were consistent with the expected loss of statistical power inherent in the use of small samples. Differences were also apparent between replications of samples of the same sizes. Based on the results of the current study, neither 20 nor 30 participants are sufficient to obtain consistent test outcome results. Two sets of analyses compared present study outcomes with those from a previous study, which used a Dynamic Following and Detection (DFD) protocol that provided both Alliance Principle 2.1B and other vehicle control and visual target detection metrics. Results from the two Principle 2.1B verification procedure implementations were not consistent, despite the fact that both implementations were consistent with Alliance specifications. Differences in driving (car following) task demands appear to have contributed to this finding. The second comparison with previous study results used different metrics and their respective decision criteria. Decisions concerning the acceptability of specific number/text entry tasks based on Alliance Principle 2.1B metrics were not consistent with those made using DFD metrics. The two protocols provided consistent results on 7 of 10 planned comparisons. Different conclusions derive from three factors: (1) driving behaviors represented by the metrics, including target detection in the DFD protocol, (2) metric construction, reflecting the differential treatment of task duration, and (3) decision criteria. Alliance (duration-influenced) and DFD (duration-adjusted) metrics provide complementary information concerning distraction effects, a combination of which provides a better estimate of the total exposure to crash risk associated with secondary task performance than either metric type alone. KW - Car following KW - Cellular telephones KW - Distraction KW - Driving simulators KW - Headways KW - Highway safety KW - In vehicle devices KW - In vehicle tasks KW - Metrics (Quantitative assessment) KW - Secondary tasks KW - Text messaging UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash%20Avoidance/Technical%20Publications/2012/811571.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136552 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367790 AU - Cao, Xinyu (Jason) AU - Liu, Henry AU - He, Xiaozheng (Sean) AU - Xu, Zhiyi AU - Huang, Yan (Arthur) AU - Munnich, Lee AU - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities AU - Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Benefit and Cost Analysis of the I-394 MnPASS Program PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 47p AB - In this report, the authors explored the benefits and costs associated with converting the I-394 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The study focused on the I-394 corridor, with a 10-year timeframe from 2006 to 2015. The benefits included travel time savings, safety benefits, and vehicle operating cost savings, and the costs consisted of capital costs and annual operating costs. Where applicable, the implementation of this study followed the benefit-cost analysis guidance of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). This study considered the benefits of both travel time savings and travel time reliability and the valuations of travel time savings and reliability were derived from econometric models for individual drivers’ behavior. HOT lane users choose the lanes because of travel time savings and/or the reliability of the lanes whereas previous studies considered only travel time savings and exclusively relied on standardized economic value of travel time. This study estimated safety benefits from crash reduction using the Empirical Bayes method. Previous studies scarcely considered the safety benefits resulting from the conversion of HOV lanes to HOT lanes. This study also showed that “naive” approaches tended to overstate safety benefits, which highlighted the importance of using a sound methodology. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Econometric models KW - Empirical Bayes method KW - High occupancy toll lanes KW - High occupancy vehicle lanes KW - Highway safety KW - Minnesota KW - Travel time UR - http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/pdfdownload.pl?id=1632 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136484 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367789 AU - Johnson, Jeremy AU - Lee, Doh-Won AU - Farzaneh, Reza AU - Zietsman, Josias AU - Yu, Lei AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Characterization of Exhaust Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles in the HGB Area - Final Report PY - 2012/02//Technical Report SP - 80p AB - The relative contribution of heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) to mobile source emissions has grown significantly over the past decade, and certain vehicles identified as high emitting vehicles (HEs) contribute disproportionately to the overall HDDV emissions. It is critical for state and local transportation agencies in nonattainment areas such as the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area to address this component of the fleet to mitigate emissions effectively from the component. For this study, a total of 30 HDDVs were selected from City of Houston (COH) fleet based on opacity testing for HEs and random selection for non-HEs. With the selected 30 vehicles, driving and idling emission testing were performed to characterize their emissions with respect to vehicle classes, types (HE or non-HE), and model years. The measured emission testing results were analyzed and compared with Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) estimates as well as among vehicle classes and types. In general, emissions of HEs were higher than non-HEs. Replacing HEs with non-HEs or vehicles complying with new emissions standards could reduce their emissions significantly. This report contains detailed results including gaseous, PM, and air toxic emissions testing results and MOVES estimates. KW - Air pollution KW - Brazoria (Texas) KW - Diesel trucks KW - Exhaust gases KW - Galveston (Texas) KW - Heavy duty vehicles KW - High emitting vehicles KW - Houston (Texas) KW - Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) KW - Nonattainment areas KW - Vehicle fleets UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6237-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136482 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367561 AU - Dixon, Karen AU - Monsere, Chris AU - Xie, Fei AU - Gladhill, Kristie AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Calibrating The Future Highway Safety Manual Predictive Methods For Oregon State Highways PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 98p AB - The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) was published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in the spring of 2010. Volume 2 (Part C) of the HSM includes safety predictive methods which can be used to quantitatively estimate the safety of a transportation facility. The resulting information can then be used to provide guidelines to identify opportunities to improve transportation safety. The safety performance functions (SPFs) included with this content, however, were developed for several states other than Oregon. Because there are differences in crash reporting procedures, driver population, animal populations, and weather conditions (to name a few), the State of Oregon needs to use calibrated SPFs when applying the HSM procedures to local Oregon facilities. Currently, the predictive methods have been developed for three facility types: rural two-lane two-way roads, rural multilane roads, and urban and suburban arterial roads. In this project, the research team calibrated SPFs for all three facility types based on their historic safety performance in Oregon. The report illustrates methods of site selection, the collection of crash and site-specific data, and analysis methods for calibration. Also, the report includes an evaluation of the crash severity distribution methods. With this information, Oregon agencies can use the calibrated HSM predictive methods to assess expected facility safety performance for Oregon conditions and facility alternatives. KW - Calibration KW - Crash data KW - Crash severity KW - Data collection KW - Highway safety KW - Highway Safety Manual KW - Multilane highways KW - Oregon UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/HSM.pdf?ga=t UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136372 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367556 AU - Parvin, Azadeh AU - University of Toledo AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Use of Sustainable Materials for Quick Repair of Aging Bridges, Phase II Final Report PY - 2012/02//Phase II Final Report SP - 15p AB - Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping of concrete columns is an ideal technique to increase the strength and ductility of these structural elements. In this project, the performance of scaled-down as-built and FRP-wrapped circular concrete columns have been investigated using ANSYS nonlinear finite element analysis software program at Ohio Supercomputer Center to gain insight into the behavior of such columns. KW - Aging (Materials) KW - Bridges KW - Columns KW - Concrete KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Repairing UR - http://www.utoledo.edu/research/ututc/docs/Parvin%20IU-22_Final_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136374 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367555 AU - Elahinia, Mohammad AU - University of Toledo AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Reducing Noise and Vibration of Hydraulic Hybrid And Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (Phase IV) PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 32p AB - The University of Toledo University Transportation Center (UT-UTC) has identified hybrid vehicles as one of the three areas of the research. The activities in this research are directed towards the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) solutions for hybrid vehicles. The soaring fuel prices require imperious steps in developing alternate propulsion technologies. The design and development of hybrid vehicles is a critical issue for an economy dependent on an efficient, fast, and secure transportation system. To date, better fuel economy has been mainly achieved by combining two propulsion sources (hybridization) and/or by developing better managing algorithms for the internal combustion engines. Examples for the hybridization are the plug-in hybrid electric and the hydraulic-hybrid vehicles. An example of managing internal combustion engines is the cylinder on demand as a solution that Honda has recently introduced. One common problem with these solutions is excessive noise and vibration that is caused by switching between the propulsion sources and propulsion modes. To mitigate this problem there is a need to develop vibration isolation devices that can provide isolation over a wide range of frequencies. This research sought to study the NVH problem of the hybrid vehicles and to introduce isolation mounts to overcome these issues. Hydraulic and elastomeric mounts are generally used to dynamically isolate engines and power trains from the chassis, while statically holding these elements together. Hydraulic mounts overcome some of the drawbacks of the elastomeric mounts. The stiffness and damping of the hydraulic mounts varies with frequency and amplitude of vibration. It is possible to design a hydraulic mount that has a significantly larger static stiffness, compared to an elastomeric mount, and has a much smaller dynamic stiffness at a specific frequency. To achieve low vibration transmissibility, the mount can be tuned to the primary frequency of the vibration source. On the other hand, to isolate the high frequency vibration of the engine, the mount should have low stiffness and low damping, which is not possible to achieve. This project consisted of four phases with the overall goal of developing a semi-active mount, which was successfully realized. It was shown that the semi-active mount improved the existing hydraulic mounts. This semi-active mount was developed through adding a magnetorheological (MR) fluid element. In response to magnetic fields, MR fluids change their viscosity, which can be harnessed in a variable stiffness and damping mount. The resulting mount provides shock and vibration isolation over a wide range of frequencies. This extended isolation frequency range is achieved through the variable dynamic stiffness of the MR portion of the mount. This solution makes it possible to improve the noise and vibration characteristic of hybrid vehicles with alternative propulsion systems. KW - Electric vehicles KW - Engine mounts KW - Hybrid vehicles KW - Hydraulics KW - Magnetorheological fluid KW - Noise control KW - Vibration control KW - Vibration isolation UR - http://www.utoledo.edu/research/ututc/docs/Elahinia%20Final%20Report%2002-2012.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44331/Elahinia_Final_Report_02-2012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136396 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366503 AU - Osland, Asbjorn AU - Anderson, Eric AU - Brazil, John M AU - Curry, Melanie AU - Czerwinski, David E AU - Dean, Jay AU - Faeth, Peter AU - Fergason, LeeAnne AU - Johnson, Camille S AU - Kransky, Gerik AU - Larson, Carl AU - Mennesson, Marqaux AU - Noll, Stephanie AU - Omweg, John W AU - San Jose State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Promoting Bicycle Commuter Safety PY - 2012/02 SP - 160p AB - When cycling is encouraged and the number of cyclists increases, safety can improve. This report focuses on an overview of the risks associated with cycling to emphasize the need for safety. The structure of the Five Es -- education, engineering, enforcement, encouragement and evaluation -- is used to organize information with particular emphasis on engineering and education. A series of case studies gives first hand information about bicycle safety. Education in relation to safety is the focus in San José;, California; engineering and evaluation in Berkeley, California; engineering, education, and enforcement in Davis, California; and education and encouragement in the Portland, Oregon area. KW - Berkeley (California) KW - Bicycle commuting KW - Bicycle safety KW - Bicycling KW - Case studies KW - Davis (California) KW - Education KW - Evaluation KW - Portland (Oregon) KW - Safety engineering KW - San Jose (California) KW - Traffic law enforcement UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/2927-bicycle-commuter-safety.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44200/44294/2927-bicycle-commuter-safety.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134479 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366438 AU - Nuworsoo, Cornelius AU - Cooper, Erin AU - Cushing, Katherine AU - Jud, Eugene AU - San Jose State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Integration of Bicycling and Walking Facilities into the Infrastructure of Urban Communities PY - 2012/02 SP - 148p AB - Several manuals, handbooks and web resources exist to provide varied guidance on planning for and designing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, yet there are no specific indications about which of the varied treatments in these guides work well for users. This project highlights best practices and identifies program characteristics associated with high levels of non-motorized travel, with an emphasis on bicyclists and pedestrians. It highlights practices in the California communities of Davis, Palo Alto and San Luis Obispo. The case studies are used to illustrate how urban communities have integrated non-motorized transportation modes into the physical infrastructure and worked to educate community residents and employees. The most salient themes that emerged from this study are linked to the following user preference: (a) distance to desired land uses and activities; (b) route directness; (c) route connectivity; (d) the separation of motorized and non-motorized transportation modes; (e) safety; (f) convenience; and (g) education and outreach. The aforementioned themes are integrated into key guiding principles that correspond to the trip-making cycle, from the decision to engage in an activity through the choice of route to arrival at the destination. KW - Best practices KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Bicycling KW - California KW - Case studies KW - Complete streets KW - Infrastructure KW - Pedestrian areas KW - Route choice KW - Safety KW - Walking UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/2906-Bicycling-and-Walking-Facilities-Urban-Communities.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44200/44279/2906-Bicycling-and-Walking-Facilities-Urban-Communities.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134477 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366364 AU - Chandrashekhara, K AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Soy-Based UV Resistant Polyurethane Pultruded Composites PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 14p AB - Aliphatic polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were synthesized using organically modified nanoclays. X-Ray diffraction results confirmed good exfoliation of nanoclay particles in the PU resin system. With the addition of just 1% of nanoclay in the base resin, PU nanocomposites showed significantly higher strength and modulus. Soy-PU resin system with increased soy content (30% Soy- PU) was obtained from Bayer MaterialScience. Neat resin samples were manufactured using the aliphatic and aromatic 30% Soy-PU resin system. Results show that there is no significant change in the glass transition temperature for the Soy-PU with 30% soy content when compared to the 20% Soy-PU and base PU resin systems. Glass fiber reinforced polyurethane composites were manufactured using aromatic 30% Soy-PU resin system and modified pultrusion process. Low velocity impact tests were conducted on the pultruded PU composites. Results indicate that increase in the soy content in PU resin system does not result in the degradation of composite properties. Incorporation of pigments during the pultrusion of PU composites was also studied. Pigments such as zinc oxide and zinc sulphide (ZnS) were studied to obtain the required “white” coloration to the PU composites. ZnS was chosen for the pultrusion process due to its low corrosive property. Pigmented pultruded composites were manufactured using the base PU resin and ZnS. Soybased, pigmented pultruded PU composites manufactured during this study will have higher UV resistance and comparable mechanical properties when compared to the conventional PU pultruded composites. These Soy-based composites will find numerous applications in the automotive, marine and housing industries. KW - Composite materials KW - Manufacturing KW - Mechanical properties KW - Nanostructured materials KW - Polyurethane resins KW - Pultruded composites KW - Soy-based resins UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/R263%20Final%20Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134962 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366322 AU - Long, Suzanna AU - Quine, Ruwen AU - Elmore, Curt AU - Ryan, Tom AU - Schmidt, Sean AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - LED Roadway Luminaires Evaluation PY - 2012/02//Final Report SP - 117p AB - This research explores whether LED roadway luminaire technologies are a viable future solution to providing roadway lighting. Roadway lighting enhances highway safety and traffic flow during limited lighting conditions. The purpose of this evaluation study is to determine the feasibility of transitioning from standard high pressure sodium (HPS) roadway luminaire to LED roadway luminaire on the MoDOT maintained highway system. This study includes performance evaluations, a feasibility analysis and a potential transition replacement program. KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Luminaires KW - Missouri KW - Performance measurement KW - Street lighting UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/R269.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135043 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01573324 TI - Improving the Quality of Pavement Profiler Measurement AB - The objectives of this project are to (1) deliver sample procurement specification, maintenance guidelines, and profile analysis software program; (2) establish criteria for verification centers and assist with the development of these locations; (3) develop and deploy a traceable verification center; and (4) provide technical review of software. KW - Maintenance KW - Pavements KW - Quality control KW - Software KW - Specifications UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/280 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366548 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379011 AU - Kolodinsky, Jane AU - Roche, Erin AU - DeSisto, Thomas AU - Sawyer, William AU - Propen, David AU - Conte, Faye AU - Putnam, Matthew AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Seasonality, Mobility, and Livability PY - 2012/01/31 SP - 49p AB - This project investigates the effects of weather, season, built environment, community amenities, attitudes, and demographics on mobility and quality of life (QOL). A four season panel survey examined these variables through an in depth survey and a 24-hour travel log. After the first phase (season) the potential to co-investigate health effects within the context of mobility and QOL was realized. Therefore, in the second phase of the study a health module was added that allowed for investigation of food choice, exercise, and weight status. Unserved travel demand has been shown to decrease quality of life. Faced with a combination of severe weather, dramatic seasons, low population density and aging infrastructure, northern rural communities are particularly challenging environments in which to provide transportation options and ensure that people can get to where they want and need to go. The climate and seasonality of rural northern communities makes the provision of public transit, whether local, regional, or inter-regional, particularly challenging and often cost-prohibitive. Important amenities and services, i.e. grocery stores, employment, and places you can walk to, are also considered less available and less accessible in rural areas, given lower population sizes and densities. Rural populations, in general, also have more poor and elderly residents. Using a 2009 database of residents of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, this study examines the issues which cause unserved travel demand and how these issues impact the QOL of residents of northern New England. KW - Aged KW - Demographics KW - Mobility KW - New England KW - Quality of life KW - Rural areas KW - Rural transit KW - Seasons KW - Surveys KW - Travel demand KW - Weather UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-12-002.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45200/45212/UVM-TRC-12-002.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1146633 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376484 AU - Reed, Mary Beth AU - Sullivan, Patrick AU - Tankersley, W Matthew AU - Gale, Sara AU - Hammock, Mary AU - New South Associates AU - Georgia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Historic Streetcar Systems in Georgia: Context and Inventory PY - 2012/01/31/Final Report SP - 268p AB - The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have funded the development of a context for resources associated with Georgia’s historic streetcar systems, with a focus on the metro Atlanta area, to provide GDOT staff and other preservation professionals a better understanding of these unique resources and to present a framework for their evaluation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This Act requires federal and state agencies to assess the effects of their undertakings on cultural resources that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Because remnants of streetcar tracks and associated properties are historic, they are surveyed and recorded; yet, their evaluation is often hampered by a lack of understanding of their significance by archaeologists and historians. KW - Atlanta (Georgia) KW - Cultural resources KW - Historic sites KW - History KW - Inventory KW - Public transit KW - Streetcars UR - http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/research/Documents/GAStreetcar.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144062 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01431179 AU - Classen, Sherrilene AU - University of Florida, Gainesville AU - Center for Multimodal Solutions for Congestion Mitigation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Validity and Usability of a Safe Driving Behaviors Measure for Older Adults: Strategy for Congestion Mitigation PY - 2012/01/30/Final Report SP - 86p AB - Statistics project that crash/injury/fatality rates of older drivers will increase with the future growth of this population. Accurate and precise measurement of older driver behaviors becomes imperative to curtail these crash trends and resulting congestion. The Comprehensive Driving Evaluation (gold standard test) is highly valid and reliable, but limitations include being time-consuming, providing limited access, and holding an element of threat (mandatory/ ethical reporting upon failing). Self-report is a means to identify older adults’ safe driving behaviors, increase driving safety awareness/ knowledge, and promote behavior change and safer driving outcomes. Existing measures are limited in accurately assessing older driver behaviors due to length, respondent burden, and inadequately representing driving constructs (i.e. person, vehicle, environment). Current self-report measures fall short of providing meaningful descriptions of driving ability level, and do not contribute to targeting risk reduction or increasing driving safety strategies. In contrast, item response theory or IRT methods are particularly useful to offer precise measurement of driving behaviors. Understanding a driver’s “level” of safe driving behaviors is a critical step towards providing an entry point for logical and effective interventions, identifying optimal training parameters, and predicting future driving ability. To that end the author proposes the further development of such a measure. The author's research objectives, scope of study, and findings are presented in this report. KW - Aged drivers KW - Behavior KW - Crash rates KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Item response theory KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic mitigation UR - http://cms.ce.ufl.edu/research/classen_cms_2010-012_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1198436 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368817 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Status Report: Assessment of Compatibility of Planned LightSquared Ancillary Terrestrial Component Transmissions in the 1526-1536 MHZ Band with Certified Aviation GPS Receivers PY - 2012/01/25 SP - 157p AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has worked with LightSquared since August 2011 to evaluate the compatibility of certified aviation receivers with the planned LightSquared ancillary terrestrial component (ATCt) network using a signal broadcast in the 1526-1536 MHz band. The assessment in this report is based on FAA performance standards. Unlike most other global positioning system (GPS) devices, certified aviation GPS receivers have interference rejection requirements specified by the FAA and harmonized internationally. Aircraft antenna characteristics are also specified. The use of these specifications precludes the need to individually test every aviation device, and allows the assessment to be accomplished through analysis which estimates the LightSquared interference present at the aircraft GPS receiver, and then compares that level to the specified rejection limits. To predict the interference at the aircraft, the FAA has developed a set of propagation models that build upon testing conducted by the mobile satellite services and cellular communications industries for terrestrial applications. Unfortunately, aircraft operate at altitudes where no significant research on propagation has been conducted. Addressing this gap has been the primary focus of the FAA and LightSquared activities though several technical issues remain unresolved, which would require additional resources. While variations in the FAA and LightSquared models affect the scope of impact, they do not affect our fundamental conclusions. Two conclusions can be drawn from the analysis work done to date: (1) The proposed ATCt network is not compatible with FAA requirements for operations dependent on GPS receivers at low altitudes in the vicinity of the ATCt transmitters; and (2) The variations in local propagation environments preclude adoption of any readily-implementable mitigation for this inference. KW - Aircraft KW - Antennas KW - Global Positioning System KW - Interference KW - Radio transmitters KW - Terrestrial laser scanning KW - Transceivers UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44302/06_NTIA_Letter_Enclosure_4_-_2012_Jan_25_-_StatusReportAssessOfPlanned_LSQ_ATC_TransIn1526to1536MHz_-_FAA.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137362 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01375502 AU - Jenkins, Brian M AU - Fernandez, Nuria AU - Pryor, Robert AU - Farmer, Tom AU - Budd, Christopher AU - San Jose State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Rail Security: Critical Insights and Applications PY - 2012/01/22 SP - 7p AB - A workshop on rail security was held in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board's 2012 Annual Meeting. This paper provides very brief synopses of the keynote and presentations. KW - Rail transit KW - Security UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/1261-rail-security-insights-applications.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139722 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01566756 TI - Loop and Length Based Classification Pooled Fund AB - Many states are collecting length based classification data but few are collecting it using the same criteria. Agencies need to know the variability in their collection programs to better use the limited resources they are using to collect length based classification data. The objectives of this project are to: (1) field test installation methods for loops to determine the most cost effective and best performing procedures and materials; (2) determine the number of bins and the length spacing for each of those bins for uniform collection of length based classification data; and (3) establish calibration standards for vehicle length based measurements. KW - Calibration KW - Cost effectiveness KW - Data collection KW - Field tests KW - Loop detectors KW - Loops (Control systems) KW - Vehicle length UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/416 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358412 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01548892 TI - Continued Advancements in Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Foundations, Substructures and Other Geotechnical Features AB - The project objectives are to: (1) Revise and update comprehensive bridge design examples to reflect the most recent changes to Sections 3, 10 and 11 of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Standards; (2) Redevelop instructor led and web-based training for transportation engineers responsible for substructure and foundation design of bridges; and (3) Identify research needs for continued advancement, and improved reliability and cost effectiveness of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) methodologies for substructures and foundations. KW - AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications KW - Bridge design KW - Bridge engineering KW - Bridge substructures KW - Foundations KW - Load and resistance factor design KW - Training UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/455 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1336367 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376084 AU - Holguín-Veras, José AU - Reilly, Jack AU - Aros-Vera, Felipe AU - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - University Transportation Research Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - New York City Park and Ride Study PY - 2012/01/13/Final Report SP - 118p AB - This study reviewed existing practices in Park and Ride planning, developed a methodology for evaluating candidates, and applied the methodology to the commuter market in New York City. The team identified a set of candidates based on availability for Park and Ride use and transit connectivity. The candidates were evaluated using potential demand, savings, market share, and present value of benefits as performance measurements. KW - Location KW - Market share KW - New York (New York) KW - Park and ride KW - Parking facilities KW - Public transit KW - Savings KW - Urban areas UR - https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-07-66_Final%20Report%20NYC%20PR%20Study.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143492 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01476594 AU - Department of Transportation AU - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration TI - PHMSA’s Inadequate Management and Oversight of Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants Limited the Program’s Effectiveness PY - 2012/01/12 SP - 35p AB - From 2001 through 2010, nearly 165,000 hazardous materials incidents occurred in the United States, resulting in more than 2,800 injuries, including several fatal injuries, and about $640 million in damages. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) administers the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grant Program as a part of its national strategy for reducing death and injuries from hazardous materials incidents. PHMSA estimates that almost 2.3 million emergency responders have been provided training with HMEP grant funds. The importance of adequately trained responders is highlighted when deficiencies in emergency response contribute to an endangerment of public safety. For example, in June 2004, a rail tank car carrying chlorine was punctured during a freight train collision in Macdona, TX, resulting in 3 fatalities and 30 injuries. As part of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that the emergency response was untimely and ineffective because the responding agencies failed to consider alternative response and rescue tactics to access threatened residences. As a result, the responding agencies increased their employee training to prevent similar situations in the future. On March 11, 2010, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure requested that the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) review PHMSA’s management and oversight of the HMEP Grant Program (here within referred to as the Program). The Chairman cited concerns with potential program mismanagement and misuse of grant funds, which the Committee identified during its investigation of PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Safety Program. Accordingly, OIG's objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of PHMSA’s (1) policies, processes, and resources to execute the program; (2) outreach and coordination with States, local governments, and tribal organizations to enhance their approach to emergency planning and training; and (3) program oversight to ensure Federal funds are used for eligible activities in accordance with Federal law, regulations, and submitted grant applications. Briefly, results of the review indicate that PHMSA does not have sufficient policies and processes—and until recently, resources—to effectively execute the Program. Although the Program was initiated in 1993, PHMSA did not develop written standard operating procedures (SOPs) to document the steps necessary to administer the Program until 2009. Moreover, these SOPs are incomplete, as PHMSA has not yet established procedures to cover critical aspects of the grant administration and oversight process, such as processing closeout reports to measure the Program’s effectiveness in allocating grant funds. PHMSA does not proactively or effectively reach out to or coordinate with grantees to enhance their approaches to emergency planning and training. For example, PHMSA uses the Internet to provide grantees information on the Program; however, the Program’s Web site is difficult to use and does not provide needed or current information to grantees, such as eligible costs or application procedures. PHMSA’s oversight is lacking and has resulted in misused grant funds due to improper payments and erroneously advanced funds. PHMSA allowed grantees to receive funds without adequate supporting documentation and advanced funds to grantees against regulations. KW - Coordination KW - Disaster preparedness KW - Emergency response time KW - Grant aid KW - Hazardous materials KW - Information dissemination KW - Oversight KW - Pipeline safety KW - Program management KW - Standard operating procedures KW - U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration UR - http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/PHMSA%20HMEP%20Grants%20Audit%20Report%5E1-12-12.PDF UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1245664 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370119 AU - Department of Transportation AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Enhanced Oversight of Staffing and Training at FAA's Critical Facilities is Needed to Maintain Continuity of Operations PY - 2012/01/12 SP - 21p AB - Ensuring that the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) most critical facilities are fully staffed with qualified air traffic controllers is vital to maintain the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). Since fiscal year (FY) 2005, FAA has begun hiring and training over 12,000 new controllers to offset the impending retirements of those hired after the 1981 controller strike. With so many veteran controllers leaving, FAA faces the risk of not having enough certified professional controllers (CPC) to operate its busiest and most complex air traffic control facilities. These include locations such as Southern California, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York, many of which now have newly hired controllers. The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) was asked to review controller training and staffing at FAA's most critical air traffic control facilities to determine if FAA is positioned to ensure the continuity of facility operations. Briefly, it was found that enhanced oversight of staffing and training at FAA's critical facilities is needed to maintain continuity of air traffic operations. Critical facilities face a potential shortage of CPCs as they have higher rates of retirement eligibility, controllers-in-training, and training attrition than the national average. For example, 15 of the 21 critical facilities that OIG reviewed had a higher percentage of their controllers in training than the national average of 25%. Between FY 2008 and FY 2010, critical facilities also lost 40% of their trainees to attrition, compared to the national average of 24%. A contributing factor is that the complexity of the locations makes it more difficult for inexperienced new hires to certify. Yet, FAA's national training program has not provided critical facilities with the training resources they need to help slow staffing shortfalls. As a result, some facility managers have developed their own training programs to supplement lab and classroom training. However, as FAA begins deploying Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technologies, critical facilities will require even more training resources for both veteran and new controllers. Without a consistent, national approach to address critical facilities' staffing and training needs now, it will be difficult in the short term for FAA to ensure continuity of their operations and, in the long term, effectively transition them to NextGen. KW - Air traffic controllers KW - Hiring policies KW - Needs assessment KW - Novices KW - Oversight KW - Retirement KW - Selection and appointment KW - Training KW - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration UR - http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/DOT%20OIG%20Report%20on%20FAA%20ATC%20Staffing%20and%20Training%20at%20Critical%20Facilities.PDF UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136998 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01602523 TI - Pavement Subgrade Performance Study AB - The objectives of the study are to develop an improved mechanistic subgrade failure criterion for pavements; to evaluate the effect of environment (seasonal variability) on resilient material properties KW - Environmental impacts KW - Mechanical properties KW - Pavements KW - Performance KW - Resilience (Materials) KW - Subgrade (Pavements) UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/109 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1412723 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01431184 AU - Peng, Zhong-Ren AU - University of Florida, Gainesville AU - Center for Multimodal Solutions for Congestion Mitigation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Needs Assessment of Land Use Modeling for FSUTMS, Phase 1 PY - 2012/01/06/Final Report SP - 38p AB - In Florida, the transportation demand modeling process is done through the Cube software, following the statewide modeling system (Florida Standard Urban Transportation Model Structure or FSUTMS). Other states and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are exploring the use of land use models in this process. The University of Florida, at the request of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) administered a survey regarding the needs of land use and transportation modeling. This research seeks to better understand current land use models, modeling practices and future needs in Florida. The research was part of a greater project on Land Use Modeling with the University of Florida and FDOT. An open-ended and multiple choice survey was administered online to current FDOT and MPO modelers. The responses were then analyzed and future needs examined. Survey results show that 95% of surveyed FDOT and MPO modeling coordinators see the need of an integrated land use and transportation model in Florida and would like to see FDOT take a lead to develop such models. The survey also indicated that most FDOT and MPO coordinators are willing to participate in the development of such a model in land use modeling advisory committee or in a land use modeling pilot project. Furthermore, the survey participants further suggested what features should be included in the model such as sensitive to the interaction of land use and transportation, GIS-based, being able to estimate the impacts of transit oriented development (TOD) on land use, the impacts of land use on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, and the ability to forecast land use changes at the traffic analysis zone (TAZ) level, as well as user friendly interface and training programs. KW - Air quality KW - Florida KW - Florida Standard Urban Transportation Modeling Structure KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Integrated models KW - Land use models KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Surveys KW - Traffic analysis zones KW - Transit oriented development KW - Travel demand UR - http://cms.ce.ufl.edu/research/peng_cms_2009-013_final.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45600/45649/peng_cms_2009-013_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1189564 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01609442 AU - Mergenmeier, Andy AU - Von Quintus, Harold AU - Mallela, Jagannath AU - Littleton, Paul AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Safety EdgeSM Design and Construction Guide PY - 2012/01/05/Final Report SP - 32p AB - In a coordinated effort with highway authorities and industry leaders, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Every Day Counts initiative serves as a catalyst to identify and promote cost effective innovations to bring about rapid change to increase safety of our nations highway system, decrease project delivery time, and protect our environment. The Safety EdgeSM concept is an example of one such initiative in which the edge of the road is beveled during construction for the purpose of helping drivers who migrate off the roadways to more easily return to the road without over correcting and running into the path of oncoming traffic or running off the other side of the roadway. This Design and Construction Guide shares the findings from ten demonstration projects in multiple states and other ad hoc projects in which the Safety EdgeSM was implemented. This Guide supports the FHWA's efforts to implement the Safety EdgeSM technology by providing standards, guidance, and specifications for adopting this treatment as a standard practice on all applicable new and resurfacing pavement projects. The Guide provides information on the various elements to consider when designing and constructing pavement projects with the Safety EdgeSM. The Guide provides insights and lessons learned on previously constructed projects, highlighting items that may vary from conventional pavement design and construction. KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highway design KW - Highway safety KW - Pavement design KW - Paving KW - Specifications UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc-1/pdf/se_des_gde.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1420619 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01573251 TI - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program Standard Data Release (SDR) Number 27 AB - The Standard Data Release (SDR) is the annual release of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program database. The Standard Data Release is available annually to the public in Microsoft Access® format, and available on digital versatile discs (DVDs) and/or Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives. The Standard Data Release can be obtained through LTPP Customer Support Services at ltppinfo@dot.gov.Perhaps one of the most useful documents contained here for beginners is the tutorial "Accessing LTPP Data," which includes step-by-step examples of working with the SDR in Microsoft Access® and building queries for data extraction. The first document to read is the "Release Notes," which comes in hardcopy and electronic format with the SDR. These notes contain important information about organization, content, and significant changes that have occurred from release to release. A Reference Library DVD read-only memory (ROM) accompanies the SDR and gives the user the capability to search for software utilities, resource documents, and research reports that support the database. KW - Data collection KW - Digital computers KW - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program KW - Microsoft Access (Software) KW - Pavement design KW - Pavement performance UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366321 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01467849 TI - Computational Modeling of Driver Speed Control with its Applications in Developing Intelligent Transportation Systems to Prevent Speeding-Related Accidents AB - Speeding - exceeding posted speed limits, driving too fast for conditions or racing - is the leading contributing factor in fatal motor vehicle accidents in New York (NY) State. More than 34 percent of all fatal accidents were due to unsafe speed in 2009 (Summary of Motor Vehicle Accidents, NY State Department of Motor Vehicles, 2009). Understanding and modeling speeding and speed control is one of major challenges in human performance modeling which involves: (a) the modeling of several aspects of human cognitive system: perception, decision making and motor control as well as their interaction with the vehicle model; (b) individual differences in speed control and prediction of speeding in real time. However, few of existing computational models is able to cover all of these important aspects together. To address this problem, the main objective of this project is to build a new mathematical driver speeding behavior model and apply it to develop an intelligent speeding control system. Multi-disciplinary approaches will be used to build the mathematical model of driver speeding behavior, integrating methods in operations research (Queuing Network-Model Human Processor, QN-MHP) and theories in psychology (Rule-Based Decision Field Theory, RDFT) to predict driving speed, pedal angle, acceleration, the time when drivers exceed the speed limit, and the magnitude of speeding. The model not only quantifies an average driver's speed control behavior, but also models individual drivers' decision making references and impulsiveness. A human driver experimental study will be conducted to validate the prediction of the model. The model will also be implemented in a real-time intelligent speeding control system, which will provide warnings to drivers to prevent speeding proactively. The intelligent system will online monitor the pedal behavior of a driver, calculate the probability of speeding for that driver in the next few seconds, and proactively provide necessary warnings to that driver to prevent his or her speeding behavior in real-time. This project will produce a mathematical model of driver speeding, consisting of four major components: speed perception, decision making (setting a target speed), motor control (foot movement for pedal control) and a vehicle mechanical model. It will not model all of speed control behavior of human driver, but focus on the prediction of speeding behavior and the design of human-machine interface (HMI) to present warning message to driver before the speeding behavior actually occurs. It is potentially helpful for Region II to reduce number of traffic accidents due to speeding, and both undergraduate and minority students will be involved in this project. KW - Computational models KW - Fatalities KW - Highway safety KW - Human machine interface KW - Mathematical models KW - Speeding UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/projects/computational-modeling UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1236085 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01467848 TI - Effects of New Jersey's Cell Phone/Text Ban AB - With the amount of wireless communication technology available today, its use while driving has become a significant issue around the country as it relates to crashes, injuries and deaths on the nation's roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported over 6000 deaths and over 500,000 injuries in 2008 attributed to distracted driving. Distracted driving has been defined as any non-driving activity that takes the driver's attention away from the safe operation of their vehicles. Three types of driver distraction have been identified: visual, manual, and cognitive, with talking and texting emerging as the most significant forms of distracted driving. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making considerable efforts to encourage states' to enact legislation to ban use of devices while driving as well as efforts to educate the public on the dangers of this type of activity. As of September 2010, 8 states and the District of Columbia have banned hand-held cell phone use for all drivers and 30 states have banned texting for all drivers. The USDOT has provided some early support to states with sample legislation, pilot programs for high-visibility enforcement efforts, and a Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse. Since March 1, 2008 there has been a ban on the use of wireless telephone and electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle in New Jersey. But from general observation on any roadway, it appears that there are still a significant amount of drivers who are talking on their phones or texting while driving. From 2006 to 2009, NJ crashes, injuries, and deaths for hand-held devices averaged 1837, 769, and 6, respectively, while hands-free averaged 1570 crashes, 659 injuries, and 3 deaths. It is generally believed that the number of crashes attributable to phone or text use is under-reported as drivers will rarely admit to their use and enforcement normally does not witness the crash event. Additionally, law enforcement resources may be limited and issuing citations for phone or text use may be competing with other enforcement priorities. While legislation has been enacted to combat this type of behavior, actually enforcing it and reporting it present some challenges. The efforts for this research proposal are aimed at pre- and post legislation data analysis on actual crash and citation information as well as understanding the challenges posed with the collection of this type of information. A key component as well is surveying driver attitudes toward this legislation and gaining an understanding of the components for compliance and in this case non-compliance. KW - Cellular telephones KW - Education KW - Highway safety KW - Laws and legislation KW - New Jersey KW - Text messaging UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/projects/new-jersey%E2%80%99s-cell-phone-and-text-ban UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1236084 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01467846 TI - Light Trucks and Highway Fatalities: The Role of Network Effects AB - Highway fatalities in University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) Region II fell steadily from the 1970s through the 1990s, but levels have since rebounded slightly and have remained flat for more than a decade. The stagnation in progress on fatalities has been attributed by some analysts to the prevalence of light trucks, such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs), on American roads. Because light trucks are taller, heavier, and more rigid than cars, they pose greater danger to the occupants of cars, as well as to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Despite increased fuel costs in recent years, large vehicles continue to make up a large percentage of the vehicle mix. One important factor in the ongoing light-truck trend may be the interrelationship among individual motor vehicle purchase decisions: specifically, a consumer's choice between a large and small vehicle may be influenced by the current mix of large and small vehicles on the roads. The proposed research project hypothesizes a "network effect," whereby increases in the number of light trucks increase the consumer's propensity to purchase a truck as a means of protection against heightened accident risks posed by the greater incidence of these vehicles on the roads. The project will measure this effect and examine its relationship to highway fatalities over the period 1997 through 2008. It will use an economic metric called the demand elasticity, which will allow for integration of network effects with effects on vehicle consumption from a host of influences, including prices and policy variables. The principal investigator (PI) will manage a graduate student in collecting data to complete and extend a data set I have previously compiled of household- and state-year-level variables relevant to the analysis. The PI will employ the data in estimating a binary vehicle choice model (car versus light truck) and use the results to calculate measures of the network effect in each year. The PI then estimate the network effect's role in highway fatalities, its effect on potential public policies for addressing the vehicle mix, and its role in manufacturer incentives with respect to light-truck safety. The project will generate two deliverables: a final paper to be published in a top economics or public policy journal, and a research brief summarizing the results in non-technical language. KW - Consumer preferences KW - Crash exposure KW - Elasticity (Economics) KW - Fatalities KW - Sport utility vehicles KW - Vehicle mix UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/projects/light-trucks-and-highway-fatalities UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1236082 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01467845 TI - Estimating Multi-class Truck Origin-Destination Flows Through Data Fusion from Multiple Sources AB - Efforts to manage truck flows in congested urban areas have important implications not only for congestion relief, but also for air quality improvement and reductions in energy use. A vital input to these flow management efforts is knowledge of the origin-destination (O-D) movement patterns for various classes of trucks, and this presents a substantial challenge. The problem of estimating O-D tables from observed data (usually link counts) has been studied since the 1970's, and there are effective methods for a single-class (i.e., passenger cars) problem under assumptions of deterministic user equilibrium flow patterns in the network. There has also been some work on extending the ideas to conditions reflecting stochastic user equilibrium. Relatively little work has been done on the multi-class problem, which is of particular concern for estimating truck flows in different size classes. Furthermore, as more advanced traffic surveillance technologies become available, data beyond simple link counts can be used in the estimation process. Finally, the transition from estimating a static O-D pattern to estimating dynamic O-D flows creates additional challenges. The purpose of this project is to test a newly developed method for estimating multi-class O-D tables for trucks, using more comprehensive observable data than link counts, and reflecting the uncertainty inherent in network flows by using a stochastic equilibrium formulation, rather than a deterministic one. The model formulation uses a bi-level optimization, for which a specialized solution method has been developed. In this project, the solution method will be tested using a set of networks of varying character and data of varying types. The result of this project will be a validated method for improving the estimation of multi-class truck origin-destination flows, based on a fusion of data from various sources and reflecting the uncertainty in network flow patterns. This is a key step in moving toward the ability to better manage truck flows in real time to reduce congestion, reduce energy consumption, and improve air quality in urban areas. KW - Air quality KW - Energy consumption KW - Origin and destination KW - Traffic congestion KW - Truck flow KW - Trucks UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/projects/multi-class-truck-origin-destination UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1236081 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463326 TI - Effects on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure on Key Effects on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure on Key Transportation Economic Metrics AB - The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is responsible for planning, operating and maintaining a highway network consisting of over 18,500 lane-miles of highway. About 86 million vehicle miles per day operate on this highway network. Planning and building highways is by its nature a long-range enterprise. It requires making many assumptions about future travel demand and the fuel tax revenue needed to fund highway construction and maintenance. In recent years the growing uncertainty about future fuel prices and availability has made long range planning even more challenging. Rather than relying on simple trend extrapolation or forecasts that are political in origin, this study is intended to use market mechanisms to shed light on key long-range transportation planning assumptions. In particular, this study will help WSDOT assess the likelihood natural gas will substitute for petroleum fuels, as well as estimate the impact fuel prices will have on travel demand (vehicle miles traveled) and on fuel tax revenues. The uncertainty of future fuel tax revenue provides a major challenge to meeting the needs of a highly utilized but aging roadway infrastructure. Uncertainty in oil prices that lead to increases the cost to drivers threaten this revenue along with the increasingly efficient vehicles being introduced into the vehicle fleet. With oil prices on the rise it is natural for drivers to conserve funds by driving less and/or purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Two immediate effects of reduced fuel usage are the reduction in fuel tax revenue, which makes budgeting more challenging, and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a goal of WSDOT. Natural gas provides an attractive substitute for petroleum. Prices have fallen more than sixty percent from their peak in 2008. Proven reserves are approaching all time high levels (despite reduced exploration). The increasing price for petroleum and decreasing price for natural gas, at BTU parity quantities, means a cost advantage for natural gas. Natural gas also has the attractive feature of emitting fewer GHG, specifically CO2, increasing progress toward climate change goals. One item of key importance is the degree to which consumers and suppliers respond both to price changes and to a changing regulatory environment. Forecasting changes in natural gas usage in vehicles over time is complicated by the fact that consumers cannot easily, given the current infrastructure, switch fuel types in response to short-run price changes. Accurate forecasting requires an understanding of how changing prices affect consumer vehicle purchase and scrappage decisions and how those decisions affect vehicle fleet composition change over time. Price and regulatory changes can therefore have sharply different short- and long-run effects. Current research indicates, for example, that increased gasoline prices lead to a reduction in vehicle miles of travel (VMT) in the short run and to the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles. A key feature of the proposed study will be to assess the degree to which price can be expected to result in increased use or adoption of CNG vehicles. KW - Alternate fuels KW - Fuel prices KW - Fuel taxes KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Natural gas KW - Road construction KW - Transportation planning KW - Travel demand KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231552 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571974 AU - Gara, Alesia Za AU - Grome, Anna AU - Roper-Graham, Janice AU - Mallela, Jagannath AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Highways for LIFE: An Analysis of Survey Findings PY - 2012/01 SP - 52p AB - This report summarizes the survey conducted as part of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highways for LIFE (HfL) initiative to collect feedback from key stakeholders as a program close-out activity. As part of the survey, the stakeholders were asked to provide input on how well the HfL program achieved its goals and provided potential ideas for the future. Although the HfL program is now ending, the feedback collected from the survey will be used to finalize the program’s final report. It will also be used to improve and/or initiate future FHWA programs focused on innovation deployment. Additionally, this input will be used to validate or clarify the findings collected as part of the HfL focus groups and interviews conducted in September and October, 2012. The six overarching themes identified in the HfL Focus Group and Interview Report were used to analyze the quantitative survey data as a means of cross-comparing the survey results with those rendered from the two focus groups and six individual interviews. A sub-set analysis of specific questions was also conducted as a means of evaluating the data from another perceptive. Due to the wealth of information collected, the survey team took care to adequately analyze all aspects of the data set both in conjunction with and separate from the data as a whole and depicted the various statistical findings within the report through a series of graphs and charts. KW - Data analysis KW - Financing KW - Focus groups KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Road construction KW - Stakeholders KW - Surveys KW - Technological innovations KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/pubs/hfl_survey_report_1-11-12.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363084 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01542935 AU - Bentz, Dale P AU - Stutzman, Paul E AU - Sakulich, Aaron R AU - Weiss, W Jason AU - National Institute of Standards and Technology AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Study of Early-Age Bridge Deck Cracking in Nevada and Wyoming PY - 2012/01 SP - 63p AB - In late 2009, the Echo Wash and Valley of Fire bridge decks were constructed in the Lake Mead National Recreation area in Nevada. Within six months after installation, in early 2010, both decks exhibited considerable transverse cracking, with some cracks extending through the thickness of the deck. Similar cracking was observed in the Snake River bridge deck in Wyoming. This report details the results of a two-pronged approach to examining the causes of such cracking. First, for the Nevada bridge decks, materials similar to those used in the construction of these bridge decks were obtained and mortars were prepared and evaluated for chemical shrinkage, autogenous shrinkage, and drying shrinkage. Second, cores from all three bridge decks were obtained and analyzed using both optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to assess air contents, paste and aggregate volume fractions, and the overall nature of the concrete microstructure. In all three cases, the concrete mixtures had been reportedly batched at a considerably lower water-to-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm) than that in the approved concrete mixture proportions, with reductions from the specified w/cm of approximately 0.40 to w/cm of 0.35 (Snake River) to 0.31 or 0.32 (Nevada). In the laboratory mortars, w/cm was therefore varied between 0.30 and 0.40 to examine the influence of this variable on shrinkage and cracking. The observed effects of w/cm on shrinkage and cracking were small, while petrographic analysis revealed that the in place concrete cores exhibited a w/cm of 0.4 or slightly higher, consistent with the concretes having been retempered with additional water after being batched. Such retempering could produce an inhomogeneous microstructure with dramatically high air contents that could ultimately contribute to the observed cracking. The high air contents were not detected in either the fresh air content determinations performed on site or the prepared compressive strength cylinders, likely due to the removal of entrapped air during test sample preparation in both cases. For the Nevada bridge decks, the cracking occurred following a dry period where average daily ambient relative humidities fell below 30%, greatly increasing the drying stresses and likely providing a final contribution to the observed cracking. KW - Admixtures KW - Air content KW - Bridge decks KW - Cement mortars KW - Cores (Specimens) KW - Microscopy KW - Nevada KW - Shrinkage KW - Transverse cracking KW - Water cement ratio KW - Wyoming UR - http://concrete.nist.gov/~bentz/NISTIR7841.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1329173 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01541519 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Eco-Logical Successes PY - 2012/01//Second SP - 7p AB - In 2006, leaders from eight Federal agencies signed the interagency document Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects. Eco-Logical is a document that outlines a shared vision of how to develop infrastructure projects in ways that are more sensitive to terrestrial and aquatic habitats, promoting advanced mitigation and early consideration of critical environmental resources. The eight Eco-Logical signatory agencies are: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In January 2011, FHWA published the first Eco-Logical Successes document. The document featured at least one of each signatory agency’s strategic environmental programs, projects, and efforts that are either directly related to or share the vision set forth in Eco-Logical and identified potential joint projects and opportunities for collaboration among the agencies. This, the second edition of Eco-Logical Successes, focuses on two agency programs: BLM’s Landscape Approach and USFWS’s Strategic Habitat Conservation Framework and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, and provides a more in-depth discussion of these two programs and their linkages to Eco-Logical. KW - Bureau of Land Management KW - Conservation KW - Environmental policy KW - Federal government agencies KW - Habitat (Ecology) KW - Infrastructure KW - Sustainable development KW - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service UR - http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/ecological/successes/second_edition.asp UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/48000/48300/48343/EcoLogical_Successes_II.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1327140 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01535663 AU - Taylor, Justin AU - Casavant, Ken AU - Moore, Danna L AU - 2L Data Solutions, LLC AU - Washington State University, Pullman AU - Washington State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Economic Impact of Increased Congestion for Freight Dependant Businesses in Washington State PY - 2012/01//Final Technical Report SP - 251p AB - This report documents the economic analysis undertaken by Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT’s) Freight Systems Division to estimate the costs of congestion to freight dependent industries in the state of Washington. WSDOT contracted with Washington State University’s (WSU's) Freight Policy Transportation Institute who utilized Justin Taylor of 2 L Data Solutions and the WSU Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) to conduct survey research and economic analysis of the costs of alternative levels of increased congestion. WSU personnel received over 1,000 responses from firms who identified impacts of congestion on their operations. These data allowed estimation, via use of a input-output model, of the full impacts of congestion to consumers throughout the state as well as to the freight dependent industries themselves. KW - Businesses KW - Costs KW - Economic impacts KW - Freight traffic KW - Input output models KW - Surveys KW - Traffic congestion KW - Washington (State) UR - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0DA2A843-8BC3-41B7-A0F3-C72A610BEA90/0/EconomicImpactCongestion.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1319875 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01506075 AU - Ayers, S R AU - BridgeComposites, LLC AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Laminate Specification and Characterization: Composite Bridge Decking PY - 2012/01 SP - 48p AB - This report discusses work done on the specification and characterization of fiber - reinforced polymer laminate materials used for the trapezoidal profile used in creating a replacement deck unit. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Bridge decks KW - Composite materials KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Highway bridges KW - Laminates KW - Materials tests KW - Properties of materials KW - Specifications UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/partnerships/composite_bridge/hif12020.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1280730 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01503969 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Airport Technology Research Plan...for the NextGen Decade: 2012-2021, A $250M Investment in Airport Safety PY - 2012/01 SP - 64p AB - This booklet describes the serious contemporary issues facing airport technology and outlines an essential Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) research and development plan to deal with these issues. With the implementation of new procedures from the NextGen research, the role of airports will be to accommodate the increased traffic safely. This is especially critical during aircraft operations in inclement weather. This will require development of technologies to heat airport pavements, reliable methods to assess the braking performance of aircraft, development of lighting and marking materials providing higher visibility, development of new lighting technologies, such as, holograms, developing methods to mitigate wildlife at or near the airport, and developing new and efficient techniques for aircraft rescue and fire fighting. KW - Aircraft KW - Airport runways KW - Airports KW - Aviation safety KW - Braking performance KW - Fire fighting KW - Lighting KW - Research KW - Technological innovations KW - Wildlife UR - http://www.airtech.tc.faa.gov/10YearPlan/Airport%20Technology%20Research%20Plan.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1286168 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01477801 AU - Helwany, Sam AU - Ghorbanpoor, Al AU - Alizadeh, Vahid AU - Oliva, Mike AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Novel Abutment Construction Technique for Rapid Bridge Construction: CLSM with Full-Height Concrete Panels PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 78p AB - One of the major obstacles facing rapid bridge construction for typical span type bridges is the time required to construct bridge abutments and foundations. This can be remedied by using the controlled low strength materials (CLSM) bridge abutment. The CLSM bridge abutment comprises full-height precast concrete panels attached to a CLSM backfill via epoxy-coated steel anchors. The main objective of this study is to examine the application of the CLSM bridge system in typical span type bridges used in railroad and highway situations. To do so, an instrumented, large-scale laboratory test was performed on a CLSM bridge abutment to investigate its performance due to the application of a monotonically increasing sill (foundation) pressure. The test results show that the CLSM bridge abutment, with a relatively short cure time of 7 days, is capable of carrying bridge loads with a reasonably large safety margin, and with minimal deformations. KW - Bridge abutments KW - Bridge construction KW - Concrete bridges KW - Flowable fill KW - Laboratory tests KW - Panels UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/FR_CFIRE0312.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1224930 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01477102 AU - Ross, Catherine AU - Woo, M AU - Boston, T AU - Georgia Transportation Institute University Transportation Center (GTI-UTC) AU - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta AU - Georgia Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Impact of Regional SPLOST on County Infrastructure PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 240p AB - In response to fiscal constraints on transportation funding and the need to address transportation problems and create regional solutions, Georgia is proposing a 1% regional Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). To accommodate this initiative, Georgia created 12 Special Tax Districts that will affect all Georgia counties. This research (1) provides information on the challenges that other regional initiatives have faced and the strategies utilized in gaining voter support for such initiatives; (2) identifies possible implications that arise from the relationship between existing county SPLOSTs and the proposed regional SPLOSTs; and (3) provides strategies for the successful implementation of this regional initiative by estimating the likelihood that county-specific sales tax referenda for transportation will succeed and by identifying the factors that influence voting outcomes. The research identifies multi-jurisdictional initiatives across the U.S. which use transportation sales taxes as an alternative funding mechanism to derive the possible impacts a regional transportation sales tax might have on the ability of individual counties to secure county-specific sales taxes for transportation. Although there have been multicounty transportation sales tax initiatives undertaken across the U.S., none compare to the scale proposed in Georgia. The case studies in the report are a review of voter approval in other states of county-specific transportation sales tax initiatives occurring while a previous regional sales tax was in place, or vice versa. The voting process is examined through the use of models to identify major factors associated with the success of Georgia SPLOSTs. Separate models were run based on the purpose of SPLOSTs. Also, each special tax district is examined using SPLOST data to determine which districts and counties historically support SPLOSTs when the purpose is considered. The results show that the new regional SPLOSTs may bring minimal or no negative effect on county level transportation projects, since some of the proceeds from the regional SPLOSTs will also be earmarked for local transportation projects. However, the regional SPLOSTs, which propose only transportation projects, may negatively impact other new capital outlay project s at the local level, particularly when both education SPLOSTs and regional SPLOSTs are active in the same county. This implies that the competitive purposes of SPLOSTs will be more critical than those between county-specific and regional SPLOSTs. KW - Financing KW - Georgia KW - Incentives KW - Infrastructure KW - Regional planning KW - Sales tax KW - Specialized training UR - http://www.utc.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/projects/reports/ross_and_elliott_impact_of_regional_splost_final_report_regional_splost_clr_07062012_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1246697 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01472543 AU - Rochat, Judith L AU - Hastings, Aaron L AU - Read, David R AU - Lau, Michael AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM) Pavement Effects Implementation Study: Progress Report 1 PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 110p AB - The Volpe Center Acoustics Facility, in support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), investigated the implementation of pavement effects in the FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM). Three options were considered, resulting in the recommendation of two options: 1) implementation of user-defined pavement-specific emission levels (REMELs), with proof of adequate data; and 2) implementation of on-board sound intensity (OBSI)-adjusted tire/pavement noise source levels, implemented as a large database in the FHWA TNM and also as a user-defined option. Each option would also include adjusting for the pavement sound absorption by applying pavement-specific effective flow resistivity (EFR) values. KW - On Board Sound Intensity KW - Pavements KW - Reference Energy Mean Emission Level (REMEL) KW - Sound absorption KW - Tire/pavement noise KW - Traffic noise KW - Traffic Noise Model UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46400/46466/DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-12-01.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1239139 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01469559 AU - Zhang, Yan AU - Suarez, Hernan AU - Perera, Sudantha AU - University of Oklahoma, Norman AU - Oklahoma Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Next Generation Smart Barrel System for Workzone Safety Enhancement PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 71p AB - The Radar Innovations Lab in the University of Oklahoma collaborated with the P&R Division of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OK-DOT) on an innovative technology for traffic speed monitoring and control in highway work zones, called Smart Barrel Systems. The smart barrel system appears as a group of normal traffic control barrels, but they are equipped with advanced and low-cost Doppler radar sensor and wireless radio nodes. The traffic speeds are monitored by a sensor node at the work zone entrance in real-time, and then all the nodes in the network coordinate among each other to determine the warning message to motorists, which in this case is the flashing LED lights on top of the barrel drums. There are six tasks in this one-year project: (1) Requirement analysis and specifications, (2) Simulation/Modeling, (3) Design and test a Doppler radar sensor, (4) ZigBee radio testbed platforms, (5) Prototype smart barrels, (6) Meetings and reports. As an extension of the originally planned task 5, a small-scale (10-node) smart barrel system is integrated and deployed at an actual work zone site at I-40, during the period of Aug- Dec 2011. Significant speed reduction has been observed by comparing the traffic speed profile entering the “smart work zone” to the speed profile leaving the zone. A series of improvements have been made for better synchronization of the nodes/lights, longer battery life, and lower costs. KW - Doppler radar KW - Monitoring KW - Real time information KW - Traffic control KW - Traffic speed KW - Warning devices KW - Work zone safety UR - http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/spr-rip/library/reports/rad_spr2-i2232-fy2011-rpt-final-zhang.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1237828 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01457369 AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center TI - Best Practices in Geographic Information Systems-Based Transportation Asset Management PY - 2012/01 SP - 71p AB - This report provides background on geographic information systems (GIS) and transportation asset management (TAM), describes how public agencies have been integrating the two, and identifies benefits and challenges to doing so. The information presented is gleaned from a literature review and interviews with several state departments of transportation (DOTs) and one county agency. The report also identifies some leading industry trends and new, innovative approaches to using GIS for TAM. KW - Asset management KW - Best practices KW - Case studies KW - Geographic information systems KW - State departments of transportation KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.gis.fhwa.dot.gov/documents/GIS_AssetMgmt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1225457 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01456881 AU - Wittwer, Ernie AU - National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) AU - Minnesota Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - North/West Passage Corridor-Wide Commercial Vehicle Permitting – Phase 2 PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 48p AB - The efficient movement of freight is a key to the economic success of any state, region or nation. Rising transport costs will tend to make products from the region more expensive and less competitive in the national and global markets. This trend can be addressed by adding capacity, a very expensive and long-term solution; improving the management of the highway and rail systems; and by easing the regulatory burden on carriers. Some states have organized themselves into compacts or coalitions to issue permits for these routine loads on a regional basis. While permitting is one of the issues often raised by truckers as a costly and frustrating process, a number of concerns over exactly how individual state rules can be harmonized to facilitate regional permitting must be resolved before multi-state agreements can be put into place. To better understand the nature of regional permitting processes, existing compact or agreements must be reviewed and their rules, processes and administrative procedures documented. In addition, members of those compacts must be interviewed to measure their perceptions of the costs and benefits entailed in regional agreement. KW - Commercial vehicles KW - Freight traffic KW - Freight transportation KW - Northwest Passage KW - Overweight loads KW - Permits KW - Regional planning KW - Regulations UR - http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/CFIRE_05-02_FinalReport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1224993 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01448522 AU - Schonfeld, Paul M AU - Kim, Myungseob AU - Cheong, Seonyeong AU - University of Maryland, College Park AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Integration of Fixed and Flexible Route Public Transportation Systems, Phase I PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 34p AB - To provide efficient public transportation services in areas with high demand variability over time, it may be desirable to switch vehicles between conventional services (with fixed routes and schedules) during peak periods and flexible route service during low demand periods. The authors call this possibility a variable-type service. In this research project the authors compare conventional, flexible and variable-type service alternatives optimized for various conditions in order to explore when variable-type bus services might be preferable to pure ones. The optimization models used for purely conventional or flexible services are adapted from previous studies. These models are integrated into a new model for optimizing variable-type bus services. The results of sensitivity analyses show how the demand variability over time and other factors affect the relative effectiveness of conventional, flexible and variable-type bus services. Additional details on the problem and its formulation, solution methods, and obtained results, are provided in this report. KW - Bus transit KW - Fixed routes KW - Flexible routes KW - Off peak periods KW - Optimization KW - Peak periods KW - Public transit KW - Schedules and scheduling KW - Service demand KW - Travel demand management KW - Variable demand UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/UMD-2009-03.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46070/UMD-2009-03.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1214984 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01448517 AU - Schonfeld, Paul M AU - Kim, Myungseob AU - University of Maryland, College Park AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Integration of Fixed and Flexible Route Public Transportation Systems, Phase II PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 23p AB - Conventional bus service (with fixed routes and schedules) has lower average cost than flexible bus service (with demand-responsive routes) at high demand densities. At low demand densities flexible bus service has lower average costs and provides user-friendly door-to-door service. Bus size is interrelated with service type since large buses have lower average cost per passenger than small buses at high demand densities, and vice versa. The service type and vehicle size decisions are jointly optimized here for a bus transit system connecting a major terminal to local regions. Bus sizes, conventional route spacing and flexible service area are the decision variables in a proposed algorithm which optimizes a multi-dimensional nonlinear integer optimization problem. Numerical analysis shows how the proposed Variable Mode & Multiple Fleets Operation can reduce total cost compared to a Single Fleet & Single Mode Operation. The sensitivity of results to important parameters is explored. Additional details on the problem and its formulation, the solution methods employed, and the results obtained are provided in this report. KW - Algorithms KW - Bus transit KW - Demand responsive transportation KW - Fixed routes KW - Flexible routes KW - Optimization KW - Public transit KW - Vehicle size UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/UMD-2010-03.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46071/UMD-2010-03.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1214986 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446054 AU - Tan, Tein-Min AU - Awerbuch, Jonathan AU - Lau, Alan C W AU - Byar, Alan D AU - Drexel University AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Development of Computational Models for Simulating Full-Scale Crash Tests of Aircraft Fuselage and Components PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 174p AB - In November 2000, a vertical drop test of a Boeing 737 airplane fuselage section was conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey. The intent was to determine the impact response of a narrow-body airplane fuselage section, including the response of the airframe structure and cabin items of mass. The purpose of this study was to develop a finite element model to simulate the vertical drop test of that fuselage section. The 10-foot-long test section included 18 seats occupied by dummy passengers, luggage stowed in the cargo compartment beneath the floor, and two different FAA-certified overhead stowage bins. The test article was dropped from a 14-foot height, resulting in a vertical impact velocity of 30 ft/sec. The primary goal of this drop test was to characterize the behavior of the two overhead bins under a severe, but survivable, impact condition. KW - Aircraft cabins KW - Airplanes KW - Aviation safety KW - Boeing 737 aircraft KW - Computer models KW - Crashworthiness KW - Fuselages KW - Impact tests KW - Simulation UR - http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar10-34.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212694 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446032 AU - Lau, Michael AU - Senzig, David AU - Bevillard, Paul AU - Boeker, Eric R AU - Roof, Christopher J AU - Samiljan, Robert AU - Tyndall, Charles AU - Scarpone, Christopher AU - Kim, Michael AU - Lee, Cynthia AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Floatplane Source Noise Measurements: Summary of Measurements, Data and Analyses for the Cessna 182S Skylane and De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 100p AB - In September 2010, the Volpe Center measured source noise for two floatplane aircraft that have been identified as participating in commercial air tour operations over National Parks: Cessna 182S and De Havilland Canada DHC-2. This document describes the planning and execution of the noise study, overviews the data reduction procedures, and presents final data adjusted to standard conditions. KW - Air tours KW - Aircraft KW - Aircraft noise KW - Cessna 182 aircraft KW - De Havilland aircraft KW - Floatplanes KW - National parks KW - Noise UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44300/44330/DOT-VNTSC-FAA-11-11.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212599 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01444841 AU - Grant, Michael AU - Rue, Harrison AU - Trainor, Stephanie AU - Bauer, Jocelyn AU - Parks, Jamie AU - Raulerson, Mary AU - Rooney, Kathleen AU - Suter, Sonya AU - Science Applications International Corporation AU - ICF Consulting AU - Kittelson & Associates AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Role of Transportation Systems Management & Operations in Supporting Livability and Sustainability: A Primer PY - 2012/01 SP - 60p AB - This primer describes the role of transportation systems management and operations (M&O) in advancing livability and sustainability. The document highlights the connections between M&O and livability and sustainability objectives and the importance of a balanced, comprehensive approach to M&O in order to support those objectives. The document describes nine key elements for managing and operating transportation systems in ways that support livability and sustainability. The document also provides a vision of how the regional transportation system could look in the future if M&O strategies were comprehensively implemented to advance livability and sustainability goals. Case examples throughout and a section on implementation will help practitioners to get started on implementing M&O to support livability and sustainability in their communities. KW - Case studies KW - Multimodal transportation KW - Planning and design KW - Quality of life KW - Sustainable development KW - Sustainable transportation KW - Transportation operations KW - Transportation planning KW - Transportation system management UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12004/fhwahop12004.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212153 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01383603 AU - Sargand, Shad M AU - Figueroa, J Ludwig AU - Ohio University, Athens AU - Ohio Department of Transportation AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Monitoring and Modeling of Pavement Response and Performance. Task B: New York. Executive Summary Report PY - 2012/01 SP - 3p AB - Perpetual asphalt concrete (AC) and long-lasting Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements are relatively new to the pavement community. These newer pavements require the use of innovative Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) design procedures, advanced climatic models, updated specifications, test methods providing detailed material properties, and construction techniques not been entirely adopted into standard practice. Standard practice for rehabilitating distressed highway pavements generally involves the application of AC overlays. When AC overlays are placed on distressed PCC pavements, slab movements cause stress concentrations to develop at joints and cracks, which often results in premature cracks reflecting up through to the surface at these locations. By breaking PCC slabs into smaller pieces prior to overlay, stresses are reduced by distributing the load over a wider area. Instrumentation installed in these pavement sections will provide data regarding measured responses under known environmental and loading conditions. Objectives of the project include: (1) Monitor new perpetual AC and long-lasting PCC pavements constructed on US-30 in Ohio, rehabilitated PCC pavements on I-86 in New York, and other existing instrumented pavements in both states; (2) Verify ME design procedures for all pavements in the study by comparing theoretical calculations with measured responses and performance; (3) Calibrate ME procedures presented in the NCHRP 1- 37A AASHTO Pavement Guide for Ohio and New York using data collected in this and other previous studies; (4) Conduct controlled testing of perpetual pavement systems to determine their relative performance and to recommend the most promising layer configurations; and (5) Document all research findings in a final report. Within each of these primary objectives were various secondary objectives related to the primary goals. KW - Asphalt concrete pavements KW - Concrete pavements KW - Mechanistic-empirical pavement design KW - Pavement design KW - Pavement maintenance KW - Pavement performance KW - Perpetual pavements KW - Portland cement concrete UR - http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/Research/reportsandplans/Reports/2012/Pavements/134287_ES.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45100/45176/134287_ES.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1146610 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380507 AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Minnesota Department of Transportation AU - Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Area TI - Twin Cities Metro Freight Initiative: The Story of Freight in the Twin Cities PY - 2012/01 SP - 52p AB - The Twin Cities metropolitan (metro) region (the “region”) is the center of trade and business activity in the northwestern area of the U.S. Midwest. It is third in total size behind only Chicago and Detroit for the entire Midwest and accounts for almost three-quarters of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the state of Minnesota. The region is home to numerous Fortune 500 industries and businesses; it is also the birthplace of a host of national and global companies. The region is the head of navigation for the Mississippi River system. Located within the region are transcontinental rail routes, two Interstate highways, numerous pipelines and refineries, and two air express hubs. These facilities and others make the region a critical part of many global supply chains. Additionally, the region’s two major rail container intermodal yard operations make it a crucial hub for containerized freight traffic moving across the multi-state area. The region’s natural resources, including timber, wheat, and minerals, supported the growth of robust transportation networks and services over time. Access to plentiful energy and a constantly evolving system of abundant, efficient transportation for goods and passengers also made it possible for manufacturing and milling businesses to develop in the region. As in other areas throughout the country, the region is grappling with challenges that significantly impact the freight system, such as congestion, aging infrastructure, capacity limits, environmental concerns, population and employment shifts, land use conflicts, and funding uncertainties. While some challenges exist, a well-developed system of multi-modal freight connections and robust distribution options has evolved in the region that supports a vital, competitive economy and a high quality of life for about 3 million people. The region also boasts numerous examples of unique and effective movement of commercial goods, from loaded grain barges and unit trains of coal, ethanol, and containers to overnight emergency outbound shipments of artificial hearts and inbound shipments of hi-tech consumer goods and exotic foods. While transportation has historically supported the region’s industries, it continues to be a major business in its own right, including the newly emerged area of global logistics management. The public sector plays an important role in influencing the region’s freight transportation system although the private sector owns and operates a large portion of this system. By working together in specific ways, the public and private sectors ensure that the system is safe, efficient, and continues to support the region’s economic vitality and high quality of life. The purpose of this document is to highlight the importance of the region’s freight transportation system to businesses and residents, particularly in terms of its contributions to regional economic development and quality of life. KW - Economic development KW - Freight traffic KW - Freight transportation KW - Gross domestic product KW - Hubs KW - Quality of life KW - Supply chain management KW - Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Minnesota) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44700/44774/Twin_Cities_Metro_Freight_Initiative_Story_of_Freight_December_2011__2_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147328 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379714 AU - Ishak, Sherif AU - Wolshon, Brian AU - Sun, Xiaoduan AU - Korkut, Murat AU - Qi, Yan AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Louisiana Transportation Research Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of the Traffic Safety Benefits of a Lower Speed Limit and Restriction of Trucks to Use of Right Lane Only on I-10 Over the Atchafalaya Basin PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 286p AB - To improve traffic operation and safety, several states have implemented truck lane restriction and differential speed limit policies on freeways. In response to an 11-vehicle crash in September 2003, the Louisiana State Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) introduced such operational policies on the 18-mile elevated section of Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin, where trucks were restricted to the right lane and their speed limit was reduced to 55 mph. The speed limit for all other types of vehicles was also reduced to 60 mph. The primary objectives of this research study were to examine the traffic characteristics and truck compliance behavior to the newly implemented policies, as well as evaluate the overall safety impact of such policies. Additionally, two opinion surveys were conducted to determine the truck drivers’ perception and opinions with respect to these policies. Traffic data were collected and analyzed for four different sites along the freeway corridor using multiple linear regression, pairwise comparison and two sample t tests. The basic statistical analysis showed that the speed in the left lane was much higher than it was in the right lane as a result of the imposed differential speed limit. The results also showed more trucks in the right lane than in the left lane, with a compliance rate in the range of 60% to 80% most of the time. Further statistical analysis showed that the truck speeds were generally lower than the rest of the vehicles because of their reduced speed limit. For mixed traffic composition, truck speeds were significantly higher than 55 mph, but lower than 60 mph on the right lanes. The truck speeds, however, exceeded 60 mph in the left lane. Thus, trucks generally violated both lane restriction and speed limit. However, it should be noted that truckers were informed through the local trucking association that they were permitted to overtake in the left lane. Thus, their presence in the left lane and their increased speed may be at least partially due to the overtaking maneuver. The results from both surveys were consistent and showed that the truckers were not in favor of the restrictions and did not perceive that significant safety benefits would be gained from such restrictions. In fact, several responses indicated that it would be safer to have uniform speed limits and freedom to select a travel lane. The crash data analysis clearly showed a reduction in the number of crashes, and particularly the number of truck crashes but in addition to the imposed restriction policies there were other improvements made such as shot abrasion and raised pavement markers, whose safety impact could not be independently evaluated. KW - Atchafalaya Basin KW - Compliance KW - Crash data KW - Freeways KW - Highway safety KW - Lane restrictions KW - Louisiana KW - Operating speed KW - Speed limits KW - Statistical analysis KW - Surveys KW - Traffic data KW - Truck crashes KW - Truck drivers KW - Truck traffic UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2012/fr_435_web.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45600/45661/fr_435_web.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147330 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379216 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Alternative Uses of Highway Right-of-Way : Accommodating Renewable Energy Technologies and Alternative Fuel Facilities PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 101p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored this research to learn more about the current state of the practice, challenges State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have faced, and lessons learned in accommodating alternative energy technologies and alternative fuel facilities in highway right-of-way (ROW). Dissemination of the information in the report should better enable State DOTs and local public agencies to evaluate the feasibility of accommodating renewable energy technologies and alternative fuel facilities in the ROW and to identify effective practices for implementing such projects. KW - Alternate fuels KW - Renewable energy sources KW - Right of way (Traffic) KW - State departments of transportation KW - State of the practice KW - Technology UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44700/44749/altusesreport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1146823 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376419 AU - Bandini, Paola AU - Halter, Susan Bogus AU - Montoya, Kelly R AU - Pham, Hung V AU - Migliaccio, Giovanni C AU - New Mexico State University, Las Cruces AU - New Mexico Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Improving NMDOT’s Pavement Distress Survey Methodology and Developing Correlations between FHWA’s HPMS Distress Data and PMS Data PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 158p AB - The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has a program to collect distress data through visual surveys and uses this information at the network level, together with roughness and rutting data, to calculate its pavement serviceability index. The main goal of this research study was two-fold: revise and improve the current distress evaluation protocol with the purpose of increasing the objectivity and accuracy of the distress data and methods, and develop simple procedures to estimate distress data required for Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) reporting and for NMDOT’s Pavement Management System (PMS). A revised protocol for visual distress surveys in flexible pavements was proposed. The variability and practicality of the proposed protocol was tested in 66 sample sections and two rounds of surveys with very good results. The interrater agreements of the current and proposed protocols were evaluated applying the Average Deviation Index method. Even though the interrater agreement was different among the distress types, the proposed protocol showed good levels of agreement for all distresses, both for severity and extent. It is recommended that the distress evaluations of rigid sections rate the same distress type but include ratings of all severity levels. Field tests consisting of detailed measurements of transverse cracks, longitudinal cracks and alligator cracking were done in 15 sample sections to determine procedures to estimate distress parameters for HPMS and PMS from raters’ data of visual surveys. The Pavement Serviceability Index (PSI) was revised to accommodate the changes introduced by the proposed protocol. This report includes an implementation plan for the recommended approaches. Also included is a summary of the project goals, overview of the work performed, proposed protocol and recommendations in the format of a presentation for dissemination purposes. KW - Condition surveys KW - Fatigue cracking KW - Flexible pavements KW - Monitoring KW - New Mexico KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement management systems KW - Pavement performance KW - Serviceability UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144169 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376388 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Creating an Effective Program to Advance Transportation System Management and Operations: Primer PY - 2012/01 SP - 20p AB - The purpose of this Primer is to raise awareness of the opportunities for improving the effectiveness of State and local Transportation System Management and Operations (TSM&O) activities. The Primer provides high-level guidance focused on key program, process, and organizational capabilities that are essential to the development of more effective TSM&O strategy applications. It is aimed at program and activity-level managers responsible for TSM&O related activities in State, regional, and local transportation agencies. The Primer provides the following information: descriptions of the six key dimensions of agency capability that support improved system operations and management effectiveness; definitions of capability improvement levels that support increasing effectiveness in each of the six dimensions; and descriptions of the actions an agency can take to reach the next level of capability in each dimension, along with illustrations of their implementation. KW - Highway operations KW - Transportation departments KW - Transportation system management UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12003/fhwahop12003.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144133 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376326 AU - Lewis, Carol Abel AU - Arthur, Grace AU - Onyejekwe, Sandra AU - Texas Southern University, Houston AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Reviewing, Analyzing and Updating Marketing Strategies to Increase Public Transit Ridership PY - 2012/01 SP - 48p AB - Ridership in the United States has been fluctuating over the last decade. With fuel prices increasing, urban and suburban communities growing and global warming and environmental impact getting special attention, it is important to increase our knowledge of best marketing practices to attract riders to public transit as a better alternative to the use of their own car. Houston METRO is adding roughly 30 miles of light rail, offering new quick line bus routes and in general improving efficiency and reducing costs. But in order to move people out of their cars for all or some of their travel, a deeper analysis of the decision variables and a strategy to promote public transit is required. KW - Bus transit KW - Houston (Texas) KW - Light rail transit KW - Marketing KW - Public transit KW - Ridership KW - Strategic planning UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/476660-00050-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144080 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376182 AU - Paleti, Rajesh AU - Eluru, Naveen AU - Bhat, Chandra R AU - Pendyala, Ram M AU - Adler, Thomas J AU - Goulias, Konstadinos G AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Design of a Comprehensive Microsimulator of Household Vehicle Fleet Composition, Utilization, and Evolution PY - 2012/01//Research Report SP - 46p AB - The report describes a comprehensive vehicle fleet composition, utilization, and evolution simulator that can be used to forecast household vehicle ownership and mileage by type of vehicle over time. The components of the simulator are developed in this research effort using detailed revealed and stated preference data on household vehicle fleet composition, utilization, and planned transactions collected for a large sample of households in California. Results of the model development effort show that the simulator holds promise as a tool for simulating vehicular choice processes in the context of activity-based travel microsimulation model systems. KW - Automobile ownership KW - California KW - Choice models KW - Forecasting KW - Households KW - Microsimulation KW - Revealed preferences KW - Stated preferences KW - Types of vehicles KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/161120-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144012 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376170 AU - Hunter, Michael AU - Rodgers, Michael AU - Georgia Tech Research Corporation AU - Georgia Institute of Technology AU - Georgia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Intersection Countermeasures on High-Speed Rural Multi-Lane Facilities PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 75p AB - The primary objective of this study is the evaluation of the effectiveness of several proposed safety treatments at two intersections in Habersham County, Georgia. The intersections selected for this study had high crash rates leading to a Georgia Department of Transportation proposal for various safety improvements. To evaluate the impact of the safety treatments, this study focused on an evaluation of various surrogate measures of safety: speed, acceleration/deceleration rate, and Post Encroachment Time (PET). The study used video recording as the primary data collection methodology and used custom software, developed as a part of the project, for data reduction of the resulting videos. Global Positioning System (GPS) probe vehicles were used to provide a ground truth reference. Data collected showed that the treatment had negligible impact on the behavior of the vehicles studied regarding the surrogate measures considered. As a follow up study, the use of PET data as a surrogate measure was further explored. The objective of this investigation was to determine the utility of using PET to rapidly determine the potential safety impact of a treatment. For this investigation data were collected at two pairs of intersections. Each pair was selected to be of similar geometry and volumes but of different crash rates. For the given intersections PET demonstrated the potential to distinguish between highly significant safety differences although it remains uncertain what magnitude of safety difference may be identified. Additional research will be needed before PET can be viewed as a robust quantitative surrogate measure for estimating intersection safety. KW - Acceleration (Mechanics) KW - Countermeasures KW - Crash rates KW - Crashes KW - Deceleration KW - Evaluation KW - Habersham County (Georgia) KW - Highway safety KW - Intersections KW - Postencroachment time KW - Rural highways KW - Speed measurement KW - Surrogate measures of safety KW - Traffic safety UR - http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/research/Documents/RP0719.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143950 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376081 AU - Rall, Jaime AU - Farber, Nicholas J AU - National Conference of State Legislatures AU - Federal Transit Administration AU - Department of Labor TI - Regional Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: Synthesis, Case Studies and Directory PY - 2012/01 SP - 21p AB - The current complex, fragmented and uncoordinated intergovernmental landscape of transportation can waste public resources and create barriers for people who need transportation assistance, particularly transportation disadvantaged individuals who because of age, disability or income cannot afford or safely operate a vehicle. By one estimate, approximately 44,000 levels of government—each with its own laws or regulations—and thousands of nonprofits, private companies and individuals are involved in transportation service provision in the United States. The large number, diversity and dispersion of transportation programs can create service duplications in some areas and gaps in others, under utilization of resources, inconsistent safety standards and customer inconvenience. Funding shortfalls, policy and implementation failures, and lack of coordination can leave many who need transportation with few or no options. To combat these problems, governmental bodies, human service organizations and transportation planners have advocated improved coordination among human service agencies, transportation providers, of both public transit and of services targeted to disadvantaged populations, and other stakeholders. When these entities work together to jointly accomplish their objectives, it can reduce or eliminate many problems caused by numerous specialized programs. This process is called “human service transportation coordination.” This report begins with an assessment of how coordinating councils work to improve transportation access, including working definitions and a 50-state snapshot of where both state and regional councils now exist. The next sections explain how regional coordinating councils are complementary to state efforts and provide case studies of regional councils in five states. A look ahead to the future of regional coordinating councils, with a list of factors that can help support their success, concludes the analysis. In addition, a comprehensive state-by-state directory of regional coordinating councils in the United States with contact information accompanies this report as a separate document. KW - Case studies KW - Coordination KW - Councils of government KW - Interagency relations KW - Regional government KW - Social service agencies KW - Transportation disadvantaged persons KW - Transportation programs UR - http://www.ncsl.org/documents/transportation/NCSL_Regional_HSTCC_synthesis_case_studies.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143119 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374583 AU - Miller, Michael AU - Sound Transit AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Remote Infrared Audible Signage (RIAS) Pilot Program Report PY - 2012/01 SP - 52p AB - The Remote Infrared Audible Sign Model Accessibility Program (RIAS MAP) is a program funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to evaluate the effectiveness of remote infrared audible sign systems in enabling persons with visual and cognitive disabilities to travel independently. The subject for this report is the continuation of this evaluation through using a more comprehensive, multi-modal public transportation environment for measuring effectiveness. The wayfinding product evaluated is the RIAS technology with the registered trade name Talking Signs (Talking Signs, Inc.). There are two main goals for this project: 1) Measure the effectiveness of the Sound Transit RIAS system by using persons with visual or cognitive disabilities to test the installed system and provide feedback, as well as by observing the testers’ ability to use the system during structured testing, and 2) Measure cost implications for future expansion of the RIAS system for both Sound Transit and other regional public transit agencies. KW - Accessibility KW - Audible signage KW - Cognitive impairment KW - Costs KW - Public transit KW - Remote Infrared Audible Signage Pilot Program KW - Remote infrared signage KW - Talking signs KW - Testing KW - Visually impaired persons KW - Wayfinding UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/FTA_Report_No._0012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1142318 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373114 AU - Blower, Daniel AU - Matteson, Anne AU - University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Evaluation of 2010 Delaware Crash Data Reported to the MCMIS Crash File PY - 2012/01//Special Report SP - 46p AB - This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Delaware. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Delaware crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it is estimated that, for 2010, 71.6% of reportable crash involvements were reported. All fatal crash involvements were correctly reported. Reporting rates were lower for less severe collisions: 66.6% of injured/transported crashes and 76.6% of towed/disabled crashes were reported. Recognition by the reporting officer that a vehicle was a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) was important, though no single factor was identified that explained the overall reporting rate. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and Delaware crash files were reasonably consistent, though specific problems were noted with respect to the MCMIS truck configuration variable. Over one-quarter of the records were inconsistent on this variable. Improvements in training may address this issue. Only about 53% of records were submitted to the MCMIS file within the 90 day post-crash period requirement. KW - Bus crashes KW - Commercial vehicles KW - Crash data KW - Crash records KW - Crash severity KW - Delaware KW - Missing data KW - Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File KW - Traffic crashes KW - Truck crashes KW - Underreporting UR - http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90844/1/102853.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141185 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01372634 AU - Couch, Pamela AU - Jaffe, Marcy AU - Modoc County Transportation Commission AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Evolution of Intelligent Transportation Systems for Mobility Management and Coordination Serving California’s Rural Frontier PY - 2012/01//Final SP - 41p AB - This report documents the evolution, development, and lessons learned while attempting to identify, modify, and deploy Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and advanced technology tools to facilitate coordination of public transit and social (human) service transportation and mobility management in a “one stop shop” located in Modoc County (northeast), California. The report summarizes planning and coordination efforts; shares challenges, lessons learned, and outcomes; and concludes by identifying some issues and structural obstacles that diminish usability and impede transfer of functional ITS tools for purposes of data collection, management, and reporting. KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Mobility KW - Modoc County (California) KW - Rural areas KW - Rural transit KW - Social service UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/FTA_Report_No._0006.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55400/55492/FTA_Report_No._0006.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141130 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01372320 AU - Hernandez, Hector A AU - Garibay, Jose AU - Nazarian, Soheil AU - University of Texas, El Paso AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of a New Mix Design Method and Specification Requirements for Asphalt Treated Base PY - 2012/01//Final Technical Report SP - 139p AB - Asphalt treated bases (ATBs) in Texas are usually designed as per Tex-126-E, “Molding, Testing, and Evaluating Bituminous Black Base Materials,” and constructed as per Item 292, “Asphalt Treatment (Plant-Mixed),” of the 2004 Standard Specification book. This specification is a hybrid of base and hot mix asphalt concrete procedures and requirements, which are sometimes incompatible. In addition, this Item uses a specific Texas Gyratory Base Compactor (TGBC) that is not readily available to all districts. Some districts use test method Tex-204-F, Part III, ‘Mix Design for Large Stone Mixtures Using the Superpave Gyratory Compactor.” However, this procedure was originally developed to design Type A and Type B hot mix on 6 in. by 4.5 in. specimens. Under Item 292, the unconfined compressive strength of the mix (as per Tex-126-E) is used to assess the quality of the mix. Specimens prepared under Tex-204-F are not the appropriate size for this type of testing. As such, the quality of the mix is assessed with the indirect tensile strength. The objective of this project was to propose a new mix design procedure for asphalt treated bases that can use standard equipment such as the Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) to mold the specimens for mix design. To achieve the objective of this project, current Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) procedures such as Tex-126-E and Tex-204-F were evaluated and modified to propose new generically-named Tex-126-H and Tex-204-H specifications. A comprehensive parametric study comparing the results of the two proposed specifications with the existing specification was performed. The impact of the number of gyrations, curing temperature, binder grade, and asphalt content variation were evaluated using prepared laboratory specimens. Parameters including density, unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, and modulus using the existing and proposed specifications were compared. Based on these studies, a new method for determining the optimum asphalt content (OAC) for ATBs was developed. The recommendations were then evaluated at six actual construction projects for reasonableness. The most practical setup for laboratory tests was achieved by using Tex-204-H specifications, which proposes preparation of 6 in. diameter and 4.5 in. high specimens using 75 gyrations of the SGC. Furthermore, it is recommended to cure specimens for 24 hrs at room temperature (77°F) before conducting the indirect tensile strength because the results from this procedure were more sensitive to asphalt content while reducing the mix design period of time. The appropriate asphalt content should satisfy a target indirect tensile strength, which is at least 85 psi, and a relative density of 97%. The current specifications for constructing ATB are adequate. The necessity of achieving the density should be reinforced. KW - Asphalt content KW - Asphalt treated bases KW - Base course (Pavements) KW - Construction projects KW - Density KW - Gyratory compactors KW - Mix design KW - Specifications KW - Tensile strength KW - Texas UR - http://ctis.utep.edu/reports/RR-0-6361-1%20Development%20of%20a%20New%20Mix%20Design%20Method%20and%20Specification%20Requirements%20for%20Asphalt%20Treated%20Bases.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1140970 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371631 AU - Sadek, Adel W AU - Wang, Qian AU - State University of New York, Buffalo AU - University Transportation Research Center AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Prototype Decision Support System for Optimally Routing Border Crossing Traffic Based on Predicted Border Crossing Times PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 32p AB - The economic vitality of the “Golden Horseshoe”, a densely populated and industrialized region which encompasses Southern Ontario, Canada and parts of New York State including the Buffalo-Niagara Region, is heavily dependent upon the ability to move goods freely and efficiently across the Canadian-US border. This highlights the critical importance of the Niagara Frontier International border crossing, one of North America’s busiest portals for travel and trade. This study had two primary objectives. The first objective was to develop a forecasting method for the on-line, short-term prediction of hourly traffic volumes at the Niagara Frontier border crossings. The second objective of the study was to develop queuing models which would use the predicted traffic volume to estimate the future border delay. As a case study, the project considers the Peace Bridge border crossing, which is one of the busiest Niagara Frontier border crossings, serving over 4.76 million cars annually. For the short-term prediction of hourly volumes at the Peace Bridge, a novel method was developed, which combines forecasts from traditional time series analysis, specifically the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model, with forecasts made by Support Vector Regression (SVR). The two models’ forecasts are combined using: (1) a simple fixed weight procedure; and (2) the fuzzy adaptive variable weight method, based on the Fresh Degree Function. Based on an analysis of the diurnal distribution of traffic volumes, six separate classes are defined and individual models are developed for weekdays (Monday - Thursday), Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and game days. The evaluation results for that part of the study appear to confirm the hypothesis that, while the SARIMA model does a good job capturing the linear characteristics of the data (e.g., seasonality and trend), SVR appears to outperform SARIMA in modeling the data’s nonlinear aspects. The study also shows that combining forecasts from the two models, especially using the fuzzy adaptive variable weight method, yields excellent prediction performance, with values for the Mean Absolute Percent Error in the predictions of only about 7%. For estimating future border delay, the study built and solved an inverse M/M/c queuing model, where it was assumed that arrivals followed a Poisson distribution, service times followed an exponential distribution, and that the system had c service stations open. An inverse model was needed because the hourly volumes predicted from the first part of the study were outgoing volumes (i.e. volumes leaving the border customs and inspection stations), and not incoming volumes. The report includes an example to demonstrate how the inverse queuing model may be solved to estimate the expected average delay. KW - Decision support systems KW - International borders KW - Niagara County (New York) KW - Peace Bridge (New York and Ontario) KW - Routing KW - Traffic delays KW - Traffic forecasting KW - Traffic queuing KW - Traffic volume KW - Travel time KW - United States-Canada Border UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/assets/198/FinalReportMultimodelforecastingbordercrossing1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1139650 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370212 AU - Hans, Zachary AU - Hawkins, Neal AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative AU - Midwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Utilization of Remote Traffic Monitoring Devices for Urban Freeway Work Zone Assessment PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 208p AB - The objective of this project was to promote and facilitate analysis and evaluation of the impacts of road construction activities in Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative (SWZDI) states. The two primary objectives of this project were to assess urban freeway work-zone impacts through use of remote monitoring devices, such as radar-based traffic sensors, traffic cameras, and traffic signal loop detectors, and evaluate the effectiveness of using these devices for such a purpose. Two high-volume suburban freeway work zones, located on Interstate 35/80 (I-35/I-80) through the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area, were evaluated at the request of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). KW - Des Moines (Iowa) KW - Freeways KW - High volume roads KW - Remote sensing KW - Road construction KW - Suburbs KW - Traffic surveillance KW - Urban highways KW - Work zone traffic control KW - Work zones UR - http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/reports/small_work_zone_remote_traffic_monitoring_w_cvr.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138022 ER - TY - SER AN - 01370202 JO - Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note PB - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Analysis of the Proximity of Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Locations to the Availability of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Response PY - 2012/01 SP - 5p AB - Emergency medical service (EMS) response combined with the increasing availability and usage of advanced automatic collision notification (AACN) systems in motor vehicles are important components in the effort to reduce fatalities and serious injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes. This research note examines fatal motor vehicle crash locations in relation to the coverage area of helicopter-based EMS and is a first step towards a better understanding of the contributions of EMS and AACN to reducing the injury severity outcome of motor vehicle crashes. This analysis could not determine the type of EMS response (if at all), only whether a crash occurred where helicopter-based EMS was available. Key results of this analysis show: (1) About 80 percent of motor vehicle crash fatalities from 2005 to 2009 occurred within the 20-minute helicopter coverage area serving level I or II trauma centers. (2) In 2005 to 2009 about 64 percent of fatally injured people outside the coverage area died at the crash scene, compared to 55 percent inside the coverage area. KW - Air ambulances KW - Automatic crash notification KW - Crash locations KW - Distance KW - Emergency medical services KW - Emergency response time KW - Fatalities KW - Traffic crashes UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811542.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136505 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370188 AU - Taylor, Peter AU - Bektas, Fatih AU - Yurdakul, Ezgi AU - Ceylan, Halil AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Optimizing Cementitious Content in Concrete Mixtures for Required Performance PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 54p AB - This research investigated the effects of changing the cementitious content required at a given water-to-cement ratio (w/c) on workability, strength, and durability of a concrete mixture. An experimental program was conducted in which 64 concrete mixtures with w/c ranging between 0.35 and 0.50, cementitious content ranging from 400 to 700 per cubic yard (pcy), and containing four different supplementary cementitious material (SCM) combinations were tested. The fine-aggregate to total-aggregate ratio was fixed at 0.42 and the void content of combined aggregates was held constant for all the mixtures. Fresh (i.e., slump, unit weight, air content, and setting time) and hardened properties (i.e., compressive strength, chloride penetrability, and air permeability) were determined. The hypothesis behind this study is that when other parameters are kept constant, concrete properties such as strength, chloride penetration, and air permeability will not be improved significantly by increasing the cement after a minimum cement content is used. The study found that about 1.5 times more paste is required than voids between the aggregates to obtain a minimum workability. Below this value, water-reducing admixtures are of no benefit. Increasing paste thereafter increased workability. In addition, for a given w/c, increasing cementitious content does not significantly improve compressive strength once the critical minimum has been provided. The critical value is about twice the voids content of the aggregate system. Finally, for a given w/c, increasing paste content increases chloride penetrability and air permeability. KW - Admixtures KW - Cement content KW - Compressive strength KW - Durability KW - Properties of materials KW - Water cement ratio KW - Workability UR - http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/reports/taylor_ocm_w_cvr.pdf UR - http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/reports/taylor_ocm_w_cvr2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136400 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370177 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Work Zone Mobility and Safety Self Assessment 2011 National Report PY - 2012/01 SP - 36p AB - To help States evaluate their work zone practices, and to help assess work zone practices nationally, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed the Work Zone Mobility and Safety Self Assessment (WZ SA) tool. The WZ SA tool consists of a set of 46 questions designed to assist those with work zone management responsibilities in assessing their programs, policies, and procedures against many of the good work zone practices in use today. The policies, strategies, processes, and tools identified in the WZ SA were gathered from the best practices currently in place in State departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations, and local municipalities. Many of the items can be found in the Work Zone Best Practices Guidebook (available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/workzones). The WZ SA helps FHWA Division Offices work with their State partners to: 1. Assess their past work zone activities; 2. Identify actions and priority areas for improvement as appropriate for a given State; 3. Establish a baseline of their state of the practice and monitor changes over time; and 4. Gain information for use as inputs to process reviews that are required by the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule. KW - Best practices KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Mobility KW - Self assessments KW - States KW - Work zone safety KW - Work zones UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/decision_support/2011/wzsa_2011.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138042 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369946 AU - Gleason, Rebecca AU - Miskimins, Laurie AU - Western Transportation Institute AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Exploring Bicycle Options for Federal Lands: Bike Sharing, Rentals and Employee Fleets PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 120p AB - Federal land management agencies are exploring how bicycle programs can provide employees and visitors with more travel choices, while working toward their environmental, public health and sustainability goals. This report explores three options for making bicycles more readily available in Federal lands: public bicycle sharing programs, bicycle rental operations and employee bicycle fleets. Bicycle sharing programs are a form of public transportation, supplying bikes for short-term use through a network of automated bike parking stations. Bike rental programs are typically for-profit businesses that rent bikes for recreational use for a few hours up to several days. Employee fleets make bikes available to individuals associated with an organization to use for work, errands and/or recreation, usually at no cost. This report builds on previous work from The Guide to Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands (FHWA, 2008a), which sought to raise awareness of the environmental, public health and resource management benefits of bicycling. This report presents various methods to make bikes more available in Federal lands through bike sharing programs, rentals and employee fleets. This report explores how elements of successful bike programs may be adapted for Federal lands settings. KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Bicycle travel KW - Case studies KW - Employees KW - Federal Land Management Agencies KW - Federal lands KW - Fleet management KW - Mode choice KW - National parks KW - Nonmotorized transportation KW - Rental bicycles KW - Vehicle sharing KW - Visitors UR - http://www.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/td/publications/documents/bicycle-options.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137968 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369783 AU - MacArthur, John AU - Mote, Philip AU - Ideker, Jason AU - Figliozzi, Miguel AU - Lee, Ming AU - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium AU - Washington State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Region X Consortium TI - Climate Change Impact Assessment for Surface Transportation in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska PY - 2012/01//Final Research Report SP - 286p AB - The states in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region share interconnected transportation networks for people, goods, and services that support the regional economy, mobility, and human safety. Regional weather has and will continue to affect the physical condition and serviceability of these networks, yet the nature of climate changes and their potential impacts on the regional transportation system and its use are very poorly understood. The world’s leading climate scientists, such as the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, have reached consensus that global climate changes are being observed and will continue into the future, particularly increasing temperatures. Given this fact, the widely diverse topography, climate regimes, and localized variability of impacts within the region complicate efforts to understand and plan for adapting to the potential impacts of climate change on the regional transportation system. The rising costs of building and maintaining reliable transportation infrastructure place tremendous pressure on transportation planners, engineers, researchers and policy makers to deliver resilient transportation systems and maximize return on investment. As such, there is an urgent need to synthesize information to characterize the regional impacts of climate change to support the development of economical and resilient adaptation strategies. The objective of this research project was to conduct a preliminary vulnerability assessment of the risks and vulnerabilities climate change poses to the surface transportation infrastructure system in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region. The report synthesizes data to characterize the region’s climate; identifies potential impacts on the regional transportation system; identifies critical infrastructure vulnerable to climate change impacts; and provides recommendations for more detailed analysis and research needs as appropriate to support managing risks and opportunities to adapt multimodal surface transportation infrastructure to climate change impacts. KW - Adaptation planning (Climate change) KW - Alaska KW - Climate change KW - Environmental impacts KW - Global warming KW - Ground transportation KW - Infrastructure KW - Pacific Northwest UR - http://ine.uaf.edu/autc/files/2012/03/Climate-Change-Asses.Surface-Trans.-in-PNW-AK.pdf UR - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/772.1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46100/46148/Climate-Change-Asses.Surface-Trans.-in-PNW-AK.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138714 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369384 AU - Fields, Billy AU - University of New Orleans AU - Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Active Transportation Measurement and Benchmarking Development: New Orleans Pedestrian and Bicycle Count Report 2010-2011 PY - 2012/01//Final Report; Technical Report SP - 92p AB - Over the last decade, there has been a surge in bicycle and pedestrian use in communities that have invested in active transportation infrastructure and programming. While these increases show potentially promising trends, many of the cities that have shown the highest growth are geographically concentrated in the northern tier of the country. Communities in the South have tended to lag behind the northern and western cities in terms of active transportation use. The Active Transportation Measurement and Benchmarking Development: New Orleans Case Study aims to improve the policy making and planning framework by creating a comprehensive set of active transportation indicators on current usage and safety trends in New Orleans. New Orleans is significantly expanding the scope of active transportation facilities, moving from under 5 miles of bicycle facilities before Katrina to over 40 miles in 2010. The research in this report by the Pedestrian Bicycle Resource Initiative (PBRI) at the University of New Orleans uncovers for the first time the growing demand and use of active transportation in New Orleans. Analysis of bicycle and pedestrian count data shows that New Orleans is emerging as a regional leader in active transportation. In addition to analyzing the trends uncovered through the Census data, this report analyzes primary bicycle and pedestrian count data collected at 17 locations around New Orleans, including data on pedestrian and cyclist behaviors and demographics, as well as seasonal fluctuations in facility use, revealing several key hurdles that must be addressed for New Orleans to become a recognized national leader in active transportation. KW - Bicycle counts KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Bicycling KW - Case studies KW - Demographics KW - New Orleans (Louisiana) KW - Nonmotorized transportation KW - Pedestrian areas KW - Pedestrian counts KW - Policy making KW - Programming (Planning) KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - Walking UR - http://www.evaccenter.lsu.edu/pub/11-05Part%202.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137969 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369378 AU - Fields, Billy AU - University of New Orleans AU - Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Active Transportation Measurement and Benchmarking Development: New Orleans State of Active Transportation Report 2010 PY - 2012/01//Final Report; Technical Report SP - 103p AB - Over the last decade, there has been a surge in bicycle and pedestrian use in communities that have invested in active transportation infrastructure and programming. While these increases show potentially promising trends, many of the cities that have shown the highest growth are geographically concentrated in the northern tier of the country. Communities in the South have tended to lag behind the northern and western cities in terms of active transportation use. The Active Transportation Measurement and Benchmarking Development: New Orleans Case Study aims to improve the policy making and planning framework by creating a comprehensive set of active transportation indicators on current usage and safety trends in New Orleans. New Orleans is significantly expanding the scope of active transportation facilities, moving from under 5 miles of bicycle facilities before Katrina to over 40 miles in 2010. The Pedestrian/Bicycle Resource Initiative at the University of New Orleans surveyed bicycle and pedestrian plans from around the country to determine best practices for monitoring trends in walking and bicycling. The "State of Active Transportation: New Orleans" report provides an overview of key indicators that trace existing conditions for walking and bicycling in New Orleans, which are designed to identify needs through an examination of current conditions and trends for walking and bicycling in New Orleans, and to prioritize policies designed to improve conditions. KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Bicycling KW - Case studies KW - New Orleans (Louisiana) KW - Nonmotorized transportation KW - Pedestrian areas KW - Performance indicators KW - Policy making KW - Programming (Planning) KW - Walking UR - http://www.evaccenter.lsu.edu/pub/11-05Part%201.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137966 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01369373 AU - Hassan, Marwa AU - Okeil, Ayman AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Gulf Coast Research Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Field and Laboratory Investigation of Photocatalytic Pavements PY - 2012/01//Final Report; Technical Report SP - 35p AB - In spite of the importance of the national transportation network, there is a growing recognition that highway operations have major environmental impacts during construction and service. High traffic volumes cause high concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air, which have been linked with serious health hazards to the public. These pollutants may also travel long distances to produce secondary pollutants such as acid rain or ozone. Photo-catalysis compounds such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) can trap and degrade organic and inorganic particles in the air removing harmful air pollutants such as NOx and VOC in the presence of UV light. Current research and applications of this technology are limited to concrete pavement surfaces, which only represent 6% of the national road network. About 94% of the road network in the US is surfaced with hot-mix asphalt, which supports directing future research towards the use of TiO2 coating in flexible pavements. To address the aforementioned problem, this research project will investigate the possibility of integrating TiO2 on the surface of asphalt pavements to develop a photo-catalytic asphalt pavement capable of oxidizing traffic pollutants. The photo-catalytic properties of TiO2 asphalt pavement as well as its environmental properties will be characterized using a novel environmental laboratory setup. The proposed research is cutting edge and has not been attempted in the US. A recent study attempted to apply the photo-catalytic compound as part of a water-based emulsion in Italy. The mixing of TiO2 with an asphalt binder at a 6% content of the binder weight was also attempted in China and was used in the construction of an open-graded friction course. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Catalysis KW - Environmental impacts KW - Nitrogen oxides KW - Photochemical reactions KW - Pollution control KW - Surface course (Pavements) KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Ultraviolet light KW - Volatile organic compounds UR - http://www.evaccenter.lsu.edu/pub/11-10.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137570 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368688 AU - Persad, Khali R AU - Machemehl, Randy AU - Weatherby, Cynthia AU - Stockton, William AU - Nash, Phil AU - Cleveland, Theodore AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Seven TxDOT Strategic Research Briefs for FY 2011 PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 209p AB - This document contains seven research briefs developed for the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT’s) Strategic Research Program (SRP) in FY 2011, with a brief introduction summarizing the initiation of the SRP. The titles of the seven research briefs are as follows: (1) Using Telework and Flexible Work Arrangements as a Congestion Mitigation Strategy; (2) The Problem of Congestion and Mass Transit; (3) Determining a Comprehensive Freight Strategy for Texas; (4) Strategic Directions for Performance Management in TxDOT: Customer Satisfaction as a Key Driver of Success; (5) The Future of Texas Freight: Roles, Forces, and Policies; (6) An Integrated Approach to the Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Pavements and Bridges; and (7) The Interstate Shield: Time to Reconsider a Roadway Icon?. KW - Congestion management systems KW - Customer satisfaction KW - Freight transportation KW - Interstate highways KW - Public transit KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Research KW - Texas KW - Texas Department of Transportation UR - http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6661_rb.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137269 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01368596 AU - Middleton, Dan AU - Rajbhandari, Rajat AU - Brydia, Robert AU - Songchitruksa, Praprut AU - Kraus, Edgar AU - Hernandez, Salvador AU - Cheu, Kelvin AU - Iragavarapu, Vichika AU - Turner, Shawn AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Synthesis of TxDOT Uses of Real-Time Commercial Traffic Data PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 122p AB - Traditionally, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its districts have collected traffic operations data through a system of fixed-location traffic sensors, supplemented with probe vehicles using transponders where such tags are already being used primarily for tolling purposes and where their numbers are sufficient. In recent years, private providers of traffic data have entered the scene, offering traveler information such as speeds, travel time, delay, and incident information. The question that this research project answered was the following: Whether TxDOT could and should utilize the data offerings by private sector providers to supplement its own data collection efforts and, if so, how. The research also determined the following: What data are available from private providers (either free or for purchase); What other states are doing with data from private providers; Opinions of TxDOT decision makers on the utility of these data sources; How the data should be normalized, combined, and delivered for TxDOT or other public sector partner agency use; and A recommended path for implementing the TxDOT response. KW - Data collection KW - Private enterprise KW - Real time information KW - Texas KW - Texas Department of Transportation KW - Traffic data UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6659-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137213 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367547 AU - Johnson, Steven L AU - Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Relative Advantages and Disadvantages of Independent Contractor Status: A Survey of Owner-Operators’ Opinions and Rationale PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 62p AB - Commercial truck drivers range from company drivers that are employees of a carrier to independent owner-operators that operate under their own authority. From the driver’s perspective, there are both benefits and drawbacks of being an independent contract driver. The objective of this effort was to develop, administer and analyze a comprehensive survey to provide reliable, valid and useful information as to why drivers choose or do not choose to be an independent contractor. In addition to the advantages and disadvantages, the survey investigated the methods that independent contractors use to capitalize on the benefits and accomplish the responsibilities associated with being independent. A combination of face-to-face interviews (at 19 truck stops from California to Connecticut) and a web-based survey were used to obtain and validate the opinions. Thirteen organizations (including trucking companies and trade organizations) provided telephone and email contact information for participants. The results and conclusions of the study provide valuable information related to the driver’s opinions as to the advantages and challenges of being an independent contractor, as well as the rationale behind those opinions. The information can be used to both understand and improve the experience of both independent contract drivers and the carriers for whom they drive. KW - Attitudes KW - Contractors KW - Owner operators KW - Surveys KW - Truck drivers KW - Truck lines UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/47000/47800/47878/MBTC_20DOT_203026.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135983 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367259 AU - Dissanayake, Sunanda AU - Shaheed, Mohammad Saad AU - Kansas State University, Manhattan AU - Kansas Department of Transportation AU - Mid-America Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Evaluation of Motorcycle Safety in Kansas PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 156p AB - Over the past several years, motorcycle fatalities have increased at an alarming rate in the United States. Motorcycle safety issues in Kansas are no different from the national scenario. Accordingly, this study attempted to investigate motorcycle crashes in Kansas to identify critical characteristics and to evaluate the effect of those on motorcycle crash injury outcomes. State-level motorcycle rider fatality rates were investigated while considering various factors including helmet laws using generalized least-squares regression modeling. A detailed characteristic analysis was carried out for motorcycle crashes using Kansas crash data. Comparisons were made between several aspects of motorcycle crashes and other vehicle crashes. Analysis using logistic regression was performed on Kansas motorcycle crash data to identify factors affecting fatal motorcycle crashes. In addition, a survey was conducted focusing on identifying motorcycle rider behaviors, helmet usage patterns, perception towards helmet laws in Kansas, potential problems, crash contributory factors, and difficulty levels of executing different motorcycle maneuvers. Ordered probit modeling was used to identity factors contributing to increased injury severity of Kansas motorcycle riders involved in crashes. Results from state-level modeling showed statistically significant relationships between motorcycle fatality rates in a given state as well as several other factors. These factors included weather-related conditions, helmet laws, per capita income, highway mileage of rural roads, population density, education, demographic distributions, and motorcycle registrations in the state. The study showed that states with mandatory helmet laws had 5.6% fewer motorcycle fatalities per 10,000 registrations and 7.85% fewer motorcycle fatalities per 100,000 population. Characteristic analysis of motorcycle crashes in Kansas revealed that motorcycle maneuvers such as overtaking, motorcyclists being older than 40 years, not using motorcycle helmets, daytime riding, crashes occurring on roadside shoulders, and being under the influence of alcohol at the time of crashes had a higher risk of ending up as a fatal motorcycle crash in Kansas. Results from the survey conducted among motorcycle riders in Kansas revealed that 71% of respondents thought drivers of other vehicles were the single biggest threat to their own safety. Survey results also revealed that 64% of respondents opposed a mandatory law requiring motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets in Kansas. Results from the ordered probit modeling of motorcycle rider injury severity showed that overturned and fixed-object motorcycle crashes, helmet nonuse, younger motorcycle riders, speeding, presence of alcohol impairment among motorcycle riders, and good weather contributed to increased injury severity of motorcycle riders involved in crashes in Kansas. KW - Behavior KW - Crash characteristics KW - Drunk driving KW - Fatalities KW - Helmet laws KW - Injury severity KW - Kansas KW - Logistic regression analysis KW - Motorcycle crashes KW - Motorcycle helmets KW - Motorcyclists KW - Ordered probit models KW - Surveys UR - http://transport.ksu.edu/files/transport/imported/Reports/2009/KSU091_FinalReport.pdf UR - https://idmweb.ksdot.org/PublicLib/doccontent.dll?LibraryName=PublicDocs^dt00mx38&SystemType=2&LogonId=8dce6520d0be762f8dcba291194a2520&DocId=003814302 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136080 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367254 AU - Broughton, Benjamin AU - Lee, Soon-Jae AU - Texas State University, San Marcos AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Microsurfacing in Texas PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 234p AB - Microsurfacing is a unique pavement preservation tool in the arsenal of maintenance agencies. It is known to perform well when applied to the right pavement at the right time for the right distress. In order to ensure microsurfacing performs well, an agency must know what constitutes the right road, right time and right distress. Texas uses microsurfacing and wishes to answer these questions as well as uncover other factors leading to successful use of this treatment. This report describes the current state of practice of microsurfacing in Texas and compares it to best practices extracted from existing literature. A survey of Department of Transportation (DOT) personnel, contractors and emulsion suppliers in Texas provides insight into the most crucial factors contributing to the success or failure of a microsurfacing. From the results of the survey, literature reviews, case studies and site visits, the research team analyzed material selection and mix design methods, construction practices, equipment practices and performance measures for microsurfacings. It was concluded that project selection is the most important contributor to a successful microsurfacing followed by construction practices. Reliance on contractors for input into proper project selection places the agency in a vulnerable position. A certification course to educate personnel is recommended. KW - Case studies KW - Construction management KW - Literature reviews KW - Materials selection KW - Microsurfacing KW - Mix design KW - Pavement preservation KW - Project selection KW - State of the practice KW - Surface treating KW - Surveys KW - Texas UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6668-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136091 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367253 AU - Somasundaram, Guruprasad AU - Morellas, Vassilios AU - Papanikolopoulos, Nikolaos AU - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities AU - Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Deployment of Practical Methods for Counting Bicycle and Pedestrian Use of a Transportation Facility PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 35p AB - The classification problem of distinguishing bicycles from pedestrians for traffic counting applications is the objective of this research project. The scenes that are typically involved are bicycle trails, bridges, and bicycle lanes. These locations have heavy traffic of mainly pedestrians and bicyclists. A vision-based system overcomes many of the shortcomings of existing technologies such as loop counters, buried pressure pads, infra-red counters, etc. These methods do not have distinctive profiles for bicycles and pedestrians. Also most of these technologies require expert installation and maintenance. Cameras are inexpensive and abundant and are relatively easy to use, but they tend to be useful as a counting system only when accompanied by powerful algorithms that analyze the images. The authors employ state-of-the-art algorithms for performing object classification to solve the problem of distinguishing bicyclists from pedestrians. They detail the challenges that are involved in this particular problem and propose solutions to address these challenges. The authors explore common approaches of global image analysis aided by motion information and compare the results with local image analysis in which they attempt to distinguish the individual parts of the composite object. The authors compare the classification accuracies of both approaches on real data and present detailed discussion on practical deployment factors. KW - Algorithms KW - Bicycle counts KW - Cameras KW - Computer vision KW - Deployment KW - Image analysis KW - Pedestrian counts UR - http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/pdfdownload.pl?id=1644 UR - http://www.its.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/pdfdownload.pl?id=1644 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136078 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367250 AU - Lowe, Shelley E AU - Pfleiderer, Elaine M AU - Chidester, Thomas R AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Perceptions and Efficacy of Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Programs Among Small-scale Operators PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 28p AB - Despite safety and economic advantages, as well as endorsements by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Congress, voluntary Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) participation has not been fully implemented in the United States (GAO, 2010), particularly among small operators. Pilots’ concern about data misuse continues to be one of the primary factors preventing participation in voluntary safety programs. Considered in conjunction with pilots’ attitudes and pressure from pilot unions, airlines might find it difficult to justify the cost of implementing and maintaining a FOQA program if they are dubious about its benefits or concerned about its risks. Increased FOQA participation among small-scale air carriers may depend on demonstrating that significant safety benefits can be gained and positive perceptions of the program sustained, with minimal cost to the operator. The current study evaluates both attitudinal and operational aspects of a FOQA program maintained by a small-scale government aircraft operator. The Perceptions of Flight Operations Quality Assurance (PFOQA) questionnaire was used to systematically collect information about pilots’ attitudes regarding FOQA. Questionnaire items were based on concerns and recommendations proposed by the Flight Safety Foundation FOQA task force created to identify issues that might hinder or prevent the implementation of FOQA. Survey participants were a sample of 83 government pilots drawn from a population of approximately 180 Office of Aviation System Standards (AJW) pilots. A time series analysis of FOQA event rates was used to determine whether quarterly reports providing feedback to pilots (a cost-effective intervention method) can produce significant safety benefits. FOQA exceedances used in the time series analyses were de-identified monthly summary data for the Learjet 60 fleet recorded between July 2006 and November 2010. The overlap between the distributions of the Positive and Negative Perceptions scales of the PFOQA suggests that the pilot group demonstrated a certain amount of ambivalence toward FOQA, recognizing both the value and risks of the program. The results of the time series analyses indicated that feedback provided to pilots in quarterly reports produced significant reductions in exceedance rates. A trend in the time series data was the pervasive reduction in these exceedances over the course of the program. This was encouraging for the AJW operation and should motivate other small operators to pursue FOQA. KW - Airline pilots KW - Airlines KW - Attitudes KW - Aviation safety KW - Benefits KW - Flight Operational Quality Assurance Program KW - Questionnaires KW - Surveys KW - Time series analysis UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201201.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1136101 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01367174 AU - Walubita, Lubinda F AU - Das, Gautam AU - Espinoza, Elida AU - Oh, Jeongho AU - Scullion, Tom AU - Nazarian, Soheil AU - Abdallah, Imad AU - Garibay, Jose L AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - University of Texas, El Paso AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Texas Flexible Pavements and Overlays: Data Analysis Plans and Reporting Format PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 136p AB - This five-year project was initiated to collect materials and pavement performance data on a minimum of 100 highway test sections around the State of Texas, incorporating flexible pavements and overlays. Besides being used to calibrate and validate mechanistic-empirical (M-E) design models, the data collected will also serve as an ongoing reference data source and/or diagnostic tool for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) engineers and other transportation professionals. Towards this goal, this interim report provides a documentation of the comprehensive data analysis plans that were developed to analyze the collected data. The data collection plans are documented elsewhere as Report 0-6658-P1. As documented here, the data analysis plans were designed to cover various key aspects, including the following: (1) the tools and test methods used to measure/collect the data, (2) the type and format of the data measured/collected, (3) the raw data reduction processes for each data type, (4) the software used to process and analyze the measured/collected data, (5) the analytical methods and models used to analyze the measured/collected data, (6) the dimensional and/or quantitative units of the measured/computed parameters, and (7) the data reporting format including how the data will be accessed and displayed from the MS Access Data Storage System (i.e., tables, graphs, bar charts, etc.). Specifically, the data to be analyzed included the following: (1) laboratory and field test data including asphalt-binders, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixes, base, and subgrade soil materials; (2) traffic data; and (3) environmental and climatic data. KW - Base course (Pavements) KW - Bituminous binders KW - Bituminous overlays KW - Data analysis KW - Data reduction KW - Data reporting KW - Flexible pavements KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Mathematical models KW - Software KW - Subgrade materials KW - Test sections KW - Texas UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6658-P3.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135977 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366589 AU - Cooner, Scott A AU - Brewer, Marcus A AU - Fitzpatrick, Kay AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - School Traffic Workshop: Dealing with Texas-Sized Problems Around Schools PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 130p AB - This report summarizes the series of “Traffic around Schools” workshops conducted throughout the state of Texas to familiarize Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) employees and partner agencies with two key products from previous research projects (0-4286 and 0-5470) and other tools and guidance that are available for dealing with problems around schools. The research team held half-day workshops in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Pharr, San Antonio, and Dallas that were attended by over 150 participants representing 36 agencies. The workshops were well received and helped to highlight and emphasize the importance of multi-agency/multi-disciplinary cooperation in the planning, design, and operation of school sites in order to provide safe and efficient transportation access. One of the focus areas of the project and associated workshops was how agencies can effectively deal with the use of reduced speed school zones around schools. Researchers solicited and synthesized feedback from workshop participants in order to be able to update existing guidance. The research team developed three primary recommendations following the completion of this implementation project: (1) Extend workshop series to other areas and/or to audiences more focused on Independent School District (ISD) personnel - Pursue ongoing workshop support through the TxDOT Human Resources Division training section; and Pursue non-TxDOT sponsorship opportunities (e.g., Texas Education Agency Regional Service Centers); (2) Expand workshop content to a full day and increase interactivity by adding more group exercises, case studies, and the use of other interactive media such as video; and (3) Pursue additional school-related research projects on speed issues around schools - Speed compliance with beacons and without and speed/delay in school zones with no reduced speed. KW - Highway traffic control KW - Schools KW - Speed control KW - Texas KW - Traffic safety KW - Workshops UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/5-5470-01-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135179 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366529 AU - Ferrell, Christopher E AU - Mathur, Shishir AU - Meek, Justin AU - Piven, Matthew AU - San Jose State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Neighborhood Crime and Travel Behavior: An Investigation of the Influence of Neighborhood Crime Rates on Mode Choice – Phase II PY - 2012/01 SP - 88p AB - Little work has been done on the effects of neighborhood crimes on mode choice. While the threats posed by possible criminal activity in one’s neighborhood can play a major role in the decision to drive, take transit, walk or ride a bicycle, little empirical evidence guides public infrastructure investments, land use planning, or the allocation of police services. This report finds that high crime neighborhoods tend to discourage residents from walking or riding a bicycle; the odds of walking decrease by 17.25 percent for work trips and 61 percent for non-work trips. For transit access to work trips, the odds of choosing walking or biking to a transit station over driving decrease by almost half. On the other hand, high crime neighborhoods appear to encourage transit use. The odds of taking transit over choosing auto increase by 17.25 percent for work trips and 164 percent for non-work trips. Two possible explanations for the increase in transit use were explored: the mode choice models do not adequately account for the interplay between urban form and crime levels and mode choice; or, people who ride in cars or take transit may feel more protected when riding in a vehicle (the “neighborhood exposure hypothesis”). The report provides evidence that high crime neighborhoods encourage driving to transit stops and discourage walking or bicycling, lending support to the neighborhood exposure hypothesis. KW - Bicycling KW - Choice models KW - Crimes KW - Driving KW - Mode choice KW - Multinomial logits KW - Neighborhoods KW - Public transit KW - Safety KW - Travel behavior KW - Walking KW - Work trips UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/2802-Neighborhood-Crime-Travel-Mode-Behavior.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56233/2802-Neighborhood-Crime-Travel-Mode-Behavior.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134473 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366372 AU - Volz, Jeffery S AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Structural Polyurethane Foam Infill for Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bridge Deck Panels PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 8p AB - Although still in their infancy, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges have shown great promise in eliminating corrosion concerns and providing bridges that meet or exceed the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) goal of 100-year life spans. Although cost effective in terms of life cycle analyses, first costs have limited the application of FRP bridges, as most state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have limited funds to meet ever increasing demands. One area that has shown some headway is the use of FRP bridge decks, the location where the majority of corrosion-related damage normally occurs. However, first costs still hamper their widespread use. The objective of the proposed research was to develop, test, and evaluate fiber-reinforced, polyurethane foams to replace the costly honeycomb construction currently used to manufacture FRP bridge deck panels, thus making them more cost effective and a viable alternative to reinforced concrete. KW - Bridge decks KW - Composite materials KW - Corrosion protection KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Polyurethane foams UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/Final_Report_R264.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135040 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366367 AU - Podhorsky, Nichole AU - Sneed, Lesley AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Evaluation Of The Orientation Of 90° And 180° Reinforcing Bar Hooks PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 172p AB - This report describes test results of a study initiated to evaluate the potential influence of hook tilt angle of standard reinforcing hooks on the bond strength of concrete. The topic of the evaluation of the orientation of 90 and 180 degree reinforcing bar hooks in concrete members was identified by the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) as high-priority for the reinforcing steel industry. In the test program conducted, a series of single bar and multiple bar specimens was designed and tested to examine bar behavior and potential group effects that may exist in wide flexural members with multiple bars, such as a slab or footing. Using beamend specimens, 90 and 180 degree standard reinforcing hooks were placed at varying angles to compare the angle of tilt and to compare the two hook types. Twelve single bar specimens and twelve multiple bar specimens, each containing either No. 5 or No. 8 standard reinforcing bars,were tested by axially loading the reinforcing bar(s) in tension. Measuring the bar displacement and strain at varying locations along the bar, load-displacement curves obtained were utilized in the analysis of hook tilt. Based on the results, design recommendations for tilted hooked bar anchorages were made. For No. 5 bars and smaller with concrete compressive strength, f’c, greater than 4500 psi, spacing between 0.5 and 2 times the hook length, A, and concrete cover equal to or exceeding the values used in this study, tilting reinforcing hooked bars from vertical at any angle did not compromise the structural integrity. For No. 5 bars and smaller with concrete compressive strength less than 4500 psi, spacing less than 0.5 times the hook length,A, or concrete cover less than the values used in this study, further study is needed. Additionally, further study is needed for bars larger than No. 5. KW - Bond strength (Materials) KW - Bridge superstructures KW - Reinforced concrete KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Reinforcing steel KW - Structural analysis UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/R257%20Final%20Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135045 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366353 AU - Das, Austin AU - Liou, Frank AU - Isanaka, Sriram Praneeth AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Design Of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Pem Fuel Cells PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 43p AB - This project focused on the design and production of metallic bipolar plates for use in PEM fuel cells. Different metals were explored and stainless steel was found out to be best suited to the authors' purpose. Following the selection of metal, it was calculated that to produce 0.7 W of power, the bipolar plate should have an active surface of 25cm2. The bipolar plates were designed with different flow field patterns and manufactured. Different flow field patterns that were used were the straight design, serpentine, multiple serpentine, pintype, interdigitated design and other custom designs. These plates were then assembled along with MEA, gaskets and the end-clamp plates to construct a single-cell PEMFC which was then tested on a fuel cell test station. Different prototypes were designed with respect to the bipolar plates and the end plates to improve sealing and fuel cell performance. Appropriate loading was done on the single fuel cell to obtain the required power from the fuel cell. KW - Bipolar plates KW - Design KW - Electrochemical processes KW - Fuel cells KW - Polymer electrolyte membranes UR - http://transportation.mst.edu/media/research/transportation/documents/R231_Isanaka.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135044 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366350 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Pocket Guide to Transportation 2012 PY - 2012/01 SP - 59p AB - This booklet provides a statistical guide on the state of transportation in the United States. Covering highway, air, rail, maritime, urban transit and pipeline, the contents include transportation topics such as transportation infrastructure use and condition; safety; security; mobility and livability; economic competitiveness; and environmental sustainability. A glossary of terms is provided. KW - Condition surveys KW - Economic indicators KW - Environmental impacts KW - Infrastructure KW - Mobility KW - Quality of life KW - Security KW - Statistics KW - Sustainable transportation KW - Transportation safety KW - United States UR - http://www.bts.gov/publications/pocket_guide_to_transportation/2012/ UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135037 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366323 AU - Dutta, Neelanjana AU - Kotikalapudi, Raghavendra AU - Saxena, Abhinav AU - Chellappan, Sriram AU - Center for Transportation Infrastructure and Safety AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Multi-tiered Architecture for Content Retrieval in Mobile Peer-to-Peer Networks PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 9p AB - In this paper, the authors address content retrieval in Mobile Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks. They design a multi-tiered architecture for content retrieval, where at Tier 1, they design a protocol for content similarity governed by a parameter α that trades accuracy with search overhead. At Tier 2, they introduce a novel concept called Chained Bloom Filters and design a protocol where popular search items are linked with popular content at each node in an efficient manner for subsequent retrieval. Extensive analysis and numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of their techniques. KW - Information retrieval KW - Mobility KW - Peer-to-peer communication UR - http://web.mst.edu/~chellaps/papers/mdm_2011.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135042 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366192 AU - McDaniel, Rebecca S AU - Shah, Ayesha AU - Huber, Gerald AU - Purdue University AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Investigation of Low- and High-Temperature Properties of Plant-Produced RAP Mixtures PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 107p AB - Asphalt prices, supply issues, and growing interest in sustainable construction practices are leading to increased use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in greater amounts and in more types of mixes. When using more than 15–20 percent RAP under most current specifications (State and national), contractors must change the virgin binder grade added to the mix. This frequently means using a less commonly available binder, which may be more expensive. This report provides analysis of the results of testing plant-produced hot mix asphalt (HMA) containing various levels of RAP and different grades of virgin binder. The study was undertaken initially to examine the effects of RAP on low-temperature properties of mixtures. In phase I of the study, mixes produced by one contractor in 2006 were tested. The results suggest that the addition of RAP stiffened the mix, but probably not to the extent expected based upon linear blending. There is evidence from other research that also suggests that there are cases when linear blending does not apply. Consequently, in phase II of the project, four more contractors replicated the experiment in their HMA plants. The objectives of the study were also expanded to include an evaluation of the extent of blending of the RAP and virgin binders in plant-produced mixtures. KW - Asphalt mixtures KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Materials at high or low temperatures KW - Plant mix KW - Properties of materials KW - Reclaimed asphalt pavements UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/11058/11058.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135097 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366041 AU - Finley, Melisa D AU - Ullman, Brooke R AU - Trout, Nada D AU - Park, Eun Sug AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Studies to Determine the Effectiveness of Automated Flagger Assistance Devices and School Crossing Devices PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 150p AB - This report describes the methodology and results of analyses performed to determine motorist understanding, as well as the operational and safety effectiveness, of automated flagger assistance devices (AFADs) relative to the use of flaggers at lane closures on two-lane, two-way roadways. Based on the motorist survey and field study findings, researchers recommended the use of both types of AFADs (stop/slow and red/yellow lens) in Texas. Researchers did not make any specific recommendations regarding the red/yellow lens AFADs, since the research findings supported the current language in the 2009 "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD). For stop/slow AFADs, researchers recommended that a gate arm and alternative symbol supplemental signs be required to reduce violations and improve motorist understanding. In addition, researchers made various recommendations regarding the use of both types of AFADs. This report also describes the methodology and results of analyses performed to determine the effectiveness of 1) five stop paddles with embedded lights compared to a standard, un-lit stop paddle and 2) a prototype, portable, remotely operated, in-street school children crossing sign with flashing light emitting diodes (LEDs) around the border of each sign face. Based on the research findings, researchers recommended the use of one of the following to improve the conspicuity of crossing guards without negatively impacting a motorist’s ability to recognize the three critical characteristics of a stop sign (i.e., red background color, octagon shape, and white STOP legend): A stop paddle containing flashing red lights arranged in an octagonal pattern at the eight corners of the paddle; A stop paddle containing a series of steady-burn red lights around the border arranged such that the lights clearly convey the octagonal shape of the paddle; and A stop paddle containing a series of flashing red lights around the border arranged such that the lights clearly convey the octagonal shape of the paddle. Researchers believed that crossing guards could use the prototype in-street school children crossing sign at school crossings to improve safety. Thus, researchers also made recommendations regarding its future use. KW - Automated flagger assistance devices KW - Comprehension KW - Lane closure KW - Light emitting diodes KW - School crossing guards KW - School crossings KW - Stop/slow paddles KW - Texas KW - Traffic signs UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6407-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134987 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363233 AU - Van Dam, Tom AU - Taylor, Peter AU - Fick, Gary AU - VanGeem, Martha AU - Lorenz, Emily AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 114p AB - Developed as a more detailed follow-up to a 2009 briefing document, Building Sustainable Pavement with Concrete, this guide provides a clear, concise, and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. The intended audience includes decision makers and practitioners in both owner-agencies and supply, manufacturing, consulting and contractor businesses. Readers will find individual chapters with the most recent technical information and best practices related to concrete pavement design, materials, construction, use/operations, renewal and recycling. In addition readers will find chapters addressing issues specific to pavement sustainability in the urban environment and the evaluation of pavement sustainability. KW - Best practices KW - Concrete pavements KW - Pavement design KW - Paving KW - Recycling KW - Sustainable development UR - http://www.cptechcenter.org/publications/Sustainable_Concrete_Pavement_508.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43500/43507/Sustainable_Concrete_Pavement_508.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131871 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363221 AU - Middleton, Dan AU - Rajbhandari, Rajat AU - Brydia, Robert AU - Songchitruksa, Praprut AU - Kraus, Edgar AU - Hernandez, Salvador AU - Cheu, Kelvin AU - Iragavarapu, Vichika AU - Turner, Shawn AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - TXDOT Uses of Real-Time Commercial Traffic Data: Opportunity Matrix PY - 2012/01 SP - 24p AB - Based on a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) survey, a review of other state departments of transportation (DOTs), and researcher understanding of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) needs, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) team developed a comprehensive list of opportunities for TxDOT to consider pertaining to future use of private sector (PS) data. Specific opportunities for applying private data were reviewed in light of accuracy of the data, coverage areas, data availability, cost, and control of the data stream. The list of opportunities considered included: (1) Enhance traveler information in urban areas such as: (a) Travel time information (b) Levels of congestion (c) Speed measurement and (d) Alternate routes; (2) Introduce traveler information in areas where ITS deployment is not cost-effective; (3) Improve continuity of data based on existing ITS coverage across jurisdictions; (4) Develop a statewide 511 system; and (5) Reduce ITS deployment costs by limiting deployment of fixed data collection devices. TxDOT has deployed a variety of field devices to relay traveler information to motorists and other users. These devices include dynamic message signs, highway advisory radio, and others. In many urban areas, Transportation Management Centers (TMCs) receive data from vehicle sensors and cameras, and the data are processed and converted to useful information to be disseminated to the traveling public. However, there are situations where gaps in coverage exist and where private sector data could fill the gaps. For example, when TMCs detour traffic from freeways to surface streets, there might not be any means of monitoring the congestion levels on the streets without private data. The same could be true of rural areas where the deployment of ITS is minimal. If private agencies have coverage on these roadways and have sufficient data, TxDOT could purchase the data and provide traveler information without making huge investments to deploy ITS. Even with much of the desired coverage in place through past TxDOT efforts, it is conceivable that data from private providers could fill in gaps that would be difficult or unfeasible using traditional methods. KW - 511 (National Travel Information Number) KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Route choice KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic control centers KW - Travel time KW - Traveler information and communication systems UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6659-P1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43500/43559/0-6659-P1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131874 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363013 AU - Bonneson, James A AU - Pratt, Michael P AU - Songchitruksa, Praprut AU - Texas Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Guidelines for Pedestrian Safety Treatments at Signalized Intersections PY - 2012/01//Technical Report SP - 126p AB - For intersections with a permissive or protected-permissive left-turn mode, pedestrians cross during the permissive period. This operation requires the left-turn driver to yield to both opposing vehicles and pedestrians, prior to accepting a gap and completing the turn. Pedestrian crash risks are increased in these complicated driving conditions because left-turn drivers sometimes fail to yield to pedestrians. This document summarizes the research conducted and the conclusions reached during the development of guidelines for pedestrian safety treatments at signalized intersections. The guidelines are focused on treatments that alleviate conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians. One treatment addressed in the document is the use of protected or protected-permissive left-turn operation. The guidelines are based on consideration of pedestrian safety and vehicle operation. These considerations include the road-user costs associated with pedestrian-vehicle crashes and vehicle delay. The guidelines were incorporated in the Traffic Signal Operations Handbook. The guidelines were also incorporated into a spreadsheet that was developed to accompany the Handbook. The Handbook was previously developed for Project 0-5629. It provides guidelines for timing traffic control signals at intersections that operate in isolation or as part of a coordinated signal system. KW - Design KW - Exclusive permissive phasing KW - Intersections KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Signalized intersections KW - Traffic signal timing UR - http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6402-1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43500/43556/0-6402-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131524 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363011 AU - Concas, Sisinnio AU - Winters, Philip L AU - National Center for Transit Research AU - Florida Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Estimating Costs and Benefits of Emissions Reduction Strategies for Transit by Extending the TRIMMS Model PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 70p AB - This study details the development of a series of improvements to the Trip Reduction Impacts Mobility Management Strategies (TRIMMS™) model. TRIMMS now estimates a wider range of emission pollutants and incorporates a new module that evaluates the impact of land use strategies on transit patronage. TRIMMS uses the emission inventory of the Environmental Protection Agency Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES2010a), which makes it suitable to run official State implementation air quality plan (SIP) and regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity purposes. This model enables the Florida Department f Transportation (FDOT), transit agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and local communities to conduct cost-benefit assessments for most of the strategies identified in the FDOT-sponsored Transit Ozone-Reduction Strategies Toolbox, without the cost and expertise required by more sophisticated models. KW - Air quality management KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Ozone KW - Pollutants KW - Travel demand management KW - Trip Reduction Impacts of Mobility Management Strategies (TRIMM™) UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_PTO/FDOT_BDK85_977-27_rpt.pdf UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_PTO/FDOT_BDK85_977-27_UserManual.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43600/43635/FDOT_BDK85_977-27_rpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131534 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363009 AU - Sperry, Benjamin R AU - Morgan, Curtis A AU - University Transportation Center for Mobility AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Intercity Passenger Rail: Implications for Urban, Regional, and National Mobility PY - 2012/01//Final Report SP - 100p AB - Recent policy and regulatory actions by the U.S. government have revived interest in intercity passenger rail among transportation planners, policymakers, and the general public. As part of a fully integrated multimodal intercity corridor, passenger rail can provide a number of measurable impacts on urban, regional, and national mobility. This research examines these impacts using the Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha Service intercity passenger rail route as a case study. In addition to providing competitive travel times with automobile travel and frequent daily service, rail passengers can also seamlessly connect to airline service via a station at the Milwaukee airport. Two data sources—an on-board survey of Hiawatha Service passengers and a more detailed survey of air-rail transfer passengers at the Milwaukee airport—were used to identify the mobility impacts of rail service. If the rail service did not exist, most Hiawatha Service passengers would travel via personal vehicle, which indicates that the Hiawatha Service is providing congestion relief for the highways parallel to the route. The airport link allows for sustainable ground access to the Milwaukee airport and also extends the market area for the airport into the Chicago region, providing those residents with greater choices in air travel. The findings of this project provide unique insight into the mobility impacts of intercity passenger rail and can be used by state department of transportation rail planners and other public agency staff to develop rail service plans and administer state passenger rail programs throughout the U.S. KW - Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor KW - Hiawatha Light Rail Line KW - Intercity passenger rail KW - Mobility KW - Multimodal transportation KW - Policy making KW - Public transit UR - http://utcm.tamu.edu/publications/final_reports/Morgan_11-10-75.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43400/43483/Morgan_11-10-75.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131537 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01362984 AU - Thompson, Gregory AU - Brown, Jeffrey AU - Bhattacharya, Torsha AU - Jaroszynski, Michal AU - San Jose State University AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Understanding Transit Ridership Demand for a Multi-Destination, Multimodal Transit Network in an American Metropolitan Area: Lessons for Increasing Choice Ridership While Maintaining Transit Dependent Ridership PY - 2012/01 AB - This study examines the factors underlying transit demand in the multi-destination, integrated bus and rail transit network for Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta provides an opportunity to explore the consequences of a multi-destination transit network for bus patrons (largely transit-dependent riders) and rail patrons (largely choice riders). Using data obtained from the 2000 Census, coupled with data obtained from local and regional organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area, several statistical models that explain the pattern of transit commute trips across the Atlanta metropolitan area are estimated. The results of the study offer new insights into the nature of transit demand in a multi-destination transit system and provide lessons for agencies seeking to increase ridership among different ridership groups. More direct transit connections to dispersed employment centers, and easier transfers to access such destinations, should lead to higher levels of transit use for both transit-dependent and choice riders. The results also show that the central business district remains an important transit destination for rail riders but not for their bus rider counterparts. Certain types of transit-oriented development (TOD) also serve as significant producers and attractors of rail transit trips. KW - Bus transit KW - Employment centers KW - Equity (Justice) KW - Mode choice KW - Rail transit KW - Ridership KW - Transit oriented development KW - Travel demand UR - http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/1003-multi-destination-multimodal-metropolitan-area-transit-riders.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43500/43527/1003-multi-destination-multimodal-metropolitan-area-transit-riders.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1127088 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01593937 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - National Transportation Atlas Databases 2012 PY - 2012 AB - The National Transportation Atlas Databases 2012 (NTAD2012) is a set of nationwide geographic databases of transportation facilities, transportation networks, and associated infrastructure. These datasets include spatial information for transportation modal networks and intermodal terminals, as well as the related attribute information for these features. Metadata documentation, as prescribed by the International Organization of Standards (ISO), is also provided for each database. The data supports research, analysis, and decision-making across all modes of transportation. They are most useful at the national level, but have major applications at regional, State, and local scales throughout the transportation community. All data included here are in shapefile format. KW - Databases KW - Geographic information systems KW - Infrastructure KW - Intermodal terminals KW - Metadata KW - Spatial analysis KW - Transportation modes KW - Transportation, hydraulic and utility facilities UR - http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_atlas_database/2012/index.html UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56600/56698/NTAD_2012.zip UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400282 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01592621 TI - Investigation of Driver Training Curricula Effectiveness AB - The objective of this project is to assess the effectiveness of different types and amounts of commercial driver’s license (CDL) entry-level driver training (ELDT) in improving driver safety performance. Earlier research indicated that existing CDL ELDT was not adequate. About 75 percent of the fleets surveyed in the 2001 I-95 Corridor Coalition Coordinated Safety Management study required new drivers to complete finishing training with an experienced driver before driving solo. This widespread application of “driver finishing” programs provides an indication of the need for improved CDL ELDT. Finishing programs provide newly-licensed CDL drivers with additional training and/or supervised driving time beyond that needed to obtain the CDL to ensure a minimum operational skill level is met, after the drivers obtain their valid CDLs. In recent years, synthesis studies under the Transportation Research Board’s Commercial Truck and Bus Synthesis Program examined the effectiveness of commercial vehicle driver training. The variance in safety performance in those reports was not sufficient to provide a meaningful relationship between the value of formal ELDT and the safety performance of those drivers. This study is designed to augment a review of the driver training effectiveness literature. It will collect data from carrier fleets and commercial driver training programs to identify and evaluate the safety outcomes of various ELDT regimens. The project will also seek qualitative information on how several fleets have experienced potentially different driver safety results from different applied curricula. The project will examine the differences in safety performance of drivers in States with more CDL training requirements versus States with no training requirements. This research supports the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) mandated entry-level driver rulemaking that is currently underway. KW - Commercial Driver'S License Program KW - Commercial drivers KW - Driver education KW - Motor carriers KW - Performance KW - Safety KW - States KW - Training KW - Truck drivers UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400201 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01561002 AU - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department TI - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Research Peer Exchange, Hot Springs, AR, August 13-16, 2012 PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 13p AB - The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department hosted a Peer Exchange of its research program on August 13-16, 2012. The peer exchange team included representatives from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Kentucky Transportation Center, Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT), the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the Federal Highway Administration. Focus areas for this peer exchange included implementation, communication with users, and methods to increase efficiency of contract work. KW - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department KW - Contract administration KW - Implementation KW - Peer exchange KW - Research management KW - State departments of transportation KW - Technology transfer UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1348910 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01554358 AU - Mattson, Jeremy AU - Small Urban and Rural Transit Center AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Rural Transit Fact Book 2012 PY - 2012 SP - 36p AB - The intent of the Rural Transit Fact Book is to serve as a national resource for statistics and information on rural transit in America. This publication includes rural demographic and travel behavior data as well as financial and operating statistics for agencies receiving section 5311 funding. In addition to national level data, statistics are presented by state, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) region, tribe, and mode, as well as other agency characteristics. KW - Demographics KW - Financing KW - Operating costs KW - Public transit KW - Rural transit KW - Statistics KW - Travel behavior KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2012_rural_transit_fact_book.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1341988 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01554186 AU - Maguire, Meg AU - ICF International AU - Louis Berger Group, Incorporated AU - Center for Transportation and the Environment AU - Rhodeside & Harwell AU - Project for Public Spaces AU - Marie Venner Consulting AU - National Cooperative Highway Research Program AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Going the Distance Together: Context Sensitive Solutions for Better Transportation: A Practitioner's Guide PY - 2012 SP - 116p AB - The focus of this guide is to help the transportation practitioner build collaborative relationships; understand citizen values, interests, and needs; and produce effective and efficient decisions. The overarching goal of this guide is to help practitioners find common ground with citizens by listening to them and understanding how transportation affects their quality of life. This guide is a companion to the Citizen's Guide, which is focused on helping citizens understand the life of a transportation project, including their own roles in the process and the professional expertise and responsibilities of practitioners. The key message being conveyed by both guides is that practitioners and citizens share responsibility for solving transportation problems. A core focus of this guide is translating citizen and practitioner perspectives through the lens of quality of life considerations. This is done within the guide by emphasizing the importance of using interdisciplinary team expertise and consensus building techniques to define context and shape transportation decisions. While this guide does not provide a prescription for every type of challenge that practitioners face, it does provide a framework for understanding transportation as an element of the quality of life within a community or region, and provides examples, resources, and tools to help deliver transportation projects that enhance a community's quality of life. KW - Construction projects KW - Context sensitive design KW - Cooperation KW - Quality of life KW - Stakeholders UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/context/practitionersguide/reference/print_version.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1341504 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01531746 AU - Edil, Tuncer B AU - Benson, Craig H AU - Tinjum, James M AU - Scheartle, Gregory J AU - Bozyurt, Ozlem AU - Nokkaew, Kongrat AU - Chen, Jiannan AU - Bradshaw, Sabrina AU - University of Wisconsin, Madison AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Engineering Properties of Recycled Materials for Unbound Applications PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 300p AB - This report consists of several task reports prepared at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Task Reports include: 1. Literature Search and Report on Recycled Asphalt Pavement and Recycled Concrete Aggregate; 2. The Usage, Storage and Testing of Recycled Materials – Results of Survey; 3. Relationship Between Resilient Modulus and Composition of RCA or RAP; 4. Scaling and Equivalency of Bench-Scale Tests to Field-Scale Conditions; 5. Climate Effects (Freeze-Thaw Cycles); 6. Climate Effects (Hydraulic Properties of Recycled Asphalt Pavement and Recycled Concrete Aggregate); 7. Compaction Level and Assessment; 8. Field Performance: Falling Weight Deflectometer Data Analysis; 9. Materials Control; and 10. Leaching Characteristics: pH-dependent Leaching of Trace Elements from Recycled Concrete Aggregate. KW - Bench-scale tests KW - Climate KW - Compaction KW - Concrete aggregates KW - Falling weight deflectometers KW - Freeze thaw durability KW - Hydraulic properties KW - Leaching KW - Modulus of resilience KW - Properties of materials KW - Reclaimed asphalt pavements KW - Recycled materials KW - Trace elements UR - http://rmrc.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Edil-No.-46-Engineering-Properties-of-Recycled-Materials-for-Unbound-Applications.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1316331 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01526376 AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - 2012 Eco-Logical Grant Program: Annual Report PY - 2012 SP - 45p AB - In 2006, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and its partners published Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects (Eco-Logical). The publication sets forth an approach to, and tools for, building infrastructure that is more sensitive to sustaining natural resources. The vision is to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts of this development through integrated, ecosystem-scale planning. FHWA’S Eco-Logical grant program, started in 2007, provides the financial and technical support agencies need to apply the ecosystem-scale planning principles outlined in the 2006 publication. Grant recipients are encouraged to develop novel approaches to integrate planning across agency boundaries and to work with partners to mitigate the ecological effects of infrastructure development. Since 2007 the Eco-Logical grant program has funded 15 projects nationwide; twelve grant recipients completed their projects prior to 2012, two grant recipients completed their projects in the 2012 calendar year, and one anticipates finishing its project in 2013. This annual report summarizes the progress and lessons learned from all 15 grant recipients from January through December 2012, the fifth year of the Eco-Logical grant program. KW - Annual reports KW - Construction projects KW - Ecology KW - Ecosystems KW - Environmental impacts KW - Grant aid KW - Infrastructure KW - Land use planning KW - Natural resources KW - Sustainable development KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/51000/51600/51603/report2013.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1310481 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01523818 AU - American Traffic Safety Services Association AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Applying the Americans with Disabilities Act in Work Zones: A Practitioner Guide PY - 2012 SP - 36p AB - A basic requirement of work zone traffic control, as provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), is that the needs of pedestrians, including those with disabilities, must be addressed in temporary traffic control plans (TCPs) in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Title II, Paragraph 35.130. The ADA is a Federal law that requires that pedestrians with physical and/or mental disabilities be accommodated not only in completed, publicly accessible facilities, but also during times of construction or improvement. This document provides State and local transportation agencies with strategies and technical guidance on how to design TCPs that address pedestrian access during construction, including the needs of those with disabilities. This document: describes the challenges faced by disabled pedestrians; outlines considerations to planning and designing strategies to manage pedestrians in a work zone; and provides examples to further assist practitioners in setting up work zones and making them safe for all pedestrians. KW - Accessibility KW - Americans with Disabilities Act KW - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices KW - Pedestrian traffic KW - Persons with disabilities KW - Visually impaired persons KW - Work zone traffic control KW - Work zones UR - http://www.workzonesafety.org/files/documents/training/fhwa_wz_grant/ada_guide.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1307258 ER - TY - SER AN - 01523313 JO - Tech Notes PB - Massachusetts Institute of Technology AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Route Availability Planning Tool PY - 2012 SP - 3p AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that 70% of air traffic delays result from inclement weather. To address the problem of costly delays triggered by thunderstorms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory developed a decision support tool that helps air traffic managers determine when to close and reopen departure routes during periods of convective weather. The Route Availability Planning Tool (RAPT) provides current, reliable route-availability information in a user-friendly format. Automated route conditions displayed on a data-rich interface help relieve the decision-making burden typically faced by air traffic managers—gathering weather information, mentally envisioning the repercussions of the weather data, rechecking for rapidly changing weather, and then deciding to allow aircraft to depart. KW - Air traffic control KW - Arrivals and departures KW - Decision support systems KW - Thunderstorms KW - Weather conditions KW - Weather routing UR - http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA594042 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1306847 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01518942 AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center TI - Long Island North Shore Helicopter Route Environmental Study PY - 2012 SP - 7p AB - This report presents the results of the noise and emissions analysis of helicopter operations along the North Shore Helicopter Route of Long Island, New York performed by the Federal Aviation Administration, with the assistance of the Volpe Center’s Environmental Measurement and Modeling group. KW - Environmental impacts KW - Helicopter transportation KW - Helicopters KW - Long Island (New York) KW - Noise KW - Pollutants UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/51000/51000/51023/U_S_DOT_FAA_-_NY_N_Shore_Noise_Emissions_Evaluation_3-21-12.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1302156 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01502008 AU - Committee on the Marine Transportation System TI - E-Navigation Strategic Action Plan PY - 2012 SP - 20p AB - Advances in marine information technology over the last decades have been substantial and rapid. Unfortunately, in many cases these advances occurred in a piecemeal fashion resulting in a collection of purpose-built systems for vessel and land-based uses that, often, do not operate in an integrated manner. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) identified this issue as affecting the safety and efficiency of navigation and initiated a work program named e-Navigation to reduce the confusion of profusion. The goals of developing a strategic plan are to make the United States Marine Transportation System safer, more secure, more reliable, more efficient, and more integrated. The IMO initiative on e-Navigation is the impetus for this Strategic Action Plan. This Strategic Action Plan provides a framework to address the need to standardize data management, exchange and access capabilities for federal and regulated systems. The framework will improve the delivery of timely, reliable, and accurate information without burdening the navigation of the vessel. KW - Data communications KW - Electronic navigation KW - Information dissemination KW - Information management KW - Information technology KW - Navigation KW - Strategic planning KW - United States KW - Water transportation UR - http://www.cmts.gov/downloads/CMTS_e-Navigation_Strategic_Action_Plan_Feb_2012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1279835 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01501334 AU - Fung, Archon AU - Luberoff, David AU - New England University Transportation Center AU - Harvard University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Transit Transparency PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 3p AB - Public transit agencies have employed intelligent systems for determining schedules and routes and for monitoring the real-time location and status of their vehicle fleets for nearly two decades. But until recently, the data generated by daily operations in the transit system were only available to managers and engineers inside agencies. Transit riders could only consult static information when planning trips, primarily through printed or online timetables or maps. Where dynamic train or bus arrival predictions were accessible, riders could only see this information on fixed signs at transit stations or stops. With the popular adoption of smartphones and other mobile technologies transit riders gained the capacity to access information anywhere and at anytime. Some transit agencies have responded by publicly releasing disaggregated data files for schedules and real-time feeds of vehicle locations. These agencies have thus empowered civic entrepreneurs to innovate in delivering transit information to riders through mobile applications and other technologically-assisted means. This study examines the process by which transit agencies in the U.S. disclosed their operations data to the public and analyzes how constituencies for that data, particularly software developers and transit riders, used that information. KW - Disclosure KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Passenger information systems KW - Public transit KW - Real time information KW - Schedules and scheduling KW - Transit operating agencies KW - Transit riders UR - http://agelab.mit.edu/files/finalreports/HVDR22_11.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1279151 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01493478 AU - Dowding, Charles H AU - Kotowsky, M AU - Meissner, D AU - Koegel, T AU - Infrastructure Technology Institute (ITI) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - MEMS: Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems for Wirelessly Monitoring the Health of Transportation Related Structures PY - 2012 SP - 91p AB - This project report begins with this overarching summary of the project and is followed by full reports of the details of the five principal phases of the project. Each of these phase reports begins with a summary that describes the objective, context, work and the major findings. The longer, full phase reports contain detailed findings and supporting information. References are presented at the end. This report on Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) describes the development of small, wireless systems to monitor the response of cracks for structural health monitoring on and near transportation related structures. Developed were two types of wireless structural health monitoring (SHM) systems to record characteristics of cracks over long periods of time: Autonomous Crack Monitoring (ACM) and Autonomous Crack Propagation Sensing (ACPS). ACM seeks to correlate changes in widths of cosmetic cracks in structures to nearby blasting or construction vibration activity for the purposes of litigation or regulation. ACPS seeks to track growth of cracks in steel bridges, supplementing regular inspections and alerting stakeholders if a crack has grown. The ever decreasing size and increasing performance of computer technology suggest that expensive, labor-intensive, and intrusive wired SHM systems may be replaced by a similarly capable, easier to install, yet less expensive and intrusive wireless SHM systems based on existing, commercially available wireless sensor networks. The implementation of a wireless SHM system with all the functions of a standard, wired, AC powered system, no requirement for an on-site personal computer for system operation, a small enough footprint such that it will not disturb residents of the instrumented structure, or interfere with the operation of a transportation related structure, a sensor suite that can be operated with minimal power use, and system operation for at least six months without a battery change or any other human intervention, is fraught with obvious and non-obvious challenges. KW - Bridges KW - Cracking KW - Maintenance KW - Microelectro-mechanical systems KW - Microelectronic materials KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Wireless sensor networks UR - http://iti.northwestern.edu/publications/utc/safetea-lu/FR-5-Dowding.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1261335 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01493465 AU - Corr, David J AU - Shah, Surendra P AU - Infrastructure Technology Institute (ITI) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Design and Application of High Volume Fly Ash Self Consolidating Concrete with the Incorporation of Nanoparticles PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 90p AB - Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, has been used in Portland cement concrete for decades, and is widely accepted in the industry as a replacement for cement in amounts up to approximately 20% by mass. Addition of fly ash reduces the environmental impact of concrete by simultaneously consuming an otherwise unused waste product and by replacing cement, which is the most polluting and energy intensive component of concrete (an estimated 5% of all manmade CO2 emissions are due to cement production). Fly ash also improves the properties of concrete in several ways: improved fluidity during mixing and placing, higher strength, improved dimensional stability, and increased longevity of concrete structures. In spite of these improvements, challenges associated with the use of fly ash have prevented its cement replacement level from increasing beyond 20%. Currently, only about 40% of the fly ash that is available is used by the concrete industry; the remainder is stored in large landfill-type enclosures. In 2008, one such enclosure at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s Kingston Fossil Plant ruptured and spilled approximately 5.4 million cubic yards of impounded coal fly ash slurry onto the surrounding land and into the adjacent Emory River. It was the worst environmental disaster of its kind in United States history. Public opinion is often shaped by disasters of this type, which in this case highlight the seemingly negative impacts of fly ash use. It is incumbent upon leaders of research in infrastructure, construction, and materials science to highlight the benefits of fly ash, to facilitate its maximum use, and to communicate its importance to the wider community. Therefore, the goal of this proposed research is to reduce the environmental impact of concrete construction through innovative materials use and production techniques, resulting in dramatic increases in the percentage of fly ash used in widespread construction. One of the most promising avenues for maximizing the use of fly ash is to incorporate it into self-consolidating concrete (SCC), which requires a relatively large amount of fine particles to produce. Studies have shown that with proper mix design, high-volume fly ash (HVFA) SCC mixes (cement replacements with fly ash of 30 – 70% by mass) can exhibit comparable workability and compressive strength development to conventional SCC, and even increased durability and decreased drying shrinkage. It is hypothesized that nanoparticles (e.g. nanosilica and nanolimestone) will facilitate the use of fly ash by maintaining early-age strength gain while nanoclays will facilitate the use of HVFA-SCC for cast-in-place applications by developing green strength. Fresh-state and early-age properties will be closely evaluated, where fresh-state is considered before set while early-age is after set. With proper proportioning of fly ash, clays, and nanoparticles, the authors expect to develop a material with the potential to revolutionize cast-in-place SCC applications from both a construction and sustainability standpoint. Specific objectives include the following: 1. Evaluate the influence of clays on HVFA-SCC so as to effectively use them to tailor its rheological properties; 2. Explore test methods to appropriately characterize HVFA-SCC; and 3. Evaluate the fresh-state and early-age properties of HVFA-SCC. KW - Concrete construction KW - Environmental impacts KW - Fly ash KW - High volume fly ash concrete KW - Mix design KW - Nanostructured materials KW - Properties of materials KW - Rheological properties KW - Self compacting concrete UR - http://iti.northwestern.edu/publications/utc/safetea-lu/FR-5-CorrShah.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1261333 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01491334 AU - Bayless, Steven H AU - Neelakantan, Radha AU - Guan, Adrian AU - Intelligent Transportation Society of America AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Connected Vehicle Assessment: Vehicle Electrification and the Smart Grid: The Supporting Role of Safety and Mobility Services PY - 2012 SP - 55p AB - The report recognizes that the key technologies that may ensure electric vehicles' (EVs') further success in the marketplace are battery attribute improvements – improved energy densities, recharging times, and durability – that lower the cost and improve the range, efficiency and powertrain performance of the vehicle. Absent improvements in the battery, the approach the auto industry is likely to take is a transitional one, eschewing large-scale production of battery electric vehicles for hybrid-electric ones that can bridge the gap in range and performance between EVs and gasoline vehicles. Over the long term, new battery chemistries may improve range and performance of battery EVs to equal that of gasoline-powered light vehicles. In the meantime, the continued roll out of connected charging infrastructure may also improve the range and performance of all types of EVs. New Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations may significantly improve the prospects of electric vehicles, and drive the "light-weighting" or downsizing of some vehicle categories to achieve fuel economy requirements over the long run. The light-weighting of vehicles may push automakers to incorporate more active safety, or collision avoidance features. Crash avoidance, particular communications-based Vehicle-to-Vehicle systems, may be important in building the consumer confidence in smaller, lighter weight electrified vehicles and motorcycles. KW - Batteries by chemical elements KW - Crash avoidance systems KW - Electric batteries KW - Electric vehicle charging KW - Electric vehicles KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Performance KW - Smart grid KW - Wireless communication systems UR - http://connectedvehicle.itsa.wikispaces.net/file/view/Vehicle+Electrification+and+the+Smart+Grid+Publication+FINAL+2012+ITSA.pdf/376146040/Vehicle%20Electrification%20and%20the%20Smart%20Grid%20Publication%20FINAL%202012%20ITSA.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1259533 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01488565 AU - Kang, Jee E AU - Recker, Will W AU - University of California, Irvine AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Strategic Hydrogen Refueling Station Locations with Scheduling and Routing Considerations of Individual Vehicles PY - 2012 SP - 37p AB - Set covering problems find the optimal provision of service locations while guaranteeing an acceptable level of accessibility for every demand point in a given area. Other than reliance on static, exogenously imposed accessibility measures, these problems either exclude substantive infrastructure-vehicle interactions or only include fragmented infrastructure-vehicle interactions related to the routing considerations of households seeking refueling service as a requirement of performing routine, daily activities. Here, we address this problem by coupling a Location-Routing Problem (LRP) that uses the set covering model as a location strategy to the Household Activity Pattern Problem (HAPP) as the mixed integer scheduling and routing model that optimizes households’ participation in out-of-home activities. The problem addressed includes multiple decision makers: the public/private sector as the service provider, and the collection of individual households that make their own routing decisions to perform a given set of “out-of-home activities” together with a visit to one of the service locations. A solution method that does not necessarily require the full information of the coverage matrix is developed to reduce the number of HAPPs that needs to be solved. The performance of the algorithm, as well as comparison of the results to the set covering model, is presented. Although the application is focused on identifying the optimal locations of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (HFCV) refueling stations, this proposed formulation can be used as a facility location strategy for any service activity that is generally toured with other activities. KW - Algorithms KW - Hydrogen fuels KW - Location KW - Location theory KW - Refueling KW - Routing KW - Scheduling KW - Sets UR - http://www.its.uci.edu/its/publications/papers/ITS/UCI-ITS-WP-12-2.pdf UR - https://merritt.cdlib.org/d/ark%3a%2f13030%2fm5m90ddd/1/UCI-ITS-WP-12-2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1248353 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01488556 AU - Kang, Jee E AU - Chow, Joseph Y J AU - Recker, Will W AU - University of California, Irvine AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - On Activity-Based Network Design Problems PY - 2012 SP - 31p AB - This paper examines network design where OD demand is not known a priori, but is the subject of responses in household or user itinerary choices that depend on subject infrastructure improvements. Using simple examples, we show that falsely assuming that household itineraries are not elastic can result in a lack in understanding of certain phenomena; e.g., increasing traffic even without increasing economic activity due to relaxing of space-time prism constraints, or worsening of utility despite infrastructure investments in cases where household objectives may conflict. An activity-based network design problem is proposed using the location routing problem (LRP) as inspiration. The bilevel formulation includes an upper level network design and shortest path problem while the lower level includes a set of disaggregate household itinerary optimization problems, posed as household activity pattern problem (HAPP) (or in the case with location choice, as generalized HAPP) models. As a bilevel problem with an NP-hard lower level problem, there is no algorithm for solving the model exactly. Simple numerical examples show optimality gaps of as much as 5% for a decomposition heuristic algorithm derived from the LRP. A large numerical case study based on Southern California data and setting suggest that even if infrastructure investments do not result in major changes in itineraries the results provide much higher resolution information to a decision-maker. Whereas a conventional model would output the best set of links to invest given an assumed OD matrix, the proposed model can output the same best set of links, the same OD matrix, and a detailed temporal distribution of activity participation and travel, given a set of desired destinations and schedules. KW - Activity choices KW - Choice models KW - Location theory KW - Mathematical models KW - Network analysis (Planning) KW - Network design problem KW - Optimization KW - Routing KW - Shortest path algorithms UR - http://www.its.uci.edu/its/publications/papers/ITS/UCI-ITS-WP-12-3.pdf UR - https://merritt.cdlib.org/d/ark%3a%2f13030%2fm5gm8c2d/1/UCI-ITS-WP-12-3.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1248467 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01486733 AU - Kang, Jee E AU - Recker, Will W AU - University of California, Irvine AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Location Selection Problem for Household Activity Pattern Problem PY - 2012 SP - 43p AB - An integrated destination choice model based on routing and scheduling considerations of daily activities is proposed. Extending the Household Activity Pattern Problem (HAPP), the Location Selection Problem (LSP-HAPP) demonstrates how location choice is made as a simultaneous decision from interactions both with activities having predetermined locations and those with many candidate locations. A dynamic programming algorithm, developed for PDPTW, is adapted to handle a potentially sizable number of candidate locations. It is shown to be efficient for HAPP and LSPHAPP applications. The algorithm is extended to keep arrival times as functions for mathematical programming formulations of activity-based travel models that often have time variables in the objective. KW - Activity choices KW - Algorithms KW - Choice models KW - Dynamic programming KW - Location KW - Routing KW - Scheduling UR - http://www.its.uci.edu/its/publications/papers/ITS/UCI-ITS-WP-12-1.pdf UR - https://merritt.cdlib.org/d/ark%3a%2f13030%2fm5r2153p/1/UCI-ITS-WP-12-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1248351 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01486045 AU - Xing, Yan AU - University of California, Davis AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Contributions Of Individual, Physical, And Social Environmental Factors To Bicycling: A Structural Equations Modeling Study Of Six Small U.S. Cities PY - 2012 SP - 211p AB - Previous research has established an association between environmental factors and bicycling. However, empirical knowledge about the influences on bicycling, and relative importance to bicycling, of the physical and social environments as well as individual factors is limited. Additionally, the majority of bicycling in the US is for recreation rather than transportation purposes but few studies have examined the question of bicycling purpose. We use data from an online survey conducted in 2006 in Davis, CA, which has a high bicycling level, and five comparison small cities in the western US to examine the contributions of physical and social environments to bicycling. The study employs Structural Equations Modeling to assess the complex relationships between bicycling and environment while controlling for socio-demographics, travel constraints, and attitudinal factors. KW - Bicycling KW - Davis (California) KW - Demographics KW - Land use KW - Mode choice KW - Socioeconomic factors KW - Structural equation modeling KW - Travel behavior UR - http://pubs.its.ucdavis.edu/download_pdf.php?id=1732 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1247840 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01486044 AU - Lovejoy, Kristin AU - University of California, Davis AU - California Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Mobility Fulfillment Among Low-car Households: Implications for Reducing Auto Dependence in the United States PY - 2012 SP - 194p AB - There is widespread interest in reducing vehicle-miles of travel as a policy goal. Any progress toward that goal requires a better understanding of the potential for incremental reduction in vehicle use in the context of ubiquitous ownership and auto-oriented communities, as we have in the United States today. A key to incremental reductions in vehicle use may be new paradigms for using cars only sometimes, by sharing cars and rides. To explore this potential, this dissertation examines the use of cars outside of conventional ownership, among members of no-car and low-car households in the United States. The National Household Travel Survey is used to characterize the volume and nature of car use by levels of car ownership nationwide. A method for estimating benchmark mobility levels based on demographic attributes, in order to evaluate overall mobility fulfillment among non-car-owners, is developed. Comparing fulfillment levels among different subgroups helps to identify circumstances in which nonownership does and does not indicate hardship. A qualitative examination of the experiences of a particular subpopulation with limited vehicle access, recent immigrants to California from Mexico participating in focus group interviews, supplements this. Collectively the results characterize most likely circumstances, social contexts, practical logistics, and overall mobility outcomes for those using cars outside of the context of conventional ownership. The findings point to circumstances in which innovative sharing enabling services might be adopted more readily. They also point to the circumstances in which services or policies might provide the most added value, filling important gaps, improving nonowner quality of life, and complementing overall vehicle-reduction goals. KW - Automobile ownership KW - Choice models KW - Logits KW - Mobility KW - Traffic estimation KW - Transportation disadvantaged persons KW - Trip purpose KW - Vehicle miles of travel KW - Vehicle sharing UR - http://pubs.its.ucdavis.edu/download_pdf.php?id=1725 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1247841 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01482567 AU - Hanley, Paul AU - Sikka, Nikhil AU - Yu, Hai AU - Ma, Suyun AU - University of Iowa, Iowa City AU - Mid-America Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Advanced Decision Modeling for Real Time Variable Tolling – Development and Testing of a Data Collection Platform PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 45p AB - Our current ability to forecast demand on tolled facilities has not kept pace with advances in decision sciences and technological innovation. The current forecasting methods suffer from lack of descriptive power of actual behavior because of the simplifications used in current economic decision models. These simplifications are in part due to the historical limitations on data collection. Today, we are seeing advances in the data collection technology that captures naturalistic behavior and this study is seeking to develop and test such technology. This will be the first phase of a naturalistic driving study on the topic of variable road tolling and decision making. This investigation extends the state of knowledge of decision modeling under risk and ambiguity by developing a mobile data collection platform for the capturing of naturalistic choice outcomes, associated environmental states, decision makers’ self-articulated perceptions of risk and assessments of ambiguity, and socio-economic attributes. This software/hardware development is the first step in advancing our ability to forecast future revenue sources in transportation. The data collection platform will be used in an extending study and will allow the study team to obtain insights for developing, testing and implementing new behavioral models that explicitly describe how we use imprecise information—in this case, ambiguous information signaled by variable toll lane charges—that are superior to those obtained to date. To support the empirical observations of driver choice of diverting to high occupancy toll (HOT) or non-HOT lanes in real-time, this study documents the development and testing of an in-vehicle perception acquisition device. The device is based on smartphone technology and its software is designed using the latest IOS release. Drivers will be able to upload the software application onto their existing smartphone or tablet. The widespread acceptance and use of smartphones and tablets allows the collection and transmission of decision data collected in real-time without installing or altering the drivers’ vehicles in any manner. This both increases the convenience—and perhaps the use of the application—and reduces the cost of data collection. KW - Automatic data collection systems KW - Decision making KW - Mathematical models KW - Naturalistic driving research KW - Real time information KW - Smartphones KW - Travel behavior KW - Variable tolls UR - http://files.library.northwestern.edu/transportation/online/unrestricted/2012/MATC-KU-361.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1251178 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01478793 AU - Riddle, Joey AU - Hinton, Daniel AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - South Carolina Department of Transportation TI - South Carolina Case Study: Systematic Intersection Improvements PY - 2012 SP - 20p AB - In 2007, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and its safety partners defined the State’s “Road Map to Safety” in its formal Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The goal was to reduce fatalities on South Carolina’s roadways to fewer than 784 by 2010, a 25 percent decrease from 2004. A secondary goal was to lower the number of traffic-related injuries by 3 percent. The SHSP identified 5 key Emphasis Areas and 24 specific targets to be addressed based on an extensive analysis of traffic crash data. Intersections were identified as one of nine target areas within the Serious Crash Type Emphasis Area. This report discusses the implementation of systematic intersection improvements in South Carolina. KW - Countermeasures KW - Crash rates KW - Highway safety KW - Implementation KW - Improvements KW - Intersections KW - South Carolina KW - Traffic crashes UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/resources/fhwasa12021/fhwasa12021.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1247569 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01478343 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Vehicle Theft Prevention: What Consumers Should Know PY - 2012///Brochure SP - 12p AB - According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2010 Uniform Crime Report, nearly 73% of all motor vehicles reported stolen are passenger cars. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) theft rate data, there were a total of 9,001,856 Model Year 2010 vehicles produced in calendar year 2010 - and 10,568 were stolen. Of those stolen, 8,736 were passenger cars, 1,689 were multipurpose passenger vehicles, and 143 were light-duty trucks. The top 10 vehicles stolen and the 10 states with the most stolen vehicles are listed in this report. KW - Antitheft devices KW - Automobiles KW - Passenger vehicles KW - Prevention KW - Vehicle theft UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Vehicle-Related+Theft/Theft+Prevention UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1247367 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01478181 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Safe Roads for a Safer Future: A Joint Safety Strategic Plan PY - 2012 SP - 32p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, Office of Safety Research and Development, and Resource Center Safety and Design Technical Services Team have come together to develop this Safe Roads for a Safer Future – A Joint Safety Strategic Plan (hereafter referred to as the Safety Strategic Plan or SSP). The process brings together these safety units to focus on a common vision: toward zero deaths and serious injuries. The SSP communicates the shared safety vision and mission and identifies high-level strategic goals that will guide decisions on priorities and resources to accomplish the mission. The SSP’s vision, mission, and goals are summarized below: Vision: Toward zero deaths and serious injuries on the Nation’s roadways. Mission: Exercising leadership throughout the highway community to make the Nation’s roadways safer by: (1) Developing, evaluating, and deploying life-saving countermeasures; (2) Advancing the use of scientific methods and data-driven decisions; (3) Fostering a safety culture; and (4) Promoting an integrated, multidisciplinary (4E’s) approach to safety. Goals: Fifteen goals are grouped in four different perspectives: (1) Employee Learning and Growth (internal); (2) Business Practices/Internal Processes (internal); (3) Program and Service Delivery (external); and (4) Customers, Stakeholders, and Partners (external). The safety units will implement the SSP in close collaboration with all FHWA Headquarters and field offices. KW - Countermeasures KW - Decision making KW - Fatalities KW - Highway safety KW - Injuries KW - Strategic planning KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ssp/ssp.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1247246 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01475807 AU - Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Results of the Clarus Regional Demonstrations: Evaluation of Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting PY - 2012 SP - 2p AB - The Clarus Initiative is a research effort of the U.S. Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office and the Federal Highway Administration’s Road Weather Management Program to develop and demonstrate an integrated weather observation data management system that can reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions on surface transportation. Under this initiative, a data management system was developed to accept, quality check, and disseminate the weather and road condition data collected by environmental sensor stations installed along the nation’s roads. This flyer summarizes the results of an independent evaluation of Enhanced Road Weather Forecasting. In particular, the evaluation explored the impact of Clarus data on the following weather and road condition forecasting tools: Local Analysis and Prediction System (an analysis tool used to initialize weather forecast models); Weather Research and Forecasting Models; Road Condition Forecasting Models; and Pavement Precipitation Accumulation Estimation System (a precipitation estimation tool). KW - Clarus KW - Data collection KW - Data communications KW - Precipitation (Meteorology) KW - Road weather information systems KW - Weather conditions KW - Weather forecasting UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46041/FHWA-JPO-12-014_Results_of_Clarus_Demo-Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1244613 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01473635 AU - Patterson, James W AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Evaluation of Trapezoidal-Shaped Runway Grooves PY - 2012///Technical Note SP - 66p AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Technology Research and Development Branch initiated research to evaluate a new trapezoidal-shaped pavement groove configuration. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine if the new trapezoidal-shaped pavement groove configuration offered any benefits over the current FAA standard groove configuration, specifically in the areas of water evacuation, rubber contamination, integrity, longevity, and friction values. The new trapezoidal-shaped groove is 1/4 in. deep, 1/2 in. wide at the top, 1/4 in. wide at the bottom, and spaced 2 1/4 in. apart. The current FAA standard groove is 1/4 in. deep, 1/4 in. wide, and spaced 1 1/2 in. apart. Test sections of the new trapezoidal-shaped pavement grooves, along with sections of FAA standard grooves, were installed at the FAA National Airport Pavement Test Facility, the Atlantic City International Airport, Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Researchers conducted water evacuation measurements, analysis of rubber contamination, width measurements, and surface friction tests on the trapezoidal-shaped pavement groove test sections under a variety of conditions and compared the results directly to those of the current FAA standard grooves. The results showed that the trapezoidal-shaped pavement groove configuration offered several benefits over the current FAA standard grooves, including improved water evacuation capability, greater resistance to rubber contamination, better integrity, and improved longevity. The friction values for the trapezoidal grooves were comparable to the FAA standard grooves. Analysis of the data collected during this evaluation indicates that the new trapezoidal-shaped pavement groove should be considered an acceptable alternative for pavement grooving on airports. KW - Airport runways KW - Field tests KW - Geometric configurations and shapes KW - Pavement grooving UR - http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/DesktopModules/FlexNews/DownloadHandler.ashx?id=1a678eb3-444a-486b-8406-62811e096d87&f=TC-TN12-7.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1222902 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01472473 AU - Atwood, Don AU - Cunningham, Keith AU - University of Alaska Fairbanks AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Testing & Evaluation of Close-Range SAR for Monitoring & Automatically Detecting Pavement Conditions PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 14p AB - The ImSAR company is the maker of the world’s smallest Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems. Two of their products, an X-band SAR and a Ku-band SAR were believed to be particularly well suited for the detection of imperfections in road pavement. Experiments consisted of controlled experiments on the ImSAR premises as well as detection of identified cracks in roads and sidewalks in the environs of the ImSAR facility. These latter investigations were conducted with the ImSAR sensors mounted on a vehicle and flown in a Cessna 172N aircraft. In the sub-sections that follow, the report will 1) provide background on why SAR might be an effective method for detecting cracks, 2) outline the experiments conducted in Springville, Utah, 3) summarize the results, and 4) provide conclusions and make recommendations to the Department of Transportation regarding the future of this endeavor. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Concrete pavements KW - Condition surveys KW - Detection and identification KW - Pavement cracking KW - Radar KW - Sensors KW - Synthetic aperture radar UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46500/46599/UAF_DOT_Final_Report.docx UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1239010 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01471002 AU - Keskin, Burcu B AU - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa AU - University Transportation Center for Alabama AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Advanced Patrol Routing with On-Call Response for Effective Resource Management PY - 2012 SP - 24p AB - A hot spot (HS) is defined as a certain stretch of highway with high frequency of crashes of different severity over a given time period. In this problem, we are interested in finding the right start and stop locations (temporary stations) for state troopers at the beginning and end of their shift, respectively, as well as the patrol routes to visit time-critical HSs. Our overall goal is to maximize the visibility of state troopers during the hot times of the HSs while minimizing the costs associated with utilization of state troopers, traveling from one HS to another, and potential fees for temporary stations. Therefore, we tackle a bi-criteria (benefit maximization and cost minimization) optimization problem. KW - High risk locations KW - Highway safety KW - Incident management KW - Mathematical models KW - Resource allocation KW - Routes KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic law enforcement KW - Traffic patrol UR - http://utca.eng.ua.edu/files/2013/01/11113-Final-Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1238785 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01470758 AU - Mander, John B AU - Hurlebaus, Stefan AU - Murugesan Reddiar, Madhu Karthik AU - Scott, Reece M AU - Texas A&M University, College Station AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Guidelines for Determining the Capacity of D-Regions with Premature Concrete Deterioration of ASR/DEF PY - 2012 SP - 138p AB - When a bridge engineer encounters a design or analysis problem concerning a bridge substructure, the structure will commonly have a mixture of member types. When the structure possesses a mixture of beam (B-) regions and deep or disturbed (D-) regions the dilemma facing the structural engineer is: What method should one use for structural analysis and design? The issue becomes even more murky when a structure already exists, but shows signs of damage and deterioration from the effects of alkali-silica reaction (ASR), delayed ettringite formation (DEF), or other deterioration mechanisms. A Compatibility Strut-and-Tie Model (C-STM) that is intended for the nonlinear analysis of shear critical reinforced concrete structures is presented. In addition, guidelines are presented for determining the capacity of D-regions without and with premature concrete deterioration, in particular ASR and DEF effects. KW - Alkali silica reactions KW - Bridge substructures KW - Concrete bridges KW - Delayed ettringite formation KW - Deterioration KW - Reinforced concrete KW - Structural analysis KW - Strut and tie method UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46700/46770/0-5997-P1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1238061 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01470632 AU - Minnesota Department of Transportation AU - Minnesota Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Services FY2012 Annual Report July 2011 through June 2012 PY - 2012///Annual Report SP - 174p AB - This report is divided into four main sections: 1. An overview of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Services that includes research and library highlights and statistics for FY2012, a summary of its vision and research management processes, a list of its key partnerships and a staff directory. 2. A description of funding sources that support the research managed, including Minnesota State Planning and Research (SP &R) funds, MnDOT and the LRRB. 3. A quick reference table of all active research contracts and multi-state pooled fund projects, providing summary financial information, contract dates and contact names. This table, along with summary financial information and program statistics, is also available as a separate publication—Research Services FY2012 At-A-Glance—for easy access. 4. Two-page Technical Summaries of completed research projects, organized by research topic area. These comprise the bulk of this report. KW - Annual reports KW - Financing KW - Minnesota KW - Minnesota Department of Transportation KW - Research management KW - Research projects KW - State departments of transportation UR - http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/documents/FY2012_Annual_Report-SCREEN.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1238519 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01458077 AU - Freeman, Tom J AU - Wirth, John AU - Wikander, John P AU - Estakhri, Cindy K AU - Wimsatt, Andrew J AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Quantifying the Effects in Order to Optimize the Use of Grade 3 and Grade 4 Seal Coats PY - 2012 SP - 2p AB - Since the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has almost 80,000 centerline miles of roadway to maintain, many of them routinely maintained with seal coats, this project was developed to establish guidelines for optimal seal-coat grade selection. The project was also to establish comparative data for tire-pavement interface noise levels generated by various types of seal coats. KW - Guidelines KW - Seal coating KW - Seal coats KW - State of the practice KW - Texas KW - Tire/pavement noise UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedPDFS/txdot/psr/6496.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1225599 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01454134 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2010: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the General Estimates System PY - 2012 SP - 232p AB - In this annual report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presents descriptive statistics about traffic crashes of all severities, from those that result in property damage to those that result in the loss of human life. Information from two of NHTSA’s primary data systems has been combined to create a single source for motor vehicle crash statistics. The first data system, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), is probably the better known of the two sources. Established in 1975, FARS contains data on the most severe traffic crashes, those in which someone was killed. The second source is the National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (GES), which began operation in 1988. GES contains data from a nationally representative sample of police-reported crashes of all severities, including those that result in death, injury, or property damage. Fatal crash data from FARS and nonfatal crash data from GES are presented in this report in five chapters. Chapter 1, “Trends,” presents data from all years of FARS (1975 through 2010) and GES (1988 through 2010). The remaining chapters present data only from 2010. Chapter 2, “Crashes,” describes general characteristics of crashes, such as when and how often they occurred, where they occurred, and what happened during the crash. Chapter 3, “Vehicles,” concentrates on the types of vehicles involved in crashes and the damage to the vehicles. Chapter 4, “People,” is the largest chapter of this report, with statistics about drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and pedalcyclists. The last chapter of the report, “States,” contains information about crashes for each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. KW - Crash characteristics KW - Crash injuries KW - Cyclists KW - Drivers KW - Fatalities KW - Fatality Analysis Reporting System KW - General Estimates System KW - Loss and damage KW - Passengers KW - Pedestrians KW - Property damage KW - States KW - Statistics KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic safety KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Vehicles UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811659.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1222409 ER - TY - CONF AN - 01454133 AU - Markos, Stephanie H AU - Shurland, Melissa AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Comparison of the U.S. and European Approaches to Passenger Train Fire Safety PY - 2012 SP - 13p AB - The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approach to passenger rail equipment fire safety requires the use of primarily small-scale flammability and smoke emission tests and performance criteria for interior materials, such as seats and wall and ceiling panels; and fire endurance tests for structural components such as floors. The individual test methods measure one or more different fire performance characteristics: ignition resistance, flame spread, and smoke emission. In addition, FRA regulations include a requirement for conducting a fire safety analysis for new and existing equipment, and requirements for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire safety related equipment. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has developed a Technical Specification, CEN TS 45545, based primarily on existing fire safety requirements for passenger railway rolling stock from the International Union of Railways (UIC) and individual European countries, as well as additional research sponsored by CEN. This paper describes the results of a preliminary comparison of fire safety and related emergency systems requirements of CEN TS 45545 with current FRA regulations. U1 - FIVE (Fires in Vehicles) 2012Chicago,IL,United States StartDate:20120927 EndDate:20120928 KW - Europe KW - European Committee for Standardization KW - Fire safety KW - Passenger trains KW - Regulations KW - U.S. Federal Railroad Administration KW - United States KW - Vehicle fires UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46100/46109/Markos_ComparisonFires.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1218608 ER - TY - CONF AN - 01454128 AU - Meltzer, Neil R AU - Ayres, Gregory AU - Truong, Minh AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Motorcoach Fire Safety Analysis: The Causes, Frequency, and Severity of Motorcoach Fires in the United States PY - 2012 SP - 12p AB - This study collects and analyzes information from government, industry, and media sources on the causes, frequency, and severity of motorcoach fires in the United States, and identifies potential risk reduction measures. Volpe Center analysts only considered fires that were mechanical or electrical in origin, and that were neither the result of a collision nor arson. This study establishes an integrated incident database, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of risk trends and patterns, and provides recommendations that could result in fewer motorcoach fires and, in turn, safer roads and lives saved. Some of the key findings from the study include: motorcoach fires have occurred with an approximate frequency of 160 per year; although a single catastrophic motorcoach fire resulted in 23 fatalities and 15 injuries, approximately 95 percent of the reported fires over the study period resulted in no direct injuries and fatalities; the most frequently identified location of fire origin was the engine compartment, followed closely by wheel wells; the most frequently specified points of ignition were the brakes, turbocharger, tires, electrical system, and wheel/hub bearings; and the frequency of fires on motorcoaches of model years 1998–2002 relative to older models was disproportionately greater than their relative populations. U1 - FIVE (Fires in Vehicles) 2012Chicago,IL,United States StartDate:20120927 EndDate:20120928 KW - Buses KW - Fire causes KW - Motor carriers KW - Passenger transportation KW - Risk analysis KW - United States KW - Vehicle fires KW - Vehicle safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46068/FIVE_Conference_Motorcoach_Fires_Safety_Analysis.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1218606 ER - TY - CONF AN - 01454110 AU - Pearlman, Jonathan AU - Meltzer, Neil AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Risk of Commercial Truck Fires in the United States: An Exploratory Data Analysis PY - 2012 SP - 11p AB - Large trucks are involved in only 8% of fatal crashes per year, but 17% of fatal fires. The scope of the current body of research is limited. Studies have treated truck fires generally as a subset of vehicle fires or in their own right on a smaller scale, confined to a limited pool of data. This study expands the current body of research to collect and analyze information from government, industry, and media sources on the magnitude, trends, and causes of truck fires in the United States and to identify potential risk-reduction measures. This study found that commercial motor vehicle fires are most common among Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Class 8 trucks with the frequency of truck fire fatalities six times greater than that of other motor vehicles. This figure is high, but when examined in conjunction with crash, inspection, and vehicle data, it offers insight into new areas of research. For example, analysis indicates that truck fires occur more often in the days following a crash. Trucks with compliance issues are also much more susceptible to fires. The truck is the striking vehicle in the majority of fatal fires. This portrait of truck fires may have significant implications for the future direction of truck fire safety. U1 - FIVE (Fires in Vehicles) 2012Chicago,IL,United States StartDate:20120927 EndDate:20120928 KW - Commercial vehicles KW - Fire causes KW - Risk analysis KW - Trucks KW - United States KW - Vehicle fires KW - Vehicle safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46069/Pearlman__Commercial_Truck_Fire_Risk.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1218607 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01454091 AU - Benvenuto, Mark A AU - Baker, Stokes AU - Rihana-Abdalla, Alexa AU - Michigan Ohio University Transportation Center AU - University of Detroit Mercy AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - From Phyto-Remediation to Phyto-Mining: Maximizing Value in Producing Bio-diesel From Pennycress PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 11p AB - Pennycress appears to be an untapped source as both a feedstock of biodiesel and a remediator of lead or other heavy metals from soil. In addition, pennycress is not a food crop, and thus production of biodiesel from it does not compete with food for humanity. In this project, a series of pennycress seeds were germinated hydroponically in solutions spiked with varying amounts of lead (II) nitrate. Uptake of the lead into the roots and stalks of the plants was examined via Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). Results and findings show promise for larger scale use of this phyto-remediation technique and the use of EDXRF to quantify it. It appears that the use of pennycress can be scaled up to real world applications, meaning that pennycress could be planted in brownfield areas, grown, harvested for the seeds and their biodiesel, and the lead extracted from the stems. KW - Biodiesel fuels KW - Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry KW - Heavy metals KW - Lead compounds KW - Phytoextraction KW - Phytoremediation KW - Plants KW - Soil remediation UR - http://mioh-utc.udmercy.edu/research/af-42/pdf/MIOH_UTC_AF42_2012-Final_Rpt_From_Phyto-Remediation_to_Phyto-Mining_etc.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46100/46120/MIOH_UTC_AF42_2012-Final_Rpt_From_Phyto-Remediation_to_Phyto-Mining_etc.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1218638 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01453996 AU - Dubin, Earl E AU - Yanev, Bojidar S AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - New York City Department of Transportation TI - Managing the East River Bridges in New York City PY - 2012 SP - 16p AB - The history of the Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Manhattan and Queensboro bridges across the East River in New York City is examined, seeking to determine trends and most recent developments in their management. Reconstruction and maintenance costs are summarized. Crucial federal and local decisions and policies are identified. An attempt is made to draw conclusions from the management of the East River bridges during the 20th century and make recommendations for their future. KW - Bridge management systems KW - Bridges KW - Costs KW - East River (New York) KW - History KW - Maintenance KW - New York (New York) KW - Policy KW - Reconstruction KW - Trend (Statistics) UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/preservation/spie1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1220260 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01453903 AU - Dutta, Utpal AU - Patel, Nishita AU - Michigan Ohio University Transportation Center AU - University of Detroit Mercy AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Impact of Energy Efficient Vehicles on Gas Tax (Highway Trust Fund) and Alternative Funding For Infrastructure Construction, Upgrade, and Maintenance PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 55p AB - Road construction, upgrades, and maintenance have largely been financed by a gas tax since the first tax on fuel was instituted by the federal government in 1932. Monies from the gas tax and other sources are deposited in the Highway Trust Fund to handle the country’s transportation infrastructure needs. States also tax fuel to varying degrees. As a result the average fuel tax paid by U.S. drivers is 48.8 cents per gallon. However, the taxes have failed to keep up with inflation and need. The country’s crumbling transportation infrastructure is the result. Further, as the researchers have detailed, based on current conditions and forecasts the funding gap is likely to worsen significantly. One alternative to the gasoline tax is a system based on miles traveled. The Mileage Based User Fee (MBUF) charges drivers based the actual amount of road use, not on fuel consumption. Research shows the implementation of a MBUF system offers significant potential benefits including: (1) Fairness--all drivers pay for the true use and therefore the actual benefits derived from the use of the highway system. (2) Stability of revenue--as gas prices increase there is a corresponding increase in the use of more fuel efficient cars and trucks, hybrids, and even electric vehicles. Less fuel is used resulting in lower gas tax collection even though the mileage traveled remains relatively constant. With an MBUF system revenue remains relatively constant. (3) Flexibility--additional factors such as time of day, congestion, and vehicle weight can be built into the fees charged to road users. (4) Higher revenue yield possible--value-added options, improved roads, and a direct correlation between benefit received and fee incurred will make the public more willing to accept higher user fees. The project team has identified potential concerns and areas requiring additional research in order to implement MBUF. The project team also proposed a Mileage Based Vehicle Registration (MBVR) as a tool to implement MBUF. It is to be noted that MBVR is not the perfect mechanism to implement MBUF but it is a feasible and dependable means to add additional dollars to the state’s highway fund without further delay. KW - Congestion pricing KW - Financing KW - Fuel taxes KW - Highway Trust Fund KW - Mileage Based User Fee KW - Road construction KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://mioh-utc.udmercy.edu/research/ts-51/pdf/MIOH_UTC_TS51_2012-Final_Rpt_Impact_of_Energy_Efficient_Vehicles_on_Gas_Tax_etc.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46200/46268/MIOH_UTC_TS51_2012-Final_Rpt_Impact_of_Energy_Efficient_Vehicles_on_Gas_Tax_etc.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1219514 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01453836 AU - Al-Holou, Nizar AU - Mohammad, Utayba AU - Arafat, Mohammad AU - Tamer, Malok Alamir AU - Abdul-Hak, Mohamad AU - Mahmud, Syed Masud AU - Michigan Ohio University Transportation Center AU - University of Detroit Mercy AU - Wayne State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Multi-Dimensional Model for Vehicle Impact On Traffic Safety, Congestion, and Environment” PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 44p AB - The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) has recently received great attention in the research community. It offers a revolutionary vision of transportation, in which a full-scale communication scheme between vehicles (V2V) and vehicles and infrastructure (V2I) is introduced. The ITS vision reflects three main areas of transportation improvement: enhancing the traffic flow and mobility of vehicular transportation, improving the active and passive safety of vehicles through V2V and V2I communication, and providing a platform that can address the environmental challenges of transportation systems from a macroscopic perspective. To implement this vision research has to be conducted on two layers: the communication layer and the application layer. The former is concerned with providing proper V2V and V2I communication at the physical, MAC, and network layers, while the latter is concerned with using the communicated data in V2V and V2I interactions to achieve the aforementioned three-point vision of ITS systems. This research targets special cases at both the communication and application layers. In chapter 1, an adaptive traffic light application that improves mobility and safety is developed. This application adopts Webster’s equation as a basis to determine the red and green time cycles. It integrates the dynamic traffic information into Webster’s calculations and extends the green time or shortens the red time of traffic lights at an intersection to maximize the traffic flow at the corresponding junction. The developed system is simulated and evaluated against the conventional pre-timed traffic lights and smart pre-timed traffic lights, and the results show great improvement in controlling delay times, travel times, and traffic flow volume. In chapter 2, an environment-friendly vehicle routing application is developed. This application introduces a new methodology to collect traffic data through the ITS communication scheme, and utilize this data to route vehicles in the most collectively fuel-efficient way. The estimated fuel consumption over road segments is used as the main criteria to calculate the best route for a vehicle, and is updated continuously through ITS message exchanges. The new routing method is evaluated through simulation and is proven superior to the conventional static fastest path routing methods in terms of waiting times, travel times, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions. Finally, chapter 3 targets the Medium Access Control at the communication layer of ITS. It introduces an Intersection Warning Channel Access Priority (IWCAP) protocol that would guarantee warning drivers of possible collisions as they approach an intersection. This protocol utilizes one omni-directional antenna per vehicle and one dedicated short range communications (DSRC) channel for the intersection warning system. It provides priority and fairness for all vehicles approaching the intersection to transmit their conditions to other vehicles. The protocol analysis shows that drivers can avoid a collision if a warning message is received within 240 m from an intersection given a communication range of 500 m and a speed of 96 Km/h on a wet pavement, if the warning message is received within 0.2 s after joining the wireless network. KW - Adaptive control KW - Dedicated short range communications KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic signal preemption KW - Travel time KW - Vehicle to infrastructure communications KW - Vehicle to vehicle communications UR - http://mioh-utc.udmercy.edu/research/ts-45/pdf/MIOH_UTC_TS45_2012-Final_Rpt_A_Multi-Dimensional_Model_for_Vehicle_Impact_On_etc.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46200/46267/MIOH_UTC_TS45_2012-Final_Rpt_A_Multi-Dimensional_Model_for_Vehicle_Impact_On_etc.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1218700 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01450076 AU - Chinnam, Ratna Babu AU - Murat, Alper E AU - Wayne State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Enhancing JIT Freight Logistics Impacted by Transportation System Projects Under ITS PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 18p AB - The authors developed an analysis methodology to support effective planning of JIT freight logistics in transportation networks impacted by system improvement projects. Currently, shippers and carriers do not have the necessary tools to predict and account for the traffic congestion impact of construction projects. Existing models used by shippers/carriers rely on historical traffic flow/congestion data from ITS and other sources. There is need for predictive tools that can be used for assessing the congestion and traffic flow impact of construction projects. These predictive tools are integrated within route planning models of shippers/carriers. The authors designed practical, scalable tools that use readily available and up to date traffic flow data from ITS operators such as Traffic.com and Michigan Intelligent Transportation Systems (MITS) Center. The flow data is used to estimate OD matrices at the source/sink nodes of the network under consideration. Given the transportation improvement project scope and extent/corridor, the authors use estimated OD matrices for estimation of the future state of network traffic flows through equilibrium/traffic assignment models. The methods are designed for seamless integration into existing JIT freight planning models/tools. KW - Construction projects KW - Freight transportation KW - Just in time production KW - Logistics KW - Mathematical prediction KW - Origin and destination KW - Supply chain management KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic flow UR - http://mioh-utc.udmercy.edu/research/sc-42/pdf/MIOH_UTC_SC42_2012-Final_Rpt_Enhancing_JIT_Freight_Logistics_etc.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46000/46007/MIOH_UTC_SC42_2012-Final_Rpt_Enhancing_JIT_Freight_Logistics_etc.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/46000/46100/46121/MIOH_UTC_SC42_2012-Final_Rpt_Enhancing_JIT_Freight_Logistics_etc.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1217172 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449602 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: Aerospace Medical Research (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of aerospace medical research performed at CAMI including: cabin safety, environmental physiology, vision, forensic toxicology, and bioinformatics research. KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Disaster preparedness KW - Research UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45919/5.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216241 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449594 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: More Information (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of CAMI. KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Education and training UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45921/7.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216180 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449583 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: The Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video is an introduction to CAMI given by the director of CAMI. KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45915/1.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216245 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449544 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: Aerospace Medical Education (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of CAMI's Aerospace Medical Education Division including: programs, trainings, publications, the CAMI library, and various simulators used in training. KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Education and training UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45917/3.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216243 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449543 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: Human Factors Research (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of CAMI's Human Factors Research Division. Research examples include: age effects, effect of fatigue and shiftwork on performance, workload, and the interaction between humans and advanced systems. The various simulators used in this research are also discussed. KW - Air traffic control simulators KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Flight simulators KW - Human factors KW - Research UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45918/4.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216242 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449531 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: Aerospace Medical Certification (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of CAMI's Aerospace Medical Certification program and the duties of an Aviation Medical Examiner. KW - Air pilots KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Medical certification UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45916/2.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216244 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449517 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - This is CAMI: Occupational Health (Video) PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine. The goal of their activities is to enhance aviation safety. This video presents an overview of CAMI's Occupational Health Division. KW - Aviation medicine KW - Aviation safety KW - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute KW - Employee wellness programs KW - Health care services KW - Occupational health KW - Occupational safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45900/45920/6.wmv UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216240 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449092 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Highway Statistics 2010 PY - 2012 SP - v.p. AB - This publication brings together an annual series of selected statistical tabulations relating to highway transportation in twelve major areas: (1) Bridges; (2) Highway Infrastructure; (3) Highway Travel; (4) Travelers (or System Users); (5) Vehicles; (6) Motor Fuel; (7) Revenue; (8) Debt Obligation for Highways; (9) Apportionments, Obligations, and Expenditures; (10) Conditions and Safety; (11) Performance Indicators; and (12) International and Metric. KW - Bridges KW - Debt KW - Expenditures KW - Highway safety KW - Highway transportation KW - Infrastructure KW - International KW - Motor fuels KW - Performance indicators KW - Revenues KW - Statistics KW - Tables (Data) KW - Travel KW - Travelers KW - Vehicles UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2010/ UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216862 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01449076 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance Contracting for Construction: A Guide to Using Performance Goals and Measures to Improve Project Delivery PY - 2012 SP - 107p AB - State and Local Departments of Transportation (DOTs) need to deliver quality, timely construction projects under constrained budgets and high expectations from the traveling public. A strength of the private sector is applying new and innovative techniques to solve problems. However, in highway construction, a contractor’s ability to innovate is usually constrained by the project design, detailed standard specifications, and a low bid environment, all of which are in place to protect the agency and to ensure quality. Performance contracting is an alternative contracting technique, under which DOTs specify performance goals (desired outcomes), and contractors receive the flexibility to propose and apply innovations to meet those goals. It is designed to enhance cooperation and problem solving between the owner agency and contractor as partners, and to ensure that the owner agency achieves its desired outcomes for the project. Under performance contracting, the agency can clearly communicate to the contractor what they are trying to achieve with the project, and the contractor shares the risks and rewards through incentives and disincentives. FHWA originally developed this Guide in 2006. This 2012 update includes lessons learned and sample materials from a successful pilot project conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation. KW - Construction management KW - Contracting out KW - Disincentives KW - Incentives KW - Performance measurement KW - Quality control KW - Quality of work KW - Road construction KW - Strategic planning UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/pcfc_2012/pcfc_2012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1216366 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01447513 AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Planning and Environment Linkages Program Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011 PY - 2012///Annual Report SP - 7p AB - This report highlights the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) program activities for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11). The PEL program’s purpose is to provide transportation agencies with tools and resources to introduce environmental considerations early in planning and to use documented planning information to inform the environmental review process. The goal of PEL is to develop a more seamless decision-making process that minimizes duplication of effort, promotes environmental stewardship, and reduces delays in project implementation. Through the PEL initiative, FHWA provides state and local transportation and resource agencies with decision-making strategies, analytical tools, and technical assistance to link the transportation planning and environmental planning and review processes. In FY11, FHWA focused on two primary avenues to promote PEL: 1. Technical assistance and training: Advancing the adoption of PEL initiatives nationwide through focused state or regional technical assistance. 2. Outreach and communication: Increasing the development and dissemination of resources for stakeholders to use in understanding and implementing PEL activities. KW - Decision making KW - Environmental impact analysis KW - Information dissemination KW - Strategic planning KW - Technical assistance KW - Transportation departments KW - Transportation planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45400/45435/PEL_FY11_Annual_Report_final_1_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1214404 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446523 AU - Dutta, Utpal AU - Patel, Kartik AU - University of Detroit Mercy AU - Michigan Ohio University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Innovative Contracting Methods and Construction Traffic Congestion PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 22p AB - Increasing travel demand and lack of sufficient highway capacity are serious problems in most major metropolitan areas in the United States. Large metropolitan cities have been experiencing increased traffic congestion problems over the past several years. The total delay that drivers experience has increased from 0.7 billion hours in 1982 to 3.7 billion hours in recent years. Combining the 3.7 billion hours of delay and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel consumed due to congestion, leads to a total congestion cost of $63 billion dollars for drivers in 85 of the largest metropolitan areas of the nation. In spite of the implementation of many demand management measures, congestion in most urban areas is still increasing. In many areas congestion is no longer limited to two peak hours in a day; it is extended to two to three hours in the morning, afternoon and evening. Thus, the congestion experienced on urban and suburban freeways and arterial streets results in delays to the motorist, excess fuel consumption and a high level of pollutant emission not only during the peak hours in a day, but also for several hours throughout the day. Road construction and duration of construction are considered to be factors responsible for a significant portion of traffic congestion. Innovative contracting approaches (such as A+B, Lane Rental, Incentive/disincentive (I/D) etc. methods) have been in use by various State Departments of Transportation (DOT) to reduce construction duration. As a part of this approach, the contractor is paid an incentive to complete a project earlier than the time specified in the contract. If the contractor completes the project later than the time allowed, a penalty is charged by contractual agreement where disincentive money is subtracted from the payment due to the contractor. The use of an incentive may be cost effective in certain projects but may not be effective in other projects. Its use must be justified by comparing the cost of the incentive with savings in Road Users Costs (RUC) value. Michigan Department of Transportation has been using the innovative contracting approach for a number of years. In order to determine the effectiveness of the innovative contracting approach, a model was developed to establish a functional relationship between construction duration and construction cost using Michigan’s construction data. Two Measure of Effectiveness (MOEs) variables, “Project Time Crashing Index (TCI)” and “Project Cost Increment Index (CII)”, were established as a part of this research. Regression technique was used to correlate CII and TCI. The final model was a non-linear model. Also as a part of this effort, a road user cost computation template and a screening template to determine the suitability of a project to be considered for the innovative approach were designed. These two templates should assist state DOTs in computing construction incentive dollars as well as in determining the candidacy of a project for the innovative approach. KW - Construction projects KW - Contracting KW - Cost effectiveness KW - Incentives KW - Innovation KW - Mathematical models KW - Metropolitan areas KW - Road construction KW - Traffic congestion UR - http://mioh-utc.udmercy.edu/research/ts-42/pdf/MIOH_UTC_TS42_2012-Final_Rpt_Innovative_Contracting_Methods_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1213709 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446515 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - State Transportation Statistics 2011 PY - 2012///9th Edition SP - 148p AB - This document is a statistical profile of transportation in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It presents transportation information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, other federal government agencies, and other national sources. It is divided into nine sections that cover infrastructure, safety, freight transportation, passenger travel, registered vehicles and vehicle-miles traveled, economy and finance, energy and environment, information on data sources, and appendices and glossary. Modes of transportation include highway transportation, public transit, walking (pedestrians), air travel, water transportation, railroad transportation, and pipelines. KW - Economics KW - Energy KW - Environment KW - Finance KW - Freight transportation KW - Infrastructure KW - Passenger transportation KW - Registrations KW - States KW - Statistics KW - Transportation modes KW - Transportation safety KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://www.bts.gov/publications/state_transportation_statistics/state_transportation_statistics_2011/pdf/entire.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1213702 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446366 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Government Transportation Financial Statistics 2012 PY - 2012 SP - 58p AB - Government Transportation Financial Statistics (GTFS) consists of transportation revenues and expenditures for Federal, state and local governments. In addition, the GTFS contains data by revenue source, expenditure type, and by mode of transportation. Tables categories include: highway, transit, railroads, air, water, pipeline and general support. KW - Budgeting KW - Expenditures KW - Federal government KW - Financing KW - Local government KW - Revenues KW - State government KW - Tables (Data) KW - Trend (Statistics) UR - http://www.bts.gov/publications/government_transportation_financial_statistics/2012/pdf/entire.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1213916 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01446363 AU - Murat, Alper E AU - Chinnam, Ratna Babu AU - Wayne State University AU - University of Toledo AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Evaluation of Ohio-Michigan Regional Airports for Air Cargo Transportation: Freight Forwarders Perspective PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 67p AB - This project addresses the efficient utilization of the infrastructure for multimodal air freight shipment that directly affects the competitiveness of the freight forwarders and airports in the Ohio-Michigan (OH-MI) region. This project focuses on multimodal air-road transportation of the freight originating from OH-MI region and investigates the factors contributing to utilization of the regional airport facilities. The air freight multimodal transportation activity involves airports, carriers, freight forwarders, and shippers. The interest area of this study is North West Ohio and South East Michigan with regional airports Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) and Toledo Express (TOL). This project considers air freight shipments, mostly identified by the freight forwarders included in the study, and are any of the four carrier types, namely, dedicated (all-cargo), mixed (belly carriers), combination, and integrators. The proposed objectives of this study are: conduct a regional survey to measure and document the current decision making process of air freight forwarders and their desired service levels from the existing local transportation infrastructure (airport facilities and road network) with primary focus on alternative access airport decisions; develop an alternative access airport and flight selection decision support tool for the freight forwarders; and quantify the relative air freight attraction levels of OH-MI region's airports by developing an air cargo shipment demand simulation system for the OH-MI region. KW - Air cargo KW - Air freight forwarders KW - Airport access KW - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport KW - Freight forwarders KW - Freight traffic KW - Freight transportation KW - Michigan KW - Multimodal transportation KW - Ohio KW - Origin and destination KW - Regional airports KW - Toledo Express Airport KW - Trucking UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45600/45632/Murat_OH-MI_Airports_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1213890 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01445950 AU - Partnership for Sustainable Communities AU - Department of Agriculture TI - Federal Resources for Sustainable Rural Communities PY - 2012///Summer SP - 44p AB - Rural communities across America are working to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life for residents, and build on assets such as traditional main streets, agricultural and working lands, and natural resources. The Partnership for Sustainable Communities—made up of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—is coordinating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that the four agencies’ spending, policies, and programs support rural communities’ efforts to be vibrant, thriving places for current and future generations. This guide to HUD, DOT, EPA, and USDA programs highlights federal resources rural communities can use to promote economic competitiveness, protect healthy environments, and enhance quality of life. It provides key information on funding and technical assistance opportunities available from the four agencies, as well as examples of how rural communities across the country have put these programs into action. Each agency offers different ways of approaching infrastructure planning and construction, economic development, pollution cleanup, and other issues that are part of achieving sustainable communities. Coordinating and leveraging multiple funding and assistance sources can help communities advance their overall visions and goals. While this guide is not exhaustive and the programs listed may change, it provides a menu of options rural communities and small towns can consider when planning and implementing projects. The guide is organized by agency and then by broad topic areas that are similar across agencies. KW - Economic development KW - Financing KW - Partnership for Sustainable Communities KW - Public transit KW - Quality of life KW - Rural areas KW - Small towns KW - Sustainable development KW - Technical assistance KW - Transportation planning KW - U.S. Department of Agriculture KW - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development KW - U.S. Department of Transportation KW - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency UR - http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/federal_resources_rural.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1212686 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01421301 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - National Transportation Statistics 2012 PY - 2012 SP - 509p AB - This document presents information on the U.S. transportation system, including its physical components, safety record, economic performance, energy use, and environmental impacts. National Transportation Statistics is a companion document to the Transportation Statistics Annual Report, which analyzes some of the data presented here, and State Transportation Statistics, which presents state level data on many of the same topics presented here. The report has four chapters and five appendices. Chapter 1 provides data on the extent, condition, use, and performance of the physical transportation network. Chapter 2 details transportation's safety record, giving data on accidents, crashes, fatalities, and injuries for each transportation mode and hazardous materials. Chapter 3 focuses on the relationship between transportation and the economy, presenting data on transportation's contribution to the gross domestic product, employment by industry and occupation, and transportation-related consumer and government expenditures. Chapter 4 presents data on transportation energy use and transportation-related environmental impacts. Appendix A contains metric conversions of select tables. Appendix B contains a Glossary. Appendix C contains a list of acronyms and initialisms. Appendix D provides modal profiles and Appendix E contains data sources and accuracy statements. KW - Economic factors KW - Energy consumption KW - Environmental impacts KW - Statistics KW - Transportation infrastructure KW - Transportation modes KW - Transportation safety KW - United States UR - http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ UR - http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/pdf/entire.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1163273 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01383574 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - 2011 Urban Congestion Trends: Improving Travel Reliability with Operations PY - 2012 SP - 8p AB - Congestion levels remained relatively unchanged over the past year in 19 urban areas in the United States. According to the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Volume Trends report, there was slightly less travel on the road in 2011 compared to 2010. This slight decrease in traffic can ease congestion levels. Congestion levels are still generally below the levels experienced in 2007 prior to the economic downturn. While congestion levels remained relatively unchanged (or decreased slightly) from 2010 to 2011, as the economy improves, the use of operational strategies will become more important to manage increased traffic and congestion. This unique timing makes the implementation of time-saving traffic operations strategies all the more important. The benefits of successfully implemented operational strategies can include less travel time, more reliable travel times, less fuel consumed, fewer emissions, and increased safety, to name a few. These improvements benefit the movement of people and goods on the highway system. There are a number of success stories documented in this report that illustrate how some states and communities are more effectively implementing traffic operations strategies, and monitoring impacts. KW - Case studies KW - Highway operations KW - Highway traffic control KW - Innovation KW - Mobility KW - Traffic congestion KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - Urban areas UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12019/fhwahop12019.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147978 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01383562 AU - Srinivasan, Raghavan AU - Baek, Jongdae AU - Council, Forrest AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Safety Evaluation of Transverse Rumble Strips on Approaches to Stop-Controlled Intersections in Rural Areas PY - 2012///Summary Report SP - 8p AB - Transverse rumble strips (TRSs) (also called in-lane rumble strips) have been used by some agencies to warn drivers in rural areas that they are approaching a stop sign. The strips typically consist of grooves crossing the roadway surface to provide a tactile and audible warning for drivers. Many studies have focused on the effect of TRSs on driver behavior, and there is some evidence that TRSs are effective in reducing the intersection approach speeds. However, the results from these crash-based studies are not reliable due to the lack of rigor in the accident evaluation designs. The objective of this effort was to examine the impact of TRSs on crashes, specifically total crashes, injury crashes, and specific crash types, such as right-angle and run stop sign crashes. The effort also included an economic analysis to investigate the tradeoffs between different crash types. Data on rural intersections with minor-leg stop control where TRSs were introduced was provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). KW - Before and after studies KW - Fatalities KW - Injury severity KW - Intersections KW - Iowa KW - Minnesota KW - Rumble strips KW - Rural areas KW - Stop signs KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic safety UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/hsis/12047/12047.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55700/55733/12047_FHWA_SAFETY_EVALUATION.PDF UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147979 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380473 AU - Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Results of the Clarus Regional Demonstrations. Evaluation of Four Decision Support Tools PY - 2012 SP - 4p AB - The Clarus Initiative is a research effort of the U.S. Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office and the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Road Weather Management Program (RWMP) to develop and demonstrate an integrated weather observation data management system that can reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions on surface transportation. Under this initiative, a data management system was developed to accept, quality check, and disseminate the weather and road condition data collected by Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS) installed along the nation’s roads. This system is called Clarus. In a complementary effort to explore the value of the data disseminated from the Clarus system, four innovative application tools were developed, deployed, and independently evaluated between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation focused on the way in which selected state departments of transportation (DOT) used the tools in an operational environment. The four tools included enhanced road weather content for travel advisories, the seasonal load restriction tool, the non-winter maintenance decision support tool, and the multistate control strategy tool. KW - Clarus KW - Decision support systems KW - Environmental sensor stations KW - Road Weather Management Program KW - Spring load restrictions KW - State departments of transportation KW - Weather conditions UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45600/45601/FHWA-JPO-12-013_Results_of_the_Clarus_Regional_Demonstrations_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147996 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379189 AU - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) AU - Associated General Contractors of America AU - American Road & Transportation Builders Association AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Construction Peer Network Northeast Peer Exchange Summary Report, March 6-7, 2012, Warwick, Rhode Island PY - 2012///Summary Report SP - 29p AB - The Rhode Island Department of Transportation hosted the first peer exchange for the Construction Peer Network (CPN) in Warwick, RI on March 6th and 7th, 2012. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), sponsored the peer exchange. This northeast peer exchange was the first in a series of five regional events that will showcase innovation in construction, allow peers to network and share information, and generate ideas for implementation of innovative practices and processes. 1. Exchange Topic 1 – Innovative Practices and Tools for Inspection, 2. Exchange Topic 2 – Project Staffing Levels, 3. Exchange Topic 3 – Allowing Innovations by the Contractor, 4. Exchange Topic 4 – Innovative Construction Methods, and 5. Exchange Topic 5 – Performance Measurement. KW - Construction management KW - Contractors KW - Data sharing KW - Innovation KW - Inspection KW - Peer exchange KW - Performance measurement KW - Selection and appointment UR - http://construction.transportation.org/Documents/CPN%20NE%20Peer%20Exchange%20Summary%20Report%20fnl.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1146701 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379179 AU - Taylor, Rich AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Operations Performance Measures: The Foundation for Performance-Based Management of Transportation Operations Programs PY - 2012 SP - 8p AB - Transportation agencies have traditionally focused on building physical facilities such as highways, bridges, and transit systems. However, it has become increasingly difficult to build new highways or expand existing ones due to environmental impacts and the high cost of construction. Further, it has been estimated that roughly half of all congestion experienced by U.S. highway travelers is due to nonrecurring events or disruptions, such as traffic incidents, inclement weather, work zones, and special events (e.g., sporting venues, evacuations). As a result, transportation operations has emerged as a highly cost-effective solution to the national congestion problem. Its focus is to manage the flow of traffic efficiently on the existing highway system, in other words, to get the most out what we already have. In concept, this is similar to how the electric grid is managed – operators constantly monitor the system looking for disruptions or areas where demand is high and take appropriate actions to address the problems. With increased public scrutiny of agency actions and limited funding, effective allocation of resources is imperative. Establishing an operations performance measurement program supports this goal. KW - Highway operations KW - Performance measurement KW - Resource allocation KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic mitigation KW - Traffic surveillance KW - Transportation operations UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12018/fhwahop12018.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1146720 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376379 AU - Carrion, Migdalia AU - Guzman, Claire AU - Seedah, Dan AU - Prozzi, Jolanda AU - Walton, C Michael AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Multimodal Freight Database PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - The Multimodal Freight Database is a one-stop shop for Texas freight data. It extracts and consolidates relevant freight data variables from major public databases. Commodity codes are mapped across databases thus providing a user-friendly interface for data search, comparison, and analysis. It requires minimal computer processing time and can be installed on any Microsoft Windows PC. KW - Freight transportation KW - Relational databases KW - Texas UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Flibrary.ctr.utexas.edu%2Fdbtw-wpd%2Ftextbase%2Fwebsearchcat.htm&TN=catalog&SN=AUTO21504&SE=630&RN=0&MR=50&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=2&XP=&RF=.Year+%28newest+first%29&EF=&DF=.Detail&RL=1&EL=0&DL=1&NP=3&ID=&MF=MYWPMSG.INI&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=25548&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=1&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144145 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376253 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Mega-Regional Modeling: Examining Mega-Regional Travel PY - 2012///Exploratory Advanced Research SP - 2p AB - The growth of major metropolitan areas over the last century has resulted in the emergence of “mega-regions”— a large network of urban areas that often develop along major transportation routes. Expected to form an essential role in the future global economy, new analysis tools are needed to operate these mega-regional transportation networks efficiently. “Mega-Regional Travel,” a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program study, was awarded to the University of Maryland to investigate the regional impact of transportation policy decisions. The study aims to develop and test a megaregional travel demand modeling framework using a large corridor stretching from Baltimore, MD, to Virginia Beach, VA, as a case study. This framework will be examined and expanded to cover a larger mega-region comprised of Washington, DC, and parts of four other States: Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Researchers aim to use the case study to address some of the technical challenges faced when developing a modeling framework and tools on such a large scale. The study will test several scenarios on the megaregion to demonstrate the ability of the modeling framework in real-world situations. A selection of analysis tools measure the outcome of future scenarios using factors including economic change, land use, and travel demand at national, regional, and local levels. KW - Economic impacts KW - Land use KW - Megaregions KW - Regional planning KW - Regional transportation KW - Transportation planning KW - Travel demand UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/12024/12024.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143642 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01376117 AU - Cloutier, Michel AU - Cushmac, George AU - Transport Canada AU - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration AU - Secretariat of Communications and Transportation TI - 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook: A Guidebook for First Responders During the Initial Phase of a Dangerous Goods/ Hazardous Materials Transportation Incident PY - 2012 SP - 392p AB - This guidebook is for use by first responders at the scene of a transportation incident involving dangerous goods. It is primarily intended to aid in quickly identifying the materials involved during the initial response phase. It contains safety precautions, lists of emergency phone numbers, and hazard identification charts. Dangerous goods are indexed in numerical order of identification number and in alphabetical order by material name. Potential hazards are outlined along with emergency response and public safety suggestions. A table listing toxic materials and the recommended safe distances for small and large spills is included. Additional information includes sections on protective clothing, criminal/terrorist use of various agents, and safe stand off distance for improvised explosive devices. KW - Crashes KW - Disaster preparedness KW - Emergency management KW - Hazardous materials KW - Hazards and emergency operations KW - Safety management KW - Spills (Pollution) UR - http://phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1143506 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01374491 AU - Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) AU - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) AU - American Public Works Association AU - International Municipal Signal Association AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - ITS America TI - 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card PY - 2012 SP - 36p AB - This report presents the results of the 2011 Traffic Signal Operations Self Assessment and the findings from the consolidated responses of 241 agencies across the United States and Canada. These results and findings were used to determine the scores for the 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card. The report discusses these findings in the context of the evolution of practices observed between the 2005, 2007, and 2011 self assessments and a generalized traffic signal program management plan. In addition, this report discusses opportunities and resources available to agencies as well as the future direction of traffic signal systems management and operations. The report is organized in five sections: (1) Description; (2) The 2011 Traffic Signal Operations Self Assessment Tool Explained; (3) Self Assessment Response Summary; (4) Traffic Signal Report Card Results; and (5) Recommendation to Improve Traffic Signal Operations. KW - Canada KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Highway traffic control KW - Traffic signal control systems KW - Traffic signal timing KW - Traffic signals KW - United States UR - http://www.ite.org/reportcard/TechnicalReport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1142132 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373358 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - FAA Aerospace Forecast, Fiscal Years 2012-2032 PY - 2012 SP - 124p AB - This forecast looks at how many planes and how many people will fly on U.S. carriers over the years 2012 to 2032. As the economy continues to recover, the number of takeoffs and landings and the number of passengers who board U.S. airlines are expected to continue to climb with a steady, moderate growth, as they have in the last two years. The forecast calls for a slight decrease (less than one percent) in domestic capacity in 2012, as measured by available seat miles. This is after a 2 percent increase in 2011. Despite this pause in growth, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projects continued growth between 2 percent and 3 percent per year over the next 20 years. This year’s forecast predicts that the industry will grow from 731 million passengers in 2011 to 1.2 billion in 2032. Cumulatively, air traffic growth for U.S. carriers–measured by revenue passenger miles–is expected to rise by more than 90 percent in the next 20 years. It grew by 3.5 percent in 2011. Airport tower operations are expected to increase by 23 percent. Also, the number of aircraft handled at FAA en-route centers, which separate high altitude traffic, is expected to increase by 50 percent. Over the next 20 years, large airports will continue to grow faster than their smaller counterparts in the United States. FAA is forecasting that the number of larger regional jets will increase, while most of the smaller regional jets will be retired from the fleet. On the general aviation front, the demand for products and services will continue to grow, particularly in new business jets and light sport aircraft. As the U.S. aviation system advances into the next century of flight, the solution for handling the demand for service is the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen. The FAA is in the process of transforming the U.S. national air space system from the ground-based radar of today, to the satellite-based system of tomorrow. This is a fundamental change in the way the United States and the world will navigate and control air traffic. KW - Air traffic KW - Air travel KW - Airport capacity KW - Aviation KW - Forecasting KW - General aviation KW - Next Generation Air Transportation System KW - Passenger miles KW - Regional airlines KW - Travel demand KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation/aerospace_forecasts/media/2012%20FAA%20Aerospace%20Forecast.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141426 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01372435 AU - Murat, Alper E AU - Chinnam, Ratna Babu AU - Khasnabis, Snehamay AU - Wayne State University AU - Wayne State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Value of ITS Information for Congestion Avoidance in Inter-Modal Transportation Systems PY - 2012///Final Report SP - 80p AB - This Year 4 Final Report focuses on infrastructure utilization in the study of intelligent transportation system (ITS) information for congestion avoidance in intermodal transportation systems. In this report, intermodal freight refers to the shipment of freight involving more than one mode of transportation (road, rail, air, and sea) during a single, seamless journey. Three major milestones were addressed in year 3: (1) Compare the performance of static and dynamic models through the case studies; (2) Develop extensive scenarios based on loading levels at inter-modal facilities and transportation network, disruption and incident states, and fidelity of realtime information, etc.; (3) Apply Static and Dynamic models for the different scenarios in a simulation test-bed to perform cost/benefit analysis. In Section A of this report, the authors consider a freight forwarder's operational implementation of alternative access airport policy in a multi-airport region for air cargo transportation to evaluate static and dynamic routing policies. Given a set of heterogeneous air cargo customers and their air-cargo characteristics, the forwarder's problem is to simultaneously select air cargo flight itineraries and schedule the pickup and delivery of customer loads to the airport(s) such that the cargo is delivered to the airport on-time for the assigned flight itineraries. This problem is formulated as a novel pickup and delivery problem, where the delivery cost is both destination and time dependent. An efficient solution method based on Lagrangian decomposition and variable target method with backtracking is developed. Results of computational experiments and a practical case study in the Southern California demonstrate the merits of the model and show that the proposed algorithm is very efficient and obtains near-optimal solutions. In section B, the authors consider disruptions in intermodal facilities used by a company to transport its freight. Facing a disruption scenario, the company re-allocates the flow of goods through those facilities that survive as well as resort to emergency alternatives (e.g., expediting). For this problem, the authors present a novel hybrid method, swarm intelligence based sample average approximation (SIBSAA), for solving the capacitated reliable facility location problem (CRFLP). The CRFLP extends the well-known capacitated fixed-cost facility problem by accounting for the unreliability of facilities. The standard SAA procedure, while effectively used in many applications, can lead to poor solution quality if the selected sample sizes are not sufficiently large. With larger sample sizes, however, the SAA method is not practical due to the significant computational effort required. The proposed SIBSAA method addresses this limitation by using smaller samples and repetitively applying the SAA method while injecting social learning in the solution process inspired by the swarm intelligence of particle swarm optimization. The authors report on experimental study results showing that the SIBSAA improves the computational efficiency significantly while attaining same or better solution quality than the SAA method. The results of computational experiments also indicate that the benefit of having flexibility in the inter-modal transportation system increases with increasing failure likelihood and severity. The authors also note that the flexibility levels depend on the capacity as well as various cost factors such as recourse costs. KW - Congestion avoidance KW - Dynamic models KW - Forecasting KW - Freight transportation KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Intermodal transportation KW - Real time information KW - Static models KW - Supply chain management KW - Traffic congestion UR - http://www.utoledo.edu/research/ututc/docs/UTUTC-IU-17%20Final%20Murat.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141066 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370189 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Guidelines on Work Zone Access and Egress PY - 2012 SP - 13p AB - This document describes concerns associated with work zone access and egress. The document offers recommended practices and describes effective strategies and techniques that can be employed during the planning and construction phases to help mitigate concerns. Work zone planning, design and construction and all touched upon. KW - Access KW - Construction KW - Design KW - Egress KW - Planning KW - Work zones UR - http://www.workzonesafety.org/files/documents/training/courses_programs/rsa_program/RSP_Guidance_Documents_Download/RSP_Access_Egress_Download.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138432 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01366314 AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - National Transportation Atlas Databases 2011 (NTAD2011): A Collection of Spatial Data for Use in GIS-based Applications PY - 2012 SP - n.p. AB - This DVD contains a set of nationwide geographic databases of transportation facilities, transportation networks, and associated infrastructure. These datasets include spatial information for transportation modal networks and intermodal terminals, as well as the related attribute information for these features. Metadata documentation, as prescribed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee, is also provided for each database. NTAD2011 contains only data. To take full advantage of this product, the user requires a Geographic Information System (GIS). KW - Databases KW - Geographic information systems KW - Mapping KW - Spatial analysis UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1135035 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01458053 AU - Folliard, Kevin AU - Pesek, Phil AU - Riding, Kyle AU - Schindler, Anton AU - Drimalas, Thano AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Predictive Model for Bridge Deck Cracking and Strength Development PY - 2011/12/31 SP - 2p AB - While early-age cracking will not cause failure of a bridge deck system independently, the penetration of deleterious substances through the early-age cracks into the bridge deck concrete and the bridge superstructure can lead to costly serviceability issues, and possibly the loss of some structural integrity. This project evaluated several of the key volume changes and sources of stress that affect bridge deck cracking. The researchers performed extensive laboratory and field research, and implemented the final results into a newly developed bridge-deck-cracking module within ConcreteWorks, a multifaceted software program developed by the same researchers under previous Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) funding. This research project has implemented the main findings from this project into a new concrete bridge-deck-cracking module within ConcreteWorks. It is expected that this new module will serve as a useful tool by which TxDOT can improve the performance and durability of concrete bridge decks, which in turn will help to prolong the life of the transportation infrastructure in the state of Texas. KW - Bridge decks KW - Concrete bridges KW - Cracking KW - Creep KW - Field tests KW - Heat of hydration KW - Laboratory tests KW - Mathematical prediction KW - Shrinkage KW - Software KW - Texas UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedPDFs/txdot/psr/6332.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1225693 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373954 AU - Vaughan, Michael R AU - Kelly, Marcella J AU - Proctor, Christine M AU - Trent, J Andrew AU - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluating Potential Effects of Widening US 64 on Red Wolves in Washington, Tyrrell, and Dare Counties, North Carolina PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 75p AB - The authors used data from 16 red wolves fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS)-collars between January 2009 and April 2011 to evaluate home range size and habitat selection, road permeability, and identify significant red wolf highway crossing locations. Home range size for red wolves averaged 13.7 mi² with no significant difference between males and females. Although the authors found no significant difference in home range size among age classes, dispersers tended to have larger home ranges than adults and juveniles. Red wolf home ranges were larger during winter than during other seasons. Red wolves avoided wetter habitats such as pocosins, wetlands, and lowland forests, leaving agriculture the best predictor of red wolf presence. Red wolves also selected for the presence of agriculture/forest road systems for travel. Road permeability, calculated using GPS-collar data, was 100%, thus the current 2- lane highway does not impose a barrier effect on the red wolf population. This increases the risk of road mortality events. Using a 3281 ft. (1 km) buffer, construction north of the current US 64 in Tyrrell County has the potential to remove up to 0.16 mi² of red wolf habitat and 6% of the home range area used by a current red wolf pack while construction to the south will impact only 0.09 mi² of red wolf habitat and will not displace any current red wolf packs. East of Alligator River in Dare County, a widening of the current highway to the south has the potential to remove up to of 0.07 mi² of red wolf habitat and 20% of the home range used by the only existing red wolf pack in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge if construction disturbs out to 3281 ft. (1 km) from the current road. Construction to the north of US 64 in Dare County has the potential to remove up to 0.04 mi² of red wolf habitat and will not overlap with any current packs, based on 95% home ranges. Through the use of GPS-collars and remote camera traps, we identified 5 important red wolf crossing locations, 4 in Tyrrell County west of Alligator River and 1 in Dare County east of Alligator River. The presence of agricultural fields, successional fields, and/or upland forests 328 to 492 ft. from the road provided the most parsimonious explanation for the location of crossing sites identified using GPS-collar locations; trail/road width provided the best explanation for the location of crossing sites identified by remote camera traps. The presence of agricultural fields, successional fields, and upland forests as well as proximity to maintained agricultural/forest roads at crossing sites corresponds to habitat selection results. Four of the 5 red wolf crossing locations the authors identified are suitable for crossing structures. The most western crossing site is located within the town of Colombia, NC where retro-fitting a wildlife underpass is not practical. Well maintained trails at least 26.24 ft. (8 m) in width leading to and from underpasses, which connect habitats selected for by red wolves (e.g. agriculture, successional fields, and upland forests), is suggested to optimize efficacy. KW - Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge KW - Dare County (North Carolina) KW - Environmental impact analysis KW - Habitat (Ecology) KW - Red wolves KW - Tyrrell County (North Carolina) KW - United States Highway 64 KW - Washington County (North Carolina) KW - Wildlife KW - Wildlife crossings UR - http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/research/download/2009-25finalreport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141536 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371175 AU - Mishalani, Rabi G AU - Goel, Prem K AU - NEXTRANS AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Impact of Public Transit Market Share and Other Passenger Travel Variables on CO2 Emissions: Amassing a Dataset and Estimating a Preliminary Statistical Model PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 21p AB - Policies that encourage the use of more efficient transportation modes are considered beneficial, in terms of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In support of developing such policies, the impacts of various transportation demands, supply, and regulation variables on passenger travel related CO2 – the predominant greenhouse gas (GHG) – emissions are investigated. A methodology for integrating data from multiple sources in a consistent manner is conceived and implemented, producing a dataset consisting of 146 of the largest urbanized areas in the U.S. A preliminary model for CO2 emissions per capita, in terms of various explanatory variables in this dataset, is developed; future improvements are suggested. KW - Carbon dioxide KW - Data collection KW - Data files KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Market share KW - Pollutants KW - Public transit KW - Statistical models KW - United States UR - http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/nextrans/assets/pdfs/Year%202%20Final%20Reports/Final%20Report%20035.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137473 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01371173 AU - Mishalani, Rabi G AU - Goel, Prem K AU - NEXTRANS AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Optimal Condition Sampling for a Network of Infrastructure Facilities PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 24p AB - In response to the developments in inspection technologies, infrastructure decision-making methods evolved whereby the optimum combination of inspection decisions on the one hand and maintenance and rehabilitation decisions on the other are determined based on an economic evaluation that captures the long-term costs and benefits. Recently, sample size has been included in inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation (IM&R) decision-making as a decision variable when considering a single facility. While the question of dealing with a network of facilities in making IM&R decisions has been addressed in the literature, this treatment does not consider condition sampling, whereby each facility could require a different set of sample sizes over time. This report presents an overview of the methodology developed to address the network level problem, whereby the uncertainty due to condition sampling is captured and its related decision variables included in the IM&R decision-making process. An example application is described and results and insights are presented. The parameters of the example of interest are determined by drawing upon various cases reported in the literature to arrive at a realistic base scenario for analysis. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is also conducted to explore the effect of various factors on the optimal solution. KW - Condition surveys KW - Decision making KW - Infrastructure KW - Inspection KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Sampling KW - Sensitivity analysis KW - Transportation facilities KW - Transportation system management UR - http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/nextrans/assets/pdfs/Year%202%20Final%20Reports/Final%20Report%20034.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137470 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370033 AU - Williams, Kevin L AU - Howard, Isaac L AU - Cooley, L Allen AU - Mississippi State University, Mississippi State AU - Burns Cooley Dennis, Incorporated AU - Mississippi Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Effects of Coarse Aggregate Cleanliness and Moisture Content on Asphalt Concrete Compactability and Moisture Susceptibility PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 175p AB - Twelve field projects were studied where forty-four locations were evaluated to assess the cause or causes of asphalt concrete that exhibits ‘tender zone’ characteristics (i.e. instability during compaction) and to investigate the tendency of these mixes to be susceptible to moisture damage over time. Data was collected during construction and samples were taken and used to conduct multiple laboratory tests. All field and laboratory data was used to develop multiple regression equations to predict final in place air voids and moisture susceptibility. The overall conclusion from the research was that compactability appeared to be predicted in a reasonable manner while moisture susceptibility did not. The Methylene Blue test appears promising when used in conjunction with moisture content (cold feed and mix moisture contents were measured) as a means of providing guidance for achieving higher in place density. The tensile strength ratio (TSR) test as performed in this research on laboratory compacted specimens was found to be questionable in terms of its ability to predict field moisture susceptibility. KW - Asphalt concrete KW - Compactibility KW - Crushed aggregates KW - Field studies KW - Methylene blue test KW - Moisture damage KW - Multiple regression analysis KW - Stripping (Pavements) KW - Tensile strength KW - Tensile strength ratio UR - http://www.cee.msstate.edu/assets/documents/Final%20Report%20FHWA_MS-DOT-RD-11-208.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44478/State_Study_208_The_Effects_of_Coarse_Aggregate_Cleanliness_and_Moisture_Cont._on_Asp._Conc._Comp._and_Moist._Susceptibility.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138304 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01365970 AU - Harries, Kent AU - University of Pittsburgh AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Deterioration of J-Bar Reinforcement in Abutments and Piers PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 73p AB - Deterioration and necking of J-bars has been reportedly observed at the interface of the footing and stem wall during the demolition of older retaining walls and bridge abutments. Similar deterioration has been reportedly observed between the pier column and footing. Any decrease in the area of steel at these interfaces may result in foundation instability, and hamper efforts to rehabilitate or preserve existing foundations. The objective of this project was to determine the extent and nature of deterioration and/or necking of J-bars in existing bridge structures. This must be understood in order to identify existing structures having the potential for or existence of deteriorated J-bars. Once at-risk structures were identified, methods to identify and validate deterioration and remedial measures, details, and methodologies were developed to address affected structures. KW - Bridge abutments KW - Bridge foundations KW - Bridge piers KW - Construction joints KW - Corrosion KW - Deterioration KW - Footings KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Repairing UR - ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete%20Projects/Improving%20Pennsylvania%20Bridges/Deterioration%20of%20J-Bar%20Reinforcement.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134975 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01363230 AU - Mishalnai, Rabi G AU - McCord, Mark R AU - Goel, Prem AU - NEXTRANS AU - Ohio State University, Columbus AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Smart Campus Transit Laboratory for Research and Education PY - 2011/12/31/Final Report SP - 79p AB - A joint effort by the Ohio State University (OSU) Transportation and Parking Services, OSU College of Engineering, OSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, and Clever Devices has recently succeeded in equipping the OSU Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) with state-of-the-practice sensing, communications, and passenger information technologies that have achieved operational status. CABS serves over four million passengers annually on a fleet of approximately thirty buses and operated six interconnected routes during the academic year 2009-2010. In addition to improving level of service for passengers, the technologies installed on the CABS system provide extensive data on operating performance and ridership characteristics. Because of the relatively complex campus bus transit system, the advanced technologies in operational use, the physical proximity of the system to researchers, educators, and students, the good working relations that have developed over the past decade between CABS managers and transportation researchers and course instructors, and the desire for CABS to support “the academic mission” of the university, the CABS physical and institutional infrastructure has formed the foundation of the OSU Campus Transit Lab (CTL). The objective of this project was to take advantage of this living campus lab for research, education, and outreach activities related to bus transit planning and operations. KW - Bus transit KW - Campus transportation KW - Level of service KW - Passenger information systems KW - Ridership KW - State of the practice UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43500/43550/Final_Report_032.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131870 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370064 AU - Weaver, Mark A AU - Department of Agriculture AU - Mississippi Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Integrated Kudzu Control on Mississippi Roadsides PY - 2011/12/30/Final Report SP - 33p AB - Kudzu is among the top weed threats in Mississippi and is found on many roadsides and right-of-ways. The present research evaluated the efficacy of several previously undocumented tools for the eradication of kudzu, including the use of alternative herbicides, the use of the pathogen Myrothecium verrucaria and the integration of multiple methods to bring about more rapid kudzu eradication. Field trials with herbicides were conducted in triplicate at three locations over two years and demonstrated 95% or better control in at least one location with Chaparral, Escort, Milestone, RemedyUltra, Streamline, Transline and Vista, as measured 11 months after initial treatment. Integrated treatment programs, including various combinations of: broadcast application of Milestone VM+; applications of the bioherbicide Myrothecium verrucaria; mowing and spot treatments with Vista and Escort; and planing of switchgrass were all very effective in controlling kudzu. Zero kudzu was detected in many of these treatment plots the following season, and plots planted in switchgrass were well-established. In a supplemental greenhouse-based experiment, nine herbicides that might be used to aid in transitioning a site from kudzu to native perennial grasses were tested for compatibility with seven grass species. While there were many important specific herbicide-species interactions, many of the kudzu herbicides were well-tolerated by the grasses. KW - Herbicides KW - Mississippi KW - Roadside flora KW - Switch grass KW - Weed control UR - http://mdot.ms.gov/documents/research/Reports/Interim%20and%20Final%20Reports/SS215-Integrated%20Kudzu%20Control%20on%20MS%20Roadsides.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1138542 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01365353 AU - Dyer, Michael G AU - Peckett, Haley AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - National Park Service TI - Fire Island National Seashore. Alternative Transportation Study PY - 2011/12/30/Planning Report SP - 84p AB - As part of its General Management Plan (GMP) process, Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS) seeks to develop a long-term management model to protect Fire Island’s resources, while facilitating a safe, rewarding, and relevant experience for the public. As part of this management model, the Seashore is seeking the best and most appropriate methods for moving people, goods, and services to, from, and along Fire Island. The transportation challenge addressed by this report is to balance the many kinds of vehicle use on the Island with the Seashore’s resource protection mission and the desire of residents and visitors to preserve the Island’s “roadless” nature. The existing conditions section characterize the diverse transportation systems currently in use on Fire Island, many of which have evolved to function in line with the island's roadless character. The opportunities section focuses on vehicle use reduction and enhanced use of water transportation, as well as ideas aimed at general improvement of the efficiency and function of the whole transportation system on and around Fire Island. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Fire Island National Seashore KW - National parks KW - Vehicles KW - Water transportation UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43600/43689/DOT-VNTSC-NPS-12-01.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1133951 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380477 AU - Wiebelhaus, Mitch J AU - Johnson, Erin A AU - Sicking, Dean L AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Lechtenberg, Karla A AU - Rohde, John R AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Reid, John D AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Phase I Development of a Non-Proprietary, Four-Cable, High Tension Median Barrier PY - 2011/12/28/Final Report SP - 237p AB - During the last decade, the use of cable median barriers has risen dramatically. Cable barriers are often utilized in depressed medians with widths ranging from 30 to 50 ft (9.1 to 15.2 m) and with fill slopes as steep as 4H:1V. Although cable barriers have been shown to contain and redirect many heavy trucks, a careful review of accident records has indicated that passenger vehicles do occasionally penetrate through the standard 3-cable median barrier and enter opposing traffic lanes. As a result, the Midwest States Pooled Fund Program sponsored a research and development project to improve the safety performance of existing, non-proprietary, cable median barriers. These safety improvements included increased cable spacing, increased cable height, the use of four cables, increased cable tension, and optimized cable attachment to posts. Three Test Level 3 crash tests were performed on a four-cable, high-tension median barrier placed in a 46-ft (14.0-m) wide, 4H:1V V-ditch. All tests were conducted according to the safety performance guidelines provided in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). The first test utilized a 2270P pickup truck impacting the barrier placed on a downslope and 12 ft (3.7 m) laterally away from the front slope break point. The vehicle was contained and redirected by the barrier and deemed acceptable according to the MASH guidelines. The second test utilized a 1100C small car impacting the barrier placed 27 ft (8.2 m) laterally away from the front slope breakpoint or 4 ft (1.2 m) up the back slope of the V-ditch. During the second test, the small car impacted the ditch bottom with a soft-soil condition and began to plow into the soil, thus causing moderate decelerations and velocity change before contacting the barrier and a marginal impact performance. The third test utilized a 1100C small car impacting the barrier in the same position as used in the second test. During the third test, the small car impacted the ditch bottom with a hard-soil condition and was contained by the barrier. However, excessive roof crush resulted when one of the cables slide up the vehicle and later snagged on the cable-to-post attachment hardware, thus resulting in a failed test. Design modifications are anticipated in a Phase II R&D effort. KW - AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware KW - Acceptance tests KW - Cable guardrails KW - Crash records KW - Highway safety KW - Impact tests KW - Median barriers KW - Roadside safety hardware UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45100/45167/Dev_of_High_Tension_Barrier.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147517 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370198 AU - Department of Transportation TI - DOT Needs to Improve Its Tracking and Monitoring of All Single Audit Findings in Order to Effectively Manage Grants PY - 2011/12/28/Audit Report SP - 28p AB - Before 2009, the Department awarded over an average of $50 billion annually in grants for transportation related projects. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided the Department an additional $48 billion for such grants. To help ensure the proper use of grant awards, the Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended, requires each entity that expends $500,000 or more in Federal funds in a fiscal year to obtain an annual “single audit.” This includes an audit of the entity’s financial statements and schedule of Federal award expenditures, as well as reviews of the entity’s internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations. The entities, or grantees, are required to develop corrective action plans to address single audit findings. In turn, the Department and its Operating Administrations (OA) are responsible for ensuring that grantees complete the necessary actions in a timely manner. The objectives were to determine if the OAs: (1) issue timely management decisions approving grantees’ corrective action plans; (2) ensure that grantees promptly implement corrective actions, including recovery of questioned costs; and (3) use single audit results to identify grantees that require close monitoring. As part of this audit, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed single audit findings, including findings related to questioned costs, and findings covering grantees with significant histories of findings. It conducted this audit from January 2010 through September 2011 in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards. Briefly, results indicate that OAs issued timely management decisions (within 6 months of receiving the single audit report) on proposed corrective action plans for high priority or P1 single audit findings.12 These decisions met OST’s 2009 guidance13 on expediting of actions on P1 findings and monthly reviews of outstanding items. However, OAs frequently issued untimely and incomplete decisions on lower priority P2 findings. OAs frequently did not ensure that grantees had completed planned actions to address P1 and P2 findings in a timely manner. KW - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 KW - Auditing KW - Decision making KW - Federal aid KW - Grant aid KW - Management KW - U.S. Department of Transportation UR - http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/Single%20Audit%20Implementation%20Final%2012-%2028-11_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137257 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01383579 AU - Flood, Gerry AU - Granger, Jeff AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - National Parks of New York Harbor TI - National Parks of New York Harbor Traveler Information System: Functional Requirements PY - 2011/12/23/Final Report SP - 30p AB - The purpose of this planning project is to analyze alternatives and design a Traveler Information System (TIS) that will enhance the experience of visitors to the National Parks of New York Harbor (NPNH) parks and other sites managed by federal, state and local partners. The system will provide information to the traveler that will promote increased use of existing and future alternative transportation systems in the New York City metropolitan area that service the parks and other sites. While the alternative transportation systems in the area are highly developed and very efficient, they can be confusing and intimidating for visitors. This TIS will be designed to improve that situation by providing better pre-trip planning and enhanced real time assistance while in the area. A successful TIS will result in increased use of alternative transportation, increased visitation to NY harbor attractions and substantially improved visitor experience. KW - National parks KW - National Parks of New York Harbor KW - Public transit KW - Transportation planning KW - Traveler information and communication systems KW - Trip planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45500/45555/NPNH_TIS_Functional_Requirements_FINAL.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1148387 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01383557 AU - Flood, Gerry AU - Granger, Jeff AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - National Parks of New York Harbor AU - National Park Service TI - National Parks of New York Harbor Traveler Information System: Concept of Operations PY - 2011/12/23/Final Report SP - 52p AB - The purpose of this planning project is to analyze alternatives and design a Traveler Information System (TIS) that will enhance the experience of visitors to the National Parks of New York Harbor (NPNH) parks and other sites managed by federal, state and local partners. The system will provide information to the traveler that will promote increased use of existing and future alternative transportation systems in the New York City metropolitan area that service the parks and other sites. While the alternative transportation systems in the area are highly developed and very efficient, they can be confusing and intimidating for visitors. This TIS will be designed to improve that situation by providing better pre-trip planning and enhanced real time assistance while in the area. A successful TIS will result in increased use of alternative transportation, increased visitation to NY harbor attractions and substantially improved visitor experience. KW - National parks KW - National Parks of New York Harbor KW - Public transit KW - Transportation planning KW - Traveler information and communication systems KW - Trip planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45500/45554/NPNH_TIS_Concept_Operations_FINAL.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1148389 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01467835 TI - Corrosion Damage Assessment of Post-Tensioned Concrete Structures AB - The goal of this project is to design and implement an innovative monitoring system for corrosion damage assessment of steel tendons in post-tensioned structures. The monitoring system is based on embedded arrays of piezo-composite transducers to generate and receive Guided Ultrasonic Waves (GUW) throughout the tendon. Advanced algorithms will be developed to enable the monitoring of the corrosion evolutionary path including: 1) initiation of corrosion damage (micro-scale), 2) loss of mass (macro-scale) of the steel strand, and 3) the failure of the strand. The proposed array will be able to operate in a dual monitoring mode: 1) Real-time continuous, and 2) Routine-based inspections. Corrosion of the built environment has a very significant impact on society, affecting nearly every aspect of daily life in our nation. In monetary terms, corrosion degradation consumes at least 2-4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product every year. The proposed research will have a positive impact on our society by enhancing public safety through early detection of corrosion damage and enabling planning and implementation of remedial measures to structures. The research plan is divided into two phases. Phase I, Development of Statistical Algorithms for Corrosion Damage Assessment, in which algorithms capable of monitoring the evolutionary path of corrosion will be developed. Phase II, Implementation of the proposed system in accelerated corrosion laboratory tests, in which experimental simulations will be conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed system and to propose strategies for implementation in new and existing structures. The work, exploiting low cost and robust piezo-composite transducers, will enable the development of a "smart strand" with sensing capabilities to inform decision makers on the need for repair to ensure safe and reliable structural performance. The uniqueness of this research resides in the development of embedded arrays of piezo-composite transducers with increased robustness, conformability to curved surfaces, and better performance in harsh environments than traditional monolithic piezoelectric transducers (PZT). The proposed activities will also fill gaps in the theoretical understanding of guided ultrasonic waves in a loaded 7-wires strand excited by embedded arrays of piezo-composite transducers. Accelerated corrosion testing will provide insights on the underlying corrosion mechanisms and the expected corrosive environment including temporal variations in the features of a GUW. The proposed work will significantly advance scientific and engineering knowledge in the area of corrosion prognosis and enhance our nation's ability to detect early corrosion damage in infrastructure and to perform robust insitu condition assessments. KW - Algorithms KW - Corrosion KW - Damage assessment KW - Embedded data collectors KW - Monitoring KW - Posttensioning KW - Statistical analysis KW - Steel structures UR - http://www.utrc2.org/research/projects/corrosion-damage-assessment UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1236071 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373952 AU - Vaughan, Michael R AU - Kelly, Marcella AU - Trent, J Andrew AU - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluating Potential Effects of Widening US 64 on the Black Bear Population of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Dare County, North Carolina PY - 2011/12/21/Final Report SP - 92p AB - This report summarizes research conducted along US Highway 64 (US 64) and US Highway 264 (US 264) in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (ARNWR), Dare County, NC regarding the proposed expansion of US 64. The study site included the areas adjacent to US 64 from the Alligator River Bridge to the US 64/US 264 intersection and from Cub Road to Borrow Pit Road on US 264. This report evaluates potential effects of the road improvement project on the black bear population, delineates significant wildlife crossing areas, and provides data on movement patterns and population dynamics of black bears on ARNWR. The primary focus of the research was to identify sites along US 64, frequently used by black bears and white-tailed deer as potential sites for wildlife crossing structures. It is the legal obligation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a Compatibility Determination to decide whether the proposed project is compatible with the purpose of the refuge. The current wildlife use patterns surrounding the highway and the potential short and long-term effects of the expansion project on the entire suite of wildlife occupying the areas directly adjacent to US 64 were evaluated. The authors employed a variety of research methods including; roadside barbed wire hair collection, Global Positioning System (GPS) collar deployments, remote camera trapping, road kill surveys, and driving surveys. The road side barbed wire surveys documented 890 black bear road crossings from March 2009 – March 2011. 83 individual bears (65M:18F) were genetically identified from hair samples collected. GPS collars were deployed on 49 individual bears (26M:23F) and detailed 15 bears (11M:4F) crossing US 64, 99 times. The GPS collars also detailed intense use of the areas directly adjacent to US 64. We photo-captured 170 white-tailed deer, > 200 bobcats and raccoons and an additional 260 black bears at 12 guard rail openings along US 64 from June 2009 – March 2011. Driving surveys provided additional 3 and 19 sightings of black bears and white-tailed deer respectively from March 2009 – March 2010. We identified 184 individual bears (132M:52F) within the study area. Road kill surveys documented 8 white-tailed deer (2M:3F:3U) road mortalities from November 2008 – July 2011. Including historical data collected by the USFWS, the cumulative total of road killed black bears on US 64 from January 1993 – July 2011 was 63 (35M:20F:8U: =3.32/year). Road kill data also included; 75 bats (7 species, 1 species a NC Threatened Species), 82 small mammals (9 species), 134 mid-sized mammals (10 species), 1,153 birds (66 species), 4,014 reptiles (44 species), and 7,498 amphibians (18 species). Four species recovered in our surveys were NC Species of Concern. This study identified 6 high priority areas for black bear and white-tailed deer crossing and an extensive network of crossing areas for small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. KW - Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge KW - Animal migrations KW - Black bear crossings KW - Black bears KW - Dare County (North Carolina) KW - Environmental impact analysis KW - Habitat (Ecology) KW - Road kill KW - United States Highway 64 KW - White tailed deer KW - Wildlife KW - Wildlife crossings UR - http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/research/download/2009-24finalreport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1141535 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380434 AU - Pack, Michael L AU - University of Maryland, College Park AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Integration of Multi-State Clarus Data into Real-time and Archived RITIS Data Visualization Tools PY - 2011/12/20/Final Report SP - 20p AB - This project focused on the integration of all Clarus Data into the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) for real-time situational awareness and historical safety data analysis. The initial outcomes of this project are the full integration of RITIS and Clarus datasets into a massive database, the creation of a series of real-time situational awareness tools built around the integrated data sources, and the creation of several visual analytics tools that allow users to explore the relationships between weather, speed, volume, and incident datasets. The incorporation of Clarus data into the RITIS platform means that there are now thousands of transportation operations specialists, university researchers, and metropolitan planning agencies that have the ability to view real-time road weather data within the broader context of other transportation system information. KW - Alertness KW - Clarus KW - Data analysis KW - Databases KW - Real time data processing KW - Safety data KW - Visualization KW - Weather conditions UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45500/45599/FHWA-JPO-12-008_The_Integration_of_Multi-State_Clarus_Data_into_Data_Visualization_Tools_Final_508.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147994 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01370175 AU - Department of Transportation AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - New Approaches Are Needed To Strengthen FAA Oversight of Air Carrier Training Programs and Pilot Performance PY - 2011/12/20/Audit Report SP - 28p AB - For more than a decade, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to incorporate safety improvements impacting pilot performance and professionalism. NTSB determined that the cause of the fatal 2009 crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 was due in part to pilot failure to follow appropriate procedures. In June 2009, 4 months after the crash, FAA announced its Call to Action Plan, which included 10 short- and mid-term initiatives to enhance pilot performance and training, increase air carrier participation in voluntary safety programs, and expand pilot records review. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure requested that the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) review FAA’s oversight of airline pilot training programs to determine whether pilot training is up to date, and to what extent FAA can verify pilots are receiving appropriate training. The Committees also requested that OIG determine what actions apply when pilots repeatedly fail training or other tests, what information pilots must provide airlines when hired, and whether this information is sufficient to verify pilot employment and training. This request was also reiterated by Representatives Louise Slaughter and Brian Higgins. This report provides the results of OIG's audit to (1) assess FAA’s oversight of air carrier pilot training and proficiency programs and (2) examine the data FAA maintains on pilots’ qualifications and past performance and the process air carriers use to obtain these data when hiring. Briefly, results of the audit indicated that FAA’s oversight of air carriers’ pilot training and proficiency programs lacks the rigor needed to identify and track poor performing pilots and address potential program risks. FAA maintains extensive pilot information that air carriers can use to evaluate the competence and qualifications of pilots; however, its current request process hinders air carriers’ ability to easily obtain all relevant data. KW - Air pilots KW - Flight training KW - Hiring policies KW - Oversight KW - Performance KW - Qualifications KW - Training programs KW - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration UR - http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/Pilot%20Training%20FINAL.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1137267 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01483687 AU - McCord, Mark R AU - Goel, Prem AU - Ohio State University, Columbus AU - NEXTRANS AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Incorporating Image-Based Traffic Information for AADT Estimation: Operational Developments for Agency Implementation and Theoretical Extensions to Classified AADT Estimation PY - 2011/12/18/Final Report SP - 24p AB - Average annual daily traffic (AADT) is perhaps the most fundamental measure of traffic flow. The data used to produce AADT estimates are typically collected by in-highway traffic counters operated by state Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic monitoring crews who must cover thousands of highway segments in their statewide systems on a continual basis. In-highway traffic counters can be dangerous to traffic crews and disruptive to traffic. In addition, the availability of limited resources, coupled with the large number of highway segments spread across the expansive geographic regions of the state, requires that the state DOTs can only collect short-term, sample volumes for the majority of the highway segments. Moreover, not all segments can be sampled every year, and some traffic counts will have been collected several years before the AADT of the segment is estimated. In a first year project, results of empirical studies demonstrated more accurate AADT estimation when using a proposed method to combine older, traditionally collected traffic count data with traffic information contained in more recently obtained air photos. Software components were also developed to allow many of the calculations to be performed automatically. Additional empirical studies were conducted this year, a refinement to the estimation of an important input value using image-based traffic information was developed, and proof-of-concept software was installed and used at the Ohio Department of Transportation. KW - Aerial photography KW - Annual average daily traffic KW - Data collection KW - Image analysis KW - Ohio Department of Transportation KW - Software KW - State departments of transportation KW - Traffic counting KW - Traffic flow UR - http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/nextrans/assets/pdfs/Final%20project%20031OY02%20Incorporating%20Image-Based%20Traffic%20Information%20for%20AADT%20Estimation%20Operational%20Developments%20for%20Agency%20Implementation%20and%20Theoretical%20Extensions%20to%20Classified%20AADT%20Estimation.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1251982 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01481820 TI - Optimal Timing of Preventive Maintenance for Addressing Environmental Aging in HMA Pavements (MnROAD Study) AB - The goal of this study is to determine the proper timing of preventive maintenance treatments in order to optimize life cycle costs and pavement performance. Environmental aging of the asphalt binder in the underlying pavement is not well understood, and this project will seek to better understand the aging mechanism and how it can be reduced through pavement preservation. This pooled fund study is strictly to perform the preventive maintenance research on newly built test sections at Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD), and its funding will come from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and other participating states. The funding for initial construction of the test sections will be obtained separately from Mn/DOT and other partners. KW - Aging (Materials) KW - Environmental impacts KW - Life cycle costing KW - Minnesota Road Research Facility KW - Pavement performance KW - Pavement preservation KW - Preventive maintenance UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/380 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1251001 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01380478 AU - Albuquerque, Francisco Daniel B AU - Sicking, Dean L AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of The In-Service Safety Performance of Safety-Shape and Vertical Concrete Barriers PY - 2011/12/16/Final Report SP - 166p AB - Roadside concrete barriers have been widely used to protect errant motorists from hitting roadside hazards or obstacles. Two concrete barrier profiles, vertical and safety-shape, have been used for this purpose. The safety-shape profile has been shown to produce excessive vehicle climbing which tends to increase rollover propensity. On the other hand, the vertical profile does not cause vehicle climbing, but it does produce higher lateral forces which may produce higher injury levels. The objective of this research is to investigate which barrier profile is the safest based on real-world vehicle crash data. The safest barrier profile is defined as the one that produces lower injury levels. Rollover propensity was also used as a second indicator of barrier performance since rollovers may also affect injury severity. Bridge-related crash data was collected from State maintained highways in the State of Iowa. It was found that rollovers are twice more likely to occur in crashes involving safety-shape barriers as compared to vertical barriers. It was also found that crashes that involved safety-shape barriers resulted in higher injury levels as compared to crashes that involved the vertical barriers. Therefore, it is believed that the expanded use of vertical barriers would improve overall highway safety. KW - Concrete barriers KW - Crash data KW - Highway safety KW - Injury severity KW - Rollover crashes KW - Safety shape barriers KW - Vertical barrier walls UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/45000/45100/45168/Perform_of_Concete_Barriers.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1147510 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01566746 TI - Core Program Services for a Highway RD&T Program - FFY 2011 (TRB FY 2012) AB - This solicitation will cover the period of the Transportation Research Board's (TRB's) fiscal year 2012 that begins July 1, 2011, and ends June 30, 2012. Funds committed by participating States will be from their Federal fiscal year 2009 funding. This pooled fund study permits States to make their contributions to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Core Program instead of sending their contributions to TRB directly. The TRB Core Program provides support funding for the TRB annual meeting. KW - Financing KW - Highways KW - Program development KW - Research and development KW - State departments of transportation KW - Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/472 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358402 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01491404 AU - Bayless, Steven H AU - Intelligent Transportation Society of America AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Trends in Machine-to-Machine Communications: An overview of M2M technology and potential for the transportation sector PY - 2011/12/15 SP - 11p AB - This report describes Machine-to-Machine service architecture and how it is evolving over the next several years. Nearly 50 billion Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices are predicted to be deployed by all sectors by 2025. The largest impediment to M2M deployment in the transportation sector is largely life cycle cost, which is driven by stringent design and certification processes. This paper speculates that a "service-oriented" architecture, one that allows any M2M device to be securely accessible to any application, would be desirable for faster market growth. This report is part of the Connected Vehicle Technology Scan and Assessment project. This two year scanning series of Connected Vehicle Insight reports will assess emerging, converging and enabling technologies outside the domain of mainstream transportation research. ITS America seeks technologies that will potentially impact state-of-the-art or state-of-the-practice in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment over the next decade, with an emphasis on the "connected vehicle." The Technology Scan Series notes trends, technologies, and innovations that could influence, or be leveraged as part of, next-generation intelligent transportation systems within the next five to seven years. The series’ focus is on developments in applied science and engineering and innovation in data acquisition, dissemination, processing, and management technologies and techniques that can potentially support transportation. KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Technological innovations KW - Wireless communication systems UR - http://www.its.dot.gov/research/pdf/Tech%20Scan%20M2M.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1259534 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01491397 AU - Bayless, Steven H AU - Intelligent Transportation Society of America AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Fourth Generation Wireless - Vehicle and Highway Gateways to the Cloud: An evaluation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other wireless technologies’ impact to the transportation sector PY - 2011/12/15 SP - 22p AB - This paper examines how next generation wide-area cellular such as fourth generation (4G) will be able to support vehicular applications, and how transportation infrastructure may mesh with wireless networks. This report is part of the Connected Vehicle Technology Scan and Assessment project. This two year scanning series of Connected Vehicle Insight reports will assess emerging, converging and enabling technologies outside the domain of mainstream transportation research. ITS America seeks technologies that will potentially impact state-of-the-art or state-of-the-practice in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment over the next decade, with an emphasis on the "connected vehicle." The Technology Scan Series notes trends, technologies, and innovations that could influence, or be leveraged as part of, next-generation intelligent transportation systems within the next five to seven years. The series’ focus is on developments in applied science and engineering and innovation in data acquisition, dissemination, processing, and management technologies and techniques that can potentially support transportation. KW - Cloud computing KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Technological innovations KW - Telematics KW - Wireless communication systems UR - http://www.its.dot.gov/research/pdf/Tech%20Scan%204G%20Wireless%20(final)%20.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1259536 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01491340 AU - Guan, Adrian AU - Bayless, Steven H AU - Neelakantan, Radha AU - Intelligent Transportation Society of America AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Trends in Computer Vision: An overview of vision-based data acquisition and processing technology and its potential for the transportation sector PY - 2011/12/15 SP - 17p AB - This report foresees imaging technology rapidly advancing in applications that require simple object detection, such as vehicle collision avoidance and advanced traffic management systems. The paper speculates that future advances, such as improved object detection algorithms, machine learning and “augmented reality” may influence a number of transportation applications in the automotive, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. This report is part of the Connected Vehicle Technology Scan and Assessment project. This two year scanning series of Connected Vehicle Insight reports will assess emerging, converging and enabling technologies outside the domain of mainstream transportation research. ITS America seeks technologies that will potentially impact state-of-the-art or state-of-the-practice in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment over the next decade, with an emphasis on the "connected vehicle." The Technology Scan Series notes trends, technologies, and innovations that could influence, or be leveraged as part of, next-generation intelligent transportation systems within the next five to seven years. The series’ focus is on developments in applied science and engineering and innovation in data acquisition, dissemination, processing, and management technologies and techniques that can potentially support transportation. KW - Active safety systems KW - Computer vision KW - Imaging systems KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Technological innovations UR - http://connectedvehicle.itsa.wikispaces.net/file/view/Computer_Vision_Report_May_2012_posted.pdf/336577828/Computer_Vision_Report_May_2012_posted.pdf UR - http://www.its.dot.gov/research/pdf/TechScan%20computervision%20ITSA.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1259535 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01379012 AU - Amekudzi, Adjo AU - Meyer, Michael AU - Akofio-Sowah, Margaret AU - Boadi, Richard AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta AU - Georgia Department of Transportation TI - Comprehensive Transportation Asset Management: Making a Business Case and Prioritizing Assets for Inclusion in Formal Asset Management Programs PY - 2011/12/15/Final Report SP - 115p AB - Several agencies are applying asset management principles as a business tool and paradigm to help them define goals and prioritize agency resources in decision making. Previously, transportation asset management (TAM) has focused more on “big ticket” assets such as roadways and bridges, and less on lower-cost assets such as traffic signs and guardrails. The purpose of this study is to assess the state of the practice in managing ancillary transportation assets, and develop a benefit-cost-risk framework and supporting tool that can be used to evaluate and prioritize assets for systematic management. The project focuses on ten main ancillary assets: culverts, earth retaining structures, guardrails, mitigation features, pavement markings, sidewalks (and curbs), street lighting, traffic signals, traffic signs and utilities and manholes, and one information asset: data. A literature review and targeted survey were conducted to determine the state of the practice in ancillary TAM and collect data for the development of the evaluation framework. The results of the literature review indicate that a growing number of agencies are making notable efforts to systematically manage the assets under consideration. Based on the literature, methods and practices vary from agency to agency; however, very little was found on data collection costs. A survey conducted targeting 41 state and municipal agencies with reported activity in the literature (with 44% response rate), showed varied agency practices, with more agencies beginning to manage roadway safety assets. It was difficult to obtain specific estimates of data collection costs and cost savings from the TAM systems implementation. The study findings indicate that making a business case for formal asset management programs is more meaningful when approached as an ongoing activity rather than a snapshot action because asset management programs are evolving and at different levels of maturity. At present, the data available for several programs is not adequate enough to conduct a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis of such programs. Thus, the study recommends collecting the necessary data to periodically evaluate the benefits and costs of asset management programs to ensure that they are becoming more cost effective as they are evolved to higher levels of maturity. A benefit-cost framework is provided and data collection needs are outlined to enable such an analysis to be conducted adequately. With regard to prioritizing assets for inclusion in a formal asset management program, the study recommends that the prioritization must be tied to the strategic goals of the agency, and the objective of the prioritization should be risk reduction relative to agency strategic goals. A risk framework is provided and data needs are outlined for conducting such an analysis adequately. Another caution that results from the study is that ancillary assets cannot properly be considered in isolation and prioritized one against another but must also be considered as complementary units, with synergistic effects, that are part of the overall system. KW - Asset management KW - Assets KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Decision making KW - Literature reviews KW - State of the practice KW - Surveys UR - http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/research/Documents/1021.pdf UR - http://www.utc.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/projects/reports/amekudzi_comprehensive_transportation_asset_management_risk-based_inventory_expansion_and_data_needs_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1144059 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01365967 AU - Solaimanian, Mansour AU - Milander, Scott AU - Boz, Ilker AU - Stoffels, Shelley M AU - Pennsylvania State University, University Park AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center TI - Development of Guidelines for Usage of High Percent RAP in Warm-Mix Asphalt Pavements PY - 2011/12/15/Final Report SP - 128p AB - Road construction using warm-mix asphalt (WMA) has been rapidly gaining popularity in the United States, in part because WMA is believed to be friendlier to the environment as compared to hot-mix asphalt (HMA). Parallel to this rapid growth in WMA construction is utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in road construction. Research was conducted to develop guidelines for using high percentages of RAP in WMA. The laboratory work was focused on three WMA technologies: water foaming, a chemical additive (Evotherm™), and an organic additive (Sasobit™). The work included RAP characterization, mix design, moisture damage evaluation, and rutting evaluation using the Superpave Shear Tester and Model Mobile Load Simulator Third Scale. Accelerated load testing was conducted at a temperature range of approximately 42 to 50°C for 400,000 cycles of loading. Rutting resistance of the mixes was rated as fair to good. This research indicates that it is possible to produce WMA with high RAP having sufficient moisture damage and rutting resistance. However, a mix design established for HMA does not necessarily produce satisfactory performance when used with WMA, and it is important that moisture damage and rutting susceptibility of WMA be evaluated for any mix design, even though that mix design may have demonstrated satisfactory performance for HMA. KW - Accelerated tests KW - Evotherm KW - Foamed asphalt KW - Guidelines KW - Mix design KW - Moisture damage KW - Reclaimed asphalt pavements KW - Rutting KW - Sasobit KW - Warm mix paving mixtures UR - ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete%20Projects/Extending%20Pavement%20Life/Usage%20of%20High%20Percent%20RAP%20in%20Warm%20Mix.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1134974 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463229 TI - Test Procedures and Classification Criteria for Release of Toxic Gases from Water-Reactive Materials AB - Water-reactive substances, which are defined in international regulations as substances that, in contact with water, release flammable gases, are assigned to U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Hazard Class 4.3. The gases released may also be highly toxic. For instance, ferrosilicon, when in contact with water, releases arsine and phosphine gases. The test procedures and classification criteria for Hazard Class 4.3 are inadequate. For example, the procedures and criteria do not take into account (1) water reactions that may lead to the release of toxic gases, (2) the quantity of water-reactive substances being shipped, or (3) the potential effect of water salinity on release of toxic gases. The objective of this research is to propose existing, new, or enhanced test procedures and classification criteria for water-reactive materials (WRMs) that take account of the potential release of toxic gases during transport. In this research, the term water-reactive material is defined as a solid or liquid that may give off toxic gases when exposed to water during transport. This term may include (1) materials presently included in Hazard Class 4.3; (2) other regulated materials reactive to water, such as sulfur chloride; and (3) currently unregulated materials that are reactive to water KW - Environmental impacts KW - Gases KW - Hazardous materials KW - Poisons KW - Salinity KW - Test procedures UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3138 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231454 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463228 TI - Development of a Comprehensive Approach for Serious Traffic Crash Injury Measurement and Reporting Systems AB - Currently, severity of injuries is estimated by police on the scene of a traffic crash. A very simple rating scale is employed by many states or communities, i.e., the KABCO injury scale or a comparable version. Basically, the police officer codes the overall level of injury each person receives as killed, incapacitating, non-incapacitating, possible, or no injury. Each of these levels has a definition and criteria for rating. However, what the officer observes at a crash scene can differ substantially from what is found by medical personnel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) facilitates the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES). State CODES programs conduct a probabilistic matching of statewide health records with crash reports. However, a limited number of states are participating in this system, and the technical process is complex. Trying to connect police reports with any further medical outcome or cost data can be technically difficult. Also, organizational and other barriers may exist for making such linkages within states. Performance measures are extensively referenced in draft proposals for the surface transportation reauthorization bill. For the measurement of safety performance, both fatal and non-fatal serious injuries are emphasized in these proposals. NHTSA and the Governors Highway Safety Association recently developed a series of safety performance measures that include use of fatalities and serious non-fatal injuries. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has also been working to develop similar performance measures. If serious non-fatal injuries and crashes are to become major performance measures for states, then an accurate and feasible method for determining level-of-injury severity based on a medical assessment is needed. The objectives of this research are to: (a) Identify an injury scoring system for further consideration. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of conventional injury scoring systems based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) codes and KABCO. Document advantages and disadvantages of various definitions for a serious injury metric. (b) Develop a roadmap to assist states in developing and implementing an interim system to measure and report injury severity using accepted injury scoring systems based on ICD codes. The intent of the roadmap is to enable year-to-year performance assessment by states using a standard measure. At a minimum, the roadmap should document a workable process(es) for linking statewide crash and hospital discharge data. For states where complete crash and/or hospital discharge data do not exist, identify surrogate sources, such as trauma registries, or alternative measures, such as estimates, that can be used within the workable process as an interim step until the preferred process(es) can be implemented. Identify means to overcome technical, legal, political, financial, and other challenges to implementation and linkage of these state-based data systems. The states' future performance assessments will yield at a minimum the number of serious injury crashes and the number of persons seriously injured in each state using a standardized definition. This step should lead to the ultimate outcome, which is a unified database as described further in (c). (c) Expanding on (b), develop a state-based framework to perform comprehensive linkage of records related to motor vehicle crashes resulting in serious injuries, and incremental steps and priorities for achieving the linkage. A direct linkage is strongly preferred but it is recognized that alternative linkage methods may be appropriate, so the framework should include methods to be used when linkage is unsuccessful. Records may include crash and citation records; pre-hospital (telematics, 911, EMS, etc.); hospital (ED/inpatient); disability; death (coroner, medical examiner, vital statistics); trauma registries; traumatic brain injury registries; and roadway and traffic inventories. The framework will provide for a comprehensive analysis and understanding of the factors associated with serious injuries before, during, and after the crashes, and the associated medical outcomes. This will allow for the development, implementation, and evaluation of countermeasures for serious injury crashes, and continuous system improvement. KW - Coding systems KW - Crash data KW - Crash injury research KW - Injury severity KW - KABCO Score KW - Telematics KW - Traffic crashes UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3179 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231453 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463227 TI - Scour at the Base of Retaining Walls and Other Longitudinal Structures AB - In many locations in the United States, new construction, rehabilitation, and/or reconstruction is requiring the use of retaining walls to minimize the impact of fill into a channel or floodway. Other longitudinal structures (e.g., embankments) that encroach into floodplains need to be protected from erosion and failure by designing and installing countermeasures to protect the face and/or bottom of the structures. What is missing in both of these design situations is the ability to accurately determine the depth of scour at the base of the retaining wall or longitudinal structure such that their foundations can be set at elevations that prevent failure due to undermining. In recent years, there have been several significant retaining wall failures caused by undermined foundations because a reliable method of estimating scour is not routinely used by the engineering community. Either the potential scour at the base of the structure is not considered or estimates are made based on “rule-of-thumb” guidance that may not be reliable. This is particularly important in building MSE (mechanically stabilized earth) walls in environments where the ultimate depth of scour is not known or cannot be determined.There is an urgent need for research in this area so that retaining walls and other longitudinal structures being placed in a riverine environment can be designed with a higher level of confidence. The objective of this research is to develop predictive methods that can be used to estimate scour at the base of longitudinal structures including vertical and sloping walls in a riverine environment with varying (a) flow characteristics; (b) approach angles; (c) structure lengths, shapes, and roughnesses; and (d) streambed/sub-surface soils. KW - Embankments and retaining walls KW - Failure KW - Flood plains KW - Flood protection KW - Foundations KW - Mechanically stabilized earth KW - Scour UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3186 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231452 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01362888 AU - Sawyer, Michael AU - Eccles, Kim AU - Lefler, Nancy AU - Soika, Jon AU - Rothenberg, Heather AU - Miller, Jeffrey AU - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - State Data Capabilities Assessment Preliminary Findings/Midpoint Report PY - 2011/12/13/Final Report SP - 37p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is in the process of conducting a capabilities assessment for each State in terms of the collection, management, and use of roadway safety data. This project is part of the Roadway Safety Data Partnership (RSDP), a collaborative effort between the FHWA and States to ensure that they are best able to develop robust data-driven safety capabilities. This midpoint report provides a status update and some preliminary findings based upon the States that have been assessed to date. The report also addresses challenges that have arisen and the project team’s collaborative approach to improve the assessment process with our State partners. KW - Cooperation KW - Data collection KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Highway safety KW - Intergovernmental partnerships KW - State departments of transportation UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsdp/downloads/RSDP_midpointrpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1131073 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01362873 AU - Sawyer, Michael AU - Eccles, Kim AU - Lefler, Nancy AU - Soika, Jon AU - Rothenberg, Heather AU - Miller, Jeffrey AU - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - State Data Capabilities Assessment Preliminary Findings PY - 2011/12/13 SP - 37p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is in the process of conducting a capabilities assessment for each State in terms of the collection, management, and use of roadway safety data. This project is part of the Roadway Safety Data Partnership (RSDP), a collaborative effort between the FHWA and States to ensure that they are best able to develop robust data-driven safety capabilities. This midpoint report provides a status update and some preliminary findings based upon the States that have been assessed to date. The report also addresses challenges that have arisen and the project team’s collaborative approach to improve the assessment process with our State partners. KW - Cooperation KW - Crash data KW - Data collection KW - Highway safety KW - State highway departments UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsdp/downloads/RSDP_midpointrpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1128469 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463233 TI - Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems. Topic S01-05. Airport Organization AB - A well-understood and effective organizational structure can greatly assist an airport in meeting strategic and business goals. Many times, the development of a strategic plan or articulation of business goals leads an airport operator to examine and modify the organizational structure to better achieve those goals. The objective of this report is to provide airport operators with a synthesis of organizational structures, including functional roles and key staff, to support success of strategic and business plans. The intended audience for this synthesis of practice is airport executives and their governing boards. This synthesis of airport practice will explore the role and types of airport governance and organizational structures and their effectiveness in meeting the strategic goals of airport executives and their governing bodies.  KW - Airports KW - Business planning KW - Organizational effectiveness KW - Organizational structure KW - Strategic planning UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3267 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231458 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01373020 AU - Stone, John R AU - Kim, Youngsoo R AU - List, George F AU - Rasdorf, William AU - Sayyady, Fatemeh AU - Jadoun, Fadi AU - Ramachandran, Aditya N AU - North Carolina State University, Raleigh AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Traffic Data Input Resources for the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Process PY - 2011/12/12/Final Report SP - 257p AB - The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) for New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures uses nationally based data traffic inputs and recommends that state DOTs develop their own site-specific and regional values. To support the MEPDG NCDOT needs site-specific truck classification counts, truck axle load spectra, regional average seasonal adjustment factors, and forecasting methods for truck class volumes. This research proposal addresses these NCDOT traffic data and forecasting needs for implementing the MEPDG. The research produced the following results: (1) software to process and clean WIM data; (2) database of high quality, clean NCDOT vehicle class counts and weight data; (3) simulation studies to guide the selection of sensitive traffic data and traffic count locations; (4) techniques for traffic data clustering and seasonal analysis of vehicle classification and truck axle loadings; (5) software to prepare datasets and sampling plans for Levels 1, 2, and 3 MEPDG requirements (Level 1 site specific, Level 2 seasonal groupings, and Level 3 statewide averages); (6) site specific, regional and statewide NC traffic data inputs for Levels 1, 2, and 3 in the MEPDG procedures for vehicle class distributions and axle load spectra including seasonality; (7) vehicle class forecasting methods for MEPDG procedures; (8) case study demonstrations and analyses; and (9) implementation and management plan for MEPDG traffic data. KW - Mechanistic design KW - Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide KW - North Carolina KW - Pavement design KW - Pavement performance KW - Sensitivity analysis KW - Traffic forecasting KW - Truck traffic KW - Vehicle classification KW - Weigh in motion UR - http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/tpb/research/download/2008-11FinalReport.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/44000/44400/44465/2008-11FinalReport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1140036 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01531729 AU - Soleimanbeigi, Ali AU - Edil, Tuncer AU - Benson, Craig AU - University of Wisconsin, Madison AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Recycled Shingles as Structural Fill PY - 2011/12/10/Final Report SP - 200p AB - The objective of this research was to evaluate the geotechnical properties of recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) as structural fill material in highway embankments or backfill material behind retaining structures and to provide relevant design guidelines. The research addressed the following hypotheses: 1- RAS as a granular material has sufficient shear strength and drainage capacity to qualify as a structural fill. Since RAS contains asphalt cement and cellulose felt, the material may exhibit higher compressibility compared to traditional fill material. 2- Addition of less compressible materials to RAS or stabilization of RAS can reduce the compressibility and increase shear strength and drainage capacity of RAS. 3- Since RAS contains asphalt cement, temperature variation affects its engineering properties. 4- Since RAS contains asphalt cement, time-dependent shear or volumetric strain under sustained deviatoric stress may be significant. The main chapters (Chapter 2, 3, and 4) are written as individual self-contained technical articles. In Chapter 2 entitled “Recycled Asphalt Shingles Mixed with Granular Byproducts as Structural Fill”, physical and mechanical properties of RAS and RAS mixed with granular industrial byproducts including bottom ash (BA) and foundry slag (FS) are evaluated in a systematic manner. Results show that although pure RAS has suitable drainage capacity and shear strength as structural fill, compressibility of RAS is significant compared to natural soils. Systematic addition of BA and FS to RAS reduced the compressibility and increased shear strength and drainage capacity of RAS:BA and RAS:FS mixtures. Design graphs were developed to estimate geotechnical properties of RAS:BA and RAS:FS mixtures for a given RAS content and stress level. In Chapter 3 entitled “Evaluation of Fly Ash Stabilization of Recycled Asphalt Shingles for Use in Structural Fills”, self-cementing (Class C) fly ash was used to stabilize RAS. Results show that stabilization remarkably reduces compressibility and increases the shear strength of RAS. However, stabilization also reduces the drainage capacity of RAS to that of silty sand or silty clay soil. Chapter 4 entitled “Effect of Temperature on Geotechnical Properties of Recycled Asphalt Shingles Mixtures” evaluates the effect of temperature change on geotechnical properties of compacted RAS:BA mixture and stabilized RAS. The development of a thermomechanical system and test procedures at elevated temperature are described. Systematic mechanical tests at elevated temperatures were conducted on RAS:BA and stabilized RAS specimens. The results show that when temperature increases, the shear strength decreases but compressibility and hydraulic conductivity increases. The shear strength and hydraulic conductivity of RAS containing embankments or stabilized RAS are sufficient to provide stability and drainage capacity of road embankments at different climates in North America. However; to minimize long-term settlement, compaction and construction of RAS embankments are recommended in warm season of the year. Chapter 5 contains summary and conclusion of the research conducted on RAS. Appendix I includes a paper that investigates geotechnical properties of RAS mixed with foundry slag in greater detail as well as the practical implications for estimation of settlement of typical highway embankment constructed with RAS:FS mixture. KW - Bottom ash KW - Compressibility KW - Drainage KW - Embankments KW - Fills KW - Fly ash KW - Geotechnical engineering KW - Permeability coefficient KW - Retaining walls KW - Settlement (Embankments) KW - Shear strength KW - Shingles KW - Slag KW - Temperature UR - http://rmrc.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Edil-No.-55-Recycled-Asphalt-Shingles-as-Structural-Fill.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1316213 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463252 TI - Economic Productivity and Transportation Investment Priorities AB - State departments of transportation (DOTs) and other agencies generally must consider many more opportunities for improving the transportation system for which they are responsible than they have funding to implement. Agency staff must evaluate the relative merits of investment options in an effort to determine which will produce the greatest benefit for taxpayers and citizens who are the system's owners. DOTs typically use a variety of methods in making these evaluations, reflecting the various objectives to be met--for example, greater safety and environmental protection, and cost savings. One widely used method is cost-benefit analysis (BCA), which undertakes to assess--usually in monetary terms--the relationship between an investment's costs and the measurable economic benefits to be received over the lifetime of that investment. BCA typically makes its assessments at a very aggregated level and is substantially influenced by roadway-user travel-time savings. These savings certainly are benefits for the population that enjoys them, but have only a general relationship with the productivity of the region's specific businesses and labor force. These productivity gains are an important consequence of transportation system improvements. Fast and reliable delivery of goods and services, for example, can reduce the need for delivery vehicles, warehouse space, and investment in equipment and facilities; and increase the rate at which workers can complete their tasks. The cumulative effect of multifactor productivity gains can influence the competitiveness of firms in a region and the attractiveness of the region for companies and workers considering relocation from other areas. Research presented in NCHRP Report 342: Primer on Transportation, Productivity, and Economic Development, published in 1991, considered the relationship between transportation investments and economic growth. The report, intended to assist DOTs and other decision makers to ensure that transportation policies and investments promote enhanced growth as well as regional gains, relies substantially on a BCA framework and notes the difficulty of measuring productivity gains within this framework. That report and more recent literature suggest that typically used BCA methods generally neglect, miscalculate, or misinterpret the increased productivity attributable to transportation system improvements. Research is needed to develop guidance on consistent and defensible methods DOTs and other agencies can use to forecast and value productivity gains attributable to transportation system improvements in a region. The research should address estimation and valuation of labor and capital productivity gains associated, for example, with enhanced access and mobility, congestion relief, improved safety, and reduced vehicle operating costs and emissions. The research should consider how measures of productivity improvement may be used in combination with other types of analysis--for example, benefit-cost analyses, safety assessments, and environmental impact reviews--to establish investment priorities. The objective of this research is to develop a methodology and guide for incorporating productivity gains in analysis and prioritization of transportation investments. The methodology and guide will encourage DOTs and other agencies to apply consistent analysis methods and produce results that facilitate public decision making about transportation improvement priorities within a state or other large region. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Economic growth KW - Environmental protection KW - Investments KW - Mobility KW - Safety KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3153 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231478 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463251 TI - Work Zone Capacity Methods for the Highway Capacity Manual AB - Work zone mobility is a major concern for transportation agencies due to maintenance and construction needs and increasing traffic congestion. Nearly 24 percent of non-recurring congestion is caused by work zones and recent federal rules require systematic impact assessment during the planning, design, and construction of projects, as well as development of Transportation Management Plans for all federal-aid highway projects. The emphasis on work zone impact assessment, which includes analysis of Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) alternatives, mitigation strategies, and road-user costs, has resulted in the rapid increase in development and use of related analytical methodologies, modeling, and tools. These analytical tools are used by transportation agencies to make multi-million dollar MOT decisions, determine work hours and project scheduling, and develop incentives/disincentives and lane rental fees. Selection of suboptimal MOT alternatives and other impact mitigation strategies may result in increased congestion, degraded travel time reliability, and increased rear-end crashes due to queues. A good understanding of work zone capacity is important for the proper use of spreadsheet/sketch-planning tools as well as simulation tools. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), the fundamental reference document for determining roadway capacity and level of service, has limited information on freeway work zone capacity, and additional information is needed to address the range of work zones for the various facility types and conditions. Guidance is also needed on how to calibrate microscopic simulation models to accurately account for work zone capacities. The objective of this research is to develop improved material on the capacity of work zones suitable for incorporation into the HCM. The material should (1) define work zone capacity, (2) describe procedures for field measurement of work zone capacity, (3) present analytical techniques or methods to estimate the capacity of work zones, (4) provide recommendations for the calibration of work zone capacity in microscopic simulation models, and (5) include example problems. Although consideration of diverting traffic is important in analyzing MOT alternatives, it is beyond the scope of this project. KW - Highway capacity KW - Highway Capacity Manual KW - Highway maintenance KW - Impact assessment KW - Road construction KW - Work zones UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3157 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231477 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463248 TI - Reducing Energy Use & Maintenance Cost with On-demand Escalators and Moving Walkways AB - Many airports require passenger processing circulation patterns that use multiple floor levels and lengthy walking distances. To increase efficiency, capacity, and the quality of customer service, facility designers have employed a variety of mechanized circulation devices, including elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. In addition to the capital expenditure associated with these mechanized devices, they also consume energy, contribute to increased air emissions, and require maintenance. Escalators and moving walkways are designed under U.S. elevator and escalator codes (ASME A17.1a-2008) to operate in continuously moving modes as long as terminal facilities are open, which at major airports often equates to 24/7 operation, whether passengers are using the conveyances or not. This has been recognized to result in the unnecessary consumption of electricity, greater generation of air emissions, and increased maintenance costs. Many facilities outside the United States, including airports, feature "on-demand" passenger conveyance systems that sense passenger activity and either slow down or stop during periods with no demand, thereby reducing energy consumption, air emissions, and maintenance needs. These on-demand devices could prove to be beneficial at U.S. airports. The objectives of this research are to determine the potential benefits of on-demand escalators and moving walkways in terms of reduced energy use, air emissions, and maintenance costs, and to describe the implications of modifying elevator and escalator codes to permit these technologies in the United States. KW - Airport terminals KW - Elevators KW - Energy consumption KW - Escalators KW - Maintenance costs UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3253 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231473 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463262 TI - Sustainable Practices for Airport Maintenance and Operations AB - Sustainability practices are increasingly implemented into the areas of airport operations and maintenance. Often, airports are incorporating these initiatives in an ad-hoc manner, without the benefit of a comprehensive assessment of whether the measures are, in fact, sustainable for their particular situation. It is prudent for airports to assess the budgetary and operational implications of various sustainable practices, as some may require more maintenance and upkeep than originally anticipated. Yet the assessment of whether a particular practice is truly sustainable can be complex and may be beyond the existing expertise level of airport staff, and there is no guidance on how to assess the impact of sustainability practices on an airport's operations and budget. The objective of this research is to provide guidance for airports to help them more fully understand the budgetary and operations implications of undertaking the most common sustainability practices. KW - Airport operations KW - Best practices KW - Budgeting KW - Guidelines KW - Maintenance practices KW - Sustainable development UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3257 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231488 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463253 TI - Legal Aspects of Airport Programs. Topic 04-06. The Role of the Airport Sponsor in Airport Planning and Environmental Reviews of Proposed Development Projects Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Mini-NEPA Laws AB - Responsibility for compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rests with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, as the project proponent, the airport sponsor plays a significant role, for example, in identifying and defining the proposed action. This paper will explore the legal issues presented in fulfilling requirements under NEPA, related federal environmental laws, and analogous state mini-NEPA statutes in selected jurisdictions. For example, the paper should explore the extent and means by which an airport sponsor desiring to reach its goals may be considered. The paper should (1) summarize criteria typically used to define purpose and need and screen and evaluate the feasibility of alternatives, including federal statutory mission and objective factors such as safety and operational efficiency; (2) discuss the relationship between the amount of information the airport should submit and the type of NEPA action anticipated (e.g., categorical exclusions vs environmental impact statements); (3) include practical advice and strategies for addressing typical issues such as exchange of draft environmental documents after the ruling in US Department of Interior vs. Klamath Water Users Protective Association National Environmental Policy Act , 532 US 1 (2001). Sources of information for the analysis should include FAA Order 5050.4B, relevant case law, legal treatises, and law review articles. KW - Airport operations KW - Court decisions KW - Environmental impacts KW - National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 KW - Policy making KW - Sensors UR - http://144.171.11.40/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2883 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231479 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01362895 AU - Srinivasan, Raghavan AU - Carter, Daniel AU - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Safety Performance Functions for North Carolina PY - 2011/12/06/Final Report SP - 88p AB - The objective of this effort is to develop safety performance functions (SPFs) for different types of facilities in North Carolina and illustrate how they can be used to improve the decision making process. The prediction models in Part C of the Highway Safety Manual were calibrated using data from North Carolina. SPFs were estimated for 9 crash types for 16 roadway types using statewide data from North Carolina – these SPFs just include AADT and can be used for network screening. In addition, SPFs for rural two lane roads were developed using AADT and other site characteristics including shoulder width/type and terrain. Using examples, this report outlines how the different SPFs can be used for network screening, project level analysis, and before-after evaluation using the empirical Bayes method. Finally, there is a discussion of how NCDOT can use the SPFs in the future by either calibrating the SPFs developed in this effort and/or develop SPFs using negative binomial regression. Along with the final report are Excel files that can be used by NCDOT to calibrate the SPFs in the future and to implement the HSM prediction methodology. KW - Binomial distributions KW - Calibration KW - Decision making KW - Highway safety KW - Highway Safety Manual KW - Manuals KW - North Carolina UR - http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/tpb/research/download/2010-09finalreport.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/43000/43300/43303/2010-09finalreport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1127558 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01563875 TI - Design and Fabrication Standards to Eliminate Fracture Critical Concerns in Two Girder Bridge Systems AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) currently has the authority to allow owners to forego fracture critical inspection for low redundancy bridge structures on a case by case basis, but this has rarely been done since no guidance is available for ensuring bridge safety. This project will establish guidance that provides a high level of bridge safety that can then form the basis for in-service inspection decisions. When considering the estimated projects costs, it must be recognized that the results of this research will be transformative for the steel bridge industry. For the first time, material selection, design, and inspection will be rationally integrated to eliminate fracture concerns. This can result in significant cost savings for medium and long span bridges and facilitate introduction of modular concepts for short span bridges. KW - Bridge design KW - Bridge inspection KW - Bridge safety KW - Fracture critical members KW - Fracture mechanics KW - Girder bridges KW - Modular structures KW - Steel bridges UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/467 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1354981 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01505751 AU - Oswald, Michelle AU - McNeil, Sue AU - Ames, David AU - Mao, Weifeng AU - Delaware Center for Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Delaware’s Transportation Adaptation in Response to Climate Change PY - 2011/12/03/Final Report SP - 47p AB - A growing concern facing the transportation sector in the United States is the potential impact of climate change on land transportation. The advanced infrastructure along the east coast combined with the impending threat of climate change and rising sea levels has led many to prepare for the potential impacts. This research investigates three studies of adaptation planning for the state of Delaware. The first application focuses on using spatial representation and analysis capabilities of computer based geographical information systems (GIS) to explore possible flooding impacts on railroad corridors in New Castle County, Delaware. The second application explores the impact of sea level rise (SLR), including storm surge, on the I-95 corridor in Delaware transportation infrastructure, land use, and population. The third application is a case study of the Climate Change Adaptation Tool for Transportation: Mid-Atlantic focused on a Metropolitan Planning Organization in Delaware (WILMAPCO) that evaluates impacts related to temperature, sea level rise and precipitation specific to New Castle County, Delaware from a planning perspective. These three applications serve as examples to promote the integration of adaptation practices into transportation planning. KW - Case studies KW - Climate change KW - Countermeasures KW - Delaware KW - Floods KW - Geographic information systems KW - Interstate 95 KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Railroads KW - Sea level KW - Storm surges KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.ce.udel.edu/UTC/downloads2013/Ames_McNeil_FinalReport_ClimateChange.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1285404 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01463280 TI - Environmental Performance Measures for State Departments of Transportation AB - Transportation performance management is an established and effective practice for building accountability and driving results in transportation agencies. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and others are actively engaged in determining how to implement performance-based management of surface transportation programs in state departments of transportation (DOTs). In 2004, the chief executive officers of the state DOTs established the NCHRP 20-24(37) project series in recognition of the potential for comparative performance measurement to help improve their organizations. Nationally, Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation have also expressed interest in incorporating performance measures in the identification and prioritization of federal investments in transportation infrastructure. A number of potential national comparative performance measures, including environmental performance measures, are suggested for further research in the NCHRP 20-24(37G) report "Technical Guidance for Deploying National Level Performance Measurements". Additional research is necessary to identify appropriate comparative environmental performance measures that can be used to support decision making by DOTs within the context of the federal aid highway program. The objective of this research is to develop selected key environmental performance measures that can be integrated into a state DOT's performance management program. Each performance measure should (1) be meaningful at a state level, (2) enable national comparisons, (3) be implementable in the near-term, and (4) contribute to informing investment decisions. Performance areas including but not limited to (1) air, (2) water, (3) materials, (4) recycling, (5) energy, (6) greenhouse gases, (7) biodiversity, and (8) habitat may be considered. Environmental performance measures to be evaluated should not include social and economic impacts, environmental justice, or cultural resources. This research will not involve a national comparative analysis of state DOT performance. At a minimum, the following information should be provided for each performance measure: a) the definition and intent of each measure; b) a calculation methodology; c) graphical display options; d) specific data needs for each calculation (e.g., data sources, data collection methods, and data quality and reliability standards); e) method(s) for establishing a plausible baseline, rate of change, or other targets and long-term goals or thresholds; and f) approaches for implementing the performance measures within DOT planning and programming, project development, project delivery, and operations and maintenance functions. KW - Environmental performance KW - Ground transportation KW - Performance measurement KW - State departments of transportation KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3190 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1231506 ER -