TY - RPRT AN - 01576224 AU - Serigos, Pedro A AU - Chen, Kuan-Yu AU - Smit, Andre AU - Murphy, Mike R AU - Prozzi, Jorge A AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Automated Distress Surveys: Analysis of Network Level Data (Phase III) PY - 2015/08//Technical Report SP - 71p AB - The first two phases of this research study provided a project-level assessment of the accuracy and precision of the automated 3D system developed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and state-of-the-practice commercially available automated systems for the high-speed measurement of pavement surface distresses, rutting, texture and cross slope. The third phase of this study had the objective of extending the automated systems’ evaluation with a focus on network-level processes and applications. For this purpose, TxDOT initiated a pilot study with two pavement distress data collection vendors to collect full network-level semi-automated data (as per TxDOT Pavement Management Information System [PMIS] specifications) on the entire network in the Bryan and Houston districts, in conjunction with the PMIS Fiscal Year 2014 data collection season. The two districts selected for the pilot study represent highway characteristics from rural, urban, and metropolitan areas in the state of Texas. The two vendors that collected semi-automated data for the pilot study were Fugro-Roadware and Pathway Services. Fugro’s data collection was performed using two Automatic Road Analyzer survey vans equipped with the INO Laser Crack Measurement System and Pathway Services’ data collection was performed using two PathRunner Data Collections Vehicles equipped with Pathway 3D Systems. The comparative analyses were conducted on the PMIS aggregated scores (including Ride Score, Distress Score, and Condition Score) as well as on individual distress ratings for instances of alligator cracking, longitudinal cracking, rutting, spalling, punchouts, and failures. Each type of comparison was further analyzed by breaking down the collected highway network into different experimental factors, such as the highway system and pavement surface type. In addition, this report includes an analysis of the automated systems’ production rates. KW - Automatic data collection systems KW - Deformation KW - Evaluation KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement management systems KW - Pilot studies KW - Productivity KW - Texas UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6663-3.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367531 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576220 AU - Ocel, Justin M AU - Provines, Jason AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Properties of Anchor Rods Removed from San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 68p AB - In March 2013, the construction contractor for the new self-anchored suspension bridge between San Francisco and Oakland, California, tensioned the threaded rods between the bearings/shear keys and the concrete pier cap. Within days of completion, it was discovered that one-third of the rods for the two shear keys on Pier E2 had fractured. An investigation began to determine the root cause for the fractures. The work reported herein was in support of that investigation at the request of the Federal Highway Administration California Division office. It includes data on the mechanical, chemical, and microstructural properties of two samples removed from Pier E2. The testing showed a variation in material properties between the surface and core of the rods. It was concluded that improper heat treatment of the rods caused this variation. In addition, the tensile and hardness properties could have been judged to be in nonconformance depending on interpretation of the ASTM standards. It is recommended that the ASTM A354 and/or F606 standards be revised to provide more guidance on sampling for tensile and hardness properties for large-diameter products as well as guidance on impact toughness. KW - Anchor bolts KW - Bridge piers KW - Chemical properties KW - Failure KW - Hardness tests KW - Mechanical properties KW - San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge KW - Suspension bridges KW - Tension tests UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/15057/15057.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1368250 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576183 AU - Milani, J AU - Kindelberger, J AU - Bergen, G AU - Novicki, E J AU - Burch, C AU - Ho, S M AU - West, B A AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis AU - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TI - Assessment of Characteristics of State Data Linkage Systems PY - 2015/08 SP - 77p AB - State systems that integrate data by linking police crash reports to medical records provide important information that can be used to better understand motor vehicle crash injuries. The objective of this study was to better understand the facilitators and barriers to successful data linkage systems. Data were collected by questionnaire, focus group, and a literature search. Twenty-five States completed the survey and 19 participated in focus groups. Facilitators of these systems included a community context that supports linkage, one lead agency to oversee the system, coalition of data owners, memorandums of understanding to obtain data, high quality data, staff with the right mix of technical and non-technical skills, technical assistance and training, and stable funding. Barriers included lack of funding, staff turnover, lack of documented procedures, lags in obtaining data, statutory requirements for data use, complex linkage techniques, and failure to adequately market information available from linked databases. KW - Assessments KW - Crash data KW - Data collection KW - Data fusion KW - Focus groups KW - Literature reviews KW - Medical records KW - Police reports KW - States KW - Surveys UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812180.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367812 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576178 AU - Fan, Wei AU - Haile, Elias AU - Chavez, Tomas AU - Radley, Lee AU - Sorbet, Robert AU - Eifert, Annie AU - Machemehl, Randy AU - Gemar, Mason AU - Murshed, Neaz AU - Yu, Yao AU - University of Texas, Tyler AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Equipment Replacement/Retention Decision Making: Final Report PY - 2015/08//Technical Report SP - 204p AB - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicle fleet is a fundamental part of the departmental infrastructure, enabling many activities essential to accomplishing the daily departmental operations. Maintenance of a robust vehicle fleet is essential but costly. On one hand, reductions in fleet costs are potentially beneficial to the department as a whole and thereby beneficial to the taxpayers of the State of Texas. On the other hand, not being able to respond adequately under disaster/emergency conditions is unacceptable and therefore maintaining a fleet robust enough to capably respond in a multi-event contingency is also critical. TxDOT’s new equipment replacement optimization software (TERM2) produced through project 0-6412 “Equipment Replacement Optimization” (ERO) by the research team can optimize the equipment retain/replace decision process, potentially resulting in substantial cost savings. Much of the current TERM2 research work and result findings can be seen from Fan et al. (2011a, 2011b). The technical objectives of this project are to (1) Investigate how to estimate costs to the department of NOT replacing equipment when it should be replaced; (2) Identify methods to estimate downtime costs coupled with TxDOT’s current rightsizing efforts; (3) Review the use and development of advanced optimization techniques; (4) Recommend feasible ways to model the future uncertain purchase costs due to technology changes; (5) Review Texas’s Emergency Management Strategy and support concept and list levels of commitment to the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and Department of Public Safety (DPS); (6) Identify reasonable and likely simultaneous disaster/emergency event scenarios in Texas (if reasonably available, list equipment commitments for several historical simultaneous emergencies); (7) Review and describe how other state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and major metropolitan governments provision their fleets to handle multiple disasters. To accomplish this project, the research team has addressed the above issues and implemented in the TERM2 software and conducted a comprehensive review of the state of the art and state of the practice of equipment replacement/retention decisions based on future uncertain purchase costs, unavailability of funds, and disaster preparedness and a new TERM2 software has been developed with enhanced functionalities. KW - Cost estimating KW - Decision making KW - Disaster preparedness KW - Equipment maintenance KW - Equipment replacement KW - Optimization KW - Software KW - State departments of transportation KW - Texas Department of Transportation KW - Vehicle fleets KW - Vehicle maintenance UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6693-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369354 ER - TY - SER AN - 01576167 JO - Traffic Safety Facts - Crash Stats PB - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2015 PY - 2015/08 SP - 2p AB - A statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first quarter of 2015 shows that an estimated 7,500 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. This represents an increase of about 9.5 percent as compared to 6,850 fatalities that were projected to have occurred in the first quarter of 2014. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the first three months of 2014 increased by about 9.8 billion miles, or about a 3.9-percent increase. The fatality rate for the first quarter of 2015 increased to 1.04 fatalities per 100 million VMT up from the projected rate of 0.99 fatalities per 100 million VMT in the first quarter of 2014. The actual counts for 2014 and 2015 and the ensuing percentage change from 2014 to 2015 will be further revised as the annual reporting Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) files for 2014 are available later this year as well as when the final file for 2014 and the annual reporting file for 2015 are available next year. These estimates will be further refined when the projections for the first 6 months of 2015 will be released in late September. KW - Fatalities KW - Fatality Analysis Reporting System KW - Forecasting KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812190.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1368062 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576157 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Initial Stage Reference Search: Real-time ridesharing PY - 2015/08 SP - 25p AB - The topic of this literature review is identification of published literature between 2006 and the present, focusing on (1) the use of dynamic ridesharing and (2) behavioral economics to encourage participation in dynamic ridesharing and to make modest personal adjustments that improve the functioning of a dynamic ridesharing system. The use of technology is also included, for example, increased use of cell phones enabling new types of models for promoting shared transportation resources. KW - Literature reviews KW - Ridesharing KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/15069/15069.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367353 ER - TY - SER AN - 01576133 JO - Civil Engineering Studies, Illinois Center for Transportation Series PB - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Lippert, David L AU - Kang, Seung Gu AU - Ozer, Hasan AU - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Illinois Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Illinois Highway Materials Sustainability Efforts of 2014 PY - 2015/08//Interim Report IS - 15-014 SP - 44p AB - This report presents the 2014 sustainability efforts of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in recycling reclaimed materials in highway construction. This report meets the requirements of Illinois Public Act 097-0314 by documenting IDOT’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and achieve cost savings through the use of recycled materials in asphalt paving projects. Research efforts undertaken and those that will have a future impact on IDOT’s sustainability efforts are highlighted. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Illinois Department of Transportation KW - Recycled materials KW - Recycling KW - Research projects KW - Road construction KW - Sustainable development UR - https://apps.ict.illinois.edu/projects/getfile.asp?id=3551 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1368158 ER - TY - SER AN - 01576125 JO - Exploratory Advanced Research Program Fact Sheet PB - Federal Highway Administration TI - Coordinating High-Resolution Traffic Cameras: Developing Intelligent, Collaborating Cameras for Transportation Security and Communications PY - 2015/08 SP - 2p AB - Cameras are used prolifically to monitor transportation incidents, infrastructure, and congestion. Traditional camera systems often require human monitoring and only offer low-resolution video. Researchers for the Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program project, “Cooperating Camera Platforms for Ultra-High-Resolution Traffic Surveillance and Autonomous Event Detection,” have developed a system that provides continuous, high-resolution, real-time simultaneous monitoring, tracking, and analysis of multiple events or characteristics. The University of Maryland is conducting this research, which was funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2012. KW - Cameras KW - Detection and identification technologies KW - Image transmission KW - Real time information KW - Research projects KW - Technological innovations KW - Traffic surveillance UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/15068/15068.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369017 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576119 AU - de León Izeppi, Edgar AU - Morrison, Akyiaa AU - Flintsch, Gerardo W AU - McGhee, Kevin K AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Best Practices and Performance Assessment for Preventive Maintenance Treatments for Virginia Pavements PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 60p AB - Preventive maintenance has the potential to improve network condition by retarding future pavement deterioration. This report outlines guidelines for implementing a preventive maintenance policy for bituminous pavements. Preventive maintenance treatments currently being used in Virginia include chip seal, slurry seal, microsurfacing, and thin hot mix asphalt overlays. Historical pavement condition data were obtained from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Pavement Management System for these treatments, and treatment performance models were developed. A district-level treatment selection tool was developed to facilitate the district-level decision-making process. A prioritized list of pavement sections was generated, maximizing the cost-effectiveness of the selected treatments subject to budgetary constraints set by the Central Office. As a pilot implementation, the treatment selection tool was then run for each pavement classification in each district. The results of this pilot suggest that this selection tool has the potential to be a practical decision support tool. KW - Best practices KW - Cost effectiveness KW - Decision making KW - Implementation KW - Overlays (Pavements) KW - Pavement maintenance KW - Performance measurement KW - Preventive maintenance KW - Sealing compounds KW - Virginia UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/16-r3.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367951 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576108 AU - Middleton, Scott AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Transit Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Establishing and Integrating Performance Measures: A TPCB Peer Exchange PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 42p AB - This report highlights key recommendations and noteworthy practices identified at “Establishing and Integrating Performance Measures” Peer Exchange held on April 27-28, 2015 in Dimondale, Michigan and via video teleconference. This event was sponsored by the Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Peer Program, which is jointly funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Peer Agencies included: Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Specifically, the event helped MDOT and its partner agencies prepare for three key requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21): (1) The development of performance measures and targets; (2) The integration of performance measures into the planning process; and (3) The development of performance-based plans for safety, asset management, and congestion. KW - Asset management KW - Best practices KW - Michigan Department of Transportation KW - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) KW - Peer exchange KW - Performance measurement KW - Recommendations KW - Safety KW - Traffic congestion KW - Transportation planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55400/55455/Peer_Exchange_Report_Establishing_and_Integrating_Performance_Measures_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369011 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576096 AU - Hosteng, Travis K AU - Phares, Brent M AU - Abu-Hawash, Ahmad AU - Bierwagen, Dean AU - Nelson, Jim AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Iowa Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Laboratory Investigation of Grouted Coupler Connection Details for ABC Bridge Projects PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 51p AB - With an ever increasing desire to utilize accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques, it is becoming critical that bridge designers and contractors have confidence in typical details. The Keg Creek Bridge on US 6 in Iowa was a recent ABC example that utilized connection details that had been utilized elsewhere. The connection details used between the drilled shaft and pier column and between the pier column and the pier cap were details needing evaluation. These connection details utilized grouted couplers that have been tested by others with mixed results—some indicating quality performance and others indicating questionable performance. There was a need to test these couplers to gain an understanding of their performance in likely Iowa details and to understand how their performance might be impacted by different construction processes. The objective of the work was to perform laboratory testing and evaluation of the grouted coupler connection details utilized on precast concrete elements for the Keg Creek Bridge. The Bridge Engineering Center (BEC), with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Bridges and Structures, developed specimens representative of the Keg Creek Bridge connections for testing under static and fatigue loads in the structures laboratory. The specimens were also evaluated for their ability to resist the intrusion of water and chlorides. Evaluation of their performance was made through comparisons with design assumptions and previous research, as well as the physical performance of the coupled connections. KW - Bridge construction KW - Corrosion resistance KW - Couplers KW - Evaluation KW - Fatigue limit KW - Iowa KW - Laboratory tests KW - Precast concrete KW - Structural connection UR - http://publications.iowa.gov/20326/1/IADOT_InTrans_RB07_013_Lab_Investigation_Grouted_Coupler_Connection_Details_ABC_Bridge_Projects_Final_2015.pdf UR - http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/20326 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367963 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576094 AU - Piesch, Lara AU - Lee, EunSu AU - North Dakota State University, Fargo AU - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute AU - North Dakota Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Quality Assurance of Emergency Management Operation Processes through Statistical Process Control PY - 2015/08 SP - 31p AB - Ambulance services continually strive for improvement of their emergency response operations to provide better service to the community. The difference of a couple minutes can be a crucial factor in the survival of a patient. Therefore, it is of great importance for ambulance services to have reliable and stable response times. The study applies three phases of statistical process control to assess the process and determine the current performance. By implementing an exploratory analysis, process behavior analysis, and predictive analysis patterns, trends and process stability are analyzed. The research showed a process with very high variability while having a stable low average response time. With a percentage of 9.96% of response time operations being above the limit of nine minutes established by the North Dakota Legislature, the process calls for further improvement. To this end, several factors and characteristics, which can be considered in future management decisions, were detected. KW - Ambulances KW - Emergency management KW - Emergency response time KW - North Dakota KW - Quality assurance KW - Statistical analysis UR - http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/dp-283.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367526 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576091 AU - Smith, Bryan AU - Nair, Harikrishnan AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Local Calibration Factors and Design Criteria Values for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 47p AB - A mechanistic-empirical (ME) pavement design procedure allows for analyzing and selecting pavement structures based on predicted distress progression resulting from stresses and strains within the pavement over its design life. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been working toward implementing ME design by characterizing traffic and materials inputs, training with the models and design software, and analyzing current pavement designs in AASHTOware Pavement ME Design software. This study compared the measured performance of asphalt and continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP) from VDOT’s Pavement Management System (PMS) records to the predicted performance in AASHTOware Pavement ME Design. Model coefficients in the software were adjusted to match the predicted asphalt pavement permanent deformation, asphalt bottom-up fatigue cracking, and CRCP punchout outputs to the measured values from PMS records. Values for reliability, design life inputs, and distress limits were identified as a starting point for VDOT to consider when using AASHTOware Pavement ME Design through consideration of national guidelines, existing VDOT standards, PMS rating formulas, typical pavement performance at time of overlay, and the data used for local calibration. The model calibration coefficients and design requirement values recommended in this study can be used by VDOT with AASHTOware Pavement ME Design as a starting point to implement the software for design, which should allow for more optimized pavement structures and improve the long-term performance of pavements in Virginia. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Calibration KW - Continuously reinforced concrete pavements KW - Implementation KW - Mechanistic-empirical pavement design KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement management systems KW - Pavement performance KW - Service life KW - Software KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/16-r1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367534 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575837 AU - Blanco, Myra AU - Atwood, Jon AU - Vasquez, Holland M AU - Trimble, Tammy E AU - Fitchett, Vikki L AU - Radlbeck, Joshua AU - Fitch, Gregory M AU - Russell, Sheldon M AU - Green, Charles A AU - Cullinane, Brian AU - Morgan, Justin F AU - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Human Factors Evaluation of Level 2 and Level 3 Automated Driving Concepts PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 320p AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate user interactions with Level 2 and Level 3 partially automated vehicles. L2 and L3 were of interest because it is at this point where the driver’s role transitions and longitudinal and lateral control are ceded in varying degrees to the vehicle. At this point, the driver becomes an intermittent operator. For L2 and L3, the level of involvement by the human might vary. Therefore, the authors use the term operator as opposed to driver. The study focused on how these intermittent operators transition between automated and non-automated vehicle operation, and how this interaction is affected by the human-machine interface (HMI). Three experiments were performed with prototype partially automated vehicles on controlled test tracks in mixed traffic. The first experiment investigated which HMI characteristics are most effective at issuing a take-over request (TOR) during the operation of an L2 automated vehicle. The second experiment investigated how to prompt operators to attend to the road when distracted during the operation of an L2 automated vehicle, and whether these prompts are effective over time. The third experiment investigated which HMI characteristics are most effective at issuing a TOR during the operation of an L3 automated vehicle. The findings suggest that the most effective hand-off strategies were those that incorporated nonvisual components. The driver engagement patterns observed in this study provide data and evidence that could support the future development of human factors design principles for L2 and L3 partially automated vehicles. KW - Automation KW - Driver vehicle interfaces KW - Human factors KW - Human machine interface KW - Intelligent vehicles KW - Prototypes KW - Test tracks UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash Avoidance/Technical Publications/2015/812182_HumanFactorsEval-L2L3-AutomDrivingConcepts.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367054 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575525 AU - Medina-Cetina, Zenon AU - Varela, Patricia AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Forecasting the Impacts of Shale Gas Developments on Public Health and Transportation Systems on Both Sides of the Mexico–U.S. Border PY - 2015/08 SP - 33p AB - The activities completed for this project include the literature research on the Eagle Ford formation, the review of public-health and transportation related variables to shale gas developments, and the definition of the project collaborative site at Prof. Medina-Cetina’s Stochastic Geomechanics Laboratory SGL server https://stochasticgeomechanics.civil.tamu.edu/wiki/projects/bngis/BN__GIS.html. Also, a collection of spatial data from the Eagle Ford Shale, including transportation infrastructure, geology, hydrology, demography, and well production was gathered. In this project, researchers developed an improvement of the proposed Bayesian Network for the regional assessment of environmental and social risk (i.e., transportation infrastructure and public health) by enhancing the BN+GIS Model for Environmental Sensibility assessment including a Surface Water variable. This required the improvement and optimization of the code producing BN+GIS results to reduce computational time. Afterward, researchers attained results on the implementation of enhanced BN+GIS model in the Barnett Shale Play. Consequently, researchers completed a paper to be submitted in the ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems named “Bayesian Networks and Geographical Information Systems for Environmental Risk Assessment for Oil and Gas Site Developments.” Following up this activity, researchers defined the objectives, hypothesis, and methodology for a parametric sensitivity analysis on the BN+GIS Model used for Risk Assessment on the Barnett Shale. Additionally, researchers developed an investigation about commercially available simulators (software) used for estimating production in unconventional reservoirs. KW - Barnett Shale KW - Bayesian networks KW - Eagle Ford Shale KW - Environmental impacts KW - Forecasting KW - Geographic information systems KW - Mexico KW - Public health KW - Risk assessment KW - Shale gas KW - Texas UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00027-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367017 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575522 AU - Wolshon, Brian AU - Parr, Scott A AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Identifying High-Risk Roadways for Infrastructure Investment Using Naturalistic Driving Data PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 20p AB - The state-of-the-practice for most municipal traffic agencies seeking to identify high-risk road segments has been to use prior crash history. While historic traffic crash data are recognized to be valuable in improving roadway safety, it relies on prior observation rather than future crash likelihood. Recently, however, researchers are developing predictive crash methods based on “abnormal driving events.” These include abrupt and atypical vehicle movements thought to be indicative of crash avoidance maneuvers and/or near-crashes. Because these types of near-crash events occur far more frequently than actual crashes, it is hypothesized that they can be used as an indicator of high-risk locations and, even more valuably, to identify where crashes are likely to occur in the future. This paper describes the results of research that used naturalistic driving data collected from global positioning system (GPS) sensors to locate high concentrations of abrupt and atypical vehicle movements in Baton Rouge, Louisiana based on vehicle acceleration and vehicle rate of change of acceleration (jerk). Statistical analyses revealed that clusters of high magnitude jerk events while decelerating were significantly correlated to long-term crash rates at these same locations. These significant and consistent relationships between jerks and crashes suggest that these events can be used as surrogate measures of safety and as a way of predicting safety problems before even a single crash has occurred. KW - Automatic data collection systems KW - Baton Rouge (Louisiana) KW - Collision avoidance maneuvers KW - Detection and identification KW - Global Positioning System KW - High risk locations KW - Highway safety KW - Near miss collisions (Ground transportation) UR - http://martrec.uark.edu/reports/identifying-high-risk-roadways.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367035 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575521 AU - Figliozzi, Miguel AU - Blanc, Bryan AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluating the Use of Crowdsourcing as a Data Collection Method for Bicycle Performance Measures and Identification of Facility Improvement Needs PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 139p AB - This research developed a smartphone application called ORcycle to collect cyclists’ routes, users, and comfort levels. ORcycle combines Global Positioning System (GPS) revealed route data collection with new questionnaires that try to elicit cyclists’ attitudes as well as comfort levels and factors that influence their perceived comfort and route choice. The new questionnaires were developed to better understand how cyclists’ comfort levels are affected by route characteristics, route stressors, safety reports, cyclists’ demographics, and cyclists’ cycling attitude. Preliminary results show that many trip characteristics, route choice factors, route stressors and demographic variables are correlated with comfort levels. ORcycle is the first statewide deployment of a smartphone application to collect bicycle specific safety and crash data in addition to travel and comfort data. Potential applications that can take advantage of the ORcycle data include: comfort and route models, prioritization of network improvements, and crash and injury risk models. KW - Attitudes KW - Bicycle travel KW - Comfort KW - Crash data KW - Cyclists KW - Data collection KW - Global Positioning System KW - Questionnaires KW - Route choice KW - Safety KW - Smartphones KW - Stress (Psychology) UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR768_Crowdsourcing_DataCollection.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367019 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575136 AU - Department of Education AU - Department of Transportation TI - Strengthening Skills Training and Career Pathways Across the Transportation Industry: Data Report on Future Transportation Workforce Needs PY - 2015/08 SP - 85p AB - This report collects and analyzes employment and skills data for the transportation industry highlighting the future growth areas or employment “hot spots” in transportation by industry subsectors, occupations, career areas, and geographic areas. It also identifies high-demand jobs with good wages and analyzes the patterns in the education and work experience required for entry, as well as On-the-Job training required for new entrants to gain full competency. Six transportation subsectors were identified for examination: Trucking Transportation (not including warehousing and logistics); Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (including urban transit—privately and publicly operated, charter bus, taxis, interurban and rural bus, and school and employee transportation); Air Transportation (scheduled and nonscheduled air transportation, including airport operations, aircraft maintenance, and other support activities); Highway Construction and Maintenance; Rail Transportation; and Maritime Transportation (Deep sea, coastal, great lakes, and inland water transportation, including ports). KW - Demographics KW - Education and training KW - Jobs KW - Labor force KW - Labor market KW - Personnel KW - Statistics KW - Transportation careers KW - Wages UR - https://s3.amazonaws.com/PCRN/docs/Strengthening_Skills_Training_and_Career_Pathways_Across_Transportation_Industry_Data_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367013 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575133 AU - Booz Allen Hamilton, Incorporated AU - Gannett Fleming, Incorporated AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Cost Benefit Analysis of Rail Electrification for Next Generation Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 48p AB - The study team researched and evaluated the relative costs, benefits, impacts, and strategies related to electrification of portions of the U.S. rail network for passenger and freight transportation. Through case-study review of the potential costs and benefits of electrifying the western portion of Pennsylvania’s Keystone Corridor, the research team found that current conditions do not present a compelling justification to pursue electrification at this time. Built on key assumptions, namely the construction of a new track alignment to support high-speed rail travel, this analysis explored the costs and benefits of the electrification component itself as infrastructure that may be implemented across other existing track alignments elsewhere. As a result of this analysis, the study found that the costs for electrification infrastructure remain significant, while the benefits are only modest, or in some cases nonexistent. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Case studies KW - Impacts KW - Keystone Corridor (Pennsylvania) KW - Railroad electrification KW - Railroad transportation UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15196 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366929 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575125 AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Federal Railroad Administration Status Report to House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Status of Positive Train Control Implementation PY - 2015/08 SP - 22p AB - In 2008, after multiple accidents and urging from safety advocates and experts, as well as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Congress mandated that railroads implement Positive Train Control (PTC) systems by December 31, 2015. A majority of railroads will not meet this statutory deadline. This Status Report informs Congress, railroads, other industry stakeholders, and the public of: (1) the background of the PTC mandate and other requirements; (2) efforts the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has taken and continues to take to support railroads in implementing PTC; (3) current status of railroads progress in implementing PTC; (4) FRA’s enforcement options for railroads that fail to meet the December 31, 2015, deadline; and (5) a path forward to achieve full PTC implementation. KW - Implementation KW - Legislation KW - Positive train control KW - Railroad safety KW - Stakeholders KW - U.S. Federal Railroad Administration UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15168 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366930 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575119 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: State Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Estimates PY - 2015/08 SP - 13p AB - This fact sheet contains estimates of driver alcohol involvement in fatal crashes for the United States and individually for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Estimates for Puerto Rico are not included in the national estimates. Data from the current year (2013) and 10 years ago (2004) are presented for comparison. These estimates are based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Tables include Fatalities by state and highest driver blood alcohol concentration (BAC); Drivers involved in fatal crashes by state and BAC of the driver; and BAC test status for drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes. KW - Blood alcohol levels KW - Drunk driving KW - Fatalities KW - Fatality Analysis Reporting System KW - States KW - Tables (Data) KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812188.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366795 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574373 AU - Zhu, Zhihui AU - Davidson, Michael T AU - Harik, Issam E AU - Sun, Charlie AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Effect Of Thermal Loads on Substructures: New Trammel Creek Bridge On Ky-100 In Allen Co., Kentucky PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 178p AB - When infrastructure is subjected to temperature changes, structural members that are either partially or fully restrained against motion can develop internal stresses. The phenomenon of temperature-induced internal stress development in superstructure members has prompted the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to include provisions for determining superstructure temperature load effects. However, little consideration has been given to explicitly quantifying the effect that thermal stresses have on foundation systems such as intermediate bridge piers. The objective of this study is to instrument a multi-span integral abutment bridge with temperature and bridge response monitoring devices, and ultimately, to make a comparative analysis between measurements of temperature-induced soil pressures with pressures derived using the AASHTO design provisions. Accordingly, the New Trammel Creek Bridge (002B00054N) along KY-100 in Allen County, Kentucky has been fitted with temperature and response instrumentation. Data has been continuously collected from the bridge site since May 2011, and can be viewed at: http://www.ktc.uky.edu/kytc/RemoteBridgeMonitoringInKY/ky100Allen.html. Included in the research is a detailed analytical study of the New Trammel Creek Bridge, performed simultaneously with a field-monitoring program. Finite element (FE) modeling and analysis of temperature loadings on the bridge have pointed to AASHTO superstructure temperature provisions as the preferred method. Also called Method B, the AASHTO provisions led to adequate sizing of bridge foundation members. KW - AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications KW - Bridge foundations KW - Bridge piers KW - Bridge substructures KW - Field studies KW - Finite element method KW - Kentucky KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Thermal stresses UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/08/KTC_15_14_SPR_10_408_1F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366866 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574370 AU - Gibson, Bryan AU - Wallace, Candice AU - Sturgill, Roy AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Synthesis of Public-Private Partnerships: Potential Issues and Best Practices for Program and Project Implementation and Administration PY - 2015/08 SP - 80p AB - Public-private partnerships (P3s or PPPs) offer an innovative procurement method for the public sector. P3s involve collaborations between the public and private sectors to finance, develop or maintain transportation infrastructure. In an era of shrinking budgets and increased demand for transportation infrastructure, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) can analyze experiences in other states to determine a best path forward on the issue of P3s. During the 2014 regular legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Kentucky House Bill (HB) 407, which would empower KYTC through the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority (KPTIA), to fund projects through P3 agreements. The governor eventually vetoed the bill. In the current 2015 legislative session, the General Assembly is considering Kentucky HB 443, which would authorize transportation P3s in Kentucky. The objective of this study is to examine benefits and drawbacks of using P3s, current trends and past performance of P3s in the procurement of state transportation infrastructure projects, and common legislative statutes relating to P3s. The team reviewed literature that broadly related to privatization. Then they defined P3s according to the parameters laid out by the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA). This report contains: 1) guidance and best practices that can be used to help ensure successful P3 implementation, 2) case studies that describe P3 experiences and lessons learned, 3) a list of factors that policymakers should consider as they deliberate on whether a P3 is the best procurement option for specific projects. The research conclusively demonstrated that P3s have become more widely used for transportation infrastructure projects in the United States in recent years. Policymakers must thoughtfully weigh risks and benefits before approving P3 agreements. If Kentucky moves ahead with a transportation P3 program, future research would be geared toward studying the performance of projects and toward gathering lessons learned. KW - Best practices KW - Case studies KW - Construction projects KW - Implementation KW - Infrastructure KW - Kentucky KW - Legislation KW - Literature reviews KW - Privatization KW - Public private partnerships KW - States UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/08/KTC_15_13_SPR15_500_1F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366868 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574369 AU - Green, Eric R AU - Blackden, Chris AU - Fields, Michael A AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Spatial Database For Intersections PY - 2015/08//Research Report SP - 26p AB - Deciding which intersections in the state of Kentucky warrant safety improvements requires a comprehensive inventory with information on every intersection in the public roadway network. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) had previously cataloged only those intersections where state-maintained roadways met. However, this inventory did not account for intersections between state- and locally-maintained routes, nor was it designed to accommodate regular updates. As such, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky developed a methodology to create and maintain a full inventory of every intersection in the state. The database contains precise location information as well as several safety and operational attributes for each point of an intersection. By replicating the topology factors used in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), the research team categorized every intersection type, and developed Safety Performance Functions (SPF) for each intersection type. The SPFs were used to rank each intersection. It is anticipated that this project’s deliverables will be used to increase KYTC’s ability to effectively allocate funds to maintain and improve intersection safety. Making the database available to expert users will allow continuous improvements. In the future, annual average daily traffic (AADT) data and traffic control information could be included. KW - Databases KW - Highway safety KW - Intersections KW - Kentucky KW - Methodology KW - Safety Performance Functions UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366909 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574361 AU - Martin, Andrew AU - Walton, Jennifer AU - Keathley, Valerie AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Redefining Commercial Vehicle Permitting and Credentialing Violations PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 81p AB - The objective of this study was to analyze enforcement and adjudication of common commercial vehicle tax, credentialing, and safety offenses. This study examined violations of the International Fuel Tax Agreement and the Kentucky Intrastate Tax, Kentucky’s weight distance tax, Unified Carrier Registration, Kentucky size and weight laws, and federal safety regulations from 2004 to 2013. Statistical analysis showed declining conviction rates, increasing dismissal rates, and a drop in collections of court costs and fines associated with these offenses. In addition, adjudication varied significantly from district court to district court, which is creating an equity issue for motor carriers and the drivers who operate in Kentucky. Surveys of other states and conversations with Kentucky officials were used to develop two policy alternatives to the current system. The first policy is a piecemeal reform of current practices, and the second policy establishes a civil penalties system where a review board adjudicates commercial vehicle offenses in lieu of district courts. An implementation analysis shows the latter would be a more equitable, efficient, and fiscally responsible alternative to current practices. KW - Adjudication KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Commercial vehicles KW - International Fuel Tax Agreement KW - Kentucky KW - Permits KW - Policy KW - Size and weight regulations KW - States KW - Statistical analysis KW - Taxes KW - Traffic law enforcement KW - Traffic violations UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/08/KTC_15_17_SPR14_489_1F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366867 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574117 AU - Higgins, Christopher AU - Amneus, Deanna AU - Barker, Laura AU - Oregon State University, Corvallis AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Methods for Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Bridge Girders Containing Poorly Detailed Flexural Steel Using Near-Surface Mounted Metallics PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 154p AB - Many older reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridges contain straight-bar terminations of flexural reinforcement in flexural tension zones without special detailing. Common bridge design practice of the 1950s did not consider the additional demands on the terminated bars from shear and flexure. Moreover, application of modern design code provisions and use of heavier trucks contribute to insufficient bridge load ratings when evaluating flexural anchorages in existing RCDG bridges. Replacement of bridges with poor ratings due to localized deficiencies is not economically feasible and thus strengthening methods are necessary. The goal of this research was to investigate methods for strengthening deficient flexural steel anchorages using supplemental surface bonded metallic reinforcing bars. Full-scale reinforced concrete girder specimens with typical vintage details and materials were used as test specimens. The specimens were constructed with flexural anchorage deficiencies by terminating some of the embedded flexural bars past a 45° preformed diagonal crack. The terminated bars had only one-third of the code-prescribed development length past the diagonal crack. A strengthening technique called near-surface mounting (NSM) was applied to the specimens. Two metallic materials were selected for the NSM reinforcement: titanium and stainless steel. These materials were chosen because of their high strength, ductility, environmental durability, and ability to form mechanical hooks at the ends of the bars. This study found that the NSM strengthening technique with metallic materials increased the deformation and load capacity of all specimens. In addition, a case study was performed to demonstrate the flexural strengthening for the Mosier Bridge overcrossing of I84 in Oregon. The case study demonstrated that the techniques and materials applied to the girder were able to achieve the required strength and provided good deformation capacity. KW - Bridge anchorages KW - Case studies KW - Deformation KW - Flexural strength KW - Girders KW - Oregon KW - Reinforced concrete bridges KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Strengthening (Maintenance) UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR750_AppendicesA.pdf UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR750_AppendicesB-D.pdf UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR750_Final_StengtheningGirders.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364706 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574111 AU - Sharma and Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Validation of a 70-Ton Higher Speed Freight Truck Design for Operations of Up to 125 MPH—Higher Speed Freight Truck Vehicle Dynamics and Analysis PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 31p AB - Previously, Sharma & Associates, Inc. (SA) developed a higher speed freight truck design under sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration. Under the current contract, SA was tasked with developing performance requirements for higher speed freight trucks, as well as conducting structural and dynamics simulations in accordance with the performance specifications developed in the earlier task components of this project. This report presents the vehicle dynamics analyses of the truck. These analyses follow the performance requirements laid out for this project in a report titled “WBS TASK 1.1, Higher Speed Freight Truck – Performance Requirements.” The requirements were based on the approach presented in Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA’s) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Vehicle/Track Interaction Safety Standards; High-Speed and High Cant Deficiency Operations published on May 10, 2010. The vehicle dynamics simulations were conducted at speeds between 95 to 130 mph in 5 mph increments on Class 7 track, as well as for 115 mph on a Class 6 track. The simulations showed that the higher speed freight truck meets all previously specified performance criteria. Based on the results discussed in this report, it is recommended that a set of field tests be carried out to evaluate and validate the higher speed freight truck’s performance under Chapter 11 regimes. Further tests should be run at speeds 100 mph or higher at a facility such as Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI). KW - Freight cars KW - High speed rail KW - Load tests KW - Performance based specifications KW - Simulation KW - Train track dynamics KW - Vehicle dynamics KW - Vehicle performance UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15166 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55390/BAA_HST_Dynamic_Analysis_Report_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1365283 ER - TY - SER AN - 01574032 JO - TechBrief PB - Federal Highway Administration TI - Safety Evaluation of Access Management Policies and Techniques PY - 2015/08 SP - 20p AB - While the operational effects of access management have been investigated quantitatively through different modeling and analysis approaches, there have been few scientifically rigorous evaluations to quantify safety effectiveness, particularly for corridor access management. The Federal Highway Administration initiated this study to help fill some of the research gaps, namely quantifying the safety impacts of corridor access management decisions. The objective of this research was to develop corridor-level crash prediction models to evaluate the potential safety effects of access management strategies. Agencies can apply the algorithms to assess the safety impacts of their decisions related to access management. The intent of this study was to focus on corridors based on functional classification, area type, and land use. All corridors included in this study are functionally classified as arterials and fall under one of nine area type/land use scenarios. KW - Access control (Transportation) KW - Algorithms KW - Arterial highways KW - Crash risk forecasting KW - Evaluation KW - Highway safety KW - Land use UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/15038/15038.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363946 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574023 AU - Head, Monique AU - Ashby-Bey, Ebony AU - Edmonds, Kyle AU - Efe, Steve AU - Grose, Siafa AU - Mason, Isaac AU - Morgan State University AU - Maryland State Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Stainless Steel Prestressing Strands and Bars for Use in Prestressed Concrete Girders and Slabs PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 121p AB - Corrosion decay on structures has continued to be a challenge in the scientific and engineering communities, where significant federal and state funds have been spent towards replacement or rehabilitation of bridges that were damaged by corrosion deterioration. In Maryland, a great portion of its yearly bridge funding allocation is spent on performing repairs and rehabilitations on its aging bridge inventory. In an effort to reverse this trend, the State Highway Administration (SHA) has monitored problematic design practices and adjusted present designs to avoid future maintenance issues. One area that has been particularly problematic for SHA is the deterioration of prestressed steel strands in prestressed concrete beams and girders. In fact, in recent years, SHA has performed emergency span replacements on two different bridges because the strands had deteriorated to such an extent that serious safety concerns were exposed. One tactic SHA has used to remedy this issue has been to increase the concrete cover requirements beyond code requirements to help prevent the onset of deterioration. This will help, but comes at a price. The strands are less effective and more strands are often required. Therefore, this research consisted of gathering and synthesizing information on how others have addressed this issue, as it relates to the deployment of other materials that can be used to provide durable corrosion protection and prevention of premature spalling or corrosion-induced cracking. To assess the use of stainless steel and other materials, a survey was conducted and disseminated to contractors, personnel at various departments of transportation, and construction industry personnel. This study presents a summary of various projects that have used corrosion-resistant rebar (CRR), a summary of what other states are doing to address this issue, and results from the survey of how various states are addressing the issue of corrosion decay on structures. KW - Best practices KW - Bridge decks KW - Corrosion resistance KW - Girders KW - Life cycle analysis KW - Maryland KW - Prestressed concrete KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Stainless steel KW - States KW - Surveys UR - http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OPR_Research/MD-13_SP309B4G_Stainless-Steel-Prestressing-Strands_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364656 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574015 AU - Dixon, Karen AU - Monsere, Chris AU - Avelar, Raul AU - Barnett, Joel AU - Escobar, Paty AU - Kothuri, Sirisha AU - Wang, Yi AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Improved Safety Performance Functions for Signalized Intersections PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 182p AB - For this effort, the research team developed new safety performance functions (SPFs) for signalized intersections in Oregon. The modeling dataset consisted of 964 crashes from a total of 73 intersections that were randomly selected based on the presence of a traffic signal (identified through the crash data records). The SPFs were developed using a Poisson-lognormal Generalized Linear Mixed model framework for total crashes and severe injury crashes (coded as KAB). Three SPFs were developed: 1) an SPF for total crashes, which relies on both major and minor Average Annual Daily Traffics (AADTs) to predict the expected number of crashes; 2) an SPF for KAB crashes, whose predictions derive from both AADTs as well as from the speed limit on the major road; and (3) a severity model to predict the proportion of KAB crashes to be used in combination with the SPF for total crashes. The research analyses determined that the speed limit variable significantly improved the quality of the SPFs and severity model, and as expected, suggests increasing severity with speed differentials. The models were validated spatially and temporally based on additional sites and using an additional year of data. The models all performed well during the validation; however enhanced models to improve model reliability were developed based on the larger dataset. As part of the model development, this research also explored a variety of rules to identify crashes as intersection-related based on the crash geo-location (including the common 250 feet rule). Crashes were manually classified from the combined data available from the geo-location of crashes, the geometric database, and the various fields in the Oregon crash database. These classifications were then compared to a number of rule options for classifying them as intersection crashes. The analysis revealed that the best performing rule is to use crashes that were geo-located within 300 feet of the centerline intersection at signalized locations plus crashes where the crash report indicates that they were associated with a traffic control device (i.e. traffic signal). Finally, this research effort developed models to estimate minor road AADT for use in safety analysis where this exposure information is not available. These models were developed from data from 66 intersections with known minor and major AADT volumes and validated with data from another 25 intersections. Significant model variables included major AADT, number of approach lanes, functional class, presence of a two-way left-turn lane, and parallel road AADT. KW - Annual average daily traffic KW - Crash severity KW - Data analysis KW - Highway safety KW - Oregon KW - Poisson distributions KW - Safety Performance Functions KW - Signalized intersections KW - Traffic crashes KW - Validation UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR756_Appendix_E_Final_Report.pdf UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR756_Appendix_F_Final_Report.pdf UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR756_FINAL_LP_081015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366333 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574002 AU - Baillargeon, Jay AU - Jeong, David AU - Akhtar, Muhammad AU - Mademann, Curt AU - Davis, David AU - Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Load Environment of Rail Joint Bars – Phase III: Assessment of the Effects of Installation and Maintenance Practices PY - 2015/08//Final Report SP - 60p AB - A series of tests, aimed at assessing the structural integrity of joint bars under differing service conditions, were conducted to address concerns regarding joint bar failures in the revenue service environment. Data collected through the course of this study revealed that bending stress invoked by normal track surfacing operations is not a likely cause for cracks that initiate at the top center of joint bars. Instead, cracking at this location is probably the result of fatigue at the top center of the joint bar due to rail-joint contact. Surface hardening at the area of rail-joint contact was largely ineffective, resulting in metal flow developing adjacent to the easement at the top of the joint bar. Additional data gathered in this study suggests little correlation between the surface hardness of the joint bar and the depth of metal flow. Bending stresses and wheel/rail forces were also measured on joint bars used in rail end gaps and rail height mismatches, which revealed minimal effects on overall joint bar performance for the installation conditions and range of speeds evaluated. KW - Bending stress KW - Cracking KW - Finite element method KW - Rail joints KW - Structural analysis KW - Tie bars UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15160 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55385/Load_environment_rail_joint-bars_III.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1365281 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579261 AU - Bham, Ghulam H AU - Minturn, Jacob AU - Hafele, Brendan AU - Abaza, Osama AU - University of Alaska, Fairbanks AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Performance of Depressed Medians on Divided Highways in Alaska PY - 2015/07/31/Preliminary Project Report AB - The population of Alaska especially the city of Anchorage is steadily increasing. As a result, traffic volumes are higher and demands to add lanes to existing highways is increasing in order to relieve congestion. In Alaska, an expressway or freeway is a high-speed (≥ 50 mph), multilane, divided highway with partial access control. These divided highways typically utilize wide medians. These medians are considered an option to be replace with narrow medians in order to provide additional through lanes to cater to the needs of higher traffic volume and keep traffic congestion to a minimum. During the Alaska winter where snow accumulates in medians from October to April, drivers can lose control of their vehicles in slippery road conditions; however, these wide medians with heavy snow serve as a refuge to absorb the impact of a crash. The damage to a vehicle and its occupants can be minimal as a result. If the existing wide medians are used to construct additional lanes, these wide medians will no longer be available to act as safety cushions. On the contrary, a narrow median will mainly act as a barrier to separate vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Without a depressed median (a vee ditch), single vehicle run-off-road crashes could evolve into multi-vehicle crashes among vehicles traveling in the same direction. These depressed wide medians also act as snow storage areas, allowing snow to be plowed on both sides of the road. Eliminating these medians will reduce the available snow storage space and require plowing all of the snow to the right and increase the snow load to one side of the road. A study is proposed that will examine the operational and safety benefits of 1) keep existing wide medians, and 2) replace existing medians with a) concrete barriers, b) high tensioned cable barriers, and c) another feasible alternative. Modern protective devices, such as cable barriers, offer protection with a lower risk of vehicle damage and personal injury than do traditional concrete barriers and guardrails. The study will evaluate the benefits of travel way that is safer to use. Further, the study will examine the benefits of higher traffic volume with minimal congestion to the cost of construction of additional lanes and property damage to vehicles as a result of collision with different types of barriers. KW - Alaska KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Divided highways KW - Highway design KW - Highway safety KW - Median barriers KW - Medians KW - Snow KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic volume KW - Width UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-33-UAF-Bham.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370902 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579248 AU - Hurwitz, David S AU - Boyle, Linda AU - Abdel-Rahim, Ahmed AU - Bham, Ghulam H AU - Cofer, William AU - Oregon State University, Corvallis AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Educating Younger Drivers in the Pacific Northwest Regarding the Dangers of Distracted Driving PY - 2015/07/31/Final Project Report SP - 40p AB - The goal of this outreach project was to examine driver distraction among high school and college students in the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, to identify secondary tasks they consider distracting and determine their self-reported engagement in those same secondary tasks while driving. An interactive presentation was developed and administered to 2,500 younger drivers (approximately 600 participants in each of the four states Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington). Younger Drivers were recruited from high schools and universities in each state. Of those participants, 2,378 younger drivers responded to a pre- and post-survey administered immediately before and two weeks after the presentation. The purpose of the survey was to measure the degree to which the interactive presentation improved younger driver perspectives regarding the hazards of distracted driving. Results indicated that the interactive presentation positively influenced younger driver perspectives, meaning that after the interactive presentation, younger drivers were more likely to correctly identify different types of distracted driving. KW - Before and after studies KW - College students KW - Distraction KW - Driver education KW - High school students KW - Pacific Northwest KW - Surveys KW - Teenage drivers UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-28-OSU-Hurwitz-et-al.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370899 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579224 AU - Bauer, Denise H AU - Frenzel, James AU - Wall, Richard W AU - Frazier, Tim G AU - University of Idaho, Moscow AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Framework for Improved Safety and Accessibility through Pedestrian Guidance and Navigation PY - 2015/07/31/Final Project Report SP - 28p AB - With the changes in America's demographics comes a need to provide improved accommodation of individuals with reduced capabilities. To date, research has focused upon assistive pedestrian signal technologies for pedestrians with impaired vision. Such individuals must learn to cross complex intersections safely using a range of sensory inputs, including auditory cues from traffic surge and beaconing systems. Unfortunately, reduced vehicle noise, particularly for hybrid or electric vehicles, combined with increases in background sound levels, reduces the effectiveness of this approach. Furthermore, once the signal changes and the pedestrian starts to cross, there is very little communication with the pedestrian other than the possibility of active beaconing. The traffic controller has no way of knowing how far pedestrians have progressed and whether they are still in the crosswalk. This project is proposing the integration of commercial technologies commonly found in smartphones and other mobile electronics into a framework that will provide for pedestrian tracking and navigation. Such capability would allow the pedestrian signal device to take corrective action, such as providing navigational corrections or extending the walk signal (in extreme circumstances). With a "technology-neutral" framework (using a device other than a smartphone), this pedestrian support can be expanded to other avenues, such as railway crossings, bus terminals, and airports. KW - Accessibility KW - Crosswalks KW - Detection and identification KW - Pedestrian detectors KW - Pedestrian movement KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Persons with disabilities KW - Smartphones KW - Technological innovations UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans30-UI-Bauer.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370900 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579195 AU - Chang, Kevin AU - Brown, Shane AU - Perkins, Robert AU - Boyle, Linda AU - Cofer, William AU - National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Refinement and Dissemination of a Digital Platform for Sharing Transportation Education Materials PY - 2015/07/31/Final Project Report SP - 54p AB - National agencies have called for more widespread adoption of best practices in engineering education. To facilitate this sharing of practices a web-based system framework used by transportation engineering educators to share curricular materials and methods was developed. A research-based, action-oriented approach was taken where iteration occurred between the usability and adoptability of the system and the material-sharing and decision-making process of its content providers. The results of this study suggest that managing the size and content of the materials provided in the repository and establishing an effective and efficient means to access the material are of critical importance to the long-term success and sustainability of the system. KW - Best practices KW - Curricula KW - Education KW - Information dissemination KW - Transportation engineering KW - Websites (Information retrieval) UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-41-UI-Chang.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370894 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579184 AU - Lee, Hyun Woo AU - Harapanahalli, Bharat A AU - Oregon State University, Corvallis AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Investigating the Feasibility of Using Quick Response Codes in Highway Construction for Document Control PY - 2015/07/31/Final Project Report SP - 58p AB - Highway construction takes place in remote locations, making document control challenging. Frequent changes in a project can cause errors, reworks, and schedule delays due to the time taken to disseminate these changes to the field or due to using outdated documents. With the advancement of mobile devices, Quick Response (QR) codes can now provide project teams rapid and reliable access to information and documents required for field operations. The use of QR codes can also allow for checking document versions, reduce the need for travelling or meeting for document revisions, and reduce the amount of hardcopy documents and storage spaces. Despite the potential for significant benefits, there have been little to no studies aimed at assessing the feasibility of using QR codes in highway construction. In response, this study aimed at investigating the benefits of and barriers of using QR codes in highway construction for document control. First, an online survey was conducted to determine the status quo of highway construction in terms of document control and mobile information technology (IT). The survey results indicated that hardcopy documentation is still the most prevalent form of document control in highway construction, and hence there is an opportunity for implementing QR codes in conjunction with mobile IT. Further, a time study using a real-world infrastructure project was conducted based on three activities: detail look up, specification check, and version check. A statistical analysis of the time study data showed that using QR codes can significantly save time, indicating a benefit cost ratio of 1.70. In conclusion, the report presents a guideline that state transportation agencies can use to implement QR codes in their document control practices. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Documents KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Information dissemination KW - Labeling KW - QR codes KW - Road construction KW - Statistical analysis KW - Surveys UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-37-OSU-Lee.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370898 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579177 AU - Belz, Nathan P AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Roundabout Design Training for Alaska's Engineers PY - 2015/07/31/Final Project Report SP - 17p AB - Roundabout are an emerging type of intersection design, are a relatively new addition to the transportation system in the United States. As a result, guidelines for roundabout design and construction are very broad and leave much room for subjectivity. This can result in roundabout designs with performance and safety well below the level that was anticipated. Further, the application and design of roundabouts is still evolving. As such, it is critically important that planners and engineers are kept up-to-date with the “state-of-the-art” and “best practices” for roundabout design so that these intersections will positively contribute to the transportation system. Education and outreach materials were developed and offered to designers and planners through a six-part webinar series that covered best practices for planning, design, analysis, construction, and post-implementation techniques that can be applied to roundabouts in Alaska. KW - Alaska KW - Best practices KW - Education KW - Highway design KW - Roundabouts KW - State of the practice KW - Websites (Information retrieval) UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-49-UAF-Belz.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370895 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579232 AU - Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Establishing a Fatigue Management Program for the Bus and Rail Transit Industry PY - 2015/07/30 SP - 58p AB - On October 28th and 29th, 2014, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator tasked the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) with developing recommendations for FTA on the elements that should comprise a Safety Management System (SMS) approach to a fatigue management program. TRACS Representatives with backgrounds in state safety oversight agencies, state and local transportation agencies, labor unions, research organizations, and national transportation associations worked together to create recommendations for FTA to manage transit worker fatigue and prevent fatigue-related incidents. These recommendations address each aspect of the SMS approach, including policy, risk management, safety promotion, and safety assurance. The report begins by introducing the issue of transit worker fatigue, the aspects of a fatigue risk management system, and the SMS approach and its connections to this report. It then presents TRACS’ recommendations regarding the components of a successful fatigue management program, including hours of service (HOS), shift scheduling, fatigue prevention and awareness training, fitness-for-duty medical evaluations and screenings, work and vehicle environment design, safety culture, incident investigation, and data collection. Each section includes an introduction, a description of recommendations, and a table analyzing how the section relates to each SMS pillar. Some sections also include a list of relevant definitions. KW - Fatigue (Physiological condition) KW - Policy KW - Public transit KW - Recommendations KW - Risk management KW - Safety management KW - Safety Management Systems KW - Transit operators UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/TRACS_Fatigue_Report_14-02_Final_%282%29.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371173 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574106 AU - Dingus, Thomas AU - Noble, Alexandria M AU - Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center AU - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute AU - University of Virginia, Charlottesville AU - Morgan State University AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Safety, Operational, and Energy Impacts of In-vehicle Adaptive Stop Displays Using Connected Vehicle Technology PY - 2015/07/30/Final Research Report SP - 113p AB - Un-signalized intersections create multiple opportunities for missed or misunderstood information. Stop sign-controlled intersections have also been shown to be a source of delay and emissions due to their frequent, often inappropriate use. By using connected vehicle technology, it is possible to place electronic stop signs at more conspicuous locations that can communicate with the in-vehicle systems. Then, if a conflict is imminent at an intersection, the vehicle’s system alerts the driver, thus reducing the probability of missed information, as well as decreasing the amount of unnecessary delay, fuel consumption, and emissions by only prompting a stop when a conflict is present. Before implementing any new technology, it is important to assess it from both a transportation engineering and human factors standpoint to determine the value of such a system. The objective of this study was to assess perceived benefits of an adaptive in-vehicle stop display and to determine if there were any negative safety implications with the use of this system. This was accomplished through a test track experiment with 49 participants. These drivers were presented with a standard R1-1 stop sign on the in-vehicle display, as well as an experimental sign, which informed them to proceed through the intersection with caution. Results indicate the implementation of this technology reduces delay, decreases fuel consumption, and does not instigate any safety decrements. KW - Driver information systems KW - Drivers KW - Fuel consumption KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Pollutants KW - Stop signs KW - Technological innovations KW - Test tracks KW - Traffic delays KW - Traffic safety KW - Unsignalized intersections UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55378/Noble_SOE_Impacts_of_In-Vehicle_Adaptive_Stop_Displays_Using_CV_Technology_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364411 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580878 AU - Schmidt, Jennifer D AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Reid, John D AU - Lechtenberg, Karla A AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Holloway, Jim C AU - Kohtz, Justine E AU - Midwest Roadside Safety Facility AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Design and Evaluation of an Energy-Absorbing, Reusable Roadside/Median Barrier PY - 2015/07/29/Final Report SP - 165p AB - Further design and evaluation was conducted on an energy-absorbing, restorable and reusable roadside/median barrier, designated the RESTORE barrier. A series of dynamic component tests were conducted on 11⅝-in. (295-mm) tall x 10-in. (254-mm) wide x 15¾-in. (400-mm) long rubber posts to characterize their energy-absorption properties. A hybrid precast concrete beam and steel tube rail was optimized to meet the design criteria for the new system. Several concrete beam splices were evaluated using LS-DYNA to add continuity to the concrete beam segments. A 240-ft (73-m) barrier model was created, and the barrier performance was evaluated with TL-4 impacts with the 1100C, 2270P, and 10000S vehicle models. The 1100C and 2270P vehicle models were successfully captured and redirected, while the 10000S single-unit truck demonstrated likelihood to be contained by the barrier and began to redirect. The occupant risk values for the passenger vehicle impacts were up to 28 percent lower than what occurred in a comparable simulated impact into a rigid concrete barrier. The full-scale system was installed, and the stability of the system was evaluated. The final design is recommended for full-scale crash testing according to the MASH TL-4 criteria. KW - Crash victim simulation KW - Design KW - Dynamic tests KW - Energy absorption KW - Evaluation KW - Highway safety KW - Impact tests KW - Median barriers KW - Precast concrete KW - Simulation KW - Steel rails UR - http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/mat-n-tests/research/Design/FinalReportDPU-STWD%2894%29Phase%20III.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373773 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576173 AU - Andrew, James AU - Simmons, Erica AU - Rasmussen, Benjamin AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Integration Plan for the Mid-Region Council of Governments: Central New Mexico Climate Change Scenario Planning Project PY - 2015/07/27 SP - 40p AB - This Integration Plan for the Central New Mexico Climate Change Scenario Planning Project (CCSP) provides useful information on strategies that the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) and its partners can pursue over the next five years to adapt regional policies, programs, and data collection procedures to further the goals of environmental protection, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and resiliency. These strategies will help MRCOG further integrate these goals into its next metropolitan transportation plan (MTP). This Integration Plan explores potential implementation strategies for the following policy focus areas.: (1) Transportation Climate Change Adaptation Assessment; (2) Mitigating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Electricity Generation; (3) Incentivizing Transit-Oriented Activity Centers; (4) Open Space Preservation Programs and Policies; and (5) Green Infrastructure Investments. KW - Air quality management KW - Climate change KW - Data collection KW - Environmental policy KW - Land use planning KW - New Mexico KW - Regional planning KW - Sustainable development KW - Transit oriented development KW - Transportation planning KW - Travel demand management UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55338/MRCOG_IntegrationPlan.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369012 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575523 AU - Donovan, Neila J AU - Savage, Meghan C AU - Varnado, Chantelle AU - Brown, Caitlin AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Road Sign Recognition during Computer Testing versus Driving Simulator Performance for Stroke and Stroke+Aphasia Groups PY - 2015/07/25/Final Report SP - 20p AB - Driving is essential to maintaining independence. For most Americans preserving personal mobility is a key element to retaining jobs, friends, activities and the basic necessities to maintain a household. This is particularly true for older people. However, as the general age of the US increases, more and more people are becoming at greater risk for neurologic diseases such as stroke. Brain damage from stroke can affect physical mobility, sensorimotor, cognition, communication, visual perception, and visual processing which are all critical processes needed for driving. Currently, there is no consistent way to determine when a person can return to driving poststroke. Most driving studies exclude people with poststroke aphasia (PWA). However, aphasia may result in the inability to recognize and interpret the words, symbols, and gestures on road signs, which will impact safe driving. This paper presents the results of a recent study that tested road sign interpretation tasks among groups of healthy and poststroke older drivers to assess the effects of poststroke aphasia on driving. The results showed that aphasia significantly impacted accuracy and response time of road sign interpretation. More importantly, however, as language and symbol complexity increased on road signs, the aphasia-affected drivers performed with less accuracy and required more time. Although poststroke aphasia has not been taken into account in most stroke-related driving research, these findings suggest further research is warranted and may have implications for the design of road signs and for healthcare professionals who make decisions about when a PWA may safely return to driving. KW - Aged drivers KW - Aphasia (Medical condition) KW - Highway safety KW - Human factors KW - Stroke (Medical condition) KW - Traffic sign recognition KW - Traffic signs UR - http://martrec.uark.edu/reports/road-sign-recognition-during-computer-testing.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367036 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01587289 TI - ASISP Cybersecurity AB - The research objectives and goal of this project is to capture the Aircraft Systems Information Security Protection (ASISP) vulnerabilities and risks associated with the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS). The research efforts will focus on the ACARS not just from an information technology (IT) based perspective, but from a policy based perspective as well. The initial research shall explore the ASISP Safety Analysis model with a focus on System Threat Analysis, Safety Risk Factor Identification and Risk Assessment. KW - Aircraft KW - Aviation safety KW - Communication systems KW - Computer components KW - Cybernetics KW - Information technology KW - Risk analysis KW - Security UR - https://www.pegasas.aero/projects.php?p=24 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1392193 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590485 AU - Collura, John AU - Burleson, Wayne AU - Gao, Song AU - New England University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Decision Support System to Assess Disruptive Impacts of Alternative Transportation Financing Approaches PY - 2015/07/23/Final Report SP - 3p AB - The objective of this project was to initiate the development of a decision support system (DSS) to assist State Departments of Transportation in the evaluation of the impacts related to placing tolls on interstate highways. Anticipated impacts include capital and operating costs to implement the required toll collection strategies and technologies; expected changes in existing demand along the interstate and alternate routes; potential toll revenue; and privacy and equity implications. With the aid of this DSS, a decision-maker would be able to specify different toll system characteristics, add options such as desired levels of privacy and equity, and in a matter of minutes estimate capital and operating costs, forecast revenues, perform net present value and payback period analyses for alternative toll collection systems. The project also included the development of an illustrative example to demonstrate the application of the DSS to assess the impacts of alternative toll approaches along a segment of Interstate 93 through Boston. The expectation is that this DSS will be expanded to evaluate other financing approaches including congestion pricing strategies, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) based fees, and innovative fuel tax schemes indexed to inflation. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Boston (Massachusetts) KW - Costs KW - Decision support systems KW - Evaluation KW - Financing KW - Interstate highways KW - Revenues KW - State departments of transportation KW - Tolls KW - Travel demand UR - http://utc.mit.edu/system/files/UMAR24-16%20FP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397324 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01613836 AU - Sangster, John AU - Rakha, Hesham AU - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Operational Analysis of Alternative Intersections PY - 2015/07/21/Final Report SP - 139p AB - Alternative intersections and interchanges, such as the diverging diamond interchange (DDI), the restricted crossing u-turn (RCUT), and the displaced left-turn intersection (DLT), have the potential to both improve safety and reduce delay. However, partially due to lingering questions about analysis methods and service measures for these designs, their rate of implementation remains low. This research attempts to answer three key questions. Can alternative intersections and interchanges be incorporated into the existing level of service and service measure schema, or is a new service measure with an updated level of service model required? Is the behavior of drivers at alternative intersections fundamentally similar to those at conventional intersections, such that traffic microsimulation applications can accurately model the behaviors observed in the field? Finally, is the planning level tool made available through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) an accurate predictor of the relative performance of various alternatives, or is an updated tool necessary? Discussion and case study analysis are used to explore the existing level of service and service measure schema. The existing control delay measure is recommended to be replaced with a proposed junction delay measure that incorporates geometric delay, with the existing level of service schema based on control type recommended to be replaced by a proposed schema using demand volume. A case study validation of micro- and macroscopic analysis methods is conducted, finding the two microscopic methods investigated to match field observed vehicle delays within 3 to 7 seconds for all designs tested, and macroscopic Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) method matching within 3 seconds for the DDI, 35 seconds for the RCUT, and 130 seconds for the DLT design. Taking the critical lane analysis method to be a valid measure of operations, the demand-volume limitations of each alternative design is explored using eighteen geometric configurations and approximately three thousand volume scenarios, with the DLT design predicted to accommodate the highest demand volumes before failure is reached. Finally, six geometries are examined using both the planning-level tool and the validated microsimulation tool, finding that the curve of the capacity-to-delay relationship varies for each alternative design, invalidating the use of critical lane analysis as a comparative tool. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Analysis KW - Behavior KW - Case studies KW - Drivers KW - Geometric configurations and shapes KW - Highway capacity KW - Highway Capacity Manual KW - Highway design KW - Interchanges and intersections KW - Level of service KW - Traffic delays KW - Traffic models UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/VT-2012-03.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1424191 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01599184 AU - Schroeder, Bastian J AU - O'Brien, Sarah Worth AU - Findley, Daniel J AU - North Carolina State University, Raleigh AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - North Carolina Pedestrian Crossing Guidance PY - 2015/07/20/Final Report SP - 95p AB - This research report is geared at providing guidance to North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for when to consider marking crosswalks at uncontrolled approaches for pedestrians, installing pedestrian signal heads at existing signalized intersections, or providing supplemental treatments at a crossing location. The primary deliverable of the project, the crosswalk assessment flowchart, is intended to be a self-contained, wall-mounted poster that fully describes most aspects of the evaluation and decision-making process. This report is intended to supplement that flowchart, providing background for the flowchart with references to research and underlying data used to develop the guidance. The guidelines principally consist of four parts: Step 1) Document Existing Characteristics / Signalized Crossing Assessment, Step 2) Unsignalized Crossing or Midblock Crossing Assessment, Step 3) Additional / Alternative Treatments Assessment, and Step 4) Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) Assessment. KW - Crosswalks KW - Decision support systems KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Guidelines KW - Midblock crossings KW - North Carolina KW - Signalized intersections KW - Unsignalized intersections UR - https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/Pages/ProjDetails.aspx?ProjectID=2014-15 UR - https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Teppl/TEPPL%20All%20Documents%20Library/Pedestrian_Crossing_Guidance.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1407608 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594133 AU - Schneider, Helmut AU - Pfetzer, Emily AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - National Center for Intermodal Transportation for Economic Competitiveness AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Drugged Driving in Louisiana: Quantification of its Impact on Public Health and Implications for Legislation, Enforcement and Prosecution PY - 2015/07/20/Final Report SP - 155p AB - Drugged driving, i.e., driving under the influence of drugs, is considered a rising public health issue in the US and the rest of the world, yet due to underreporting and limitations of existing data, not much is known about the frequency of drugged driving and how it affects public safety is not yet clear. While the federal government has encouraged states to enact zero-tolerance drugged driving laws, the lack of clarity surrounding the effects of drugs on driving abilities as well a lack of empirical evidence about the efficacy of such laws indicate more research is necessary. Using Louisiana as a case study, this report provides important insight into the state of knowledge about drugged driving, the limitations to current data collection practices and how to proceed from here. There are two main goals: first, evaluate laws and policies about drugged driving and through a series of interviews with prosecutors, defense attorneys, police, and the public, identify obstacles to zero-tolerance legislation in Louisiana; and second, analyze the frequency of drugged driving in Louisiana and other states where data is publicly available to identify ways to improve data collection. Analysis of data from the Louisiana State Crime Lab as well as other available sources provide a preliminary baseline estimate about the frequency and nature of drug-impaired driving in Louisiana. Findings indicate substantial disparities exist among parishes in terms of the number of drug-impaired driving arrests and the quality of evidence submitted for testing, which reflects a lack of standardized procedures and an uneven distribution of resources. This study compares the prior DWI arrests, speeding violations and crashes of drivers who tested positive for various drugs to all other drivers. While there are substantial limitations to the analysis, particularly in sample size and selection, the findings suggest the drivers arrested for drugged driving have higher rates of prior unsafe driving incidents than all other drivers. Survey interviews with the target populations reveal an overall lack of training, resources, and testing capacities in Louisiana, as well as a wide range of concerns about per se laws. This study contributes a clearer understanding of existing data limitations and challenges with which states must contend, and presents a series of recommendations for developing a comprehensive approach to dealing with drug-impaired driving in Louisiana and other states moving forward. KW - Analysis KW - Case studies KW - Data collection KW - Drugged drivers KW - Law enforcement KW - Laws and legislation KW - Louisiana KW - Prosecution KW - Public health KW - Recommendations KW - Surveys KW - Traffic crashes UR - http://www.ncitec.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013-45FR.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400766 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01596826 AU - Gantla, Snehalatha AU - Reyna, Monica AU - McNamee, Liza Nirelli AU - Wulfhorst, J D AU - Foltz, Barbara E AU - University of Idaho, Moscow AU - Idaho Transportation Department AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles – 2015 Customer Satisfaction Survey PY - 2015/07/16/Final Report SP - 186p AB - In the fall of 2014, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) commissioned a statewide customer satisfaction survey of Idaho residents to assess their perception of the Division of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) performance in several key areas of customer service. This study repeats a similar study conducted in 2011 and 2009, and is part of an effort to track changes in customer satisfaction over time. Most areas of service of the DMV were rated relatively highly, with majority of respondents awarding a grade of “A” or “B.” This report also provides recommendations with how ITD could continue to improve in the various areas of customer service. KW - Customer satisfaction KW - Customer service KW - Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles KW - Idaho Transportation Department KW - Recommendations KW - State departments of transportation KW - State motor vehicle departments KW - Surveys UR - https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/UIdaho-Responsive/Files/cals/Programs/SSRU/ITD-2015-Customer-Satisfaction-Report-7-16-15.ashx&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwi07puH0efRAhVlz1QKHd-ZBFcQFggFMAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHX1RnsisBSVA_vZ9t6F-_NbUdSiw UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1403011 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594234 AU - Bettisworth, Caitlin AU - Burt, Matthew AU - Chachich, Alan AU - Harrington, Ryan AU - Hassol, Joshua AU - Kim, Anita AU - Lamoureux, Katie AU - LaFrance-Linden, Dawn AU - Maloney, Cynthia AU - Perlman, David AU - Ritter, Gary AU - Sloan, Suzanne M AU - Wallischeck, Eric AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Department of Transportation TI - Status of the Dedicated Short-Range Communications Technology and Applications: Report to Congress PY - 2015/07/16/Report to Congress SP - 214p AB - DSRC is a Wi-Fi derivative technology developed to meet specialized needs for secure, low latency, wireless mobile data communications. DSRC has proven the ability to provide all of the critical attributes needed to support Connected Vehicle safety applications. This report provides an assessment of the status of DSRC technology and applications, including known and potential gaps; describes a recommended implementation path; and discusses opportunities to use commercially available communications for Connected Vehicle applications under specific circumstances. The assessment is predominantly derived from U.S Department of Transportation research, analysis, and deployment planning that has been performed in partnership with stakeholders and industry experts over the last decade. KW - Crash avoidance systems KW - Dedicated short range communications KW - Implementation KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Privacy KW - Traffic safety KW - Vehicle to infrastructure communications KW - Vehicle to vehicle communications UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56800/56889/FHWA-JPO-15-218.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400143 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580955 AU - Gentry, Lance AU - Heartland Market Research LLC AU - Missouri Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - A Report Card from Missourians - 2015 PY - 2015/07/16/Final Report SP - 140p AB - Overall statewide satisfaction with Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and additional feedback about MoDOT’s operations was obtained from a representative sample of the general adult public in Missouri. A professional calling center was engaged to obtain a diverse sample across Missouri. Specific minimums were given, such as 500 responses per district, with gender and age-range targets for each county in Missouri. 3,527 completed responses were obtained between May 18, 2015 and June 22, 2015. With the exception of a few questions (e.g., demographics), all statewide results presented in this document are weighted results. The data was weighted in accordance with the true distribution of the regional population in terms of geographic (county), gender, and age distributions using the most recent (2010) US government census information available. Following past practice, all district measures presented in this document are unweighted. With a minimum of 500 responses per district, the district measures have a 95% level of confidence with a precision (margin of error) of +/- 4.4%. The statewide results for the stratified-random sample of 3,527 Missourians have a 95% level of confidence with a precision of +/- 1.65%. KW - Age groups KW - Customer satisfaction KW - Financing KW - Gender KW - Methodology KW - Missouri Department of Transportation KW - Surveys KW - Trend (Statistics) UR - http://library.modot.mo.gov/RDT/reports/tryy1228/2015/cmr15-012_FinalReport_red.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373133 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574103 AU - Department of Transportation TI - FAA Has Not Effectively Implemented Repair Station Oversight in the European Union PY - 2015/07/16/Audit Report SP - 27p AB - With the expansion of international air service, air carriers in the United States increasingly rely on foreign repair stations to fulfill their maintenance needs. This is particularly true in Europe, where more than 400 repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) perform work on U.S.-registered aircraft and components. Since 2003, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recommended that FAA strengthen its oversight of air carriers’ contracted maintenance providers by developing a comprehensive, standardized approach to repair station oversight and targeting inspector resources based on risk assessments. OIG conducted this audit at the request of Representative Peter DeFazio, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Representative John Garamendi. The Congressmen emphasized the importance of effective and proactive FAA oversight and expressed concerns over how risks, corrective action plans, and follow-up assessments are shared and coordinated among various aviation authorities under the new agreement. Accordingly, audit objectives were to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of FAA’s process to transfer oversight of EU repair stations to national aviation authorities and (2) assess the Agency’s process for monitoring FAA-certificated repair stations operating under the U.S./EU Aviation Safety Agreement to ensure they meet Agency standards. KW - Airlines KW - Aviation safety KW - European Union countries KW - Implementation KW - Oversight KW - Recommendations KW - Repair and maintenance businesses KW - Risk assessment KW - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration UR - https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/FAA%20oversight%20of%20foreign%20repair%20stations.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363891 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577540 AU - Lennertz, Tracy AU - Sparko, Andrea L AU - Mattson, Amanda AU - Bürki-Cohen, Judith AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - NextGen Flight Deck Data Comm: Auxiliary Synthetic Speech Phase II PY - 2015/07/15/Final Report SP - 286p AB - Data Comm—a text-based controller-pilot communication system—is expected to yield several Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) safety and efficiency benefits. With Data Comm, communication becomes a visual task, and may potentially increase head-down time on the flight deck as crews interact with the display. This study examined the feasibility of supplementing Data Comm with synthetic speech in commercial, en-route operations. To this end, 32 air-transport pilots (16 flightcrews) flew two experimental conditions in a Boeing 737-800 fixed-base simulator. In one condition, Data Comm was implemented with a text-only display, and, in the other it was implemented with a text display and synthetic speech that annunciated each message (text+speech). Results indicated that the text+speech display aided the performance of flightcrews compared to text only, without introducing additional complications. Relative to the text-only display, the text+speech display yielded less head-down time. Flightcrews did not delay opening or acknowledging a text+speech message when the party line was active. The majority of pilots reported that the text+speech display was easy to use, helpful, and not distracting; however, this acceptance was attenuated in major-airline pilots. Taken together, these results provide preliminary guidance for aircraft certification regarding the use and implementation of synthetic speech on the flight deck. KW - Air pilots KW - Air traffic control KW - Communication systems KW - Data communications KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Flight crews KW - Flight simulators KW - Next Generation Air Transportation System KW - Speech synthesis KW - Visual display units (Computers) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55383/DOT-VNTSC-FAA-14-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370430 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01613752 AU - Murray-Tuite, Pamela AU - Yin, Weihao AU - El-Metwally, Maha AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Comparison of Transportation Disruptive Events in the Washington, D.C. Area and Traffic and Demand Management Strategies PY - 2015/07/14/Final Report SP - 41p AB - Preparing for every possible disruption scenario is impossible. The overall goal of this study was to begin to better understand the similarities and differences between extraordinary disruptive events and more common incidents so that agencies can identify traffic management strategies and resources that can be applied in multiple settings as well as the limits of those strategies in the different settings. A 2009 MetroRail train collision, an earthquake (2011), and a tipped-over boom truck (2012) in the Washington, DC area provide the context for this study. This study compares and contrasts the impacts of these three major events with the more common vehicle collisions in terms of demand changes, network performance, and the applicability of traffic mitigation strategies. The data for the comparison come from rail and bus ridership, freeway detectors, and probe vehicles. Mesoscopic simulation is used to simulate the events that yield congestion and test strategies. KW - Earthquakes KW - Highway traffic control KW - Service disruption KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic incidents KW - Traffic simulation KW - Travel demand management KW - Washington (District of Columbia) UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/VT-2012-04.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1424193 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01587293 TI - Midpoint Runway Marking AB - The aviation industry continues to experience landing overruns due in part to pilots touching down beyond the midpoint of the available runway. In some landing overruns, pilots were unaware that the midpoint was reached and nonetheless “forced” the landing instead of implementing the go-around/aborted landing procedure. Incident reports confirmed that forced landings were coupled with frequent overruns. Over the years airport operators and pilots have occasionally reported that knowing the location of the midpoint of runways would help them to minimize such accidents. There is a greater tendency for landing overruns at airports that primarily serve general aviation operations with runway lengths less than 4200 feet in length and being utilized by student pilots and those pilots that primarily fly on the weekends only. In order to identify potential markings that can assist in mitigating this risk, the research team will evaluate the design for and potential benefits of a marking placed at or near the midpoint of a general aviation runway that would inform pilots of the potential for an overrun/overshoot on a landing. KW - Air traffic control KW - Aircraft pilotage KW - Airport operations KW - Aviation safety KW - General aviation KW - Landing aids KW - Runway overruns UR - https://www.pegasas.aero/projects.php?p=23 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1392189 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576225 AU - Florida Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - e-Construction How to Guide PY - 2015/07/13/V.2.3 SP - 36p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) understands that the transportation industry faces challenges with tighter budgets and a general public that demands higher accountability for how tax dollars are spent. To assist in addressing these challenges, the FHWA developed the “Every Day Counts” (EDC) initiative. The EDC initiative is an effort to bring a better, faster, and smarter approach to highway and bridge construction. The overall objectives of the EDC initiative are: shortening project delivery, enhancing the safety of roadways, and protecting the environment. This e-Construction How-To-Guide was developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the FHWA’s EDC goal of helping state DOTs understand how to implement an e-Construction system in their states. The FHWA defines e-Construction as the collection, review, approval, and distribution of highway construction contract documents in a paperless environment: electronically capturing construction data, electronic submission of all construction documentation, increased use of mobile devices, increased automation of document review and approval, essential use of electronic signatures by all parties throughout the process, and secure electronic document and workflow management accessible to all stakeholders on any device. e-Construction has the potential to dramatically change the way construction projects are managed in States. It can make the management of construction projects more efficient, more flexible, and more cost-effective. KW - Construction management KW - Data communications KW - Forms (Documents) KW - Implementation KW - Technological innovations UR - https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/econstruction/florida/howto.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369350 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570391 AU - Kauten, Rebecca AU - University of Iowa, Iowa City AU - Iowa Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Establishing Strategies for a Transportation MS4 PY - 2015/07/10/Final Report SP - 152p AB - The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a means of addressing surface pollution from both known (point) and non-specific (non-point) sources. The program impacts industrial wastewater, runoff from active construction sites, and stormwater runoff as it is managed within municipal separate storm sewer systems, or “MS4” communities. As part of NPDES permit requirements nationwide, all permitted MS4s must establish a Stormwater Management Program for comprehensive planning and adaptive management. The objective of this project has been to identify best practices and approaches to MS4 program planning for the Iowa Department of Transportation. Information is primarily based on existing state MS4 programs as examples and references for use as an agency-based MS4 program is developed. KW - Best practices KW - Iowa Department of Transportation KW - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) KW - Runoff KW - State departments of transportation KW - Storm sewers KW - Strategic planning KW - Water quality management UR - http://publications.iowa.gov/20130/1/IADOT_UI_RB36_013_Kauten_Establishing_Strategies_Transportation_MS4_Final_2015.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55294/IADOT_UI_RB36_013_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360907 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571958 AU - Department of Transportation TI - Weak internal controls for collecting delinquent debt put millions of DOT dollars at risk PY - 2015/07/09/Audit Report SP - 22p AB - Under Department of Treasury regulations, agencies are responsible for monitoring and servicing non-tax receivables owed to the Federal Government to ensure payments are received on time. The Department of Transportation (DOT) uses the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Enterprise Services Center (ESC) to collect and process most debt that has become delinquent. Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA), an agency must refer eligible delinquent debts that it cannot collect within 180 days to the Department of Treasury for further collection action. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this audit to determine whether DOT takes comprehensive action to collect its delinquent debt, and refers eligible delinquent debts to Treasury in a timely manner. Specifically, OIG (1) identified DOT’s current delinquent debt and recent collections and any relevant trends and (2) assessed DOT’s debt collection and referral policies, procedures, and oversight. OIG found that DOT’s delinquent debt and collections are underreported. While ESC is working to comply with Treasury’s delinquent debt collection requirements, DOT’s oversight and other internal controls are not sufficient to ensure full compliance with the Federal laws and regulations that have been designed to maximize collections of delinquent debt. Recommendations are made to help DOT strengthen its internal controls and improve the accuracy of reported data and its collection of delinquent debt. KW - Accounting KW - Administrative procedures KW - Debt KW - Oversight KW - Recommendations KW - Training KW - U.S. Department of Transportation UR - https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/DOT%20Delinquent%20Debt%20Final%20Report%5E7-9-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363266 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574114 AU - Bettisworth, Caitlin AU - Hassol, Josh AU - Maloney, Cynthia AU - Sheridan, Amy AU - Sloan, Suzanne AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Department of Transportation TI - Dynamic Mobility Application Policy Analysis: Policy and Institutional Issues for Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management, and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.) PY - 2015/07/08/Final Report SP - 30p AB - This report documents policy considerations for Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management, and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.). R.E.S.C.U.M.E. comprises a "bundle" of mobility applications that use existing and new connected vehicle data sets and other data to provide first-responders, emergency management centers, and road crews with enhanced information, allowing them to respond faster and more effectively to incidents and emergencies than they can today. The policy team has documented four potential policy issues for R.E.S.C.U.M.E.: (1) Multi-Agency Coordination for Information Broker Function: Because the Information Broker functions in R.E.S.C.U.M.E. will, in many cases, be distributed among multiple entities it will be important for participating agencies to determine roles and responsibilities when implementing R.E.S.C.U.M.E. (2) Compliance with HIPAA Privacy Requirements: R.E.S.C.U.M.E. applications - in particular, Emergency Communications and Evacuation (EVAC) - may handle personal health information (PHI), and must be certain to be consistent with the privacy requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). (3) Data and Message Standards for Emergency Communication: The Incident Scene Pre-Arrival Staging Guidance for Emergency Responders (RESP-STG) application must be able to integrate data from multiple sources and immediately disseminate appropriate messages and warnings to multiple agencies. The EVAC application will need to integrate medical records and other data from a variety of sources. Consequently, the need for data and messaging standards to facilitate inter-agency and inter-jurisdictional emergency information sharing is apparent. (4) Incident Scene Work Zone Alerts for Drivers and Workers (INC-ZONE) Implementation: The INC-ZONE application will require small but important changes to the procedures that response crews follow when they arrive at incident scenes, and also may have implications for incident/work zone signage design standards. Recommendations for addressing these policy issues include development of guidance materials for state and local agencies, and completion of planned cost-benefit studies and privacy impact assessments. KW - Emergency management KW - Evacuation KW - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act KW - Implementation KW - Information dissemination KW - Interagency relations KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Policy KW - Privacy KW - Recommendations UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55305/FHWA-JPO-14-137_v1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366053 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575241 AU - Bettisworth, Caitlin AU - Hassol, Josh AU - Maloney, Cynthia AU - Sheridan, Amy AU - Sloan, Suzanne AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Department of Transportation TI - Dynamic Mobility Applications Policy Analysis: Policy and Institutional Issues for Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO) PY - 2015/07/07/Final Report SP - 29p AB - This report documents policy considerations for Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO). IDTO applications provide individualized trip planning, transfer protection, and ridesharing options. The analysis identified the following potential policy issues: (1) Data Privacy: Certain personally identifiable information (PII) appears necessary for the operations of some IDTO apps. Like all of the dynamic mobility application bundles, IDTO will undergo additional analysis related to privacy issues and risks. In addition, each IDTO deployment should carefully consider privacy issues during design, implementation, and operations. (2) Data Sharing: Participating agencies will need to establish formal data-sharing agreements specifying which data elements are going to be shared, under what circumstances, and for what purposes. Data sharing between different agencies will require advanced planning. (3) Multi-Agency Coordination: Differing agendas among agencies, and even among modes within agencies, may make multi-modal coordination more difficult. The necessary cross-agency agreements can be difficult to negotiate and implement. (4) Data Interoperability: Regional IDTO deployments will need interoperability of operational data and the systems handling it will. Achieving interoperability will be largely a technical challenge, but it will involve significant policy hurdles as well. For example, participating agencies will need to agree on common data formats, and establish data sharing protocols. (5) Regulatory Status of Rideshare: The legal/regulatory status of transportation network companies is rapidly evolving. These concerns are not immediately applicable to IDTO, but, such regulations are likely to be widely variable. USDOT needs to remain attuned to the implications of state regulations of transportation network companies and the potential impact to the use of D-RIDE by transit agencies. (6) Social Equity: Social equity is a potential concern with IDTO, but is considered low since it is not yet clear if the system will be preferential to some users, or will instead improve travel times for all travelers regardless of their access to the applications. (7) D-RIDE Passenger Safety: This is considered a low priority since the entities interfacing with the D-RIDE providers' systems will only be sharing dynamic transportation service options available and will not be involved in the acceptance or rejection of any given ride, and online reviews of dynamic transportation services will help eliminate bad actors. (8) Increased Travel Times and Route Complexity: Dynamic routing and protected transfers have the potential to increase transit route service times. It is expected that transit agencies will develop business rules to specify schedule and route conditions under which protected transfers are and are not acceptable to the system. Other than addressing known security and privacy concerns, the policy team does not foresee a need for any new policies to be enacted or foresee any major issues that will stand in the way of successful deployment and use by agencies. Ultimately, guidance on installation, integration, operations, and maintenance will be produced by the technical teams when completing their technology transfer to the public sector. KW - Data interoperability KW - Data privacy KW - Data sharing KW - Equity (Justice) KW - Institutional issues KW - Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO) KW - Interagency coordination KW - Passenger safety KW - Policy KW - Regulations KW - Ridesharing KW - Transfers KW - Travel time KW - Trip planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55306/FHWA-JPO-14-134_v1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366760 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574001 AU - Kropat, Elisa AU - Lian, Scott AU - Peckett, Haley AU - Yowell, Ryan AU - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center TI - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Transit Planning Study PY - 2015/07/07/Final Report SP - 200p AB - This study for the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) identifies and analyzes options for enhancing existing transit service at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (the Refuge), a regional destination in Florida’s Space Coast which serves approximately 1 million visitors annually. The Refuge, a popular destination for birders and tourists, experiences seasonal congestion at high-use visitor sites. Additionally, the Refuge acknowledges the opportunity to expand access to new user groups and serve visitors in a more sustainable manner through transit. The study team researched existing conditions on the Refuge and the surrounding community, safety, staff capacity, financial resources, and other considerations to develop a number of short- and long-term transit scenarios. The study presents specific considerations for FWS and its partners as they move to enhance transit service on the Refuge. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Financial analysis KW - Florida KW - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KW - Public transit KW - Recommendations KW - Traffic congestion KW - Transit safety KW - Transportation planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55228/MINWR_Transit_Planning_Study.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364673 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579162 AU - Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Preventing and Mitigating Transit Worker Assaults in the Bus and Rail Transit Industry PY - 2015/07/06 SP - 46p AB - On October 28th and 29th, 2014, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator tasked the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) with developing recommendations for FTA on the elements that should comprise a Safety Management System (SMS) approach to preventing and mitigating transit worker assaults. Representatives from state and local transportation agencies, labor unions, research organizations, and national transportation associations worked together to create recommendations for FTA to prevent assaults against transit workers. These recommendations address each aspect of the SMS approach, including policy, risk management, safety promotion, and safety assurance. This report begins by introducing the issue of transit worker assaults and describing the SMS approach and its connections to this report. It then presents TRACS’ recommendations regarding protective infrastructure, training, public education, support for transit workers, enforcement, and data collection. Each section includes an introduction, a description of recommendations, and a table analyzing the benefits and costs of each risk control strategy. KW - Benefits KW - Costs KW - Crimes aboard public vehicles KW - Occupational safety KW - Policy KW - Prevention KW - Public transit KW - Recommendations KW - Risk management KW - Safety management KW - Safety Management Systems KW - Transit personnel UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/Final_TRACS_Assaults_Report_14-01_07_06_15_pdf_rv6.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371174 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579178 AU - Isgor, O Burkan AU - Morales, Monica AU - Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Development of Improved Corrosion Inspection Procedures for Reinforced Concrete Bridges: Electrical Resistivity of Concrete PY - 2015/07/03/Final Project Report SP - 75p AB - The effects of steel reinforcement and chloride-induced corrosion initiation on the electrical resistivity measurements using the Wenner probe technique were studied experimentally on custom-designed reinforced concrete slabs. Investigation parameters included (1) probe configurations with respect to rebar mesh, (2) rebar density, (3) epoxy coating on the rebar, (4) concrete cover thickness over embedded reinforcement, (5) chloride ingress, and (6) corrosion of rebar. The concrete moisture condition and cover thickness influenced the effect of rebar mesh. It was theorized that bound chlorides increased electrical resistivity measurements and counteracted the effect of free chlorides. It was observed that epoxy coated rebar did not significantly affect measurements. Uncoated rebar affected resistivity measurements, particularly for saturated and semi-saturated concrete. Corrosion initiation was observed to have no significant effect on measurements. Larger concrete cover thicknesses provided for more discrepancy between half-cell potential and electrical resistivity measurements. Recommendations to increase electrical resistivity measurement accuracy on reinforced concrete slab surfaces are made. KW - Corrosion KW - Electrical resistivity KW - Recommendations KW - Reinforced concrete bridges KW - Reinforcing bars UR - http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PacTrans-50-OSU-Isgor.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370897 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574095 AU - El-adaway, Islam AU - Truax, Dennis D AU - University of Tennessee, Knoxville AU - Mississippi State University, Mississippi State AU - National Center for Intermodal Transportation for Economic Competitiveness AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Assessing Sustainability Effect of Infrastructure Transportation Projects Using Systems-Based Analytic Framework PY - 2015/07/01/Final Report SP - 47p AB - Sustainability means providing for the necessities of today without endangering the necessities of tomorrow within the technical, environmental, economic, social/cultural, and individual contexts. However, the assessment tools available to study the sustainability of the transportation infrastructure are limited in their approach and lacking in their content due to several reasons: (1) differences amongst the actors within the industry; (2) fragmentation as represented by lack of communication and understanding between the industry and those whom it serves; and (3) regionalism as represented by the disconnection between the transportation construction projects and their host community systems. The narrow focus of the currently available assessment methods does not collectively address the technical, environmental, economic, social/cultural, and individual sustainability indicators as well various aspects of sustainability. To this end, this research develops three innovative system-based concepts to assess sustainability of the transportation infrastructure projects: (1) work, (2) nature, and (3) flow. The “work benchmark” defines the socio-behavioral relationships amongst the products and the actors of the built environment. It also attempts to delineate how the end-product is affected by how well the producers are connected to the product. The “nature benchmark” focuses on the effects of the infrastructure system on the environment through studying the interaction between the transportation projects actors, their associated processes, and the end-products within their host systems. The “flow benchmark” identifies the overall system changes within the host systems and the effects of these changes on the natural environment and the socio-economic setting. For testing and evaluation of “nature” and “work” on five different transportation and civil infrastructure projects, which are in a relation to a transportation project, the authors utilized a three-step methodology comprising: (1) structured survey; (2) data collection; and (3) analysis. This process provided an improved understanding of the environmental, social, and economic effects of these projects from a systems perspective. For future work, the concept of “flow” will be further explored using macro-level system dynamics modeling, micro-level agent-based simulation, and multi-objective optimization to measure the overall system change. KW - Assessments KW - Construction projects KW - Data analysis KW - Data collection KW - Environmental impacts KW - Infrastructure KW - Land use KW - Socioeconomic factors KW - Surveys KW - Sustainable development UR - http://www.ncitec.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013-11FR.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363648 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574084 AU - Pino, Vanessa AU - Nanni, Antonio AU - University of Miami, Coral Gables AU - Research on Concrete Applications for Sustainable Transportation AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - FRCM and FRP Composites for the Repair of Damaged PC Girders PY - 2015/07/01/Final Report SP - 100p AB - Fabric-reinforced-cementitious-matrix (FRCM) and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have emerged as novel strengthening technologies. FRCM is a composite material consisting of a sequence of one or more layers of cement-based matrix reinforced with dry-fiber fabric(s). Conversely, FRP consists of a sequence of one or more plies of unidirectional fibers embedded in organic resin. The primary objective of this project was an extensive material characterization of two pre-selected FRCM and FRP systems in order to investigate their basic constitutive behavior and durability. Material characterization is performed in compliance with established Acceptance Criteria (AC434 and AC125). Results from the characterization yield material properties that are considered in determining experimental, theoretical, and design ultimate capacities of strengthened members. FRCM and FRP were used for the strengthening of intentionally damaged American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Type III prestressed concrete girders taken from I-81 overpass near Arcadia, Virginia. Experimental and theoretical analyses were performed to demonstrate the ability of these two repair methods to restore moment capacity compromised by the loss of four and eight 9.5-mm (3/8-in.) diameter prestressing tendons. All experimental work was conducted at Virginia Tech and reported in details elsewhere. This document presents some of the experimental findings and shows additional and original analytical considerations on the performance of the repaired girders. In particular, it offers a comparison between theoretical results according to AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications (2010) and experimental tests. Finally, design methodology including ACI 318 (2011), ACI 549.4R (2013) and ACI 440.2R (2008) are used to calculate design values that are compared to experimental values. KW - Composite materials KW - Durability KW - Fabrics KW - Fiber composites KW - Girders KW - Properties of materials KW - Repairing UR - http://recast.mst.edu/media/research/recast/documents/finalreports/FRCMandFRPCompositesfortheRepairofDamagedPCGirders.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55373/FRCMandFRPCompositesfortheRepairofDamagedPCGirders.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363945 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570285 AU - Gayah, Vikash V AU - Nagle, Andrew S AU - Rakha, Hesham AU - Du, Jianhe AU - Pennsylvania State University, University Park AU - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Using Mobile Probes to Inform and Measure the Effectiveness of Traffic Control Strategies on Urban Networks PY - 2015/07/01/Final Report SP - 123p AB - Urban traffic congestion is a problem that plagues many cities in the United States. Testing strategies to alleviate this congestion is especially challenging due to the difficulty of modeling complex urban traffic networks. However, recent work has shown that these complicated systems can be modeled in relatively simple ways by leveraging consistent relationships that exist between network-wide averages of pertinent traffic properties, such as average network flow, network density and the rate at which trips are completed. Using these “macroscopic” traffic models, various control strategies can be developed to mitigate congestion and improve network performance. However, the effectiveness of many of these strategies depends on the ability to estimate traffic conditions on the network in real-time. This jointly proposed research between Penn State and Virginia Tech investigated how real-time mobile vehicle probes can be combined with macroscopic urban traffic models to inform more efficient network-wide traffic control strategies. Additionally, this work will examine how the effectiveness of these strategies can be directly measured in the field using only mobile vehicle probe data. These two efforts can lead to more efficient control of downtown traffic networks and a reduction in vehicular delay during rush hour periods. KW - Peak hour traffic KW - Performance measurement KW - Probe vehicles KW - Real time information KW - Traffic control KW - Traffic models KW - Urban areas UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/MAUTC%202012-02.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55250/MAUTC_2012-02.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360041 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01619968 AU - Grubb, Michael A AU - Wilson, Kenneth E AU - White, Christopher D AU - Nickas, William N AU - Michael Baker International AU - National Highway Institute TI - Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Highway Bridge Superstructures - Reference Manual PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 1694p AB - This document presents the theory, methodology, and application for the design and analysis of both steel and concrete highway bridge superstructures. The manual is based on the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Seventh Edition, 2014, with Interim Revisions through 2015. Design examples and commentary throughout the manual are intended to serve as a guide to aid bridge engineers with the implementation of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. This Reference Manual consists of eight chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to load and resistance factor design (LRFD), including an overview of the LRFD design philosophy and a description of the various LRFD limit states. Chapter 2 provides general information about location features and design objectives, as well as a brief overview of Accelerated Bridge Construction. Chapter 3 presents loads and load factors, including design criteria for common bridge loads, as well as load factors used for various LRFD load combinations. Chapter 4 provides a general summary of structural analysis, including general analysis considerations, dead load analysis, live load analysis, and various methods of analysis. Chapter 5 provides valuable information for the design of concrete girder superstructures, including preliminary design decisions, flexural design of prestressed I-girders, design for shear and torsion, prestressing, and reinforcement details. Similarly, Chapter 6 provides valuable information for the design of steel girder superstructures, including LRFD girder verifications for constructibility, service, fatigue and fracture, flexure, and shear, as well as design provisions for various steel superstructure details. Chapter 7 describes decks and deck systems, covering such topics as traditional design method, empirical design method, deck overhang design, precast deck slabs, and bridge railings. Chapter 8 provides general information about bearings and joints, including design requirements for elastomeric bearings and pot bearings. Finally, a glossary of common terms related to bridge superstructures and LRFD is provided. KW - AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications KW - Bridge bearings KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge decks KW - Bridge design KW - Bridge railings KW - Bridge superstructures KW - Concrete KW - Girders KW - Highway bridges KW - Joints (Engineering) KW - Load and resistance factor design KW - Load factor KW - Manuals KW - Structural analysis KW - Structural steel UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/pubs/nhi15047.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1440492 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01611978 AU - Parsons Brinckerhoff AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Implementation of Electronic Right-of-Way Management Systems Versus Paper Systems PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 159p AB - The purpose of this report is to provide the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state and local departments of transportation (DOTs) with a tool kit using tangible and easily understandable documentation with quantitative metrics. This toolkit will assist these professionals as they endeavor to get their leadership buy-in to support implementation of Integrated Electronic right-of-way (ROW) Management Systems. KW - Electronic data interchange KW - Implementation KW - Information systems KW - Metrics (Quantitative assessment) KW - Project management KW - Property acquisition KW - Right of way (Land) UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/publications/e-row_management/fhwahep16001.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1423088 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01608639 AU - Inanloo, Bahareh AU - Tansel, Berrin AU - Florida International University AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology TI - Consequence Based Route Selection for Hazardous Material Cargo: GIS-Based Time Progression of Environmental Impact Radius of Accidental Spills PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 57p AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the transportation networks in order to identify the most suitable routes for transporting hazardous material cargoes. The potential key contribution of the study is the development of a decision tool to assist in comparing and selecting highway routes to transport hazardous materials. This research considered criteria in order to evaluate each link in the transportation network including health risks and cost of delay as a result of an en route accidental release of hazardous materials; as well as proximity to public places, and travel cost. The Gaussian air dispersion model was employed to estimate the extent of health risk protective zones and the possible affected population. Queuing analysis was utilized to calculate delay time and accordingly the associated cost. Public places with high occupation around the road segments were identified and assigned to the road segments. Trucking costs were calculated based on the length of the links and the cost per unit length. After evaluating the networks, the tool then identifies the best route in regards to the criteria using a Multi-Criteria-Decision-Making method. The results of this study can effectively aid decision makers and hazardous materials transportation companies in understanding the conflicting nature of transporting and routing hazardous cargoes in view of the decision criteria for selecting the routes and evaluating possible consequences in case of accidental releases. KW - Costs KW - Decision support systems KW - Environmental impacts KW - Geographic information systems KW - Hazardous materials KW - Highways KW - Risk assessment KW - Route choice KW - Spills (Pollution) UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_Final_Report_2012-036S.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1418047 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01597412 AU - Mahoney, James AU - Jackson, Eric AU - Larsen, Donald AU - Vadas, Timothy AU - Wille, Kay AU - Zinke, Scott AU - Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering AU - Connecticut Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Winter Highway Maintenance Operations: Connecticut PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 248p AB - This study addresses issues identified in legislation adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly that directed the Commissioner of Transportation to conduct an analysis of corrosive effects of chemical road treatments, to determine the cost of corrosion created by road treatments, and to provide an evaluation of alternative techniques and products, such as, but not limited to, rust inhibitors, with a comparison of cost and effectiveness. Primary conclusions of the study include that ensuring the safety and mobility of the traveling public requires the most effective winter highway maintenance practices possible. This is a shared responsibility—to achieve comprehensive and sustainable success, competing factors must be considered including safety, cost, corrosion, operating practices, materials and equipment, environmental and economic impacts, and communication with the general public, stakeholders, and government leaders. Balancing these factors presents a challenge that can be met through ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement based on evolving best practices. While use of chloride-based deicing chemicals for winter highway maintenance has raised concerns regarding impacts on vehicles, infrastructure and the environment, alternative products also have environmental, corrosion and expense impacts. Although corrosion inhibitors are available for use with deicers, evidence of their effectiveness in the field based on literature reviewed was not found. Research is needed to confirm their effectiveness before considering use. Further, the Connecticut Department of Transportation's (CTDOT’s) participation in national initiatives, and ongoing communication with neighboring states, municipalities, and other stakeholders should continue and be strengthened to help balance the competing factors by using the most effective practices. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Best practices KW - Connecticut KW - Corrosion KW - Corrosion resistant materials KW - Costs KW - Deicing chemicals KW - Highways KW - Snow and ice control KW - Winter maintenance UR - http://www.ctcase.org/reports/WinterHighway2015/winter-highway-2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1402175 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594521 AU - Lyn, Dennis A AU - Newton, John F AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Approaches to the Design of Biotechnical Streambank Stabilization: Volume I-A Guide to the Literature PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 41p AB - Streambank stabilization has traditionally been performed with riprap for which reliable design and installation procedures are available. Due to concerns about the environmental impact of riprap, there has been increasing interest in more natural biotechnical (or bioengineering) alternatives. A review of the literature on biotechnical approaches to streambank stabilization has been performed, with a focus on those works that might be particularly useful in developing design guidelines or standards for the Indiana Department of Transportation. Works that synthesized the literature (up to about the year 2000) and so covered a broad range of topics, were examined, including monographs and manuals published by federal and state agencies. More recent publications were also found on narrower more specific topics, including the ecological effects of riprap and bio‐technical approaches, advances in the geotechnical modeling of vegetation effects on bank stability, the effectiveness of biotechnical measures, and screening methods for selecting appropriate measures. Implications of the reviewed work for the development of design guidelines are discussed. KW - Bank protection KW - Banks (Waterways) KW - Channel stabilization KW - Coast and river protective works KW - Indiana KW - Literature reviews UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315998 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1401028 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594499 AU - Lyn, Dennis A AU - Newton, John F AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Approaches to the Design of Biotechnical Streambank Stabilization: Volume III—Design Guidelines PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 37p AB - A conceptual framework for the design of biotechnical streambank revetment is proposed. It is intended to be simple in practice, flexible in being widely applicable, familiar in retaining certain aspects of current practice while being patterned after other aspects, and encouraging a more environmentally sensitive approach to reliable streambank protection for INDOT projects. It distinguishes between a toe zone, where traditional hard armoring techniques such as those already included in the INDOT standard designs are more appropriate, and an upper bank zone where vegetation‐based techniques would typically be applied. Default techniques are identified to simplify the choice of measures for 'routine' problems, but more case‐specific techniques may also be selected. Primary techniques that offer immediate protection on their own are also distinguished from supplementary techniques that are used only in combination with other (primary) techniques. The boundary between the toe zone and the upper bank zone is proposed to be the maximum of the ordinary high water mark (or bankfull elevation), the elevation corresponding to the 2‐year discharge, and the elevation corresponding to the point that is one third up the slope from the bank toe at the design discharge (for streambank protection). For the upper bank zone, for bank slopes up to 2H:1V, regrading and revegetation with herbaceous species together with the use of rolled erosion control products (RECPs) is proposed as the default. The other (non‐default) main primary technique for the upper bank zone is the vegetated mechanically stabilized earth (VMSE, or vegetated reinforced soil slope VRSS, or soil lifts) option (where revegetation with herbaceous species is also considered standard). This requires more engineering and construct‐ion effort but is appropriate for those projects where a more vertical (up to maximum bank slope of 1H:1V) solution is desired. The supplementary techniques to be included are live staking to be used with the regrading option, and brush‐layering to be used with the VMSE option. KW - Bank protection KW - Banks (Waterways) KW - Coast and river protective works KW - Design KW - Guidelines KW - Indiana KW - Revetments KW - Vegetation UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284316000 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1401030 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594489 AU - Newton, John F AU - Lyn, Dennis AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Approaches to the Design of Biotechnical Streambank Stabilization: Volume II-A Field Assessment PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 55p AB - As part of a larger project to develop guidelines for the design of biotechnical approaches to streambank stabilization to be included in Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) standard designs and specifications, a field assessment was undertaken of 26 sites, of which 13 were INDOT sites. Multiple techniques were frequently installed in combination, which resulted in 47 samples of 12 different techniques at the 26 sites. Each site was visited at least once and the measures were visually inspected for evidence of damage either to the measure or to the streambank being protected. Some of the field assessments were supplemented by interviews with designers involved in the INDOT projects; the general merits of biotechnical techniques were discussed together with those of specific techniques that might be included in a standard design. The assessment resulted in grouping the techniques into three broad categories: i) typically reliable techniques that could be used where tolerance for bank instability is very low, and generally involving hard armor, ii) potentially reliable techniques where the tolerance for bank instability is low to moderate, and iii) techniques that are appropriate only for special circumstances or to be used only in combination with measures from the other two groups. KW - Bank protection KW - Banks (Waterways) KW - Channel stabilization KW - Coast and river protective works KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Indiana UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315999 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1401029 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01593721 AU - Mudrinich, Shane AU - Guensler, Randall AU - Grossman, Alice AU - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Atlanta’s Hotel District: ADA Transition Plan PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 89p AB - ADA transition plans document the condition of facilities and programs (such as transportation infrastructure) and identify changes that are necessary to make the facilities fully accessible and in compliance with the Americans Disability Act (ADA) of 1990. This report examines the pedestrian infrastructure in and around the Atlanta downtown convention hotels. The report follows the format of a generic ADA transition plan, outlining: the areas examined, accessibility issues evaluated, tools and methodologies used in evaluation, findings and documentation, suggested mitigation measures and timelines, and potential funding needs. The researchers used Dragon Con as the annual baseline convention event for the area. The research team examined how convention attendees would use and travel between the buildings and transportation options in the area, and conducted accessibility evaluations in those areas. Findings of the report show that the buildings are nearly completely compliant to ADA standards, and have high levels of accessibility for people with all levels of physical ability. However, the sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb ramps in the areas between and around the buildings are in need of significant repairs and redesign to comply with ADA standards. Problems such as crumbling curb ramps, obstructions and narrow sidewalks, crosswalk potholes, and steep grades and cross slopes make some routes inaccessible to many users. Each of the problems found by the research team is documented with photos, text, field measurements, and each includes a proposed fix and associated cost. KW - Accessibility KW - Americans with Disabilities Act KW - Atlanta (Georgia) KW - Barrier free design KW - Condition surveys KW - Crosswalks KW - Curbs KW - Evaluation KW - Recommendations KW - Sidewalks KW - Structures UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/Atlanta_Hotel_District_ADA_Transition_Plan_Guensler.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400040 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01592638 TI - Study of Alternatives to Reduce Driver Exposure to Diesel Exhaust AB - The goal of this study is to study the efficiencies of different idle reduction technologies and to compare their short- and long-term economic costs. The goal is to reduce the amount of diesel emissions that enter a truck cab and to improve air quality in the cab while a driver is resting in a sleeper berth at a truck rest stop. Previous Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) research measured air pollution inside truck cabs and sleeping berths while vehicles were idling at a truck stop. The study found that pollution inside truck cabs exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The pollution was worse when trucks were idling. Of all the pollutants from diesel exhaust, particle matter of 2.5 microns (PM 2.5) or less poses the greatest health risks for truck drivers. Potential adverse health effects include asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. Therefore, reducing the idling of diesel engines is a critical factor to driver health. Following FMCSA’s initial study, the Agency was determined to conduct a new study to analyze the efficiencies of idle reduction technologies for trucks and to compare their economic costs in order to reduce driver exposure to diesel exhaust and maintain driver wellness and health. This research project will focus on diesel particulate matter, which is the pollutant of concern. The following idle reduction technologies will be considered: automatic shut-down/start-up systems; auxiliary power units; battery air conditioning systems; electrified parking spaces; filtering devices; fuel-operated heaters; shore connection systems; and thermal storage systems. The effort will also take into account the different categories of model year engines (i.e., 1990 and earlier, 1991‒1993, 1993‒2007, and 2008 and later). The outcome of this effort will include a literature review and analysis, development of a methodology for the study, implementation of the study, and a final report compiling the results of the study. KW - Air quality KW - Cabs (Vehicle compartments) KW - Diesel engine exhaust gases KW - Drivers KW - Economic impacts KW - Engine idling KW - Health hazards KW - Particulates KW - Pollutants UR - www.fmcsa.dot.gov UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400243 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590532 AU - Zimberlin, Carol AU - Shrivastava, Ram AU - Larsen Engineers AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - New York State Energy Research and Development Authority AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Wayne County, NY, Municipal Vehicle Retrofit Project – Final Report PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 30p AB - Police Departments struggle with both increasing fuel prices and increasing demands for greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. According to vehicle manufacturers, an average of one gallon of gasoline is burned every hour that a vehicle’s engine idles. Excessive idling creates increased wear and tear on a vehicle’s engine (between 29 and 33 ghost miles per idle hour), which makes for hidden maintenance costs. Constant dead batteries result from auxiliary equipment power draw and causes many police cruisers to end up in the maintenance shop instead of out on patrol. Running these systems (lights, radios, etc.) requires officers to keep the police cruiser’s gasoline engine turned on when stationery. Municipal truck engines are left idling for hours in order to supply electricity for power tools and construction lights. The goal of this project was to demonstrate that vehicle retrofits with anti-idling power cell battery units can serve as an example of fuel savings technology and reduced vehicle emissions. Data results, which included before and after fuel costs and emissions data, are being shared with the involved project communities, Wayne County, and Communities throughout Upstate New York. It was found from research done in this project that utility truck retrofits can be very streamlined, efficient, and effective – saving communities fuel costs. Research was performed regarding police car vehicle retrofits. Challenges and learning tools were examined. KW - Anti-idling equipment KW - Before and after studies KW - Electric batteries KW - Engine idling KW - Fuel conservation KW - Police vehicles KW - Pollutants KW - Retrofitting KW - Technological innovations KW - Trucks KW - Wayne County (New York) UR - https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-10-20%20-%20Final%20Report_8-2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1394957 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590461 AU - Robertson, James AU - Hawkins, H Gene AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Decision Support Tool for Selecting Traffic Control Devices PY - 2015/07 SP - 169p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and transportation profession continue updating and publishing the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). However, it is beyond the scope of the MUTCD to provide the breadth of knowledge necessary for evaluating traffic control devices (TCDs) as part of the larger transportation system. In this report, researchers use existing theory and a survey of transportation professionals to develop a decision support tool for use in selecting TCDs. To accomplish this, researchers first use a survey of transportation professionals to evaluate the relative importance of safety, mobility, environmental sustainability, and economic activity when selecting TCDs. This investigation leads researchers to conclude that the best solution meets local needs and desires, conforms to engineering principles and practice, and provides an engineering benefit. Additionally, this investigation finds that safety and mobility are the engineering benefits driving the selection of TCDs. Next, researchers use a portion of the same survey of transportation professionals to evaluate the importance of crashes, driver compliance, and mobility when ranking transportation alternatives. This investigation finds that compliance is a reasonable surrogate measure of safety in the absence of crash data. Additionally, within this evaluation, researchers identify performance measures for use in selecting traffic control devices. Finally, researchers use the relative importance of agency objectives evaluation and the identified performance measures to develop a decision support tool for use in selecting TCDs. Researchers demonstrate the use of this decision support tool with a case study. KW - Case studies KW - Decision support systems KW - Performance measurement KW - Surveys KW - Traffic control devices UR - http://static.tti.tamu.edu/swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00008-1.pdf UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00008-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397174 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590453 AU - Sun, Xiaoduan AU - Das, Subasish AU - University of Louisiana, Lafayette AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Developing a Method for Estimating AADT on all Louisiana Roads PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 98p AB - Traffic flow volumes present key information needed for making transportation engineering and planning decisions. Accurate traffic volume count has many applications including: roadway planning, design, air quality compliance, travel model validation, and administrative purposes. Traffic counts also serve as an important input in highway safety performance evaluation. However, collecting traffic volume on all rural non-state roads has been very limited for various reasons, although these roads constitute a great portion (60 to 70%) of road mileage in the roadway network of any state in the U.S. For example, out of 61,335 miles of roadway in Louisiana, 73% of the roadways are non-state roads. Due to limited resources, traffic volume information on non-state roadways has not been systematically collected in Louisiana. Generally, traffic volumes on these roads are fairly low, and vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) on these roads is much less compared with that on interstate or arterial roads. Thus, regularly conducting traffic count is not economically feasible for non-state roadways. This study develops an annual average daily traffic (AADT) estimation methodology by using modern statistical and pattern recognition methods. By using available traffic counts on non-state roadway and four variables (namely: population, job, and distance to intersection and to major state highways at block level), a training set to estimate roadway AADT for eight parishes were obtained by a modified support vector regression (SVR) method. This pattern recognition method yields better AADT estimates than the conventional parametric statistical methods. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted in this study, which indicates a parish-specific model works better than an aggregated single model. With the estimated AADT, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and local government agencies can make better decisions on funding allocations for safety improvement projects and pavement maintenance actions. The estimated parish-specific AADT on non-state roads can also improve statewide travel demand forecasting models and air quality assessment. KW - Annual average daily traffic KW - Louisiana KW - Pattern recognition systems KW - Regression analysis KW - Rural highways KW - Sensitivity analysis KW - Traffic counts KW - Traffic estimation KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic volume UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2015/FR_548.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397599 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01587922 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - LeGrand, Lindsay TI - Keeping Virginia Moving PY - 2015/07 VL - 79 IS - 1 SP - pp 2-9 AB - The Interstate 95 Richmond Bridge Restorations in Virginia was an ambitious project to restore eleven aging bridges along a busy interstate highway. The project was successful due to accelerated bridge construction, good project management, and effective communication. Accelerated bridge construction allowed the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to keep traffic moving during the construction period. Logistics planning at the start of the project helped VDOT to develop an accurate scope of what the project would entail. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, and its success can lead the way for future projects. KW - Aging (Materials) KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridges KW - Interstate 95 KW - Interstate highways KW - Project management KW - Repairing KW - Richmond (Virginia) KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15julaug/01.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1386614 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01587907 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - O'Shea, Dennis M TI - How Could a Pile of Dirt Cause a Major Interstate Bridge to Tilt? PY - 2015/07 VL - 79 IS - 1 SP - pp 32-39 AB - In June 2014, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) closed Interstate 495, causing major traffic delays. The highway was closed because a damage inspection of Bridge 1-813 found it to be leaning. A number of column supports were tilted, caused by the uneven settling and lateral movement of the piers. This was caused by a stockpile of dirt near the bridge. It was necessary to repair and reopen the bridge in as little time as possible, so work was around the clock and other bridge agencies offered assistance. It took several months to fully reopen the bridge to traffic. KW - Bridges KW - Columns KW - Delaware KW - Delaware Department of Transportation KW - Interstate 495 KW - Repairing KW - Soils KW - Stockpiling KW - Street closure KW - Traffic delays UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15julaug/05.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1386621 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01587852 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Gomez, Patrick AU - Groudine, Candace AU - Hilton, Elizabeth AU - Struve, Brooke TI - Access for All PY - 2015/07 VL - 79 IS - 1 SP - pp 10-17 AB - On the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this article looks back at the milestones in removing barriers to accessibility for all travelers. Since the ADA was enacted in 1990, a number of improvements have been made to increase accessibility for people with disabilities, such as curb ramps on sidewalks and mandatory standards for the built environment and transportation system. Developing these improvements has required a great deal of collaboration and outreach, and the Federal Highway Administration provides training and technical assistance for state transportation agencies and other practitioners. KW - Accessibility KW - Americans with Disabilities Act KW - Barrier free design KW - Cooperation KW - Outreach KW - Persons with disabilities KW - Sidewalks KW - Standards KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15julaug/02.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1386616 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01587847 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Baker, Shana AU - Biton, Anna TI - Changing the Landscape of Livability PY - 2015/07 VL - 79 IS - 1 SP - pp 24-31 AB - In 2009, the Partnership for Sustainable Communities was formed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U. S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The partnership coordinates housing, transportation, and infrastructure investments to improve the livability of neighborhoods. They incorporate principles of livability into federal funding programs and projects. The partnership provides grants and technical assistance to ensure that federal policies and investments improve quality of life. Looking to the future, they are working to help communities find ways to cope with the changing climate, as well as encouraging new investment and economic growth. KW - City planning KW - Federal aid KW - Neighborhoods KW - Partnership for Sustainable Communities KW - Quality of life KW - Sustainable development KW - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development KW - U.S. Department of Transportation KW - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15julaug/04.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1386619 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01587833 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Beale, Victoria F AU - Elliott, Rob TI - Ohio’s Training Gets a Boost PY - 2015/07 VL - 79 IS - 1 SP - pp 18-23 AB - In 2013 the Ohio Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center developed a 12-module course for local public agencies on managing Federal-aid projects. Resources for LTAP were limited, and they used a training resource produced by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to augment their course content. Federal-Aid Essentials for Local Public Agencies is a proven training resource consisting of a library of short, to-the-point videos covering various aspects of Federal aid regulations and requirements. FHWA keeps the resource updated, adding additional content often. KW - Federal aid KW - Management KW - Ohio KW - Regulations KW - Training KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration KW - Video UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15julaug/03.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1386617 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01587720 AU - Lawrence, Michael AU - Nguyen, Paul AU - Skolnick, Jonathan AU - Symoun, Jennifer AU - Hunt, Jim AU - Alfelor, Roemer AU - Leidos AU - Jack Faucett Associates AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Transportation Systems Management and Operations Benefit-Cost Analysis Compendium PY - 2015/07 SP - 232p AB - The Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Benefit Cost Compendium is a continuation of the series of reference documents and tools developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations designed to assist planners and operations professionals in evaluating the benefits and costs of Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies and technologies. The TSMO Compendium is a collection of cases from across the country where benefit-cost analysis (BCA) has been applied to a specific TSMO technology/strategy or group. These actual project evaluations demonstrate the use of custom spreadsheet analysis developed by the agency or its contractors or the application of available software tools to conduct the BCA. The Compendium also includes hypothetical cases designed to demonstrate how BCA can be used for a specific TSMO technology/strategy or group. FHWA has developed a sketch planning BCA tool, called the Tool for Operations Benefit-Cost Analysis (TOPS-BC), for application to TSMO projects. For the hypothetical cases TOPS-BC is used to assist in the measurement of benefits and costs and in the calculation of the benefit-cost ratio. Each case demonstrates how planners have or could in the future conduct a BCA on one or more TSMO technologies or strategies. There are over two dozen cases presented in the Compendium and they cover a wide range of TSMO technologies and strategies where each case addresses one or more specific issues or procedures. KW - Advanced traveler information systems KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Case studies KW - Highway facilities KW - Software KW - Spreadsheets KW - Traffic control KW - Transportation operations KW - Transportation system management UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop14032/fhwahop14032.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1394932 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01584086 AU - Bhajandas, Amar AU - Rao, Shreenath AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated TI - Reconstruction of the I-25 Bronco Arch Bridge PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 35p AB - As part of a national initiative sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration under the Highways for LIFE program, the Colorado Department of Transportation was awarded a grant to help replace the Bronco Arch Bridge carrying I-25 over the South Platte River in Denver to demonstrate the use of proven, innovative technologies for accelerated bridge removal and replacement. This report documents accelerated bridge construction technique using precast bridge elements and systems (PBES), with virtually no disruption to daily traffic of over 200,000 vehicles that use this portion of the interstate. The 60-year-old original structure was a steel arch that local residents dubbed the Bronco Arch because of the site’s proximity to Mile High Stadium where the Denver Broncos play football. The new structure is shorter and wider than the original structure (371 feet long by 197 feet wide versus 384 feet long by 158.5 feet wide). It has a five-span layout, 71 feet-30 feet-118 feet-30 feet-119 feet. Eight lines of girders support an 8-inch full-depth precast concrete deck system. Each girder line consists of three precast concrete pretensioned and posttensioned 72-inch-deep U girders cast in lengths of 95.0, 136.5, and 133.5 feet. The new bridge is designed as a rigid frame with integral connections between the substructure and the superstructure. The distinctive-looking piers simulating the look of arches were precast at the site and placed immediately following caisson construction, eliminating the need for forming and pouring, resulting in reduced construction time. The use of PBES reduced construction time by more than 2 months, avoiding an estimated 58 crashes at this location. The contractor maintained preconstruction lane capacity during construction, virtually eliminating impacts on traffic. Because of the success of this project, Colorado plans to accelerate bridge construction using PBES on future projects, where this innovative technology is feasible and appropriate for conditions. KW - Arch bridges KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge piers KW - Denver (Colorado) KW - Precast concrete KW - Reconstruction KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/bronco-arch-draft-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1377947 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580995 AU - Jacobi, Amy AU - Torng, Gwo-Wei AU - Craig, John L AU - Noblis AU - Department of Transportation AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Transit Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Assessment Study: Project Report PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 52p AB - The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is engaged in assessing applications that realize the full potential of connected vehicles, travelers, and infrastructure to enhance current operational practices and transform future surface transportation systems management. This effort, known as the Connected Vehicle Program, is a collaborative initiative spanning the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At its foundation is a communications network that supports vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), and vehicle or infrastructure-to-device (X2D) communications. Onboard equipment (OBE) units consist of connected vehicle equipment installed in the vehicle capable of broadcasting and receiving wireless messages. Roadside units (RSU) consist of roadside equipment capable of broadcasting and receiving wireless messages from vehicles. With its unique operational behaviors, vehicle characteristics, institutional assets, and mission to serve the public, the transit community holds a unique set of opportunities to support V2I applications that benefit all road users in general, and transit riders in particular. The overall scope of this Transit Connected Vehicle V2I Assessment Study is to: (i) perform a thorough cross-cutting exploration of transit unique V2I needs (such as data and communications needs), opportunities (where transit can contribute, for example, to the data environments) and constraints (such as ownership of and accessibility to certain infrastructures), and then (ii) define and prioritize selected transit V2I application bundles, and develop operational descriptions. This report, as a final project report, documents the thought process and approaches used in this study, as well as key findings derived from these research activities. KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Public transit KW - Stakeholders KW - Technological innovations KW - Vehicle to infrastructure communications UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56236/FHWA-JPO-16-230.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373247 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580949 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Ohio Demonstration Project: Best-Value Design Build Contracting for Construction of I-71/I-670 Interchange in Columbus, OH PY - 2015/07//Final Technical Report SP - 22p AB - As a part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highways for LIFE initiative, a Federal grant of $1,000,000 was provided to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for this project, which was in addition to FHWA’s 80 percent contribution under the Federal-aid highway funding program. This project is a result of ODOT’s I‐70/I‐71 Split Planning Study, Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision, which described a program of construction projects for reconstruction of the existing interstate highways in and around the central business district of Columbus. The project consisted of reconstruction of the I‐71/I‐670 interchange, including 0.58 miles of I‐71 and 1.16 miles of I‐670. The project also included construction of connections between the freeways and the local urban corridor street system and a total of 19 bridge structures, including 2 long curved bridges over the interchange area (I‐670 eastbound and the connector road from I‐670 eastbound to I‐ 71 northbound). The key innovation of this project was a two-step best-value based design-build (DB) procurement method of contracting for construction. The DB method is an innovative contracting technique which allows the contractors to develop and propose innovative design methodologies and optimize their capabilities. DB is not a standard practice for ODOT and this type of contracting was expected to cut construction time in half KW - Bridge construction KW - Columbus (Ohio) KW - Construction projects KW - Contracting KW - Demonstration projects KW - Design build KW - Interstate highways KW - Reconstruction UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/ohio-i-71%20and%20i-670-interchange-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1372962 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580465 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Washington Demonstration Project: LED Lane Delineation and High Visibility Barrier Delineation for I-90 through Snoqualmie Pass in King and Kittitas Counties, WA PY - 2015/07//Final Technical Brief SP - 26p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE (HfL) initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided an approximately $180,000 grant to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to improve pavement visibility along I-90 through Snoqualmie Pass in King and Kittitas Counties. The key innovations on this project included the installation of light-emitting diode (LED) lane delineators and high-visibility barrier delineators. Although these delineators have been used in other States (e.g., Oregon, New York, California, and Colorado) as well as for small projects in the State of Washington, this is WSDOT’s first pilot project that utilizes them on a large scale. WSDOT plans to monitor this pilot program for the next 3 years to determine if the LED lights are effective. Maintaining delineation for I-90 in the Snoqualmie Pass vicinity has been a challenge for WSDOT, and it is anticipated that the new LED lights installed for this project will provide more durable and reliable delineation, giving drivers a more positive delineation especially at night and during severe weather conditions. KW - Barriers (Roads) KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highway delineators KW - Highways for LIFE KW - King County (Washington) KW - Kittitas County (Washington) KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Night visibility KW - Snoqualmie Pass (Washington) KW - Technological innovations KW - Weather conditions UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/Washington-HfL-I-90-Snoqualmie-Pass_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373009 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579161 AU - Schrank, David AU - Eisele, Bill AU - Lomax, Tim AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - 2014 Urban Mobility Report : Powered by INRIX Traffic Data PY - 2015/07 SP - 27p AB - The 2014 Urban Mobility Report is the 4th prepared in partnership with INRIX. The data behind the 2014 Urban Mobility Report are hundreds of speed data points on almost every mile of major road in urban America for almost every 15-minute period of the average day of the week. The data from 1982 to 2013 show that, short of major economic problems, congestion will continue to increase if projects, programs and policies are not expanded. The problem is very large. In 2013, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 6.8 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 3.1 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $153 billion. The extra time American motorists endure is about 4 percent above its pre-recession peak in 2007. Employment was up by more than 400,000 jobs from 2012 to 2013; if transportation investment continues to lag, congestion will get worse. This document includes congestion estimates for each of the 471 U.S. urban areas, an overview of congestion relief strategies, truck congestion data, and a congestion forecast for 2020. KW - Forecasting KW - Fuel consumption KW - Mobility KW - Traffic congestion KW - Travel time KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Urban areas UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/161302-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371740 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01578162 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Rao, Shreenath AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Nevada Demonstration Project: Construction Manager at Risk Contracting for Rehabilitation of I-80 Carlin Tunnels in Elko County, NV PY - 2015/07//Final Technical Brief SP - 24p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE initiative, the Federal Highway Administration provided a $1.2 million grant to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to rehabilitate the highway structures on I-80 Elko County. This project involved (1) Rehabilitation of Carlin Tunnels, (2) Reconstruction of pavement structures, (3) Rehabilitation of eight bridge structures, and (4) Operational improvements to highways and tunnels. The key innovation employed on this project was the construction manager at risk (CMAR) method of construction delivery, which was expected to extend the service life of the highway structures while significantly reducing the duration of construction. Another important element of this project was to completely renovate the lighting system within the Carlin Tunnels using new light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires. In fact, this is the first project in North America that used an LED lighting system for highway tunnels. The overall objective of this project was to improve the structural condition of I-80 through Carlin Canyon and provide operational and safety improvements, which was accomplished innovatively through this project. KW - Bridge construction KW - Construction manager at risk KW - Contracting KW - Demonstration projects KW - Elko County (Nevada) KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Paving KW - Reconstruction KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Technological innovations KW - Vehicular tunnels UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/nevada-I-80-carlin-tunnel-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371166 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577857 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Rao, Shreenath AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Indiana Demonstration Project: Rehabilitation of I-65/I-465 Interchange with Next Generation Concrete Surface in Indianapolis, IN PY - 2015/07//Final Technical Brief SP - 24p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided a $2 million grant to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to research a variety of concrete surfaces, including the Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) developed by Purdue University. INDOT anticipates that the NGCS would provide a significant reduction in tire-pavement noise and the ability to maintain friction for increased skid and hydroplaning resistance. The overall objective of this project was to improve the traffic flow and relieve the recurring commuting bottlenecks around the I-65 and I-465 interchange. The project involved widening of the I-65 and I-465 mainline and several ramps and construction of a new flyover ramp from westbound I-465 to southbound I-65. The key innovation of this project was the implementation of the NGCS. Three other concrete texturing techniques were implemented to study their effect on noise reduction. KW - Concrete pavements KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Indianapolis (Indiana) KW - Interchanges KW - Next generation design KW - Ramps (Interchanges) KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Skid resistance KW - Technological innovations KW - Texture KW - Tire/pavement noise UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/indiana-ngcs-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370473 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577850 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Louisiana Demonstration Project: Wide Area Surveillance Radar and Sequential Gate for Traffic Management in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, LA PY - 2015/07//Final Technical Brief SP - 17p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided an approximately $1 million grant to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) to improve the traffic flow of US 90B (West Bank Expressway), mitigate ongoing congestion and crashes, and support work zone traffic and incident management during construction. The innovations employed on this project included the use of a phased-array Doppler radar and corresponding operator interface for traffic monitoring, as well as a remotely controlled gate system for the on-ramps. LADOTD anticipates that these innovations will greatly reduce the congestion and crashes during the upcoming interchange construction. In addition, these innovative features will remain in place and continue to be functional for future construction activities. KW - Automatic gates KW - Demonstration projects KW - Doppler radar KW - Expressways KW - Highway traffic control KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) KW - Louisiana KW - On ramps KW - Orleans Parish (Louisiana) KW - Technological innovations KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic surveillance KW - Wide area monitoring KW - Work zone traffic control UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/louisiana-us90b-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370465 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577531 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - M. Davis and Company, Incorporated TI - National Telephone Survey of Reported and Unreported Motor Vehicle Crashes PY - 2015/07 SP - 244p AB - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes crash statistics based on police accident reports, but many crashes are never reported by the police. In 1981 NHTSA sponsored a telephone survey to estimate the incidence of unreported crashes. That survey estimated 47 percent of crashes go unreported. In 2008 NHTSA paid for an updated survey, reported here. The present survey, completed in 2010, collected data on 2,299 crashes, 697 of which were unreported to police. When the data were properly weighted, the participant responses indicated that approximately 30 percent of crashes go unreported. In both surveys the crashes were mostly property-damage-only crashes, although some unreported injury crashes were found. However, the data in this report is only one aspect of the unreported crash problem. See Chapter 5 of The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010 (DOT HS 812 013), for a more thorough explanation of this problem. KW - Crash injuries KW - Motor vehicles KW - Police reports KW - Surveys KW - Traffic crashes KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812183.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370634 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577108 AU - Torres, Jonathan AU - Doig, William AU - SRA International, Incorporated AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Comparative Evaluation of Rescue Saw Blades for Forcible Entry Into Advanced Composite Material Aircraft PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 79p AB - New aircraft designs use significant quantities of advanced composite materials, which presents a new challenge to aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel: how to safely cut into composite materials when responding to incidents involving these aircraft. This report provides guidance regarding forcible entry on aircraft that are composed of mostly advanced composite materials using a circular saw. A cutting test apparatus and procedure were developed to measure the force exerted by a saw blade on a panel made with aircraft-grade, advanced composite materials, as well as measuring blade wear and particulate production caused by this type of cutting. Tests were conducted to compare the performances of three different types of saw blades: metal, concrete, and diamond-tipped. Each saw blade was tested by cutting panels of various thicknesses of aluminum, GLAss-REinforced aluminum laminate (GLARE), and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). These tests examined saw blade cutting performance in both dry and wet cutting conditions. When comparing the force measurements from all the panels and saw blades, the diamond-tipped saw blades cut through both the GLARE and CFRP panels easier than the aluminum panels. Under wet cutting conditions, the metal and concrete saw blades had the highest forces for all three materials. Mass and diameter loss were more apparent during the dry cuts than the wet cuts. Of the three saw blades, the concrete saw blades had the most mass and diameter loss. Particulate analysis showed that the diamond-tipped saw blades released the smallest amount of particulates of all three saw blades. Overall, the diamond-tipped saw blade exerted the least amount of force, had the least wear, and released the least amount of particulates, thereby concluding it to be the best choice of the three saw blade types for use on composites. KW - Aircraft materials KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Composite materials KW - Cutting KW - Fire fighting KW - Particulates KW - Saws KW - Test procedures UR - http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/DesktopModules/FlexNews/DownloadHandler.ashx?id=b609dd4c-b065-417d-81e6-5f064636db4a&f=TC-15-26.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370010 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576279 AU - Kindelberger, John AU - Milani, Jacqueline A AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES): Program Transition and Promising Practices PY - 2015/07 SP - 90p AB - The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) is a State-based program originally developed in 1992 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis. CODES uses a statistical linkage process known as probabilistic linkage to combine information from motor vehicle crash reports and hospital records, sometimes also adding databases from sources such as emergency medical services (EMS), death certificate, and others. CODES originally operated through cooperative agreements between NHTSA and grantees in member States. In 2013, NHTSA transitioned the CODES programs to full State-level responsibility. This report summarizes the history of CODES, relates the transition plan, and describes CODES-related projects and output from 2009 to 2014, including a compilation of abstracted State-specific linked data applications. KW - Applications KW - Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System KW - Crash reports KW - Data fusion KW - History KW - Outcome (Medical treatment) KW - Research projects UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812178.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367814 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576239 AU - Bullough, J D AU - Yuan, Z AU - Rea, M S AU - Gallagher, Donald W AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Brightness/Luminous Intensity Values for Blue, White, and Green Aviation Signal Lights Using Light-Emitting Diodes PY - 2015/07//Technical Note SP - 55p AB - Signal lights at airports and along runways serve a variety of functions, including helping pilots locate the airport, assisting pilots in orienting the aircraft to the appropriate landing runways, and aiding pilots with taxi maneuvers on the airfield. Anecdotal pilot reports suggest that light-emitting diodes (LED) used as signal lights in and around airports are perceived as brighter than comparable signal lights using incandescent sources at the same measured intensity. These subjective reports are consistent with previously published psychophysical data. In general, saturated colors, similar to those produced by LEDs, appear brighter than less saturated lights, similar to those produced by incandescent sources. This technical note describes a series of experimental investigations to quantify the brightness of blue, white, and green LED signal lights relative to incandescent signal lights within the same Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) color boundaries. Both types of signal lights were compared against dark and dimly lighted backgrounds and through simulated fog. The results confirm that LED signal lights are perceived as brighter than incandescent signal lights at matched luminous intensities. Brightness relationships were unaffected by signal light intensity, background light level, or the number of signal lights viewed. The simulated fog reduced the relative brightness difference between the incandescent and the LED signal lights due to light scattering in the fog that desaturated the signal light colors. The results of the present study were not accurately predicted by two previously published models of brightness appearance, but this is most likely due to differences in experimental conditions. A new model was developed for this study that could be used to predict signal light brightness perception for FAA blue, white, and green signal light colors. Except for very short-wavelength blue signal lights, the model was able to accurately predict brightness perception data obtained in the present study as well as those presented in an independent study published 30 years ago. This independent validation lends confidence to the generality of the model for predicting blue, white, and green signal light brightness. KW - Blue KW - Brightness KW - Fog KW - Green KW - Incandescent lamps KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Luminous intensity KW - Signal lights KW - Visual perception KW - White UR - http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/DesktopModules/FlexNews/DownloadHandler.ashx?id=467430e5-d2dd-44e2-9f15-1910a4825830&f=TC-TN15-32.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369975 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576232 AU - Cook, Lawrence J AU - Thomas, Andrea AU - Olson, Cody AU - Funai, Tomohiko AU - Simmons, Timothy AU - University of Utah, Salt Lake City AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis AU - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TI - Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES): An Examination of Methodologies and Multi-State Traffic Safety Applications PY - 2015/07 SP - 100p AB - This report provides a summary of recent technical work in the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES), a program facilitated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). CODES involves a statistical methodology to augment State crash data with medical outcome data using probabilistic linkage. In 2013, NHTSA transitioned the CODES program to full State autonomy. This two-part report comprises the final technical report from the CODES Technical Resource Center at the Utah CODES project. Part one provides information on the probabilistic linkage methodology employed by CODES, and addresses related topics including other types of linkage, alternative linked data sets, match probabilities, and missing data imputation; and part two reports on demonstration projects pooling multi-state standardized data for four topics relevant to traffic safety. KW - Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System KW - Crash records KW - Data collection KW - Data fusion KW - Demonstration projects KW - Methodology KW - Outcome (Medical treatment) KW - Traffic safety UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812179.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367813 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576194 AU - Hopwood, Theodore AU - Fairchild, Jared AU - Meade, Bobby W AU - Palle, Sudhir AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Preventive Maintenance Program for Bridges PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 80p AB - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) bridge inventory is rapidly aging. As such, the Cabinet needs to identify and implement relevant preventative maintenance (PM) actions to extend the useful service lives of those structures. Maintenance actions, costs, and application interval/repair durability information have been obtained for both cyclical and condition-based bridge PM. Additionally, information rehabilitation actions were acquired from a regional Department of Transportation (DOT) survey and from other literature. As part of this study, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers monitored a KYTC bridge washing project to assess its level of effectiveness and to identify potential improvements. Based upon these tasks, recommended guidance was provided to KYTC for use when implementing bridge PM programs. The guidance includes a discussion of critical PM activities, strategies to adopt training and work documents (i.e., special notes) for contract work, and the implementation of work standards/special operating procedures for work performed by KYTC personnel. This report also includes details on the tools and training KYTC district-level personnel will need and outlines a roadmap for conducting pilot programmatic PM work in several districts. KW - Cleaning KW - Costs KW - Durability KW - Highway bridges KW - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet KW - Literature reviews KW - Preventive maintenance KW - Surveys KW - Training UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/08/ktc-15-07_SPR11_424_1F-red.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367536 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576136 AU - Zakery, Fara AU - Eisel, Joyce M AU - Harris-Stowe State University AU - Midwest Transportation Center AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Department of Transportation TI - Economic Sustainability of Inner City Streets: A Collaborative Sustainable Asset Management Transportation System Model PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 22p AB - The research team developed and created a sustainable asset management transportation system model, focusing on inner-city road conditions related to municipal asset allocation within three St. Louis, Missouri wards. To facilitate the research objectives, the team collaborated with Missouri constituents including the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the City of St. Louis Street Department, local government officials, universities, and stakeholders. Selection criteria for roadways included roads, traffic, location, safety, utility, and demographics. A 45-block area was divided into six sections and roads were surveyed, photographed, and evaluated using The Transportation Engineers Association of Missouri’s Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER). Necessary street repairs and costs of each repair were calculated using global mapping technology and historical cost data. Since aldermen decide street asset allocations, costs were allocated to each city ward district. These assessments, which were based on a technology-driven model, should assist in the construction of future financial models based on a need projection to dollars spent ratio per fiscal year. It is expected that this economic model will be implemented in the St. Louis Metropolitan Region and replicated by similar municipalities. KW - Asset management KW - Cities KW - Costs KW - Maintenance KW - Pavement distress KW - Saint Louis (Missouri) KW - Streets UR - http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/research/documents/research-reports/asset_mgmt_transportation_system_model_w_cvr.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369971 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575237 AU - Goettee, David AU - Spiegel, Walter AU - Tarr, Ronald AU - Campanian, Carmella AU - Grill, Lew AU - SAGE Corporation AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Overview of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Safety Training Research for New Entrant Motor Carriers PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 232p AB - New entrant motor carriers generally are very small and have poorer safety performance than more established carriers. This may be because very small carriers do not have the resources for a safety department or a safety official on staff. To help address this, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) amended the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) of 1999 new entrant requirements to mandate a proficiency examination and other requirements as necessary to ensure new entrant applicants understand the safety regulations before issuing the applicant an interstate U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiated two new entrant training and testing research demonstration projects. This report contains details of the analysis of safety performance results from both the first training curriculum, conducted in 2005–06, and the second conducted in 2010–12. It also contains a discussion of diffusion theory that explains why the results are what they are, and a description of what the blended third-generation curriculum will be. The third-generation blended curriculum will be more cost-effective, less instructor-intensive, and per the theory and in coordination with the required mandate, dramatically foster adoption of a safety culture among a larger percentage of new entrants. This analysis explains why a blended curriculum that incorporates e-learning and testing is predicted to be superior, and how it could be used to meet the requirements specified by MAP-21. KW - Cost effectiveness KW - Curricula KW - E-learning KW - Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 KW - Motor carriers KW - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) KW - New entrants KW - Safety culture KW - Safety performance KW - Training KW - U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration KW - Web-based training UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55335/RRA-13-015_-_Overview_of_FMCSA_Safety_Training_Research_for_New_Entrant_Motor_Carriers__508C_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366771 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574374 AU - El-Aasar, Moni AU - BG Consultants, Incorporated AU - Kansas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Development of Crashworthy Rails for Fiber Reinforced Polymer Honeycomb Bridge Deck System PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 30p AB - Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) honeycomb panels offer an efficient and rapid replacement to concrete decks. The system consists of FRP honeycomb sandwich panels with adequate guardrails. Although FRP bridge deck panels have already been designed and used over the past several years on a number of through truss bridges, they could not be used on steel girder bridges until approved crashworthy bridge railing attachments could be validated. Two systems have been successfully crash tested, one with steel thrie beams/guardrails on steel posts and the other with concrete barriers. Both systems are now ready for use on temporary/detour bridges, or as permanent deck replacement allowing higher live load while keeping the existing steel girders and substructure. The light weight of FRP honeycomb panels (about 75% lighter than concrete) allows heavier truck loads, while keeping the existing girders and substructure without compromising the safety of the public. The roadway can be made wider by increasing the overhangs, thus allowing for wider farm equipment on narrow bridges in rural areas. The replacement of the concrete deck using this system may be completed in a matter of a few days, or even hours, as opposed to several months when using the conventional methods. KW - Bridge decks KW - Concrete KW - Crashworthiness KW - Fiber reinforced polymers KW - Girder bridges KW - Guardrails KW - Honeycomb structures KW - Impact tests KW - Median barriers KW - Panels KW - Steel UR - http://dmsweb.ksdot.org/AppNetProd/docpop/docpop.aspx?clienttype=html&docid=9326995 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366494 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574118 AU - Tia, Mang AU - Subgranon, Thanachart AU - Kim, Kukjoo AU - Rodriguez, Andrea Medina AU - Algazlan, Abdullah AU - University of Florida, Gainesville AU - Florida Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Internally Cured Concrete for Pavement and Bridge Deck Applications PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 175p AB - A laboratory and field testing program was conducted to evaluate the performance and usability of internally cured concrete (ICC) using lightweight aggregates for bridge decks and concrete pavement slabs under Florida conditions. The laboratory testing program evaluated three standard mixes (SM) and three corresponding ICC mixes with the same water-cementitious (w/c) ratios and cementitious materials contents. The ICC mixes were produced by replacing a part of the fine aggregate with a pre-wetted lightweight aggregate (LWA). The quantity of LWA used was an amount that would supply 7 lb of absorbed water per 100 lb of cementitious materials used. The amounts of water-reducing admixtures needed for the ICC mixes to achieve the same workability of the fresh concrete were less than those for the standard mixes with the same w/c ratios. The compressive strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, splitting tensile strength, and coefficient of thermal expansion of the ICC mixes were lower than those of the standard mixes with the same w/c ratio. The ICC mixes showed substantially greater resistance to shrinkage cracking than the standard mixes as observed from the results of the restrained shrinkage ring test. Two ICC test slabs and one SM test slab were constructed to evaluate the performance of ICC in pavement slabs. The results of the critical stress analysis showed that at a critical loading condition, the computed stress-tostrength ratios for the ICC slabs were lower than that for the SM slab. Visual inspection of the SM slab after heavy vehicle simulator (HVS) loading showed that some hairline cracks could be seen next to the wheel path. These hairline cracks could be caused when micro shrinkage cracks developed into hairline cracks after the slab was loaded repetitively by the HVS wheel load. No visible cracks were observed from the two ICC test slabs. Based on the results of the critical stress analysis and the visual inspection of the three test slabs, the ICC test slabs appeared to have better performance than the standard-mix slab. A field testing program to further assess the performance and benefits of ICC mixes in bridge deck and pavement applications is recommended. KW - Bridge decks KW - Concrete curing KW - Concrete pavements KW - Cracking KW - Field tests KW - Florida KW - Laboratory tests KW - Lightweight aggregates KW - Mechanical properties KW - Mix design KW - Slabs KW - Structural analysis UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_SMO/FDOT-BDV31-977-11-rpt.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55391/FDOT-BDV31-977-11-rpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364574 ER - TY - SER AN - 01574110 JO - Civil Engineering Studies, Illinois Center for Transportation Series PB - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Kazmee, Hasan AU - Tutumluer, Erol AU - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Illinois Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Aggregate Subgrade Materials Used as Pavement Subgrade/Granular Subbase PY - 2015/07 IS - 15-013 SP - 95p AB - With recent focus on sustainable construction practices and the ever-increasing transportation costs and scarcity of natural resources, integration of large-size and marginally acceptable aggregates and recycled materials (e.g., reclaimed asphalt pavement [RAP]) with current construction specifications is becoming imperative. As an incentive, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has been using large-size rocks, popularly known as aggregate subgrade. However, adequate scientific knowledge about material performance is largely unknown. To this end, a research study was undertaken at the Illinois Center for Transportation to evaluate the adequacy and field performances of IDOT’s new aggregate subgrade specifications. A state-of-the-art image analysis technique was used to characterize the size and shape as well as the texture and angularity properties of selected aggregate subgrade materials. For field evaluation, 24 combinations of pavements were constructed over subgrade with controlled low immediate bearing value (IBV) or unsoaked California bearing ratio (CBR) strength properties. Construction quality control was achieved through in-place density and modulus measurements on aggregate layers using a nuclear gauge, lightweight deflectometer, and soil stiffness gauges. Periodic rut measurements were carried out on the pavement surface throughout the accelerated loading process using an Accelerated Transportation Loading Assembly (ATLAS). Contributions of the underlying pavement layers to the total rut accumulation were evaluated through innovative applications of ground-penetrating radar (GPR), a lightweight variable-energy penetrometer device, known as the PANDA, and a geo-endoscopy probe. Layer intermixing and material migration at the aggregate subgrade–subgrade interface improved the foundation layer stiffness properties and pavement performance results significantly. RAP-capped construction platforms consistently exhibited a higher magnitude of rutting. Performances of flexible pavement sections were governed by the as-constructed HMA thicknesses, which varied considerably during the paver operation because of RAP subbase sinkage and the weak subgrade. Adequate validation and potential revisions to current IDOT specifications were recommended. KW - Aggregates KW - Evaluation KW - Field tests KW - Granular bases KW - Ground penetrating radar KW - Illinois KW - Image analysis KW - Pavement performance KW - Recycled materials KW - Ruts (Pavements) KW - Specifications KW - Subgrade (Pavements) KW - Subgrade materials UR - https://apps.ict.illinois.edu/projects/getfile.asp?id=3517 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363895 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574105 AU - Harris, Devin K AU - Gheitasi, Amir AU - Saliba, Mark AU - University of Virginia, Charlottesville AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Performance-Based Evaluation Framework for Maintenance/Preservation of In-service Highway Bridges Based on Damage-Integrated System-Level Behavior PY - 2015/07 SP - 31p AB - The safety and condition of the national transportation infrastructure has been at the forefront of national debates in recent times due to catastrophic bridge failures occurring in the United States, but the issue has been a longstanding challenge for transportation agencies for many years as resources continue to diminish. The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE’s) 2013 report card for America’s Infrastructure assigned in-service bridges a score of C+ , which reflects the extent of deteriorating conditions and deficiency of the national aging infrastructure network. Currently, transportation officials rely heavily on experienced-based practices to make decisions regarding maintenance and preservation of the bridge inventory. Several inspection methods and monitoring techniques have been developed and used by the bridge owners to monitor the in-service behavior and detect deteriorating conditions. Despite successful implementation of these methods, the lack of a rational understanding of the system-level behavior of in-service structures, especially in the presence of damage and deterioration, makes resolving this problem even more complicated. This constraint, coupled with limited resources and the vast network of existing structures in service, highlights the need to develop systematic strategies to help engineers better understand the system performance and estimate the remaining service life of these structures, while facilitating and supporting maintenance/preservation decision making process. This research project aims to present a performance-based numerical modeling framework that can be used to evaluate the behavior and identify the failure characteristics of in-service bridge superstructures under the impact of common deteriorating mechanisms. Representative numerical models, ranging from basic levels of intact bridge components to more complicated levels of bridge systems with both intact and damaged configurations, were generated based on available experimental data in literature. Critical to this investigation is the strategy to leverage simulation techniques and appropriately integrate the effects of existing deteriorating conditions into the measure of system performance. Upon validation of the proposed simulation approach, the methodology was implemented to study the performance parameters, including ultimate capacity, redundancy, and operational safety, of representative in-service composite steel girder and prestressed concrete girder bridges under various damage conditions. It is expected that the developed framework will provide a first step for establishing a critical linkage between design, maintenance, and rehabilitation of highway bridges, which are uncoupled in current practices. KW - Bridge superstructures KW - Decision making KW - Deterioration KW - Evaluation KW - Girder bridges KW - Maintenance KW - Performance based specifications KW - Service life KW - Simulation KW - Structural health monitoring UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/UVA-2012-03.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366485 ER - TY - SER AN - 01574102 JO - Civil Engineering Studies, Illinois Center for Transportation Series PB - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Tutumluer, Erol AU - Sarker, Priyanka AU - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Illinois Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Improved Overlay Thickness Design Alternatives for Local Roads PY - 2015/07 IS - 15-008 SP - 99p AB - In this research study, 20 pavement sections were selected from six counties in Illinois, with varying structural and traffic characteristics. Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests were conducted on these road segments to determine and monitor the structural conditions of both the existing and hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlaid pavement sections. Then the corresponding required overlay thicknesses were determined using three different methods—the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 1993 nondestructive testing (NDT) method, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) modified layer coefficients method, and the Asphalt Institute deflection approach—that are currently used by local agencies including municipalities, counties and townships. Inadequacies of the currently available methods to properly account for the pavement structural conditions were highlighted. Accordingly, a new mechanistic-empirical (M-E) overlay design method was developed to adequately assess the structural conditions of existing pavements and subsequently recommend required thickness values from FWD-based critical pavement responses computed and compared with threshold values for the pre-established fatigue and/or rutting damage algorithms. The M-E overlay design method successfully identified structural deficiencies in the original pavement configurations through FWD NDT and subsequently resulted in reliable and cost-effective overlay solutions, as compared with the IDOT modified layer coefficients method. KW - Falling weight deflectometers KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Illinois KW - Low volume roads KW - Mechanistic-empirical pavement design KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Overlays (Pavements) KW - Structural analysis KW - Thickness UR - https://apps.ict.illinois.edu/projects/getfile.asp?id=3523 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366061 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574083 AU - Gaspard, Kevin AU - Rupnow, Tyson AU - Zhang, Doc AU - Louisiana Transportation Research Center AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Joor Road Noise Level Assessment PY - 2015/07 SP - 76p AB - Joor Road (LA 946) is an Urban 5-lane Portland cement concrete (PCC) roadway with an annual daily traffic (ADT) of approximately 13,500 with 7 percent trucks and posted speed of 55 mph. Since being opened to traffic in 2009, residents have been complaining about the high noise levels emanating from the roadway. A comprehensive experiment was developed. The experiment consisted of randomly selecting six PCC slabs, three northbound and three southbound, in the noisy areas. An additional PCC slab was selected in the southbound direction outside of the noisy area to use as a control. In order to determine if there were any significant differences between this project and another project constructed under the 2006 specifications, four PCC slabs were randomly selected for evaluation on O’Neal Lane, which was constructed approximately two years after this section of Joor Road. The parameters assessed from each of eleven slabs were tine depth, tine width, spacing between tines, and randomness of spacing between tines. Sound level measurements based on the pass by method indicated the sound levels were excessive (82 dBA) when compared to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s (DOTD) Highway Traffic Noise Policy of 66 dBA for residential areas. Sound level measurements from the on-board surface intensity (OBSI) assessment also indicated that sound levels generated by the tire/road contact were excessive with values as high as 110.6 dBA. Tine parameter analysis implied that the sources of excessive noise level emissions were due to excessive tine widths, non-randomness of spacing between tines, and the spacing intervals between the tines. Pavement macrotexture values for the north and southbound lanes were generally within the range of 0.5 to 0.8 mm as recommended by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). KW - Louisiana KW - Portland cement concrete KW - Rolling contact KW - Sound level KW - Texture KW - Traffic noise KW - Urban highways UR - https://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2015/tar1401TAP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1365938 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574081 AU - Hallenbeck, Mark E AU - McCormack, Ed AU - Sankarakumaraswamy, Saravanya AU - Washington State Transportation Center AU - Washington State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Developing a System for Computing and Reporting MAP-21 and Other Freight Performance Measures PY - 2015/07 SP - 100p AB - This report documents the use of the National Performance Monitoring Research Data Set (NPMRDS) for the computation of freight performance measures on Interstate highways in Washington state. The report documents the data availability and specific data quality issues identified with NPMRDS. It then describes a recommended initial set of quality assurance tests that are needed before Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) begins producing freight performance measures. The report also documents the initial set of performance measures that can be produced with the NPMRDS and the specific steps required to do so. A subset of those metrics was tested using NPMRDS data, including delay and frequency of congestion to illustrate how WSDOT could use the freight performance measures. Finally, recommendations and the next steps that WSDOT needs to take are discussed. KW - Data quality KW - Freight transportation KW - Interstate highways KW - Metrics (Quantitative assessment) KW - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) KW - National Performance Monitoring Research Data Set KW - Performance measurement KW - Quality assurance KW - Recommendations KW - Washington (State) UR - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/844.1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366060 ER - TY - SER AN - 01574078 JO - Traffic Safety Facts - Crash Stats PB - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Fatalities of Vehicle Nonoccupants in Wheelchairs Struck by Motor Vehicles PY - 2015/07 SP - 3p AB - In 2013, there were 32,719 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Of those people killed, 28 were reported as seated in wheelchairs (0.09% of the total fatalities) when struck by motor vehicles. These people were not occupants of motor vehicles involved in the crashes and thus are considered nonoccupants. Only 13 States reported fatalities to nonoccupants seated in wheelchairs in 2013. From 2007 to 2013, on average 28 people died every year (0.08% of the total fatalities) when seated in wheelchairs and struck during motor vehicle crashes. KW - Fatalities KW - Pedestrian-vehicle crashes KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Wheelchairs UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812185.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366056 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574061 AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Track Inspector Rail Defect Reference Manual PY - 2015/07//Revision 2 SP - 87p AB - This is the second edition of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Track Inspector Rail Defect Reference Manual. This rail manual is compiled for use by employees of FRA that participate in the process of identification, inspection, and reporting of discovered rail flaws and rail flaws associated with rail failure as designated in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 213, Track Safety Standards (TSS). The manual is mainly designed to assist an FRA Track inspector in identifying the type of defect, defect development, rail surface condition, and various other aspects of rail identification and maintenance. Sections include: Defect nomenclature, Rail manufacturers, Rail identification/sections, Development of defects, FRA rail defects and description, FRA remedial action guidance, Flaw detection, Rolling contact fatigue, Rail welding, Rail grinding, and Definitions and terminology. KW - Defects KW - Fatigue (Mechanics) KW - Inspection KW - Maintenance of way KW - Manuals KW - Railroad tracks UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15056 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363776 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574054 AU - Yazdani, Frank AU - North Dakota State University, Fargo AU - Mountain-Plains Consortium AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Damage Assessment, Characterization, and Modeling for Enhanced Design of Concrete Bridge Decks in Cold Regions PY - 2015/07 SP - 78p AB - Concrete has been used in dams, bridges, and highway pavements in which freeze-thaw process and cyclic loading are considered as important factors affecting its mechanical behavior during its service life. Damage caused by frost expansion is a primary concern when designing concrete structures in cold weather regions. It is known that the onset of damage within concrete can be accelerated when a freeze-thaw cycle occurs while a structure is subjected to an external loading. Also, concrete under fatigue loading gradually loses its strength with an increase in the number of load cycles regardless of the loading path (uniaxial or biaxial) and fails under loading significantly less than its strength. The strength reduction and more compliant behavior in concrete are due to widespread micro-cracks that form during freeze-thaw cycles as well as fatigue loading. Under such processes, the mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, and ultimate strain are affected. In this report, changes in the mechanical properties for concrete and under fatigue loading and freeze-thaw cycles are investigated. Modern theories of damage mechanics with rate independent approach are extended to cover fatigue loading and freeze-thaw cycles. Different softening functions are proposed to predict the mechanical properties of concrete as the number of cyclic loading as well as freeze-thaw cycles increases. The results of the model are compared to the experimental data available in the literature that show a good correlation. KW - Bridge decks KW - Bridge design KW - Concrete KW - Fatigue strength KW - Freeze thaw durability KW - Frigid regions KW - Literature reviews KW - Mechanical properties UR - http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/mpc15-286.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366657 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574031 AU - Niemeier, Deb AU - University of California, Davis AU - University of California, Davis AU - National Center for Sustainable Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - A Funding Compromise Can Set Transportation on Path Toward Sustainability: A White Paper from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation PY - 2015/07 SP - 19p AB - Against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty around Congressional passage of a new federal transportation bill, a number of proposals have been circulated in the past year to address aspects of securing or reforming state and federal transportation funding. This white paper assembles the most prominent of these proposals and reviews them in the context of sustainable transportation, in particular, these three dimensions: funding sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The result of this review is a set of funding recommendations that borrow individual features from many of the publicly disseminated proposals. The funding recommendations include a one-time use of corporate taxes, the federal gas tax, greenhouse gas reduction targets, state initiated vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax, state pricing and tolling authority, state responsibility for roads, and an earned income transportation tax credit. KW - Equity (Justice) KW - Financing KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Highways KW - Recommendations KW - Road pricing KW - Sustainable transportation KW - Taxes UR - http://ncst.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/07-14-2015-NCST-Transportation-Funding-Niemeier-FINALv2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363896 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574027 AU - Heitzman, Michael AU - Turner, Pamela AU - Greer, Mary AU - National Center for Asphalt Technology AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - High Friction Surface Treatment Alternative Aggregates Study PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 72p AB - The objective of this study was to examine the pavement surface friction performance of seven alternative aggregate sources in the United States to determine if they provided similar performance to calcined bauxite as a high friction surface treatment (HFST). The alternative aggregates were granite, flint, basalt, silica sand, steel slag, emery, and taconite. The first laboratory study evaluated test slabs under accelerated laboratory polishing using the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Three Wheel Polishing Device, dynamic friction tester, and circular texture meter. The field study evaluated HFST pavement test sections with the same eight aggregates under heavy truck loading at the NCAT Pavement Test Track. The second laboratory study evaluated four aggregates for the influence of particle size of HFST friction performance, and examined the British Wheel and Pendulum, Aggregate Image Measurement System (AIMS), and Micro-Deval as simpler tests to qualifying friction aggregates in HFST specifications. Terminal surface characteristics were achieved after early conditioning (less than one month for field friction) both in the laboratory and in the field. The terminal texture and friction characteristics decreased very slowly during additional conditioning. All eight surfaces maintained good macro-texture, predominately greater than 1.0 mm mean profile depth (MPD). The eight surfaces measured terminal dynamic friction tester (DFT) (40) friction values in the range of 0.84 to 0.49 in the lab and 0.79 to 0.43 in the field. There may be a correlation between HFST surface friction and Micro-Deval mass loss. There was no correlation between HFST surface friction and AIMS particle shape and angularity. An additional laboratory procedure is needed to prepare test specimens of small aggregate particles for the British Wheel and Pendulum friction test. There is no correlation between surface macro-texture and friction. Friction measured on HFST using alternative aggregates was not equal to HFST using calcined bauxite. KW - Aggregates KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Bauxite KW - Field studies KW - Friction KW - Laboratory studies KW - Pavement performance KW - Surface treating KW - Texture KW - United States UR - http://www.ncat.us/files/reports/2015/15-04.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366064 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574021 AU - Hanifa, Khalil AU - Abu-Farsakh, Murad Y AU - Gautreau, Gavin P AU - Louisiana Transportation Research Center AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Design Values of Resilient Modulus for Stabilized and Non-Stabilized Base PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 132p AB - The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) new AASHTOWare pavement design software, Pavement ME Design, has recommended the use of laboratory determined resilient modulus of base, subbase, and subgrade soils in characterizing pavements for their structural analysis and design. Pavement ME Design requires the base course resilient modulus as an input parameter for pavement design. These resilient modulus design values for stabilized (bound) and non-stabilized (unbound) base materials are not well established for Louisiana. The primary objective of this research study was to determine resilient modulus design values for typical base course materials, as allowed by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) specifications. The study also intended to develop resilient modulus models (k₁, k₂, and k₃) for use to evaluate the resilient modulus for unbound base course materials for use in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). To accomplish this objective, typical base course materials specified and constructed as part of Louisiana roadways were evaluated in this research study. Three stabilized soil types (classified as A-2-4, A-4, and A-6, according to AASHTO soil classification) were evaluated as bound base materials. Two field materials (in-place cement stabilized and in-place cement treated base course) were also evaluated as bound base materials. Two aggregate types (Mexican Limestone and Recycled Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) (crushed)) were evaluated as unbound base materials. The basic material properties of the bound and unbound base materials were characterized through laboratory tests; repeated load triaxial tests were also conducted to evaluate their resilient modulus. Resilient modulus design values were recommended for the typical base course materials evaluated. Three mathematical resilient modulus models, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP Project 1-37A, 2001) model, University of Kentucky Transportation Center (UKTC) model (2002), and Uzan (1985) model were evaluated. Material coefficients k₁, k₂, and k₃ for these models were obtained using multiple regression analysis of all standard testing stresses and corresponding resilient modulus values. These models provide best data “fits” between resilient modulus and testing stresses. Furthermore, using the material coefficients (k₁, k₂, and k₃) for each model, the resilient modulus can be predicted when the stress condition and type of unbound base course material is known. While the NCHRP model, UKTC model, and Uzan model all performed well for estimating the resilient modulus of unbound base materials, the NCHRP model will be recommended and made readily available to the design personnel of DOTD. KW - Base course (Pavements) KW - Laboratory tests KW - Louisiana KW - Mechanistic-empirical pavement design KW - Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide KW - Modulus of resilience KW - Multiple regression analysis KW - Stabilized materials UR - https://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2015/FR_521.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364661 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574009 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: Overview PY - 2015/07 SP - 12p AB - In 2013, there were 32,719 people killed in the estimated 5,687,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes; an estimated 2,313,000 people were injured; and an estimated 4,066,000 crashes resulted in property damage only. An average of 90 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2013, one fatality every 16 minutes. Compared to 2012, this is a 3.1-percent decrease in the number of fatalities and a 2.1-percent decrease in the number of people injured. The number of police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes increased 1.3 percent from 2012; non-fatal injury crashes decreased 2.6 percent while crashes resulting in property damage increased 2.9 percent. This fact sheet contains information on motor vehicle fatalities and fatal crashes, based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Crash and injury statistics are based on data from the National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (GES). Statistics cover economic cost, alcohol use, speeding, vehicle type, occupant protection, pedestrians, cyclists, young drivers, and older drivers. KW - Crash data KW - Crash rates KW - Drivers KW - Drunk driving KW - Fatalities KW - Fatality Analysis Reporting System KW - General Estimates System KW - National Automotive Sampling System KW - Seat belt use KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812169.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364672 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01572097 AU - Dobrovolny, Chiara Silvestri AU - Schulz, Nathan D AU - Blower, Daniel AU - Benedetti, Marco AU - University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Center for Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety (ATLAS Center) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Identifying the Potential of Improved Heavy-Truck Crashworthiness to Reduce Death and Injury for Truck Drivers PY - 2015/07//Final Research Report SP - 318p AB - Advanced crash avoidance technologies (ACATs) for trucks have been developed in recent years and are beginning to be deployed. Prior to the development of standards for heavy truck crashworthiness and occupant protection, additional characterization of the crash-injury problem, current medium/heavy truck crashworthiness, and the potential benefits of crashworthy structures in heavy straight trucks and in truck cabs and trailers is needed. The goal of the project is to determine the nature of truck crashes that would remain after full deployment of ACATs, and to assess them in terms of truck driver injury and prevention. Then, using finite element (FE) analysis and computer simulation, exemplar tractor-semitrailer crashes were simulated to identify opportunities to improve occupant protection. Rollover and frontal collisions account for most truck driver fatalities and serious injuries. It was estimated that full deployment of ACATs would reduce truck crashes by 10%, and up to 30% of riskiest crash types. However, rollover and frontal impacts would remain as the primary crash types to be addressed. A full truck cabin model was developed and employed in the FE computer simulations to analyze occupant behavior and injury risk during frontal and rollover crashes. An integral part of this truck cabin model was the development of the occupant compartment components as no publicly available heavy truck models exist that contains interior components in the cabin. Additionally, researchers provided a methodology that can be employed and /or adapted to conduct future research within heavy truck occupant safety with use of computational analysis. Analysis of restraint systems during frontal and rollover crashes revealed unacceptable results according to current injury criteria standards and future work needs to be conducted to develop more effective restraint systems to increase occupant safety. KW - Cabs (Vehicle compartments) KW - Crash avoidance systems KW - Crash injuries KW - Crashworthiness KW - Finite element method KW - Frontal crashes KW - Heavy duty trucks KW - Occupant protection devices KW - Rollover crashes KW - Simulation KW - Truck crashes KW - Truck drivers UR - http://www.atlas-center.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blower-Silvestri-Final-Research-Report-ATLAS-2015-4.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363584 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571969 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: Rural/Urban Comparison PY - 2015/07 SP - 7p AB - This fact sheet contains statistics on motor vehicle fatal crashes based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS is a census of fatal crashes within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (although Puerto Rico is not included in U.S. totals). Rural and urban boundaries are determined by the State highway departments and approved by the Federal Highway Administration. In 2013, there were 30,057 fatal crashes resulting in 32,719 fatalities. Rural areas accounted for 53 percent (15,998) of the fatal crashes and 54 percent (17,696) of the fatalities as compared to urban areas that accounted for 46 percent (14,987) of the fatal crashes and 46 percent (14,987) of the fatalities. According to the 2013 rural and urban population data from the Census Bureau, 19 percent of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, however, rural fatalities accounted for 54 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2013. Additional statistics on fatal crashes in 2013 are provided in this traffic safety fact sheet. KW - Fatalities KW - Fatality Analysis Reporting System KW - Rural areas KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Urban areas UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812181.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363267 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570626 AU - Governors Highway Safety Association AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Mapping to MMUCC: A Process for Comparing Police Crash Reports and State Crash Databases to the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria PY - 2015/07 SP - 34p AB - The Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) Guideline, Fourth Edition (2012), is a voluntary guideline designed to help States determine what crash data to collect on their police accident reports (PARs) and what data to code and carry in their crash databases. The MMUCC Guideline does not provide States with guidance on implementation. States have their own data collection guidelines, which has resulted in substantial variation among States regarding how and what crash data is collected across jurisdictions and what data is maintained on their crash databases. States often use different formats and names for data elements and attributes or they may combine (or split) elements and attributes. As a result, it is very difficult to compare or share crash data among States, between State and Federal data sets, and—in some cases—even between different agencies within a State. To assist States in evaluating their consistency with MMUCC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) have developed a methodology for mapping the data collected on PARs and the data entered and maintained on crash databases to the data elements and attributes in the MMUCC Guideline. This methodology is intended to standardize how States compare both their PARs and their crash databases to MMUCC. The process recognizes that while State data systems often use different terminology and formatting, different data sets often can be mapped to the recommended MMUCC data elements and attributes. KW - Crash data KW - Crash reports KW - Data collection KW - Databases KW - Guidelines KW - Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria KW - Police reports KW - States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812184.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361874 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570625 AU - Ishak, Sherif AU - Osman, Osama AU - Thapa, Raju AU - Jenkins, Syndney AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Southeast Transportation Consortium AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Real Time Driver Information for Congestion Management PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 71p AB - Traffic demand in the U.S. has grown substantially over the past few years because of the increase in population and urbanization in large cities. This causes traffic congestion to spread out over U.S. highways and arterials, and subsequently leads to deterioration in traffic networks in terms of operation, safety, and productivity. Therefore, congestion management strategies have become essential for addressing safety and operational problems. Recently, active traffic management (ATM) strategies have been recognized as efficient methods for managing widespread congestion, provided that a proper management strategy is identified and implemented. Any ATM strategy requires a systematic process that should work in a specific sequence starting from getting information from a congested road segment to dissemination of relevant information to travelers to help relieve congestion. This process starts with collecting traffic data from the roadways, screening the collected data to remove redundancies and erroneous data, synthesizing useful traffic information, and finally disseminating such information to travelers in real time. Based on the type of delivered information, travelers may alter their trip decision in terms of departure time, mode choice, and route selection in order to avoid congestion. This report presents a review of the state-of-the-art and state-of-practice methods used to execute the steps taken to deliver accurate real time traffic information to travelers and the impact such information has on congestion management. The report sheds light on different technologies and methodologies used for data collection, screening, and dissemination in the United States. In addition, the report highlights the impact of disseminated information on drivers’ behavior and transportation network operation and safety. More so, the report presents a few case studies on different ATM strategies and shows the gained benefits from using these strategies. KW - Advanced traffic management systems KW - Behavior KW - Case studies KW - Congestion management systems KW - Data collection KW - Drivers KW - Information dissemination KW - Information processing KW - Real time information KW - State of the practice KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traveler information and communication systems KW - United States UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2015/FR_543.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361382 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570622 AU - Burian, Dennis AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Aviation Relevance of Genetic Risk Scores for Cardiovascular Disease PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 22p AB - A review of the literature for single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with cardiovascular disease revealed about 30 high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphisms. Individually, none is predictive for cardiovascular disease. Several authors combined some number of these single nucleotide polymorphisms into a genetic risk score modeled on the Framingham Risk Score that is based on traditional risk factors, including lipid profile, hypertension, age, family history, diabetes, and smoking status. All genetic risk scores were associated with cardiovascular disease and had a similar predictive value as traditional risk factors; however, when genetic risk scores were combined with predictive scores based on traditional risk factors, there was only a minimal increase in predictive value. Genetic profile discovery to augment the current assessment paradigm is not recommended because traditional risk factors-based scores have similar predictive power, are less expensive, and are more easily interpreted by the medical community. KW - Air pilots KW - Cardiovascular diseases KW - Genetics KW - Health KW - Polymorphism (Chemistry) KW - Risk analysis UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201510.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361736 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570610 AU - Rogers, Jason A AU - Ho, Clifford K AU - Mead, Andrew AU - Millan, Angel AU - Beben, Melissa AU - Drechsler, Gena AU - Greensboro College AU - Sandia National Laboratories AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Evaluation of Glare as a Hazard for General Aviation Pilots on Final Approach PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 18p AB - Solar power is a growing source of energy for airports and for their communities. While solar power panels provide a useful means to generate revenue and to provide energy locally, it does pose a potential hazard in the form of glare. In the current study, pilots were exposed to glare during a series of flights in a flight simulator, and their perceived impairment was recorded. During the approach phase of each flight, the authors simulated glare from one of four possible angles (0, 25, 50, and 90 deg left of straight ahead) and for glare durations of either 0 (no glare control), 1, and 5 s. The glare was simulated using halogen lamps that, under the lighting conditions of the lab, approximated the visual effect of solar glare. Subjective measures of impairment were recorded for each condition. There was a significant main effect of glare duration and a significant main effect of glare angle. Impairment was perceived as being worse for glare sources that are straight ahead of the pilot and of longer duration, with a gradual decline in impairment as the glare source moves toward the side of the pilot. However, there was no significant interaction between glare duration and of glare angle. KW - Approach KW - Flight simulators KW - General aviation pilots KW - Glare KW - Panels KW - Solar collectors KW - Time duration UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201512.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361733 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570602 AU - Lewis, Russell J AU - Kemp, Philip M AU - Johnson, Robert D AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Distribution of Paroxetine in Postmortem Fluids and Tissues PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 12p AB - Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There are certain side effects associated with paroxetine use that could negatively affect a pilot’s performance and become a factor in an aviation accident. Such side effects include nausea, drowsiness, insomnia, and dizziness. It has also been suggested that paroxetine use may increase suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation. When relying on postmortem specimens for interpretive value, a general understanding of drug distribution throughout postmortem fluids and tissues is important. Utilizing an n-butyl chloride liquid/liquid extraction followed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) analysis with selected ion monitoring, the laboratory developed a method for the identification, characterization, and quantitation of paroxetine. The linear dynamic range was determined to be 3.13 – 1600 ng/mL in blood. The laboratory then determined the postmortem concentrations of paroxetine in various postmortem tissues and fluids obtained from nine fatal aviation accident cases. The typical specimen types analyzed for each case included blood, urine, vitreous humor, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, muscle, brain, heart, and bile. Blood paroxetine concentrations obtained from these cases ranged from 0.019 to 0.865 µg/mL. The distribution of paroxetine, expressed as mean specimen/blood ratio, was: 1.67 ± 1.16 urine (n=4), 0.08 ± 0.04 vitreous humor (n=6), 5.77 ± 1.37 liver (n=8), 9.66 ± 2.58 lung (n=9), 1.44 ± 0.57 kidney (n=8), 3.80 ± 0.69 spleen (n=8), 0.15 ± 0.04 muscle (n=8), 4.27 ± 2.64 brain (n=7), and 1.05 ± 0.43 heart (n=8). The results from this study show that paroxetine is readily distributed to tissues and fluids in the body. The large standard deviations associated with the paroxetine distribution coefficients suggest that paroxetine likely can experience significant postmortem concentration changes. KW - Air pilots KW - Air transportation crashes KW - Blood analysis KW - Drugs KW - Fatalities KW - Forensic medicine KW - Paroxetine UR - http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201511.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361735 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570398 AU - Heavey, Justin P AU - Volk, Timothy A AU - Abrahamson, Lawrence P AU - Castellano, Phillip AU - Williamson, Ruth AU - State University of New York, Syracuse AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Designing, Developing and Implementing a Living Snow Fence Program for New York State PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 456p AB - Living snow fences (LSF) are a form of passive snow control designed to mitigate blowing and drifting snow problems on roadways. Blowing and drifting snow can increase the cost of highway maintenance and create hazardous driving conditions when snow is lifted off the ground by wind and transported toward a road. LSF disrupt wind patterns, causing blowing snow to be deposited in designated areas around the fence and away from the road. LSF are rows of vegetation (trees, shrubs, corn) that perform the same function as structural (wooden, plastic) snow fences with potentially longer life cycles and better returns on investment. This project provided a literature review; training materials; classroom and field workshops on LSF design, installation and maintenance; four demonstration sites with installed LSF; protocols for the assessment of sites and operational fences; a study of 18 LSF using these protocols; the identification of key factors for successful LSF in NY State and beyond; and a benefit-cost tool. Key research outcomes include improved understanding of snow trapping function as LSF grow over time and improved design recommendations based on these findings. Applying these design standards along with best practices for installation and maintenance developed in this project can increase the feasibility and effectiveness of LSF. Well designed and managed LSF can produce numerous economic, safety and environmental benefits to transportation agencies and the public. KW - Assessments KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Best practices KW - Design KW - Education and training KW - Literature reviews KW - Maintenance KW - New York (State) KW - Recommendations KW - Snow and ice control KW - Snow fences KW - Vegetation UR - http://www.utrc2.org/sites/default/files/FinalReport-Living-Snow-Fence-Program-NYS_0.pdf?utm_source=10-13-15+Final+Reports&utm_campaign=07-06-14+PR-Final+Reports&utm_medium=email UR - https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-06-09_Final%20Report_0.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55284/C-06-09_Final_Report_0.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360909 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570397 AU - Shuler, Scott AU - Colorado Department of Transportation AU - Colorado State University, Fort Collins AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Best Practices for Full-Depth Reclamation Using Asphalt Emulsions PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 43p AB - Full depth reclamation (FDR) of asphalt pavements using asphalt emulsions (AEFDR) is a process that recycles and rejuvenates the existing asphalt pavement surface, base, and, sometimes, the subgrade, providing an improved underlying structure for the new asphalt pavement. This report provides design guidance, standardized plans and specifications, construction inspection best practices, materials testing procedures and frequencies, a performance evaluation process, and quality assurance and quality control protocols when constructing FDR projects. KW - Asphalt emulsions KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Best practices KW - Full-depth reclamation KW - Paving KW - Performance measurement KW - Quality assurance KW - Quality control KW - Specifications KW - Test procedures UR - https://www.codot.gov/programs/research/pdfs/2015-research-reports/best-practices-for-full-depth-reclamation-using-asphalt-emulsions/at_download/file UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55285/CDOT-Research-2015-04.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360911 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570371 AU - Dusicka, Peter AU - Bazaez, Ramiro AU - Knoles, Sarah AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Bridge Seismic Retrofit Measures Considering Subduction Zone Earthquakes PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 220p AB - Over the years, earthquakes have exposed the vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures under seismic loads. The recent occurrence of highly devastating earthquakes near instrumented regions, e.g. 2010 Maule, Chile and 2011 Tohoku, Japan, has demonstrated the catastrophic impact of such natural force upon reinforced concrete structures. Research was conducted to investigate the effect of subduction zone earthquakes on structural damage. The study suggests that large magnitude ground motions of long duration have the potential of significantly increasing the number of inelastic excursions and consequently incur more extensive structural damage as compared to ground motions with similar elastic spectral demands but of shorter duration. This increase in demand plays a crucial role in the Pacific Northwest where a mega subduction zone earthquake is impending. Typical reinforced concrete bridge bents constructed in the 1950s to mid-1970s in the State of Oregon were designed and built with minimum seismic considerations. This resulted in inadequate detailing within plastic hinge zones, leaving numerous RC bents highly susceptible to damage following an earthquake. In this study, the cyclic performance of an as-built RC square column and a reinforced concrete bridge bent retrofitted using buckling restrained braces (BRBs) was experimentally evaluated using quasi-static cyclic loading protocols aiming to reflect subduction zone earthquake demands up to displacement ductility. The buckling restrained braces were designed as replaceable elements in order to take the earthquake-induced energy and dissipate it through nonlinear hysteretic behavior. Two BRB designs were considered in the study in an effort to assess the influence of BRB stiffness on the overall structural performance. The results of these large-scale experiments successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing buckling restrained braces for achieving high displacement ductility of the retrofitted structure, while also controlling the damage of the existing vulnerable reinforced concrete bent up to the design performance levels. The potential of improving the overall seismic behavior and the design performance levels with BRBs offers structural design professionals a viable method for performance driven retrofit of reinforced concrete bents. KW - Bents KW - Braces KW - Earthquake resistant design KW - Earthquakes KW - Oregon KW - Reinforced concrete bridges KW - Repeated loads KW - Retrofitting KW - Structural analysis UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55300/SPR741_FinalReport_LP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361006 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570361 AU - Dornak, Mitchell AU - Zuniga, Jose AU - Garcia, Anthony AU - Drimalas, Thano AU - Folliard, Kevin J AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of Rapid, Cement-based Repair Materials for Transportation Structures: Final Report PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 191p AB - The state of Texas has been plagued by various durability-related issues in recent years, including deterioration from alkali-silica reaction (ASR), delayed ettringite formation (DEF), corrosion of reinforcing steel, and volume changes (plastic shrinkage, drying shrinkage, thermal effects, etc.), just to name a few. These durability-related issues, coupled with other factors that contribute to reductions in service life (e.g., service loads, defects, vehicle impact, etc.), have resulted in the need to repair concrete structures and to do so in a timely, efficient fashion, with minimal disruption to the traveling public. Thus, the need for rapid, cement-based repair materials has emerged, especially in highly congested urban areas. This project included a comprehensive laboratory-based program, as well as a significant field component, aimed at addressing this critical infrastructure need. The goals of the research project were to evaluate a range of rapid repair materials and to provide recommendations on the most efficient, economical, and durable repair materials and methodologies. KW - Cement KW - Concrete structures KW - Durability KW - Field tests KW - Laboratory tests KW - Methodology KW - Properties of materials KW - Recommendations KW - Repairing KW - Texas UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6723-1.pdf UR - http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6723-1_appx.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361076 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570279 AU - Ma, Jiaqi AU - Lochrane, Taylor AU - Leidos AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - User’s Manual for the Traffic Incident Management Benefit- Cost (TIM-BC) Tool PY - 2015/07//Version: 1.0.0 SP - 26p AB - This document serves as a user’s manual for the Traffic Incident Management Benefit-Cost Tool (TIM-BC) Version 1.0.0 - Safety Service Patrol Benefit-Cost (SSP-BC) Tool, which is used to assist State and local engineers and decisionmakers with evaluating and comparing the monetary value of Safety Service Patrol (SSP) programs. The document describes how to use the tool by providing detailed instructions and screenshots of the tool. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Computer program documentation KW - Freeway service patrols KW - Incident management KW - Traffic incidents KW - Web applications UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/operations/15059/15059.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359643 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570275 AU - Taylor, Peter AU - National Concrete Pavement Technology Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Blended Aggregates for Concrete Mixture Optimization: Best Practices for Jointed Concrete Pavements PY - 2015/07//Tech Brief SP - 4p AB - Historically, aggregate gradation has been controlled by specifications that call out envelopes for individual fractions, typically the coarse aggregate and the fine aggregate. The shortcoming of this approach is that the gradation of the overall system is not addressed. While it is sensible to stockpile coarse and fine fractions separately to prevent segregation, it is the combined system that is critical in the final mixture. The combined grading of aggregates used in concrete mixtures for paving applications can have a direct impact on workability, and indirectly on mixture performance. The measurement of what comprises a good combined gradation is the topic of this tech brief. KW - Admixtures KW - Aggregate gradation KW - Best practices KW - Concrete pavements KW - Optimization KW - Pavement joints UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/pubs/hif15019.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360769 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570273 AU - McDonald, Noreen AU - Steiner, Ruth AU - Sisiopiku, Virginia AU - Palmer, W Mathew AU - Lytle, Benjamin AU - Tsai, Jeff AU - Cook, Thomas AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Quantifying the Costs of School Transportation PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 42p AB - While there has been attention to the costs of school busing, there has been little analysis of the multi-modal costs of school transportation and how those costs vary with the local environment. This study identifies the individual capital and operations cost items for each primary mode of transportation—automobile, school bus, bike, and walking—to allow for the consistent collection of data between states and school districts. Nine public elementary schools were selected from Florida representing areas with high, medium and low densities of student populations. The same criteria were used to select 11 schools in North Carolina representing medium and low density environments. School districts, published reports, and professionals associated with the design and planning of the study schools were consulted to gather cost and other relevant information. A school site visit was conducted to determine the travel mode split at each study school. Based on these results, the researchers have documented cases that suggest that school travel modes and costs are related to built environment characteristics surrounding a school site – the greater pedestrian accessible residential density around a school site, the higher the rates of walking, bicycling and driving to school and the lower rates of bus ridership. Correspondingly, dense accessible school sites exhibit lower public costs. KW - Built environment KW - Costs KW - Florida KW - Modal split KW - North Carolina KW - Population density KW - Schools KW - Transportation modes UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_QSTC_FinalReport2015_AppI.pdf UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_QSTC_FinalReport2015_AppII.pdf UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_QSTC_FinalReport2015_AppIII.pdf UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_QSTC_FinalReport2015_Main.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360392 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570258 AU - Safar, Hadar AU - Multer, Jordan AU - Roth, Emilie AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - An Investigation of Passing Stop Signals at a Passenger Railroad PY - 2015/07//Final Report SP - 90p AB - This report documents the findings and recommendations from an investigation into stop signal violations at an American passenger railroad. The investigation was requested by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the passenger railroad, and sponsored by FRA’s Office of Research & Development (ORD). This investigation assisted the passenger railroad in understanding why stop signal violations occurred in the terminal and helped it develop effective corrective actions to prevent or mitigate their occurrence in the future. In addition to making recommendations for the railroad, this report discusses opportunities for the FRA to improve the risk management of passing a stop signal (PASS) across railroads. These improvements include recommending more systematic collection and analysis of PASS data; changing FRA compliance and enforcement practices to encourage more open and complete reporting of PASS incidents; and performing additional field and simulator-based research to strengthen the empirical foundation for linking systemic factors to PASS. KW - Railroad signals KW - Railroad terminals KW - Railroads KW - Recommendations KW - Risk management KW - Stopping KW - United States UR - https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14864 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55241/An_Investigation_of_Passed_Stop_Signals.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360022 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01613779 AU - Guo, Feng AU - Zhang, Dengfeng AU - Rakha, Hesham AU - Virginia Tech Transportation Institute AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Bayesian Travel Time Reliability Models PY - 2015/06/30/Final Report SP - 66p AB - Travel time reliability is a stochastic process affected by multiple factors, with traffic volume being the most important one. This study built up and advanced the multi-state models by proposing regressions on the proportions and distribution parameters for underlying traffic states. The Bayesian analysis provides valid credible intervals for each parameter without asymptotic assumption. Two alternative approaches were proposed and evaluated. The first approach is a Bayesian multi-state travel time regression model which provides a regression for key model parameters to traffic volume; the second approach is a hidden Markov regression which not only provides a link between key model parameters and traffic volume, but also incorporates the dependency structure among traffic volume in adjacent time windows. Both approaches provide advanced methodology for modeling traffic time reliability under complex stochastic scenarios. KW - Bayes' theorem KW - Methodology KW - Regression analysis KW - Reliability (Statistics) KW - Traffic simulation KW - Traffic volume KW - Travel time UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/VT-2012-02.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1424190 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01599203 AU - Ai, Ning AU - National University Rail Center (NURail) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Environmental Impact Assessment of Rail Infrastructure PY - 2015/06/30/Final Report SP - 78p AB - Launched in 2009, the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program aims to provide 80% of Americans access to an improved national rail network within the next 25 years (White House, 2011). Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), all proposed rail projects are subject to an environmental evaluation process. While the NEPA process is designed to protect the environment and promote community involvement, it can be lengthy and expensive (Sampson, 2013). A recent audit by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) also concluded that existing NEPA procedures at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are “outdated and limited” and thus recommended an update of its NEPA procedures to reflect current environmental laws and guidance (OIG, 2013). This study aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental impact assessment of rail infrastructure by developing an online one-stop database for sustainable rail planning. KW - Databases KW - Environmental impacts KW - Infrastructure KW - National Environmental Policy Act KW - Railroad transportation KW - Sustainable transportation KW - Transportation planning KW - Web applications UR - http://www.nurailcenter.org/research/final_reports/UIC/NURail2012-UIC-R06_Environment_GIS_NURail_Final_Report_NING_AI1.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/59000/59200/59290/NURail2012-UIC-R06_Environment_GIS_NURail_Final_Report_NING_AI1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1405072 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590506 AU - Gartner, Nathan H AU - Stamatiadis, Chronis AU - New England University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Robust Performance of Transportation Networks Using Quantile Metrics PY - 2015/06/30/Final Report SP - 3p AB - The state of the art in transport network modeling is founded on the estimation of travel demands between origins and destinations (O-D matrices) by various techniques. Assuming the estimate matches the true O-D matrix, the analysis culminates with a network assignment procedure that generates the volumes and costs associated with those volumes on the links and paths of the network. However, there are always variations from the truth in such estimates. In this study the authors develop new metrics for network assessment by taking explicit account of such demand variability and uncertainty. The metrics consist of the calculation of quantile network costs. This assessment methodology leads to improved decision-making in transport planning and operations and can be used to develop management and control strategies that result in more robust network performance. The following results were obtained in this study: (1) Characterization of O-D demand variability from field data; (2) Development of p-quantile metrics for network performance; (3) Computational procedures to assess performance using p-quantile metrics; and (4) Calculation of robust controls following accepted norms of behavior. KW - Metrics (Quantitative assessment) KW - Networks KW - Origin and destination KW - Performance measurement KW - Travel demand UR - http://utc.mit.edu/system/files/UMAR24-21%20FP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397330 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590458 AU - Stamatiadis, Chronis AU - Gartner, Nathan AU - New England University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - ITS Equipment Placement for Safety and Mobility PY - 2015/06/30/Final Report SP - 4p AB - This study develops a Decision Support Model (DSM) for the optimal placement of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment, such as Variable Message Signs (VMS) and Closed Circuit Video Equipment (CCVE), on a state highway network. Development of the model is motivated by the need of Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) to install or replace traveler information systems in the network under their jurisdiction. A mathematical programming model is formulated to maximize the net benefit of the installation subject to budget constraints. Benefits and costs are calculated on an annual basis and the model can be utilized as part of the annual element in the state transportation planning process (STIP). KW - Advanced traveler information systems KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Decision support systems KW - Highway safety KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Location KW - Mathematical models KW - Mobility KW - Traffic control devices UR - http://utc.mit.edu/system/files/UMAR24-26%20FP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397338 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571959 AU - Ferluga, Eric AU - Glassford, Patrick AU - Washington State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Performance Based Concrete for Bridge Decks PY - 2015/06/30 SP - 383p AB - The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) revised the concrete specification for bridge decks in 2011 to be more performance based with the desired effect of having less early-age shrinkage cracking. This report evaluates a sample of the bridges constructed with the revised performance based specification against a sample of bridges constructed with the traditional WSDOT specification. The evaluation consists of visual inspections, noting cracks and developing crack intensity diagrams for each bridge. These diagrams are then used to rank and compare the bridge decks. The outcome of this study is that the bridge decks constructed with the performance based specification have much less early-age shrinkage cracking than the traditional WSDOT specification. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Bridge decks KW - Concrete bridges KW - Cracking KW - Evaluation KW - Performance based specifications KW - Washington (State) UR - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/845.1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363268 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570306 AU - Harries, Kent A AU - Lin, Jeen-Shang AU - Hasanzoi, Marwa AU - University of Pittsburgh AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - 50 ksi Steel H-pile Capacity PY - 2015/06/30/Final Report SP - 79p AB - The objective of this study is to re-evaluate the adoption, with the objective of potentially extending the utilization of Fy = 50 ksi for the structural capacity of steel H-piles (American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) HP sections) for bridge foundations. Specific consideration is given to the current capacity equations, Pn = 0.66AsFy and Pr = 0.33AsFy, with the objective of their confirmation or revision; potentially permitting fewer piles for a foundation and an associated cost savings. The impacts of any revisions, particularly upon foundation settlement, are evaluated and recommendations for the revision of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Pub 15M Design Manual Part 4 (DM-4) Structures (as amended by Strike-Off Letter (SOL) 483-14-04) are provided. KW - Bridge foundations KW - Costs KW - Piles (Supports) KW - Settlement (Structures) KW - Specifications KW - Structural steel UR - http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete%20Projects/Design/50_KSI_Steel_H-Pile_Capacity.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359646 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590494 AU - Gokhale, Swapna S AU - Lownes, Nicholas AU - New England University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Automated Congestion Prediction with Smart Phones PY - 2015/06/29/Final Report SP - 3p AB - Accurate collection of traffic data is essential for tactical efficient highway operations and strategic planning. Currently, the collection of such traffic data relies on physical sensors, which gather limited measurements of vehicle speeds and times as observed from fixed locations. These sensors cannot systematically acquire data on the mobility dynamics of individual vehicles and collective interactions among them, preventing the formulation of detailed models of vehicle flow within a transportation network. Finally, deployment and maintenance of physical sensors is expensive and time consuming. To overcome these issues, this project demonstrated the feasibility of using location-aware smartphone technology as a simple, inexpensive alternative to facilitate the collection of dynamic vehicle behaviors. A privacy-preserving smartphone application was developed, deployed, and tested on the transportation network surrounding the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs. KW - Data collection KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Mobile applications KW - Smartphones KW - Storrs (Connecticut) KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic flow UR - http://utc.mit.edu/system/files/UCNR24-29%20FP.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397341 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574040 AU - Savolainen, Peter T AU - Gates, Timothy AU - Lord, Dominique AU - Geedipally, Srinivas AU - Rista, Emira AU - Barrette, Timothy AU - Russo, Brendan J AU - Hamzeie, Raha AU - Wayne State University AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Michigan Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Michigan Urban Trunkline Intersections Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) Development and Support PY - 2015/06/29/Final Report SP - 164p AB - This study involves the development of safety performance functions (SPFs) for signalized and stop-controlled intersections located along urban and suburban arterials in the state of Michigan. Extensive databases were developed that resulted in the integration of traffic crash information, traffic volumes, and roadway geometry information. After these data were assembled, an exploratory analysis of the data was conducted to identify general crash trends. This included assessment of the base models provided in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), as well as a calibration exercise, which demonstrated significant variability in terms of the goodness-of-fit of the HSM models across various site types. Michigan-specific SPFs were estimated, including simple models that consider only annual average daily traffic (AADT). More detailed models were also developed, which considered additional geometric factors, such as posted speed limits, number of lanes, and the presence of medians, intersection lighting, and right-turn-on-red prohibition. Crash modification factors (CMFs) were also estimated, which can be used to adjust the SPFs to account for differences related to these factors. Separate SPFs were estimated for intersections of only two-way streets and for those where at least one of the intersecting streets was one-way as the factors affecting traffic safety were found to vary between these site types. Severity distribution functions (SDFs) were also estimated, which can be used to predict the proportion of injury crashes which result in different injury severity levels. The SDFs may include various geometric, operation, and traffic variables that will allow the estimated proportion to be specific to an individual intersection. Ultimately, the results of this study provide Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) with a number of methodological tools that will allow for proactive safety planning activities, including network screening and identification of high-risk sites. These tools have been calibrated such that they can be applied at either the statewide level or within any of MDOT’s seven geographic regions, providing additional flexibility to accommodate unique differences across the state. The report also documents procedures for maintaining and calibrating these SPFs over time, allowing for consideration of general trends that are not directly reflected by the predictor variables. KW - Calibration KW - Crash data KW - Crash severity KW - Data analysis KW - Highway safety KW - Highway Safety Manual KW - Michigan KW - Safety Performance Functions KW - Signalized intersections KW - Traffic crashes KW - Urban highways UR - http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/RC1628_497550_7.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366100 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570395 AU - Neely, Sean AU - Lee, Brian H Y AU - Sentoff, Karen AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Intercity Travel in Northeastern Rural Regions of the U.S. PY - 2015/06/28 SP - 109p AB - Much research exists on intercity travel behavior between large metropolitan centers. There is an opportunity for more research on travel from less populated areas to large metropolitan ones. When planning a trip from Northern New England to major cities in the Northeast, there are often several transportation options to consider. The report explores relationships between access to information and attitudes about traveling from Northern New England to major cities in the Northeast United States by automobile, intercity bus and passenger rail, taking into account gender, education level, and age group. The objective of this research is to examine the intersections between access to information, personal technology use, and intercity travel where public ground transportation is a viable option. A primary component of the research described in this report is the Intercity Travel, Information, and Technology Survey Questionnaire. This report presents the preliminary analysis of the survey data. KW - Age KW - Attitudes KW - Automobile travel KW - Bus transportation KW - Data collection KW - Education KW - Gender KW - Intercity travel KW - Mode choice KW - Northeastern United States KW - Railroad transportation KW - Rural areas KW - Surveys KW - Travel behavior UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-007(WithAppendices).pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360028 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01587750 AU - Zhou, Xuesong AU - Zlatkovic, Milan AU - Farhan, Muhammad AU - University of Utah, Salt Lake City AU - Utah Department of Transportation AU - Department of Transportation TI - Simplified Web-Based Decision Support Method for Traffic Management and Work Zone Analysis PY - 2015/06/24/Final Report SP - 95p AB - Traffic congestion mitigation is one of the key challenges that transportation planners and operations engineers face when planning for construction and maintenance activities. There is a wide variety of approaches and methods that address work zone impacts, starting with simple equations, over spreadsheets and deterministic methods, to high-level computer simulation software. Some of the widely used tools include CA4PRS, QuickZone, and VISUM. However, every model has its own limitations and assumptions that are dictated by the applied computational technique. These analysis tools may not fully capture the dynamic nature of drivers' responses to traffic management techniques and significant changes in the transportation network. In this case, performing analyses with a Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) engine, or a similar traffic estimation method, may meet this need while providing additional analysis details (e.g. network, path, origin-destination (OD), and link analyses) for local engineers to justify their decisions/actions. At the same time, technical expertise, data management, and software licensing often become significant barriers for incorporating this type of analysis into every-day operations. This research presents a DTA based tool that is designed to overcome the existing limitations in work zone simulation and analysis. KW - Decision support systems KW - Dynamic traffic assignment KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic simulation KW - Web applications KW - Work zone traffic control KW - Work zones UR - http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=25598232120404207 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1394587 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574022 AU - Remian, Dan AU - CD Engineering AU - New Hampshire Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Corrosion and Corrosion Control on Interstate 89 Bridge #30 and # 31 PY - 2015/06/24/Final Report SP - 75p AB - This report summarizes the evaluation of the performance of cathodic protection installed on I-89 bridges over Gile Pond Road (New Hampshire Route 114) during a rehabilitation project in 1987. Control bridges of I-89 over Hominy Pot Road, approximately 1.5 miles to the northwest, were also evaluated. The Hominy Pot Road bridges received a standard-practice New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) rehabilitation of an overlay of 1 ½ inches of concrete and a new membrane. The Gile Pond Road bridges each received a four-zone Raychem FEREX 100 anode cathodic protection system overlaid with concrete and no membrane. This system was tested after installation and records indicate it was working properly; however, within 6 years only one of the four zones was functioning as expected. Two zones of the four appear to have failed in 1990 and the system failed completely by 1998. Field surveys for this study took place in 2009 using an evaluation protocol as presentation in National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) report 558. The control bridges exhibited more substantial damage in comparison with higher rebar loss, in addition to amounts of concrete delamination and spalling. The cathodic protection system did provide some benefit to these bridges; however, the system failed and no longer provides protection. The particular system used in this installation proved to be unsuccessful at most installations in the U.S. KW - Cathodic protection KW - Condition surveys KW - Corrosion KW - Evaluation KW - Highway bridges KW - New Hampshire KW - Reinforcing bars KW - Spalling UR - http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/materials/research/projects/documents/26962D-REPORTFINAL.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55389/26962D-REPORTFINAL.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364784 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571967 AU - Bell, Erin Santini AU - Gaylord, David AU - Goudreau, Adam AU - White, Daniel AU - University of New Hampshire, Durham AU - New Hampshire Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Instrumentation, Digital Image Correlation, and Modeling to Monitor Bridge Behavior and Condition Assessment PY - 2015/06/24/Final Report SP - 268p AB - Bridge managers have historically relied on visual inspection reports and field observation, including photographs, to assess bridge health. The inclusion of instrumentation, including strain gauges, along with a structural model can enhance bridge management. This combination of instrumentation and modeling is commonly classified as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Traditional SHM measurements are reference-independent, such as strain gauges. These sensors can be easily installed and provide valuable information for bridge condition assessment, including neutral axis location. The collection of global deflection of a bridge, a reference-dependent measurement, is more difficult to collect as the connection between the bridge structure and a fixed reference is geometrically challenging. A measurement technique that alleviates this issue is digital image correlation. Through recent advances in digital photography and the computational capability of personal computers, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a non-contact measurement technique that can be cost-effectively deployed to collect global deflection measurements of a bridge structure. DIC uses multiple digital cameras to photograph a target object to provide structural response information. This project incorporates a DIC system into the bridge instrumentation and testing program for a concrete deck-steel girder composite bridge, Bagdad Road over US Route 4, in Durham, New Hampshire. This report presents the instrumentation selection, sensors location planning and deployment, structural testing, DIC measurement for displacement, and strain measurements in both laboratory and field experiments. This report also includes a detailed structural model that is calibrated with collected field structural response data for bridge decision-making and management. KW - Condition surveys KW - Deflection KW - Digital cameras KW - Digital image correlation KW - Durham (New Hampshire) KW - Girder bridges KW - Instrumentation KW - Sensors KW - Strain measurement KW - Structural health monitoring UR - http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/materials/research/projects/documents/15680L-FINALREPORT.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363116 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570402 AU - Sullivan, James L AU - Novak, David C AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Department of Transportation TI - A Risk-Based Flood-Planning Strategy for Vermont’s Roadway Network PY - 2015/06/24/Final Report SP - 48p AB - In this project, the authors extend the use of a previously established measure of link-specific criticality, the Network Robustness Index (NRI), to address disruptions in Vermont’s federal-aid road network caused by summertime flooding. The goal of the project is to identify the most critical links in the state-wide roadway network by quantifying the impacts associated with real-world flooding threats. Links, or road segments, are rank-ordered using a risk-based probability approach that takes into account the likelihood that a particular link will be flooded, the expected reduction in capacity on the affected link due to the flooding event, and the dynamic rerouting of travelers. This report describes a novel network-disruption model that includes the probabilities of some type of capacity disruption on a link-by-line basis for a realistic flood threat framework in the state Vermont. The loss of capacity resulting from rainfall and flooding events can be estimated for each link in the roadway network using a disruption probability density function (PDF). The authors combine an established measure of link specific network-wide vulnerability, the NRI, with link specific disruption PDFs to produce a link-specific flood disruption risk metric for the entire roadway network. KW - Floods KW - Highway capacity KW - Links (Networks) KW - Network Robustness Index KW - Probability density functions KW - Risk management KW - Transportation planning KW - Vermont UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-14-016.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360029 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01573293 TI - Toolkit for the Deployment of Alternative Vehicle and Fuel Technologies AB - The initial focus of this project will be on electric vehicle (EV) deployment efforts, but the overall project scope will include consideration of other alternative vehicle and fuel technologies that may begin to play a substantial role in the light-duty and heavy-duty transportation sector such as fuel cell hydrogen vehicles or increased usage of natural gas (i.e. compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG)). The objectives of this project will be twofold: (1) implementation of 8-10 regional/topic-based workshops for state and local transportation agencies, their state counterparts and stakeholders to discuss the current status of alternative vehicle and fuels technologies in their specific region; and, (2) development of a "toolkit" for state and local transportation agencies who are interested in advancing the deployment of alternative vehicle and fuels technologies. The toolkit will be tailored to the specific needs of each region. KW - Alternate fuels KW - Compressed natural gas KW - Deployment KW - Electric vehicles KW - Fuel cell vehicles KW - Liquefied natural gas KW - Workshops UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/580 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366517 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570517 AU - Smichenko, Susan AU - Maffeo, Michelle AU - Yowell, Ryan AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - National Park Service TI - Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Maryland: Traffic Safety Plan PY - 2015/06/22/Final Report SP - 36p AB - Over the past decade, a number of studies have documented the traffic safety issues on the National Park Service's (NPS's) portion of the Baltimore-Washington (B-W) Parkway. The Baltimore-Washington Parkway Traffic Safety Plan provides an action plan to implement improvements related to the proven strategies that employ the "4Es" of transportation safety: engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency services. Both NPS and external stakeholders participated in the development of this plan. Recommendations to improve safety were taken from previous studies of the B-W Parkway and developed by stakeholders in a collaborative brainstorming effort focused on the 4E approach. KW - Baltimore-Washington Parkway KW - Highway safety KW - Maryland KW - Parkways KW - Recommendations KW - Strategic planning KW - Traffic safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55171/Baltimore-Washington_Safety_Plan.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361251 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570349 AU - Nam, Richard AU - Dowds, Jonathan AU - Lee, Brian H Y AU - Aultman-Hall, Lisa AU - Johnson, Alyssa AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Modeling Travel Choices to Assess Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions PY - 2015/06/20 SP - 70p AB - This report summarizes a set of projects that examine different aspects of travel behavior that influence fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Two of these projects, described in Sections 2 and 3, examined how households choose to allocate vehicles among drivers and the potential for alternative vehicle allocations among household members to reduce fuel consumption. These two projects drew on data from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) to estimate the potential fuel savings from intra-household vehicle reallocations that ensure that the relative usage of each vehicle in the household corresponds to that vehicle’s relative fuel efficiency among all vehicles in the household. In Section 2, this analysis assumes that all vehicles can be substituted for one another regardless of their passenger and cargo capacities. Section 3 builds on this analysis by limiting potential reallocation to vehicles with similar passenger and cargo capacities. Section 4 of this report describes the execution the Northeast Travel Choice Survey (NTCS), which asked respondents a range of questions related to travel behavior, demographics, vehicle ownership, as well as about commute, home and work location characteristics. The results of the NTCS provided the basis for the final two projects summarized in this report. One of these projects, described in Section 5, examined the commuters’ willingness to use ridesharing, one method for reducing overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Section 6 describes an analysis of the impact of workplace and commute-corridor accessibility on annual VMT. KW - Commuters KW - Commuting KW - Demographics KW - Fuel consumption KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Mode choice KW - National Household Transportation Survey (U.S.) KW - Pollutants KW - Ridesharing KW - Surveys KW - Travel behavior KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-13-001.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360270 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01613989 AU - Timcho, Thomas AU - Plapper, Eric AU - Klein, Rachel AU - Toth, Christopher AU - Kellom, Brandy AU - Vaughn, Ken AU - Battelle AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Task 2: Conduct Scan of Technology, Application Standards, and Stakeholder Engagement Technical Memorandum – Final Report PY - 2015/06/19/Final Report SP - 77p AB - This document presents the technology scan and standards assessment performed for the U.S. DOT project, Coordination of Mobile Devices for Connected Vehicle Applications. This project seeks to develop personal safety and personal mobility messages that complement the existing basic safety and vehicle situation data messages exchanged in the connected vehicle environment by utilizing mobile devices as a message-capable medium, enabling individual users to participate as a connected “person.” This document presents the terminology and scenario development process used to identify and describe the use case scenarios that will be utilized in the concept and design phases of the project; example scenarios are provided to illustrate the range of characteristics each scenario is intended to demonstrate. An overview of relevant communication and connected vehicle technology is then presented to identify which technologies are most capable of supporting these use cases. Finally, a summary of domestic and international industry standards is used to identify which standards are most applicable to incorporating mobile devices into the connected vehicle environment. KW - Connected vehicles KW - Messages (Communications) KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Standards KW - Technological innovations KW - Vehicle to infrastructure communications KW - Vehicle to vehicle communications UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/60000/60100/60122/FHWA-JPO-15-224.1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1426740 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574064 AU - Stephens, Denny AU - Timcho, Thomas AU - Smith, Theodore AU - Balke, Kevin AU - Charara, Hassan AU - Sunkari, Srinivasa AU - Battelle AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Technical Report on Prototype Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) Dynamic Speed Harmonization and Queue Warning PY - 2015/06/19/Final Report SP - 125p AB - This Technical Report on Prototype Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) Dynamic Speed Harmonization and Queue Warning is the final report for the project. It describes the prototyping, acceptance testing and small-scale demonstration of the INFLO Prototype Speed Harmonization (SPD-HARM) and Queue Warning (Q-WARN) applications. This report also describes the programmatic and technical accomplishments of the program wherein the Small-Scale Demonstration fully confirmed the functionality of the INFLO Prototype System in an operational highway traffic environment. The system was proven to reliably (1) Capture current location and telematics data from connected vehicles and vehicle speed data from infrastructure; (2) Analyze the data to detect congestion and determine the beginning and end of congestion queues; (3) Formulate speed harmonization recommendations; and (4) Communicate queue location and speed harmonization recommendations to drivers. The demonstration proved connected vehicle data capture and dissemination functionality using both cellular communications and DSRC communications. Furthermore, the Small-Scale Demonstration confirmed that the INFLO Prototype System has the latency and processing speed to support INFLO application functionality in an operational traffic environment. KW - Acceptance tests KW - Driver information systems KW - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Optimization KW - Prototype tests KW - Queuing KW - Speed data KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic flow KW - Traffic speed UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55304/100030614-601_Technical_Report_on_Prototype_Intelligent_Network_Flow_Optimization_Final_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364671 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570345 AU - Department of Transportation TI - Inadequate Data and Analysis Undermine NHTSA’s Efforts To Identify and Investigate Vehicle Safety Concerns PY - 2015/06/18/Audit Report SP - 42p AB - Since February 2014, the General Motors Corporation (GM) has recalled 8.7 million vehicles in the United States due to an ignition switch that can unexpectedly move from the “run” or “on” position to the “accessory” or “off” position, shutting down the engine and disabling power steering, power brakes, and air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)—which is responsible for identifying and investigating potential vehicle safety issues and requiring recalls when warranted—looked at GM air bag non-deployments as a potential safety issue starting in 2007. However, it ultimately decided not to investigate the problem and never identified the ignition switch defect as the root cause. The Secretary of Transportation requested that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) assess NHTSA’s procedures for collecting, analyzing, and managing vehicle safety data and determine whether information on ignition switch issues or non-deploying air bags was available to NHTSA but not used in the GM defect analysis. This work examines information available to NHTSA prior to GM’s 2014 recall announcement and does not assess whether GM fully disclosed information on the ignition switch issue to NHTSA. Specifically, OIG assessed ODI’s procedures for (1) collecting vehicle safety data, (2) analyzing the data and identifying potential safety issues, and (3) determining which issues warrant further investigation. OIG also assessed how those procedures affected ODI’s handling of issues related to the GM ignition switch recalls. KW - Air bags KW - Data analysis KW - Data collection KW - Defects KW - General Motors Corporation KW - Ignition systems KW - Recall campaigns KW - U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration KW - Vehicle safety UR - https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/NHTSA%20Safety-Related%20Vehicle%20Defects%20-%20Final%20Report%5E6-18-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360885 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01566657 AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Safety Management Inspection: Examination Dates: March 16 to April 3, 2015 PY - 2015/06/17/Final Report SP - 116p AB - Over the last decade, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has experienced several serious rail accidents. Among these is the June 22, 2009, collision of two Metrorail trains near Fort Totten station, resulting in the death of eight passengers and a train operator and injuring 52 others, and the January 12, 2015, electrical arcing incident near the L’Enfant Plaza underground station that produced toxic smoke conditions resulting in one passenger fatality and 90 injuries. Over the last decade, seven collisions occurred with WMATA workers on the rail transit right-of-way (ROW), resulting in nine fatalities and several serious injuries. In response to concerns regarding this safety performance, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) conducted an organization-wide Safety Management Inspection (SMI) of the WMATA rail and bus transit systems. Utilizing new safety authority established by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) in 2012, the FTA SMI evaluated WMATA’s operations and maintenance programs, safety management capabilities, and organizational structures to identify areas where the agency must further enhance its conformance with its own rules and procedures, FTA’s existing regulations, and FTA’s Safety Advisories to reduce risks and make improvements for the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and employees. As a result of this SMI, FTA issues 44 safety findings in eight categories regarding WMATA’s Metrorail system and 10 safety findings in five categories regarding WMATA’s Metrobus system. To ensure that FTA’s SMI findings are resolved, FTA is issuing Safety Directive 15-1 to WMATA that identifies 78 distinct corrective actions to be completed by Metrorail and 13 distinct corrective actions to be completed by Metrobus. KW - Bus transit KW - Conformity KW - Maintenance management KW - Metrobus (Washington, District of Columbia) KW - Metrorail (Washington Metropolitan Area) KW - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) KW - Occupational safety KW - Organization KW - Rail transit KW - Risk analysis KW - Safety audits KW - Transit crashes KW - Transit safety KW - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/WMATA_SMI_Final_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357880 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575836 AU - Spencer, Lynn AU - Caton, Jim AU - Maurino, Dan AU - Lazaro, Ream AU - Boyd, Caton & Grant Transportation Group, Incorporated AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - FTA Safety Management Systems (SMS) Framework PY - 2015/06/15 SP - 20p AB - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Safety Management Systems (SMS) Framework provides the building blocks of SMS and some of the major milestones for its implementation. By sharing this Framework, the FTA aims to standardize the understanding of SMS and actively support its implementation through communication and partnership with the public transportation industry. KW - Framework (Planning) KW - Implementation KW - Safety Management Systems KW - Standardization KW - U.S. Federal Transit Administration UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/FTA_SMS_Framework.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367336 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01575490 TI - Advancing Innovation in Transportation and Economic Development: Capacity Building for County Leaders AB - This project will investigate and promote new ways for county officials, county staff, and their local and regional partners to strategically align transportation planning and investments with economic development priorities. This project will also build the capacity of county leaders to improve transportation planning decision-making and coordination, and strengthen their ability to link transportation planning with economic development strategies, land use plans, and related local and regional planning, policy and investment decisions. In addition, this project will address Freight Planning by demonstrating opportunities for countries to engage the private sector freight community into the transportation planning process and integrating freight plans into local, regional, and state transportation planning and programming processes. It will also address Planning and Environmental Linkages by investigating techniques for using a collaborative approach to transportation planning and prioritization by integrating environmental, economic, and community goals into the transportation planning process. KW - County government KW - Decision making KW - Economic development KW - Environmental impacts KW - Regional development KW - Strategic planning KW - Transportation planning UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367799 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570612 AU - Department of Transportation TI - FTA has not fully implemented key internal controls for Hurricane Sandy oversight and future emergency relief efforts PY - 2015/06/12 SP - 28p AB - In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage to the transportation infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern sections of the United States. In response, the President signed the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (DRAA), appropriating more than $10 billion to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program (ERP). The ERP was established to provide funds for states and public transportation systems to protect, repair, or replace assets damaged in an emergency, such as a natural disaster. For this audit, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) focused on DRAA’s requirement for Federal agencies, including FTA, to employ internal control plans. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance for these plans, which stressed the need for rigorous oversight of Hurricane Sandy funds beyond standard business practices. The Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) internal control plan identified FTA’s strategies for mitigating potential risks for its new ERP. FTA also developed an ERP Grant Making and Grants Management Toolkit (ERP Toolkit), which included a Hurricane Sandy Oversight Plan. Accordingly, the audit objectives were to (1) determine if FTA has fully implemented the processes, including internal controls, it established to award and oversee projects receiving Hurricane Sandy funds; (2) determine whether FTA has effective controls in place to reduce the risk of it duplicating payments that Hurricane Sandy grantees receive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS’s) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance companies; and (3) identify any issues that may have an impact on timely obligation and expenditure of FTA’s Hurricane Sandy funds. KW - Disaster relief KW - Disaster Relief Appropriations Act KW - Expenditures KW - Government funding KW - Hurricane Sandy, 2012 KW - Oversight KW - U.S. Federal Transit Administration UR - https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/FTA%20Hurricane%20Sandy%20Grant%20Award%20and%20Oversight%20Processes%20Final%20Report_6-12-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361876 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574003 AU - Stoffels, Shelley M AU - Solaimanian, Mansour AU - Barzegari, Saman AU - Pennsylvania State University, University Park AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Potential Use and Applications for Reclaimed Millings: Report of Findings and Recommendations for Other Applications for Reclaimed Millings PY - 2015/06/11/Task 5.2 SP - 50p AB - The purpose of this project was to provide support to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 1-0 in the effective use of milled asphalt material. Specifically, District 1-0 has a shortage of high-quality available coarse aggregate and has developed the innovative procedure of breaking down and sorting recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) to recover the older high-quality aggregate for use on higher-volume roadways. The focus of this project was on the usage of the remaining asphalt and fines. This report documents Task 5. The objective of Task 5 was the laboratory exploration of two promising applications for the reclaimed fine millings. The two applications investigated were use of the reclaimed millings in thin cold-mix overlays, and the possibility of using a cold mix of the reclaimed millings with virgin-grade C aggregates to replace the scalped #8 aggregates for binder course or low-volume secondary roads. KW - Binder course KW - Cold mix paving mixtures KW - Fines (Materials) KW - Laboratory studies KW - Overlays (Pavements) KW - Pennsylvania KW - Recommendations KW - Recycled materials UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/PSU-2013-05.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366488 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01616411 AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station AU - Texas Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Analysis of Bluetooth Technology to Measure Wait Times of Passenger Vehicles at International Border Crossings PY - 2015/06/10/Final Report SP - 23p AB - The objective of this study was to analyze the penetration rate of Bluetooth®-enabled devices for both southbound and northbound passenger vehicles at five of the United States (US)-Mexico (MX) ports of entry located along the Texas-Mexico border. This is an addendum to a previous project where Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) performed the study at 10 US-MX border crossings. After the completion of the study, it was determined that 3 out of 10 border crossings needed further data collection to ensure that the penetration rates observed during the study were reflective of the ground conditions. Two additional border crossings, Eagle Pass Bridge I and Gateway to the Americas, include bridges that are in close proximity to the previously studied bridges and may have competing traffic. The outcome of this study was recommendations to the stakeholder agencies on the border about which crossings could employ Bluetooth technology to measure wait times of passenger vehicles crossing the border. KW - Bluetooth technology KW - Passenger vehicles KW - Ports of entry KW - Texas-Mexico Border region KW - United States-Mexico Border KW - Waiting time UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/border_planning/us_mexico/resources/studies_and_reports/bluetooth_analysis/blue_tooth_analysis_of_waittimes.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1434918 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567364 AU - Anderson, Ian AU - Walsh, Dylan AU - Oka, Lalita AU - Dewoolkar, Mandar M AU - Limberg, Susan AU - Sevi, Adam AU - Schmeckpeper, Edwin AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Vermont Agency of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Laboratory Performance of Pervious Concrete Subjected to Deicing Salts and Freeze-Thaw PY - 2015/06/10 SP - 36p AB - Significant research and development have occurred for pervious concrete, but its acceptance in cold climates is still limited. Vulnerability to freeze-thaw and salt exposure has led to uncertainty about its long-term performance. Additionally, the current standardized freeze-thaw testing procedure is not recommended for pervious concrete, as it is not representative of field conditions. This study employed testing processes that are more representative of field conditions to determine the effects of the inclusion of sand as a fine aggregate; fly ash, slag and silica fume as cementitious alternatives, and construction practices on freeze-thaw durability and deicing salts exposure of pervious concrete. The use of pervious concrete itself is considered a best management practice in stormwater management; possibility of substituting cement with a waste product such as fly ash, slag and silica fume promotes sustainability even further. KW - Concrete construction KW - Concrete pavements KW - Deicing chemicals KW - Fly ash KW - Freeze thaw durability KW - Frigid regions KW - Laboratory tests KW - Porous pavements KW - Sand KW - Silica fume KW - Slag KW - Sustainable development KW - Vermont UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-006.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357873 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567333 AU - Anderson, Ian AU - Dewoolkar, Mandar M AU - Rizzo, Donna M AU - Huston, Dryver R AU - Frolik, Jeff AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Vermont Agency of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Scour Damage to Vermont Bridges and Scour Monitoring PY - 2015/06/10 SP - 52p AB - Scour is by far the primary cause of bridge failures in the United States. Regionally, the vulnerability of bridges to flood damage became evident from the damage seen to Vermont bridges in the 2011 Tropical Storm Irene. Successfully mitigating scour-related problems associated with bridges depends on the ability to reliably estimate scour potential, design effective scour prevention and countermeasures, design safe and economical foundation elements accounting for scour potential, and design reliable and economically feasible monitoring systems. This report presents research on two particular aspects related to bridge scour – 1) System-level analysis of damage observed at Vermont bridges from Tropical Storm Irene. Example case studies are presented including description of the bridge damage, as well as the pre-storm condition of the bridges. Statistical comparison to non-damaged bridges is included to identify significant factors that determine bridge vulnerability to storm damage; and 2) Development of a low-cost scour sensor suitable for monitoring scour and redeposition continuously and communicating the readings wirelessly in real time to stake holders. KW - Bridges KW - Case studies KW - Countermeasures KW - Hurricane Irene, 2011 KW - Scour KW - Sensors KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Vermont UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-002.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357875 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01600781 AU - Zaghi, Arash Esmaili AU - Wille, Kay AU - Zmetra, Kevin AU - McMullen, Kevin AU - University of Connecticut, Storrs AU - Connecticut Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Repair of Steel Beam/Girder Ends with Ultra High Strength Concrete (Phase I) PY - 2015/06/06/Final Report SP - 287p AB - The end corrosion in steel girders at the bearings due to joint leakage is a significant problem in many of the old bridges around the nation. This critical damage impairs the shear and bearing capacities of girders. Research has been conducted investigating a novel method for retrofitting the corroded ends of steel bridge girders using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) encasings. The repair involves casting thin UHPC panels on each side of the girder web. Shear studs welded to undamaged portions of the web and flange engage the UHPC panels and provide an alternate load path. This repair method is expected to be superior to the current practice of attaching steel cover plates. It can be easier to design and install, reduce obstruction to traffic during the repair, prevent future corrosion to the girder end, and reduce the total cost of repair. To investigate the effectiveness of the repair in recovering the capacity of the corrosion damaged girders, three large-scale experiments were performed on the undamaged, damaged and repaired rolled girders. This report presents results of these experiments, describes the finite element analysis (FEA) model, compares the model results to the tests, and describes the performance of the full-scale FEA. KW - Beams KW - Corrosion KW - Finite element method KW - Girders KW - Highway bridges KW - Laboratory tests KW - Repairing KW - Retrofitting KW - Ultra high performance concrete UR - http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/research/CT-2282-F-15-2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1408432 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575491 AU - Habtemichael, Filmon AU - Paleti, Rajesh AU - Cetin, Mecit AU - Old Dominion University AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Performance Measures for Freight & General Traffic: Investigating Similarities and Differences Using Alternate Data Sources PY - 2015/06/05/Final Report SP - 49p AB - Recent advances in probe vehicle data collection systems have enabled monitoring traffic conditions at finer temporal and spatial resolution. The primary objective of the current study is to leverage these probe data sources to understand if there are any significant differences between freight and general traffic characteristics. To this end, different types of performance measures (PMs) including speed, travel time, and reliability were estimated from three different data sources- INRIX, HERE, and ATRI. The analyses conducted for the Hampton Roads network suggest that while in most cases general traffic PMs serve as a good proxy for characterizing freight traffic, in some cases, there can be significant differences either in average speeds/travel times or reliability (i.e., variation about mean). So, in the absence of freight-specific data, researchers planning to use general traffic data as a surrogate must exercise caution. KW - Data collection KW - Data reliability KW - Data sources KW - Freight traffic KW - Hampton Roads (Virginia) KW - Highway traffic KW - Probe vehicles KW - Traffic speed KW - Travel time UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55226/Freight-Performance-Measures-_-June-20151.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366773 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570617 AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service TI - User’s Guide for the Range-wide Programmatic Informal Consultation for Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat PY - 2015/06/04/Version 1.1 SP - 17p AB - This document is based on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Range-wide Biological Assessment (BA) for Transportation Projects for the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) dated April 17, 2015 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) concurrence letter dated April 20, 2015. The Service, FHWA, and FRA jointly developed this User’s Guide to be instructional for both transportation agencies and Service field offices. This User’s Guide provides: (1) Effects Analysis Summary: Key effects analysis decision points and Avoidance and Minimization Measures (AMMs) for projects; (2) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Site-Specific Project(s) Submission; (3) Project Submittal Form; and (4) Avoidance and Minimization Measures: Summary of AMMs to avoid or minimize impacts to the point of insignificant/discountable for projects to be included in the programmatic consultation. KW - Bats (Animals) KW - Construction projects KW - Environmental impacts KW - Transportation departments KW - United States KW - Wildlife UR - http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/section7/fhwa/pdf/UserGuideV11_060415.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361890 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01600782 AU - Zinke, Scott AU - Mahoney, James AU - University of Connecticut, Storrs AU - Connecticut Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Longitudinal Joint Density Specification on 2012 Polymer Modified Warm-Mix Asphalt Projects in Connecticut PY - 2015/06/03/Final Report SP - 29p AB - In order to examine performance and establish future longitudinal joint density requirements on projects using Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), this study examines test data from several pilot projects that were constructed during the 2012 construction season on limited access highways in Connecticut. The current requirement for in-place longitudinal joint density on non-WMA/PMA projects is 91.0 percent of maximum theoretical density. A major focus of this study was to determine if that requirement was achievable using PMA. Inspection of the project during construction revealed no indications of issues that may have contributed to lower in-place density. Core samples of the bridge deck and roadway longitudinal joints were collected from the projects and specimens analyzed. Based on these results, it is recommended that the specification for joint density on pavements using WMA/PMA asphalt remain at 91.0 percent for roadway lots. The dataset from bridge deck joints is insufficient to make any recommendations. KW - Connecticut KW - In place density KW - Laboratory tests KW - Pavement joints KW - Pavement performance KW - Pilot studies KW - Polymer asphalt KW - Specifications KW - Warm mix paving mixtures UR - http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/research/CT-2280-F-14-6.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/59000/59300/59386/CT-2280-F-14-6.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1408433 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01600774 AU - Zinke, Scott AU - Mahoney, James AU - University of Connecticut, Storrs AU - Connecticut Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Use of Recycled Asphalt Products in Asphalt Pavements PY - 2015/06/03/Final Report SP - 71p AB - Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) are two of the most commonly used recycled materials in the world. Recommendations as to their use and handling in Connecticut need to be made in order to increase the amount of RAP that may be introduced into the mixture and also to make determinations as to the benefits and total quantity of RAS that should be used. Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) constructed three pilot projects utilizing RAS, RAS with RAP and then varying quantities of RAP from 15%-40%. The projects are summarized in this research. Performance tests show comparisons between the test sections and control sections. Density analysis shows that increasing RAP quantities beyond 20% should be avoided at this time. Recommendations are made to continue monitoring these pilot sections in order to determine the longer term effects of the recycled products. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Connecticut KW - Density KW - Mix design KW - Pavement performance KW - Pilot studies KW - Reclaimed asphalt pavements KW - Recommendations KW - Recycled materials KW - Shingles KW - Test sections UR - http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/research/CT-2278-F-15-8.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1408428 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574011 AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Humphrey, Brandt M AU - Reid, John D AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Lechtenberg, Karla A AU - Midwest Roadside Safety Facility AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Cable-to-Post Attachments for Use in Non-Proprietary High-Tension Cable Median Barrier – Phase II PY - 2015/06/02/Final Report SP - 160p AB - The research objectives reported herein were based on further development of cable-to-post attachment hardware for use in the non-proprietary high-tension cable barrier system. Specifically, this project aimed to develop and evaluate alternative attachment designs for the bolted, tabbed bracket and evaluate the use of a larger diameter, keeper rod for use in the top cable attachment. From a group of over 25 alternative attachment concepts, two tabbed bracket designs were selected for evaluation through dynamic component testing: 1) the lateral shear plate attachment and 2) the drop-in shear plate attachment. The drop-in shear plate concept did not perform as intended, as the vertical release load was too high and the lateral release loads were too low. Alternatively, the lateral shear plate design provided vertical and lateral release loads very similar to the original bolted, tabbed bracket V10. However, concerns were raised over the lack of rigidity in the attachment and the ease of installations of the shear plate. Thus, it was recommended that the lateral shear plate design be modified and reevaluated prior to use in the full-scale system. Dynamic bogie or component testing of the 3/16-in. (4.8-mm) diameter brass keeper rod provided a quick cable release similar to the previous design. The increased strength of the rod also showed promise in distributing impact loads more uniformly to adjacent posts and helping reduce system deflections. Thus, the 3/16-in. (4.8-mm) diameter brass rod was recommended for use in the new high-tension cable barrier system. KW - Brackets KW - Cables KW - Evaluation KW - Highway safety KW - Impact tests KW - Median barriers KW - Posts KW - Recommendations UR - http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/mat-n-tests/pdfs-docs/ARLinks/TRP-03-313-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1365279 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570609 AU - Schroeder, Bastian J AU - Rouphail, Nagui M AU - Williams, Billy M AU - Hajbabaie, Ali AU - Aghdashi, Behzad AU - Kim, SangKey AU - Tabrizi, Kambiz AU - Narron, Brian AU - North Carolina State University, Raleigh AU - North Carolina Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Delay and User Cost Estimation for Work Zones on Urban Arterials PY - 2015/06/02/Final Report SP - 107p AB - This is the final project report of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) research project 2013‐09: Delay and User Cost Estimation for Work Zones on Urban Arterials. The project seeked to develop a methodology for quantifying delay and user cost impacts of arterial work zones in North Carolina in an analytical framework, supported by NC‐specific empirical performance data of arterial work zones. NCDOT recently acquired a similar methodology for the evaluation of significant work zones on freeways, and this research aims to build on that prior effort to develop a companion tool for arterial streets. Just as with the prior effort (NCDOT Research Project 2010‐08), the methodology developed in this project would be implemented in a software tool, ARTVAL‐WZ, which can be used directly for in‐house analyses of these types of work zones to assure seamless technology transfer of these research products. This report summarizes the findings of all project tasks. KW - Arterial highways KW - Costs KW - Methodology KW - North Carolina KW - Software KW - Traffic delays KW - Work zones UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55000/55099/NCDOT_Arterial_WZ_-_Final_Report_-_NCDOT_Submission.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361749 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579190 AU - Allen, Anabelle AU - Goodspeed, Charles AU - University of New Hampshire, Durham AU - New Hampshire Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Future of Rapid Bridge Deck Replacement PY - 2015/06/01/Final Report SP - 29p AB - Replacing aging, deteriorated infrastructure often requires road closures and traffic detours which impose inconvenience and delay on commerce and members of the motoring public. Accelerated bridge construction techniques often use precast members to reduce the duration of construction and the resultant disruption to traffic patterns. This project considered various technical, safety, and economic challenges in the design and construction of a full-width precast concrete slab with a centerline crown. Torque verified leveling screws compensated for girder, deck panel prefabrication tolerances, and dead load deflections. In addition, the uniform-depth deck slab was cast by conventional prestressing fabricators. The method to lift and transport the slabs was considered to prevent damage. Accelerated bridge construction is less expensive and bridge work can be completed and the bridge reopened to traffic within a matter of days versus months for conventional deck replacement. KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge decks KW - Bridge design KW - Precast concrete KW - Prestressing UR - http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/materials/research/projects/documents/15680X-FINALREPORT.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371520 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567469 AU - Harvey, Chester AU - Aultman-Hall, Lisa AU - LaMondia, Jeffrey AU - Sullivan, James AU - Greene, Elizabeth AU - Ritter, Chloe AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Conducting a Longitudinal Survey of Overnight Travel: Methods and Preliminary Findings PY - 2015/06/01 SP - 29p AB - The majority of transportation planning research and data collection focuses on daily activity patterns, usually within one's home region. Consequently, the non-routine long-distance activity patterns (describing the bulk of tourism and some types of business travel as well as trips of interest in air travel and rail studies) are understudied and are often treated as external trips in regional forecasting models. This report summarizes the implementation and initial results of the Longitudinal Study of Overnight Travel (LSOT), conducted monthly between February 2013 and February 2014 using an online survey instrument developed by researchers at the University of Vermont and Auburn University and implemented by Resource Systems Group Inc. (RSG). Respondents were residents of the United States and Canada, predominantly in Vermont, Alabama, and California. The overall goal of the study was to pilot the innovative survey method while collecting sufficient observations to analyze attributes of planned and executed overnight trips for all purposes by individuals aged 25 years and older over a 12-month period. The deliberate focus on overnight travel was intended to evaluate this definition as a potential improvement for data collection. Existing household travel surveys typically use a one-day collection window and focus on daily travel regardless of distance. Such survey methods under-represent overnight travel, which overlaps substantially with long distance travel. KW - Activity choices KW - Alabama KW - California KW - Data collection KW - Implementation KW - Longitudinal studies KW - Methodology KW - Overnight travel KW - Time intervals KW - Travel surveys KW - Vermont UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-003.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357874 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01611983 AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - National Runway Safety Report 2013 – 2014 PY - 2015/06 SP - 186p AB - Runway safety is one of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA’s) highest priorities. This National Runway Safety Report 2013-2014 highlights runway safety initiatives and the improvement of surface environments since 2012, demonstrating how FAA uses safety management principles to produce comprehensive corrective actions in response to the increasing complexity of today’s aerospace system. In this report, the authors also analyze FAA progress and establish current runway safety priorities across the agency, as well as indicate innovative programs and techniques implemented for runway safety in efforts to reduce the rate and severity of incidents within the surface environment. The challenges of advancing runway safety in the future with the introduction of NextGen technologies and increasing complexity is addressed in Section 1. Section 2 contains a listing of all industry, internal and international organizations that contribute to the FAA mission of runway safety. Data collection accomplishments and activities for FY2013 – FY2014 are included in Section 3. Activities and accomplishments for identifying and analyzing safety problems are included in Section 4 and activities and accomplishments that resolve or fix aviation safety issues are included in Section 5. KW - Air transportation crashes KW - Airport runways KW - Aviation safety KW - Crash rates KW - Data collection KW - Governance KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration KW - United States UR - https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/publications/media/Runway-Safety-Report-2013-14.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1423240 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01610817 AU - Burden, Lindsay Ivey AU - Morris, Frank AU - University of Virginia, Charlottesville AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Study of a Pipe-Scanning Robot for use in Post-Construction Evaluation during Horizontal Directional Drilling PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 49p AB - Trenchless Technology has become an increasingly popular underground utility construction method, beginning in the early 1900s with pipe jacking beneath railroad lines. One method, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), became more common in the 1990s and into the current day. The utilization of HDD is associated with the potential risk for ground subsidence, soil heaving, sinkholes and settlement after construction. This can damage existing infrastructure and cause safety hazards. Trenchless methods, requiring an annual overcut – such as HDD, disturb soil around the outer diameter of the utility being installed. While the annular overcut is necessary for feeding pipes through the borehole, when used in conjunction with a liquid lubricant, the likelihood for developing voids increases. The annular overcut is also a cause for concern because the consistency and void ratio of the overburden soil change after boring. Inconsistent and void-ridden soil can cause void propagation through the overlying soil until it reaches the surface, where it will become a sinkhole or crack. This paper addresses post-construction evaluation methods, especially pertaining to the annular space and void propagation region above and around a freshly installed utility in Southern Virginia. Two non-destructive evaluation methods are used to scan the surrounding soil: Ground penetrating-radar (GPR) and FutureScan. FutureScan, a radar device developed by Louisiana Tech University, is capable of being attached to pipe inspection robots and uses a means of penetrating radar to detect voids and inconsistencies in three dimensions. This study examines the difference between GPR and FutureScan, regarding the imaging techniques used and the measured void ratios. Relative elevations were recorded before, during, and after drilling, to measure surface movement caused by drilling efforts. The relative elevation was also recorded several months after utility installation, for comparison on a long-term scale. After the analysis was conducted using both FutureScan and GPR, representative soil samples of the test site were retrieved and transported to a geotechnical laboratory for further testing. Based on the GPR and FutureScan findings, the utility of the two post-construction evaluation methods was determined. KW - Air voids KW - Drilling KW - Evaluation KW - Ground penetrating radar KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Pipe KW - Pipelines KW - Radar images KW - Robots KW - Trenchless technology KW - Underground utility lines KW - Virginia UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/UVA-2013-05.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55268/UVA_2013-05.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1421415 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01605794 AU - Carlson, Paul J AU - Leidos AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Synthesis of Pavement Marking Research PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 34p AB - This report provides a synthesis of recent research focused on longitudinal pavement markings. It offers a review of when and where longitudinal pavement markings are used. It also covers two of the most important parameters in terms of increasing the effectiveness of pavement markings: width and retroreflectivity. These items are within the control of owners and operators. By better understanding how width and retroreflectivity impact operational performance, visibility, and safety, highway agencies can increase the effectiveness of their pavement marking policies. This synthesis is intended to provide a reference about what is known on the subject and what questions still remain. The research recommendations are based on the synthesized material. Ongoing or pending research that is known is noted where appropriate. KW - Durability KW - Highway safety KW - Recommendations KW - Research KW - Retroreflectivity KW - Road markings KW - Visibility KW - Width UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/night_visib/pavement_marking/pvmnt_mrkg_synth.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1415634 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01603653 AU - Volovski, Matthew AU - Bardaka, Eleni AU - Zhang, Zhibo AU - Agbelie, Bismark AU - Labi, Samuel AU - Sinha, Kumares C AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Indiana State Highway Cost Allocation and Revenue Attribution Study and Estimation of Travel by Out-of-State Vehicles on Indiana Highways SN - 9781622603596 PY - 2015/06 SP - 274p AB - This study was commissioned by Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to investigate the cost responsibility and the revenue contribution of highway users with regard to the upkeep of Indiana’s state and local highway infrastructure (pavements, bridges, safety assets, and mobility assets). The costs consisted of expenditures on construction, preservation, maintenance, and operations of the highway infrastructure. For revenues, user and non‐user sources were considered. The highway users were represented by the 13 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) vehicle classes, and the study was based on 2009‐2012 data on expenditures and revenues. The study framework duly recognized the dichotomy between attributable and common costs. For allocating the attributable costs to the vehicle classes, equivalent single axle loads (ESALs), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) loading equivalents, and passenger car equivalents (PCEs) were used; for allocating common costs, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was used. For each vehicle class, the share of revenue contribution was compared to the share of cost responsibility to determine respective equity ratios and thus to ascertain the extent to which vehicles in each class may be underpaying or overpaying their cost responsibilities at the current time. The study also determined the distribution of fuel purchases and travel by out‐of‐state vehicles on Indiana’s highways; this analysis was required to further refine the results of the cost allocation and also to quantify the magnitude of any imbalance between the out‐of‐state travel and share of consumption on Indiana’s infrastructure and the revenue from such out‐of‐state vehicles.         The outcome of this research is a systematic documentation of the sources and extents of highway revenues and the areas of expenditures at the local and state levels in Indiana. Pavement and bridge expenditures were found to have a dominant share of the overall expenditures on Indiana’s highway system. Classes 2 (automobiles) and 9 (5‐axle combination trucks) were found to have a dominant share of the cost responsibilities. It was determined that the user revenue sources contributed approximately 63.5% of the total state funding for highway expenditures and 36.5% were from non‐user revenue sources. The inability of user revenue sources to cover the total highway expenditure and the consequent partial reliance on non‐user sources seem to constitute a rather unstable funding situation particularly because the non‐user sources are characterized by significant variability. On the basis of the expenditures and revenues associated with the various user groups (vehicle classes) over the analysis period, this study found that inequities exist, albeit in varying degrees, among the highway user groups. Of the 13 vehicle classes, classes 1–4 were found to be overpaying their cost responsibilities while classes 5–13 are underpaying. For example, vehicle class 2 is overpaying its cost responsibility by 10% while vehicle class 9 is underpaying by 19%. The results of the equity analysis are generally consistent with those of studies carried out at other states. Also, it was estimated that the travel by out‐of‐state vehicles on Indiana’s interstates, national highway system (NHS) non‐interstates, non‐NHS and local roads are 21%, 10%, 9%, and 7% respectively, of the total travel as a percentage of VMT on those families of highway systems. KW - Cost allocation KW - Expenditures KW - Highways KW - Indiana KW - Out of state drivers KW - Passenger car equivalence KW - Revenues KW - Vehicle classification KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315709 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1411111 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01603541 AU - Nowak, Christopher A AU - State University of New York, Syracuse AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - A Guidebook for Developing Regional and Residency Vegetation Management Plans as Part of Strategic Planning for the New York State Department of Transportation PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 28p AB - A guidebook was developed to help interested organizations in New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to undertake local strategic plans to strengthen vegetation management. It was developed in a way that reflects general vegetation management best practices for planning and treatment. The information reflected safety, infrastructure preservation, budgetary, environmental and socioeconomic factors that influence roadside vegetation management. The guidebook is a tailored compilation of existing guidebooks and select other planning and performance references applicable to vegetation management planning for roadside management planning at the region or residency level. A separate task addressed the processes and issues with preparing an agency-wide strategic vegetation management plan. However, transportation agencies need plans for shorter time horizons and smaller organizational units than those expected to be in an-agency-wide strategic plan. The guidebook is organized around key components of a resource management plan, principally from the Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation’s 2003 Resource Management Plan Guidebook. Additionally, a variety of other guidebooks and texts were gleaned for salient ideas on rights-of-way and vegetation management planning. A framework for the development of a region/residency vegetation management plan (RVMP) was developed and includes a suggested format that contains certain planning components. This framework, including descriptions and definitions of the planning components, is intended to provide direction, consistency and uniformity in the preparation of an RVMP. A region or residency could use this guidebook to produce the first RVMP, which would test the guide components and their validity and usefulness. A model plan demonstrating how each of the components should be formatted and completed would be a useful companion to this guide in it application. KW - Best practices KW - Handbooks KW - New York State Department of Transportation KW - Right of way (Land) KW - Roadside flora KW - Strategic planning KW - Vegetation control UR - https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-06-24%20TASK%202%201%20VEGETATION%20MANAGEMENT%20PLAN.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1411106 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01599266 AU - Huang, Baoshan AU - Shu, Xiang AU - Rutherford, Tyler E AU - Clarke, David B AU - National University Rail Center (NURail) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Development of New Damping Materials for Trackbed and their Behavior under Mixed Traffic PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 80p AB - Damping is a critical factor for the safe operation of passenger and freight shared track railway. Currently, three types of material are commonly used to provide the damping: (1) asphalt trackbed; (2) crumb rubber modified asphalt; (3) cement emulsified asphalt mortar (CEAM). CEAM possesses higher strength and modulus than asphalt materials but lower than those of concrete, which makes it more suited for ballastless railway construction than other materials. In Japan, China,and Europe, CEAM has been widely used in high-speed rail (HSR). However,little research has been conducted on CEAM in the U.S. Two laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of CEAM. In the first round of testing the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), indirect tensile (IDT) strength, dynamic modulus and phase angle, shrinkage, and cement hydration heat were tested for type II (high modulus) CEAM with different asphalt/cement (A/C) ratios. The second round of testing built on the results of the previous work and investigated the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of both type I (low modulus) and type II ( high modulus) CEAM. KW - Ballastless track KW - Cement mortars KW - Damping (Physics) KW - Emulsified asphalt KW - Freight trains KW - Laboratory studies KW - Mechanical properties KW - Passenger trains KW - Railroad tracks KW - Viscoelasticity UR - http://www.nurailcenter.org/research/final_reports/UTK/NURail2012-UTK-R03_Final_Report_Huang_CEAM1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1405089 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01596684 AU - Mattson, Jeremy AU - Small Urban and Rural Livability Center AU - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Rural Transit Fact Book 2015 PY - 2015/06 SP - 40p AB - This Fact Book provides information on transit service availability and cost to help the transit industry in the United States provide efficient and effective service to meet rural community mobility needs. Financial and operating statistics can be used by agency managers, local decision makers, state directors, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and lawmakers to assist in policy making, planning, managing operations, and evaluating performance. 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, FTA region, tribe, and mode, as well as other agency characteristics. The rural transit data presented in this report were obtained from the Rural National Transit Database (NTD). This 2015 edition includes 2013 data from the Rural NTD as well as additional data from the American Community Survey, American Housing Survey, and National Household Travel Survey. KW - Demographics KW - Financing KW - Operating costs KW - Public transit KW - Ridership KW - Rural areas KW - Rural National Transit Database KW - Rural transit KW - Travel behavior KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Vehicle fleets UR - http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2015-rural-transit-fact-book.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1403014 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01591976 AU - Ouattara, Moustapha AU - Yu, J Gordon AU - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - WMATA Wayside Energy Storage Demonstration Project PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 39p AB - This report summarizes the experience and the test results from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Energy Storage Demonstration Project, a project that was partially funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). WMATA worked jointly with Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., to implement the demonstration. Gannett Fleming Transit & Rail Systems served as the technical consultant. The installation was tested under normal revenue service conditions. The test results include energy saving, peak power reduction, and train voltage support that are provided by the 2MW Battery Power System (BPS) installation. In addition, the same installation was tested as an emergency power source to move trains to desired destinations when the traction power system is under a simulated blackout situation. Based on the obtained results and the prevailing electricity cost parameters, return-on-investment calculations were performed for the installation life times of both 10 years and 20 years. KW - Demonstration projects KW - Energy storage systems KW - Rail transit KW - Regenerative braking KW - Return on investment KW - Savings KW - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority UR - http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/FTA_Report_No._0086.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1398244 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01590520 AU - Peckett, Haley AU - Rasmussen, Benjamin AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Transit Feasibility Analysis and Recommendations: Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest Transportation System Alternatives Study PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 65p AB - The purpose of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest Transportation System Alternatives Study is to identify and evaluate the feasibility of potential alternative transportation solutions to improve recreation and resource management at three of the most popular recreation sites in the national forest: Brainard Lake Recreation Area (BLRA), Guanella Pass (GP), and Mount Evans Recreation Area (MERA). This study identifies, verifies, and documents transportation, visitor, and resource concerns; assesses user capacity levels where appropriate; and identifies feasible short-term and long-term alternative transportation and congestion management solutions for these three sites. KW - Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest KW - Congestion management systems KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Public transit KW - Recommendations KW - Shuttle buses KW - Transportation planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56700/56731/Transit_Feasibility_Analysis_ARNF.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56700/56731/Transit_Feasibility_Analysis_ARNF.pdf?utm_source=GovDelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=January%202016%20newsletter UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1396343 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01587762 AU - Outwater, Maren AU - Bradley, Mark AU - Ferdous, Nazneen AU - Trevino, Steven AU - Lin, Haiyun AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - RSG, Incorporated TI - Foundational Knowledge to Support a Long-Distance Passenger Travel Demand Modeling Framework: Implementation Report PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 92p AB - The goal of this research was to develop a framework for a long-distance passenger travel demand model that can be used to build a national model for the United States, one based on exploring new ways to simulate behavior of long-distance passenger movements. This framework includes model specifications based on statistical analysis of available data, recommendations for data collection that facilitate the development of the national model, and a demonstration that the framework can be reasonably implemented. The objectives of the implementation phase were: (1) To produce a working model for the 2010 base year, including a national highway network and zone system, with multimodal travel times for rail, bus, and air modes, and a highway assignment; (2) To calibrate and validate this model against available national data sources; (3) To test this model and provide assurances that the calibrated and validated models produce reasonable results under a select set of policy scenarios; and (4) To ensure stability and reasonable performance for the application software beyond the original demonstration software in the research phase. KW - Highways KW - Implementation KW - Multimodal transportation KW - Passenger traffic KW - Recommendations KW - Software KW - Statistical analysis KW - Travel demand KW - Travel time KW - Trip length KW - United States KW - Validation UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/modelframework/model_framework.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1378464 ER - TY - SER AN - 01587761 JO - Traffic Safety Facts PB - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: Speeding PY - 2015/06 SP - 7p AB - There were 32,719 traffic fatalities in 2013, among them 9,613 (29%) in speeding-related crashes. The number of speeding-related fatalities in 2013 decreased by 7% from 10,329 in 2012 to 9,613. In 2013, about 35% of 15- to 20-year-old and 21- to 24-year-old male drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding, the highest among all age groups. In 2013, some 42% of the speeding drivers in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher, compared to 16% of non-speeding drivers. In 2013, of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes, 34% were speeding, more than drivers of any other vehicle type. In fatal crashes in 2013, fewer than half (49%) of speeding passenger vehicle drivers were restrained at the time of the crashes, compared to 78% of non-speeding passenger vehicle drivers. In 2013, only 13% of speeding-related fatalities occurred on Interstate highways. Additional statistics on speeding-related fatal crashes in 2013 are provided in this traffic safety fact sheet. KW - Age groups KW - Blood alcohol levels KW - Drivers KW - Fatalities KW - Gender KW - Motorcyclists KW - Seat belt use KW - Speeding KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812162.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1378638 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01583579 AU - Campbell, Robert AU - Alexiadis, Vassili AU - Krechmer, Daniel AU - Cambridge Systematics AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning: Technical Memorandum #3: Analysis of the Need for New and Enhanced Analysis Tools, Techniques, and Data PY - 2015/06 SP - 64p AB - The principal objective of this project, “Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning,” is to comprehensively assess how connected vehicles should be considered across the range of transportation planning processes and products developed by states, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and local agencies throughout the country. The purpose of this memorandum is to identify the need generated by Connected and Automated vehicle (C/AV) technology for new or enhanced tools, techniques, and data to support various C/AV planning activities and approaches for how to meet those needs. It focuses on identifying enhancements to existing transportation analysis data and tools used in transportation planning that will be needed to extend those tools to accommodate C/AV impacts and outcomes in the future. This report also considers the need for the development of entirely new tools and datasets when the existing ones cannot feasibly be enhanced or extended to enable C/AV analyses. This report follows four major themes, the first of which is a summary of existing data, tools and products currently used in transportation planning processes. The next area includes an evaluation and comparison of existing tools and their suitability for C/AV analysis with respect to input/output interfaces, usability, modeling features and calibration requirements. Following is a gap analysis that identifies the limitations of existing tools and data for use in analysis of C/AV technologies. The results show that data and analysis tools used in traditional long-term transportation planning would potentially be modified or overhauled to accommodate analyses of connected vehicle applications and technology. Finally a roadmap is provided that identifies 19 research topics to target these needs and gaps, identifies which agency would be best suited for addressing these needs, establishes priority levels for each topic, and discusses the expected availability of potential data sources to inform those topics. KW - Analysis KW - Data analysis KW - Evaluation KW - Intelligent vehicles KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Research KW - Transportation departments KW - Transportation planning UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55700/55712/FHWA-JPO-16-247.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1376697 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01583520 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Overview of NHTSA Priority Plan for Vehicle Safety and Fuel Economy, 2015 to 2017 PY - 2015/06 SP - 22p AB - This plan serves as an internal management tool as well as a means to communicate to the public and regulators in other countries the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA’s) highest priorities. The hope is that this plan will advance motor vehicle safety by providing information that stakeholders and others can use for their own planning as well as encouraging regulatory cooperation as NHTSA works to improve safety for the American public. The selection of projects as priorities is informed by a wide variety of external and internal factors. The primary driving forces are crash data indicating the areas in greatest need of improvement and knowledge of the technologies that are or can be expected to become available to address those areas. Projects in the plan are organized within the following program areas: Data Improvement, Crash Avoidance and Automation, Electronics Reliability and Security, Pedestrian Safety, Crashworthiness and Post-Crash Safety, Fuel Efficiency and Alternative Fuels, and Consumer Safety Information and Outreach. KW - Alternate fuels KW - Crash avoidance systems KW - Crashworthiness KW - Data collection KW - Fuel conservation KW - Outreach KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Strategic planning KW - Technological innovations KW - Transportation planning KW - U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration KW - Vehicle electronics KW - Vehicle safety UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/NVS_priority-plan-June2015_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1377474 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580901 AU - Baldwin, Michael AU - Snyder, Derrick AU - Miller, Chase AU - Hoogewind, Kimberly AU - Purdue University AU - Indiana Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Road Weather Severity Based on Environmental Energy PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 26p AB - Effective and efficient removal of snow and ice from public roadways is a key outcome for winter road maintenance operations. This outcome depends on the severity of the wintry weather as well as the quality and quantity of resources used to treat the roadways. Wintry weather conditions vary substantially from hour‐to‐hour, storm‐to‐storm, and season‐to‐season. Many different transportation departments have used empirical statistical models and machine learning methods based upon weather parameters to develop indices to estimate the severity of winter weather. Many of these previous studies used summary statistics, such as the number of days with certain events (snowfall, freezing rain, frost), to provide a seasonal index of winter severity. While summarizing the winter severity for the entire season is quite useful, providing information over shorter time periods will allow for more precise evaluation of maintenance performance during a winter season. A winter weather severity index has been developed that can be used to evaluate the performance of winter weather maintenance. This project involves the development of a physically‐based analysis of winter severity, using estimates of the hourly rate of deposition of new snow/ice and the energy required to melt it. The “Road Weather Severity Based on Environmental Energy” (RWSBEE) index can be considered an accumulation of energy, beyond that which is available from the environment, needed to melt snow/ice that has been deposited on the road surface on an hourly basis. The energy not provided by the environment that would be required to melt new snow can be thought of as a measure of the work required to remove the new snow from the road surface. The authors expect that RWSBEE will provide a clearer understanding of the severity of the weather, allowing Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to better evaluate their performance, assist with after‐action review of recent storms, and improve the reaction to future weather events. Measurable improvements in the winter maintenance decision‐making process are expected as a result. Winter weather conditions that occur across different regions vary substantially from hour‐to‐hour, storm‐to‐storm, and season‐to‐season. The methods of road maintenance for fighting snow and ice can also vary between different maintenance units. It is important for organizations that perform road maintenance to be able to quantify the severity of the winter weather conditions, for purposes of monitoring, planning, and evaluating their performance. INDOT currently uses estimates of winter weather hours to quantify the severity of winter weather. The definition of a “weather hour” is fairly straightforward: any hour when wintry precipitation (snow, ice pellets, freezing rain) is falling with air temperatures below 35 °F. While this definition is reasonable, it does not take into account numerous factors that can strongly affect road conditions and subsequent efforts needed for road treatment, such as: precipitation rate, wind speed, and availability of sunshine. Consequently, INDOT has determined that the information provided by the weather hour estimates result in wide variations in roadway treatment expenses across Indiana. In order to more accurately and effectively evaluate the performance of winter maintenance, it is important to have detailed data related to winter weather conditions that provide useful information regarding the impact of winter weather on road conditions. State‐of‐the‐art weather information can provide a clearer understanding of the severity of the weather, allowing INDOT to better evaluate their performance, assist with after‐action review of recent storms, and improve the reaction to future weather events. KW - Energy KW - Ice KW - Indiana KW - Performance measurement KW - Snow KW - Weather conditions KW - Winter KW - Winter maintenance UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315710 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373332 ER - TY - SER AN - 01580875 JO - Asset Management Financial Report Series PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Saadatmand, Nastaran AU - Gaj, Stephen AU - Varma, Shobna AU - Proctor, Gordon TI - Financial Planning for Transportation Asset Management: Components of a Financial Plan PY - 2015/06 IS - Report 2 SP - 72p AB - Transportation agencies have the responsibility and the challenging task to maintain, preserve and improve infrastructure assets for current and future generations. While maintaining existing assets is an overriding concern for transportation agency officials, most agencies are grappling with funding issues. Considering the fact that assets such as pavements and bridges have long useful lives, a sound asset management practice will necessitate the development of long-term asset management plans. Practices and experiences from other countries with mature asset management processes and also from transportation agencies within the U.S. show that implementing and sustaining the performance and condition of assets requires long-term financial plans that support and are linked to long-term asset management strategies. This report discusses the main components of a financial plan and shows how they can support a sustainable asset management plan for a transportation agency. Contents include: Uses of funds; Transportation agency examples; Examples from Minnesota and Colorado Departments of Transportation transportation asset management plans (TAMPs); Sources of revenue; Risks and assumptions; Gaps and surpluses; and State agency examples. KW - Asset management KW - Colorado KW - Financing KW - Infrastructure KW - Minnesota KW - Revenues KW - State departments of transportation KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/asset/plans/financial/hif15017.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1374341 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580254 AU - Howell, Brian AU - Pigman, Jerry AU - Agent, Ken AU - Kentucky Transportation Center AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Work Vehicle Warning Lights: Color Options and Effectiveness PY - 2015/06 SP - 39p AB - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) reviewed existing regulations, guidance, and practices to assess the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s warning lights program on highway work vehicles. The Kentucky Revised Statutes categorizes KYTC vehicles as “public safety vehicles” and requires their use of amber lights. Because the use of red can be confused with emergency vehicles, KYTC prohibits the use of red on work vehicles. At the national level, standards for warning light colors do not exist. Rather, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provides guidance on roadway operations equipment and recommends the use of amber and white lights as the primary warning light colors for highway vehicles. AASHTO guidance also prescribes the use of slow, asynchronous flash frequencies; light emitting diode (LED) light sources; and placement of lights at high elevations and against solid-colored backgrounds. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides little guidance in terms of warning light specifications, including color preferences. A review of existing state agencies, including departments of transportation, concluded that amber and white are the primary light colors currently in use across highway operations vehicles. The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) conducted two external surveys to assess warning light products and practices within the U.S. The first survey reviewed vendor LED products and revealed that LED lights are primarily available in the colors of amber, blue, green, red, and white. Fluorescent yellow-green is not available. The second survey requested state DOT information related to lighting systems’ colors, sources, intensity, and placement; responding agency names and policies; and previous state DOT studies related to warning lights. Survey responses indicated 100 percent use of the color amber (as a color type) as well as use of LED light sources. More than 75 percent of reporting agencies place warning lights on their highway work vehicle’s roof to maximize visibility to motorists. Survey results varied dramatically on the differentiation of warning light colors by vehicle type and the differentiation of light intensities for daytime versus nighttime conditions. KTC researchers recommend the use of amber and white colors for KYTC work vehicles, an asynchronous flashing pattern with slow flash frequencies, and LED bulbs. Other recommendations include placement of warning lights at high elevations on the vehicle, placement of warning lights against a solid-colored background, and investigation on feasibility of yellow-green LED lights. KW - Color KW - Construction and maintenance equipment KW - Kentucky KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Recommendations KW - State departments of transportation KW - Surveys KW - Vehicle lighting systems KW - Warning systems UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/09/KTC_15_06_SPR15_57_7_1F.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1372977 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580232 AU - Riginos, Corinna AU - Graham, Morgan William AU - Davis, Melanie AU - Smith, Chauncey AU - Johnson, Andrew AU - Teton Research Institute, Teton Science School AU - Wyoming Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Effects of Wildlife Warning Reflectors (“Deer Delineators”) on Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Central Wyoming PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 103p AB - The purpose of this study was to provide the Wyoming Department of Transportation with information about (1) the effectiveness of Streiter-Lite wildlife warning reflectors that had been installed in three locations within Wyoming’s District 5, and (2) preliminary analysis of patterns of deer-vehicle collisions across Wyoming and the habitat and road variables associated with collision hotspots. The authors evaluated reflector effectiveness in terms of their ability to reduce deer-vehicle collisions and modify deer road-crossing behavior. Using a series of experimental manipulations of reflectors, the authors showed that reflectors reduced deer-vehicle collisions by 32 percent and significantly reduced the number of high-risk deer road crossings (those in which deer ran into the road as a car was approaching). However, covering reflectors with white canvas bags – initially done with the intent of creating a control treatment that neutralized the reflectors – proved even more effective than leaving the reflectors exposed. White bags on posts resulted in 33 percent fewer collisions than when reflectors were exposed and significantly reduced the number of high-risk deer road crossings. It is likely that the white bags are more visible or reflective to deer than the red wildlife warning reflectors. A cost-benefit analysis suggests that the benefits of reflectors outweigh their initial materials and installation costs, but may not outweigh the net costs once maintenance is taken into account. Analysis of patterns of deer-vehicle collisions across the state showed that traffic volume, proximity to agricultural land, proximity to deer winter range and migration routes, and high speed limits are all strongly associated with high collision rates. On average, areas with a 55 mph speed limit have 36 percent and 55 percent fewer deer-vehicle collisions than areas with speed limits of 65 and 75 mph, respectively. Reducing nighttime speed limits in high collision areas may be a cost-effective strategy for mitigating deer-vehicle collisions in Wyoming. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Crashes KW - Deer KW - Evaluation KW - High risk locations KW - Reflectorized materials KW - Speed limits KW - Warning devices KW - Wyoming UR - http://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Planning/Research/RS05212%201503F%20Effects%20of%20Wildlife%20Warning%20Reflectors%20on%20Wildlife%20Vehicle%20Collisions%20in%20Central%20Wyoming.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373057 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579226 AU - Bullough, John D AU - Skinner, Nicholas P AU - Brons, Jennifer A 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 - Analysis of Energy Efficient Highway Lighting Retrofits PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 42p AB - Solid state lighting technology is advancing rapidly to a point where light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems can be viable replacements for existing lighting systems using high pressure sodium (HPS). The present report summarizes analyses conducted to document existing lighting conditions along a parkway (Southern State Parkway, Long Island) and an arterial roadway (Central Avenue, Albany County). Several LED alternative lighting systems were compared using photometric analyses to identify ones that meet light level criteria for each roadway type; several options were available that resulted in energy savings compared to the existing HPS lighting systems. Energy economic analyses confirmed that the initial investment could be paid back in terms of reduced operating costs, and that energy savings were larger for LED systems when compared to HPS systems that produced similar levels to those from the LED alternatives. Further energy cost savings would be expected with the use of adaptive lighting controls specified to take advantage of temporal nighttime traffic patterns on the roadways investigated. The report concludes with considerations for incorporating LED performance characteristics, such as ensuring they do not produce interference with radio equipment, into specifications for LED retrofit alternatives. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Arterial highways KW - Costs KW - Economic analysis KW - Energy consumption KW - Light emitting diodes KW - New York (State) KW - Parkways KW - Photometry KW - Retrofitting KW - Street lighting UR - http://www.utrc2.org/sites/default/files/Final-Energy-Efficient-Highway-Lighting-Retrofits.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371709 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579222 AU - Scopatz, Robert A AU - Lefler, Nancy AU - Peach, Kara AU - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - State Traffic Records Coordinating Committee Noteworthy Practices PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 123p AB - This State Traffic Records Coordinating Committee Noteworthy Practices Guide was developed under the direction of the U.S. Department of Transportation|Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (USDOT|TRCC) as a way to help State TRCCs become more effective. It includes definitions of successful TRCCs and provides examples of noteworthy practices drawn from six case study States and others. The recommendations provide State TRCC Coordinators and Chairs, TRCC participants, and executive leaders with ideas they can adopt and adapt to their own situation. The recommendations point to TRCC roles and responsibilities well beyond those mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) legislation and grant program requirements. Examples from State TRCC noteworthy practices point to roles for the TRCC in traffic records assessments, self-assessments, strategic planning, and performance measurement. Formal foundational documents and a purposeful focus on relationship building are seen as keys to success. KW - Best practices KW - Case studies KW - Coordination KW - Crash data KW - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) KW - Performance measurement KW - Recommendations KW - Records management KW - Strategic planning KW - Traffic data UR - http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsdp/downloads/trcc_noteworthy.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370741 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577859 AU - Tayabji, Shiraz AU - Rao, Shreenath AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Hawaii Demonstration Project: Precast Concrete Pavement System along a Section of Middle Street, Honolulu, HI PY - 2015/06//Draft Technical Brief SP - 17p AB - As a part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highways for LIFE initiative, a Federal grant of $3,000,000 was awarded to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) to demonstrate the use of a proven, innovative precast concrete pavement (PCP) system in conjunction with traditional pavement restoration and concrete overlay on an important multilane highway. The project represents Hawaii DOT’s effort to introduce two different PCP systems, a construction option that is easy to build, easy to install, easy to maintain, and will have a long service life. One system to be used is a jointed PCP system, and the second system is a posttensioned PCP system. This demonstration project will provide Hawaii DOT the opportunity to experience two different PCP systems and to compare this innovative paving technology with traditional concrete paving. This progress report details the planning for the project. The project was bid and awarded during 2014, and panel fabrication and panel installation is expected to take place during the summer of 2015. KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Honolulu (Hawaii) KW - Pavement joints KW - Posttensioning KW - Precast concrete pavements KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/hawaii-pcps-project-draft-06302015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370471 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577110 AU - Menchini, Christopher P AU - Morris, Gary J AU - Huebsch, Wade W AU - West Virginia University, Morgantown AU - Federal Aviation Administration AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Experimental Flow Characterization and Computational Model Development of Aqueous Film Forming Foam Firefighting Jets PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 263p AB - Over the past few decades, aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) research has made technical strides on multiple fronts. Continuing efforts have helped develop computer-aided engineering tools to quantify risk assessment for a variety of ARFF aspects such as aircraft pool fire combustion and dynamic crash-related events. A study was conducted to characterize firefighting agent application behavior and to quantify the flow characteristics that differentiate water and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) jets. An aqueous firefighting agent application laboratory was specially constructed to carry out experiments on firefighting jets ranging from 1 to 11 MPa (150 to 1550 lb⋅in. -2) and 4 to 25 l⋅min-1 (1 to 6.4 gal⋅min-1) at AFFF concentration levels ranging from 0% (pure water) to 12% by volume. Experimental flow characterization consisted of flow visualization, agent ground pattern distribution analysis, and two-dimensional phase Doppler particle analysis (PDPA). Flow visualization results depicted minimal qualitative differences in terms of overall jet structure between AFFF and water jets. However, PDPA results showed AFFF enhanced jet breakup and generated droplet sizes 7% to 38% less in diameter compared to water jets with AFFF jets lagging water jet velocities by as much as 10% in certain cases. Agent ground pattern results confirmed flow performance factors, such as ground coverage area, reach, and maximum span, all benefit from an increase in nozzle pressure-flow rate. An Euler-Lagrange, large eddy simulation computational fluid dynamic (CFD) strategy accounting for droplet collision and breakup was employed to predict firefighting jet flow dynamics with and without the addition of AFFF. AFFF influence was handled computationally via material property variation from pure water in terms of density, viscosity, and surface tension effects. CFD model results were agreeable with flow visualization and phase Doppler data as they reproduced global trends in both droplet velocity and size data, particularly with respect to the influence of AFFF. However, oversimplified nozzle injection conditions led to greater differences than expected. CFD model result errors were difficult to quantify entirely due to PDPA upper particle size range limitations and complexities associated with direct comparisons to data. This work describes the first known, comprehensive effort to quantify flow characteristics and properties that differentiate water and AFFF firefighting jets using high-fidelity experimental techniques. This work also includes the first known iteration of a firefighting agent application CFD model designed for use in the ARFF industry that takes into account the influence of AFFF. KW - Air transportation crashes KW - Fire extinguishing agents KW - Fire fighting KW - Flow KW - Fluid dynamics KW - Foams KW - Simulation KW - Vehicle fires KW - Water KW - Waterjets UR - http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/DesktopModules/FlexNews/DownloadHandler.ashx?id=b3579643-ee86-4c4f-928d-a4076193aa92&f=DOT-FAA-TC-15-21.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370011 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576152 AU - Peterson, Del AU - Ndembe, Elvis AU - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Impact of North Dakota's Oil Boom on Transit Livability PY - 2015/06 SP - 37p AB - Population growth in western North Dakota from those seeking employment in the oil industry has led to substantial increases in personal income and transit ridership. Local survey findings noted that population growth has impacted the quality of life by increasing pressure on infrastructure and increasing feelings of insecurity that stem from demographic shifts and not knowing who is living in local communities. The housing market has also struggled to keep pace. For example, the housing market in the Minot-Williston region is severely tight owing to net in-migration and a dearth in housing for sale. Transit livability index measures showed an increase in recent years. The combinations of increased ridership and household income have been the two main catalysts for this change. More workers utilizing transit has also led to fewer workers commuting alone to work. However, an increasing mobility needs index and a lack of transit vehicles to meet demand are becoming evident as many of the transit livability indexes are showing smaller increases during the past one to three years compared to earlier gains. A major finding of this research shows that if the oil boom continues similar to its current pace during the next five years, transit agencies, along with policy makers, should consider expanding services to provide more hours of service along with a larger coverage area to meet new demand. Another major finding is the need for more transit vehicles in the region as well as updating vehicles in current fleets that are beyond their useful life. Increased funding is needed so that transit agencies can improve service levels and meet increasing demand. KW - Forecasting KW - Housing KW - North Dakota KW - Population growth KW - Public transit KW - Quality of life KW - Ridership KW - Surveys KW - Travel demand UR - http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/surlc15-002.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369342 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576146 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2004-2013 Data: School-Transportation-Related Crashes PY - 2015/06 SP - 5p AB - A school-transportation-related crash is a crash that involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus body vehicle, or a non-school bus functioning as a school bus, transporting children to or from school or school-related activities. In this fact sheet “school-age” children are defined as children 18 or younger. From 2004 to 2013 there were 340,039 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those, 1,214 (0.4%) were classified as school-transportation-related. From 2004 to 2013, there were 1,344 people killed in school-transportation-related crashes—an average of 134 fatalities per year. Occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 8 percent of the fatalities, and nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 21 percent of the fatalities. Most (71%) of the people who lost their lives in these crashes were occupants of other vehicles involved in the crashes. From 2004 to 2013, there were 116 school-age pedestrians (18 or younger) who died in schooltransportation-related crashes. Sixty-two percent were struck by school buses, 5 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 33 percent by other vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks and vans, large trucks, and motorcycles, etc.) involved in the crashes. KW - Bus crashes KW - Crash data KW - Fatalities KW - Pedestrian-vehicle crashes KW - School buses KW - School children KW - Traffic crash victims KW - Trend (Statistics) UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812170.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1368248 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576105 AU - Reeder, Garret D AU - Nelson, Gabriel A AU - National Concrete Pavement Technology Center AU - Iowa Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Implementation Manual—3D Engineered Models for Highway Construction: The Iowa Experience PY - 2015/06 SP - 60p AB - 3D engineered modeling is a relatively new and developing technology that can provide numerous benefits to owners, engineers, contractors, and the general public. This manual is for highway agencies that are considering or are in the process of switching from 2D plan sets to 3D engineered models in their highway construction projects. It will discuss some of the benefits, applications, limitations, and implementation considerations for 3D engineered models used for survey, design, and construction. Note that is not intended to cover all eventualities in all states regarding the deployment of 3D engineered models for highway construction. Rather, it describes how one state—Iowa—uses 3D engineered models for construction of highway projects, from planning and surveying through design and construction. KW - Construction projects KW - Highway design KW - Highway engineering KW - Implementation KW - Iowa KW - Manuals KW - Mathematical models KW - Road construction KW - Surveying UR - http://publications.iowa.gov/20318/1/IADOT_InTrans_RB33_014_Reeder_Implementation_Manual_3D_Engineered_Models_Highway_Const_2015_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367947 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575835 AU - Reinhart, Thomas E AU - Southwest Research Institute AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Commercial Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Fuel Efficiency Technology Study - Report #1 PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 302p AB - This research project is to inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA’s) development of Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles (Class 2b – 8). A literature review is used to identify potential fuel saving technologies and review the state of the art. A large number of engine and vehicle technologies are selected for additional analysis, and their fuel saving performance is simulated to project the fuel savings potential of each technology over a wide range of duty cycles. Wherever possible, experimental data are used to inform and validate the simulation results. All baseline engine and vehicle models are validated against experimental data. Trade-offs between engine-out NOx levels and fuel consumption are reviewed. There is a review of fuel consumption, fuel economy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) metrics, and of test and analysis procedures. The existing international truck fuel consumption and GHG regulations are compared and contrasted. Certification issues are explored, including the potential for including trailers in future regulations. KW - Experimental data KW - Fuel consumption KW - Fuel efficiency KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Heavy duty trucks KW - Literature reviews KW - Medium trucks KW - Nitrogen oxides KW - Simulation KW - State of the art KW - Technology assessment UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/rulemaking/pdf/cafe/812146-CommercialMDHD-TruckFuelEfficiencyTechStudy%E2%80%93Report1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367057 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575526 AU - You, Taesun AU - Im, Soohyok AU - Kim, Yong-Rak AU - Haghshenas, Hamzeh AU - Nsengiyumva, Gabriel AU - University of Nebraska, Lincoln AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Evaluation of Thin Asphalt Overlay Practice Preserving Nebraska’s Asphalt Pavements PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 89p AB - This study examined the current thin asphalt overlay practices implemented in Nebraska. To that end, the mechanical properties and performance characteristics of the two mixtures (i.e., SLX and SPH) were compared by carrying out laboratory tests such as dynamic modulus test, dynamic creep test, static creep-recovery test, semi-circular bending test, and Hamburg wheel tracking test. The laboratory test results were also used to characterize the material properties for pavement performance prediction simulation. Structural performance analysis was conducted using the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) and finite element method in order to compare the pavement structures with the two different mixtures (i.e., SLX and SPH). In addition, a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was performed to compare the economic benefits associated with the thin-lift overlay to the conventional overlay practice. This provided insights into how the thin asphalt overlay with the SLX mixture behaved compared to the previous practice, which replaced the old asphalt with the SPH mixture. Laboratory results clearly showed that the SLX mixture behaved similarly to the SPH mixture in terms of mixture stiffness, rutting potential, and cracking resistance. However, the Hamburg wheel tracking test found that the SLX mixture had greater moisture susceptibility, a result that requires more investigation. Pavement performance simulation results from finite element analysis showed that the rutting and cracking potential of the pavement with SLX thin overlay mixture was lower than the pavement with SPH mixture. MEPDG simulations predicted that both pavements would perform satisfactorily during their expected design life, but the LCCA indicated that the practice of using the thin SLX preservation technique can reduce both the agency’s and user’s costs compared to the conventional SPH rehabilitation practice. Both performance prediction results need to be compared to actual field performance data. Only one-year field performance is available to date, which needs to be continuously monitored to judge how both pavement structures perform. KW - Asphalt pavements KW - Bituminous overlays KW - Finite element method KW - Laboratory tests KW - Life cycle costing KW - Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide KW - Mix design KW - Nebraska KW - Pavement performance KW - Thin overlays UR - http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/mat-n-tests/research/ACC/Final%20Report%20M015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367020 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575493 AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Phase 2 Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles Draft EIS PY - 2015/06 SP - v.p. AB - This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) analyzes the environmental impacts of fuel efficiency standards and reasonable alternative standards for model years 2018 and beyond for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended. Environmental impacts analyzed in this Draft EIS include those related to fuel and energy use, air quality, and climate change. In developing the proposed Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program, NHTSA sought to achieve the maximum feasible improvement in fuel efficiency, accounting for technological feasibility, appropriateness, and cost effectiveness, as well as relevant environmental and safety considerations. The proposal is consistent with President Obama’s directive to improve the fuel efficiency of and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from model year 2018 and beyond medium- and heavy-duty vehicles through coordinated Federal standards. KW - Air quality KW - Climate change KW - Energy consumption KW - Energy Policy and Conservation Act KW - Environmental impact statements KW - Fuel consumption KW - Fuel efficiency KW - Greenhouse gases KW - Heavy duty vehicles KW - Medium duty vehicles KW - Standards UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55224/Appendix_A_AirQuality.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55224/Appendix_B_ScopingComments.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55224/Appendix_C_LCA-Studies.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55224/Draft_Environmental_Impact_Statement_for_Phase_2_MDHD_Fuel_Efficiency_Standards.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366774 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575492 AU - Puccinelli, Jason AU - Karamihas, Steven AU - Hall, Kathleen T AU - Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chartered AU - University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance Evaluation of Arizona’s LTPP SPS‐9 Project: Strategic Study of Rehabilitation of Flexible Pavement Binder Factors PY - 2015/06 SP - 90p AB - As part of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) constructed eight Specific Pavement Studies 9 (SPS‐9) test sections on Interstate 10 near Phoenix (04B900). SPS‐9A 04B900 is an overlay project and is accordingly given independent analysis and documentation in this report separate from Arizona SPS‐9B projects (040900 and 04A900) located on US 93, which were new construction and are documented in a separate report. The SPS‐9A project studied the effect of asphalt specification and mix designs on flexible pavements, specifically comparing Superpave binders with commonly used agency binders. Opened to traffic in 1995, the project was monitored at regular intervals until it was rehabilitated in 2005. 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 ADOT. KW - Arizona KW - Bituminous binders KW - Deflection KW - Flexible pavements KW - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement performance KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Specific Pavement Studies (LTPP) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55233/AZ396_9A_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366772 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575242 AU - Dowling, R AU - Skabardonis, A AU - Barrios, J AU - Jia, A AU - Nevers, B AU - Kittelson and Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Department of Transportation TI - Impacts Assessment of Dynamic Speed Harmonization with Queue Warning PY - 2015/06 SP - 140p AB - This report assesses the impacts of a prototype of Dynamic Speed Harmonization (SPD-HARM) with Queue Warning (Q-WARN), which are two component applications of the Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) bundle. The assessment is based on an extensive analysis of the Prototype using a Vissim simulation model for the US 101 freeway corridor in San Mateo, CA as well as an evaluation of a small-scale demonstration that was conducted in Seattle, WA. Results from the simulation analysis found that the Prototype significantly reduces the magnitudes of the speed drops (shock waves) between vehicles, even at the 10-percent market penetration level. This is considered to benefit safety by reducing the probability of collisions where free-flowing traffic meets the back of a queue. The trade-off for the improved safety is that the Prototype increases the geographic impact of existing bottlenecks on freeway speeds by expanding the upstream distance that is affected by congestion. KW - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) KW - Prototypes KW - San Mateo (California) KW - Seattle (Washington) KW - Speed harmonization KW - Traffic queuing KW - Traffic simulation KW - VISSIM (Computer model) KW - Warning systems UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55307/Impact_Assesment_Report_Final_2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366767 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575126 AU - McCormack, Sarah M AU - Van Dyke, Chris AU - Kreis, Doug AU - University of Kentucky, Lexington AU - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Jurisdictional Roadside Ditches PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 74p AB - Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) mandates that state agencies and other entities perform compensatory mitigation when their activities impair jurisdictional waters. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is required to pay in-lieu fees or purchase stream mitigation credits when a roadside ditch is impaired or relocated as part of a road construction project. In-lieu fees and stream mitigation credits are costly, and ditches that have suffered degraded habitat and loss of hydrogeomorphic functionality are treated as total losses when they are impacted by construction and maintenance activities. This raises the question of whether the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) would be receptive to alternative mitigation and monitoring practices that impose a less stringent financial burden on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, but which still comply with CWA regulations. This report discusses methodologies used to evaluate the quality of instream and riparian habitat, Section 404 of the CWA and its implications for mitigation of lost or damaged jurisdictional ditches, and the strategies that have been used by other states to fulfill their Section 404 mitigation requirements. The authors highlight mitigation practices that depart from the norm and which place a less onerous financial burden on state transportation agencies. KYTC officials presented this report’s key findings to the USACE Louisville District Office in January 2015 in an effort to receive approval to experiment with novel restoration techniques. The USACE granted KYTC license to implement these techniques on a project-by-project basis. Before implementation on each project, the Cabinet must receive formal approval from USACE officials. Although this was not the blanket mandate that KYTC hoped for, it indicated the Louisville District is willing to study the effectiveness of alternative mitigation strategies. Despite the Cabinet’s request, USACE officials did not approve a plan to reduce post-restoration monitoring requirements. Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers suggested that KYTC perform exhaustive monitoring of the performance of completed projects that used alternative mitigation techniques. Having information on the short-, medium-, and long-term performance of these sites could – if the results are promising – pave the way to the wider adoption of alternative mitigation practices and could eventually reduce the level of post-restoration monitoring required by the USACE. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Clean Water Act KW - Ditches KW - Evaluation KW - Habitat (Ecology) KW - Implementation KW - Kentucky KW - Methodology KW - Stream restoration KW - Water quality UR - http://www.ktc.uky.edu/files/2015/08/KTC_15_08_SPR13_458_1F-red.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366801 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574121 AU - Collins, William D AU - Evans, Larry AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Measurement of School Bus Pedal Dimensions PY - 2015/06 SP - 181p AB - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated four crashes of school buses and one of a fire truck, all of which occurred from 2005 to 2009 and concluded that these accidents were consistent with pedal misapplication. Among the NTSB recommendations was that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyze pedal configurations in heavy vehicles to determine the effect of pedal design on the driver’s task. This research was performed at NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC), in East Liberty, Ohio, to provide an overview of the range of typical pedal dimensions in school buses. However, analysis to determine the effect of pedal design on the driver’s task was beyond the scope of this study. NHTSA identified 21 dimensions based on the SAE J1100 standard and also developed a procedure capable of determining pedal position. Two additional dimensions were used for the analysis of the transit style buses to account for the steering column position. The dimensions for 24 Type C (conventional style) buses and 8 Type D (transit style) buses were measured and compared. Only the stepover distance, the seat cushion width, and the steering wheel width and height were not significantly different between the two types. The Type C buses measured were assembled by three different manufacturers, Bluebird Corporation, Fort Valley, GA; IC Corporation, Warrenville, IL (a subsidiary of Navistar); and Thomas Built Corporation, High Point, NC (a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks, N.A.). The Bluebird and Thomas Built buses were the most similar, but they had statistically significant differences in the brake pedal width and the stepover distance from the face planes of the pedals, as well as some differences in seating position. The IC buses were statistically different in 11 and 12 of 21 measurements from the Bluebird and Thomas Built buses, respectively. The dimensions for six Type D buses manufactured by Bluebird and two by Thomas were measured. The dimensions were statistically different in only 8 of the 23 dimension measured. Most of the differences were smaller distances from the pedals to the “tunnel” on the right side of the pedals for the Bluebird buses. The measurements for the 32 buses were compared to the dimensions of 101 passenger vehicles. Seventeen of the 21 dimensions were statistically different. Even though the means were different, the distributions of values had considerable overlap. The variables that had little overlap were that the bus accelerator and brake pedals had a shorter overall travel to the floor, and the steering wheel was farther from the floor and pedals for buses than for the passenger vehicles. The dimensions of both the Type C and Type D buses were compared to the average dimensions of the passenger cars. The measurements of Type D buses differed from passenger cars in nearly every dimension. Only the distance from the accelerator to the tunnel and the seat cushion width were not significantly different, and for 14 of the dimensions there was no overlap between the outliers of the 2 distributions. The Type C buses were more similar to passenger car dimensions, differing in 10 of the 21 dimensions measured, with only the height and size of the steering wheel having no overlap between the distributions. KW - Automobiles KW - Brake pedals KW - Pedals KW - School buses KW - Size KW - Steering wheels KW - Transit buses KW - Vehicle design UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crashworthiness/Child Safety Crashworthiness Research/812168-SchoolBusPedalDimensions.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363781 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574086 AU - Olszko, Evan AU - Bender, Donald A AU - Washington State University, Pullman AU - Washington State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Identification of Test Methods for Determining Wood Guardrail Post Integrity PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 61p AB - Wood guardrail posts are subject to decay and deterioration, yet most Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have minimal or no inspection procedures in place for wood guardrail posts. The objective of this study was to identify nondestructive testing technologies to assess the condition of wood guardrail posts for internal decay. The stress wave timing (SWT) technique was judged most promising, and a prototype device was developed with an industrial partner. The prototype SWT device was validated using wood guardrail posts removed from service. Internal conditions of the posts were accurately detected in 86% of the specimens. The device also successfully detected the internal condition of all posts inspected during a field test. An inspection procedure was recommended for implementation using SWT in conjunction with drilling of posts that identified as suspected decay. KW - Deterioration by environmental action KW - Field tests KW - Guardrails KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Posts KW - Structural analysis KW - Testing equipment KW - Wood UR - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/843.1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363893 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574077 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Condition Assessment of Bridge Deck Using Various Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technologies PY - 2015/06 SP - 4p AB - On October 6 and 7, 2014, the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program team performed a third round of inspections of the bridge selected for pilot testing of the LTBP Protocols in Virginia “Virginia Pilot Bridge”. The Virginia Pilot Bridge carries U.S. Route 15 over Interstate 66 in Haymarket, Virginia. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies were used to perform a detailed condition assessment of the deck with respect to corrosion, delamination, and concrete quality. This was the third assessment of this bridge deck over the last 5 years; previous assessments were performed in September 2009 and August 2011. KW - Bridge decks KW - Condition surveys KW - Corrosion KW - Delamination KW - Nondestructive tests KW - Virginia UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/infrastructure/structures/ltbp/ltbpresearch/index.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363110 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574026 AU - Lascurain, Mary Beth AU - Oak Ridge National Laboratory AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Effects of Tire Rolling Resistance on Class 8 Tractor-trailer Stopping Distance PY - 2015/06 SP - 51p AB - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a joint test program through Oak Ridge National Laboratory to explore the effects of tire rolling resistance levels on Class 8 tractor-trailer stopping distance performance over a range of loading and surface conditions. The objective was to determine whether there is a relationship between tire rolling resistance and stopping distance for vehicles of this type. The results of this research suggest that tire rolling resistance is not a reliable indicator of Class 8 tractor-trailer stopping distance. The correlation coefficients (R2 values) for linear regressions of wet and dry stopping distance versus overall vehicle rolling resistance values did not meet the minimum threshold for statistical significance for any of the test conditions. Correlation between the tire coefficient of rolling resistance (CRR) and stopping distance was found to be negligible for the dry tests for both loading conditions. While correlation was higher for the wet testing (showing a slight trend in which lower CRRs correspond to longer stopping distances), it still did not meet the minimum threshold for statistical significance. In terms of compliance with Federal safety standards, it was found that the stopping distance performance of the vehicle with the four tire sets studied in this research (with estimated tractor CRRs which varied by 33%), were well under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 121 stopping distance requirements. KW - Linear regression analysis KW - Rolling resistance KW - Stopping distances KW - Tires KW - Tractor trailer combinations UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash Avoidance/Technical Publications/2015/812176-TireRollResistClass8TractrTrailrStopDistPerfm.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363780 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574010 AU - Moses, Ren AU - Florida A&M University - Florida State University AU - Florida Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Twenty-Four Hour Peaking Relationship to Level of Service and Other Measures of Effectiveness PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 120p AB - Transportation planners and traffic engineers are increasingly interested in traffic analysis tools that analyze demand profiles and performance that go beyond analysis of the traditional peak hours and extend the analysis to other hours of the day. The primary objective of this research was to utilize historical traffic data from telemetered traffic monitoring sites (TTMS) to analyze 24-hour peaking relationship to various performance measures. Data from 26 TTMS sites located in large urbanized areas showed that the 99th percentile hourly volume was close to 2,000 vehicles per hour per lane on limited access facilities, i.e., freeways, toll roads, and HOV lanes. The 99th percentile hourly volume did not reach 1,000 vehicles per hour per lane on divided and undivided arterial roads. Congestion levels in a 24-hour period were analyzed using methodology contained in the 2012 Urban Mobility Report by Texas A&M Transportation Institute in which speed reduction factor (SRF) is calculated by dividing the average combined peak period speed by the free-flow speed. The results of congestion level analysis using permanent count stations data showed that on limited access facilities, severe congestion occurs in only 4 hours of the day, moderate congestion in 10 hours of the day, and relatively free flowing conditions in 10 hours of the day. For divided and undivided arterial roads, severe congestion occurs in 5 hours of the day, moderate congestion in 11 hours and relatively free flowing operations in 8 hours of the day. The results of the linear models for the peak volumes developed from the hourly data analyzed by lane showed that area type was not a significant predicting variable. Gaussian models developed for weekday hourly volumes were able to reasonably replicate the peaking profiles with R-squared values higher than 0.95 for all facility types. The Gaussian hourly volume models can also be used to predict future traffic volumes if the characteristics of future trip making are known. Such characteristics may be used to modify the amplitude, centroid, width and number of peak periods. Estimates of future change in traffic volumes can be obtained by multiplying the average function of the hourly volume by elasticity parameter and the fraction of the change in cost of travel. Estimation of future change in traffic volume can be used by transportation planners to determine if the peak period is expected to spread. KW - Hours KW - Level of service KW - Peak periods KW - Performance measurement KW - Traffic congestion KW - Traffic data KW - Traffic surveillance KW - Traffic volume KW - Urban areas UR - http://www.fdot.gov/research/Completed_Proj/Summary_PL/FDOT-BDV30-977-01-rpt.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55369/FDOT-BDV30-977-01-rpt.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1364308 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571975 AU - Godazi, Khosro AU - Miller, Alexandra AU - Goodwin, Ronald E AU - Texas Southern University AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - The Impact of the Conversion of Incandescent Bulbs to the LED Light Source in Traffic Signals in Houston: A Step toward Sustainable Control Devices PY - 2015/06 SP - 30p AB - With the slowing of the American economy since 2008, it has become imperative that municipalities identify areas in which costs can be reduced while still providing needed services to its constituents. The use of traffic signals equipped with light emitting diodes (LED) provides opportunities for urban municipalities to conserve both tax dollars and energy. With other advantages, such as the reduced maintenance, a longer life span, and more illumination than the standard incandescent light bulb, LED’s have become a viable option in cities around the globe as a first step in reducing municipal costs. Furthermore, LED traffic signals could be retrofitted to solar energy in the future thereby enhancing the move towards “green” technologies. The City of Houston is the focus of this case study evaluating the use of LED traffic signals at selected intersections in and near the urban core. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Case studies KW - Costs KW - Energy consumption KW - Evaluation KW - Houston (Texas) KW - Incandescent lamps KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Traffic signals KW - Urban areas UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00041-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363155 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571972 AU - Schubert, Ray AU - Chan, Michael AU - Law, Karen AU - Southwest Research Institute AU - Tetra Tech, Incorporated AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Commercial Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Fuel Efficiency Technology Cost Study PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 279p AB - This report accompanies the work performed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fuel efficiency and emissions reduction technologies. Technologies are evaluated for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles for model years 2019 and beyond. Based on the list of technologies and configurations identified by SwRI, this report examines the costs of implementation in constant 2011 U.S. dollars in the areas of incremental retail prices and life cycle cost elements. Incremental retail prices are evaluated relative to the prices of the specific baseline technologies that would otherwise be used in the vehicles if the fuel efficiency and emissions reduction technologies were not implemented. These prices include the technology components as well as their installation and incorporation in the vehicle. These prices account for all costs associated with the manufacturers and suppliers’ production and sale of the technologies to the retail purchaser. The life cycle cost element examines the costs of using the technologies during the vehicles’ lifetimes and are intended to inform separate, full-scale, life-cycle analysis. This report provides the overall details of the costing methodology and findings of the study. Note: This report was subjected to external peer review per Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines for a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment (HISA). Material from the peer review process are publicly available in accompanying documents. KW - Costs KW - Evaluation KW - Fuel consumption KW - Heavy duty trucks KW - Life cycle costing KW - Medium trucks KW - Pollutants KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash Avoidance/Technical Publications/2015/812177-ComMedHDTruckFuelEfficTechCostStudy.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363226 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571970 AU - Torcat, Adriana AU - McCray, Talia AU - Durden, Teri AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Changing Perceptions of Cycling in the African American Community to Encourage Participation in a Sport that Promotes Health in Adults PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 50p AB - This study introduces two interventions designed to influence perceptions of cycling among African Americans. Results from the 2001 National Household Transportation Survey reveal that African Americans cycle at two-thirds the rate of White and Hispanic Americans (Pucher and Renne, 2003). Moreover, African Americans are less likely to possess alternative transportation modes like a bicycle (Royal and Miller-Steiger, 2008). Researchers suggest that cycling disparities are linked to negative perceptions among inexperienced cyclists and non-cyclists –including African Americans (McCray et al, 2010). An important consideration in analyzing why African Americans generally do not cycle is that of perception. The purpose of this study is to address negative perceptions of cycling that inhibit bicycle use, including a lack of experience, knowledge, and safety. Few studies exist that explore race or ethnic-specific reasons for low levels of physical activity and this information is needed to increase physical activity among minority groups (Rogers, et al. 2007). By examining perceptions of cycling among African Americans, this study builds on existing literature and fills a significant void in addressing the lack of bicycle ridership in the African-American community. KW - Activity choices KW - African Americans KW - Attitudes KW - Bicycling KW - Ethnic groups KW - National Household Transportation Survey (U.S.) KW - Perception UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00084-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363156 ER - TY - SER AN - 01571968 JO - TechBrief PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Sutter, Lawrence L AU - Michigan Technological University AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Materials-Related Distress: Hardened Cement Paste Best Practices for Jointed Concrete Pavements PY - 2015/06//Tech Brief SP - 6p AB - Concrete is a cemented-aggregate mixture where aggregates are bound together by a cementitious matrix, or hardened cement paste (HCP). Both the aggregates and HCP need to be considered when discussing concrete durability or materials-related distress (MRD). The purpose of this tech brief is to provide pavement engineers with information to help them specify and choose materials that will last for the desired lifetime of the pavement. This tech brief focuses on considerations for the cementitious matrix with respect to paste-related distress mechanisms. KW - Best practices KW - Cement paste KW - Concrete pavements KW - Durability KW - Materials selection KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement joints UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/pubs/hif15018.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363225 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571961 AU - Forkenbrock, Garrick J AU - Snyder, Andrew S AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - NHTSA’s 2014 Automatic Emergency Braking Test Track Evaluations PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 60p AB - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA’s) 2014 light vehicle automatic emergency braking (AEB) test program evaluated the ability of four vehicles, a 2014 Acura MDX, a 2014 BMW i3, a 2015 Hyundai Genesis, and a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, to be tested with the agency’s August 2014 draft crash‐imminent braking (CIB) and dynamic brake support (DBS) test procedures.  The maneuvers were successfully validated and the performance of the vehicles compared to a common set of draft assessment reference values (ARVs).  None of the vehicles discussed in this report were able to satisfy all CIB ARVs if their performance was considered against a “seven of eight” evaluation criteria, and only the Jeep Grand Cherokee was able to satisfy the DBS ARVs during at least seven of eight trials for each test condition. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was evaluated with NHTSA’s AEB test procedures once a month for four months to assess test repeatability and to examine the effect of nominal calendar month and ambient temperature.  Statistically significant differences were present in month‐to‐month speed reductions for the lead vehicle stopped tests performed with CIB and for the lead vehicle decelerates‐to‐a‐stop tests performed with DBS.  However, these differences were < 1.0 mph (1.6 km/h), not believed to be practically significant, and did not affect the ability of the vehicle to satisfy the ARVs during at least seven of eight trials for each test condition.  Ambient temperatures within a range of 49 to 81ºF (9.4 to 27.2ºC) were not found to have a meaningful effect on mean speed reduction or speed reduction variability. The tests described in this report were based on the agency’s August 2014 draft AEB procedures, but included some minor differences to address unique situations that occurred during test conduct. These differences were intended to provide clarification, not to affect (increase) test severity. KW - Automatic braking KW - Braking performance KW - Dynamic braking KW - Evaluation KW - Light vehicles KW - Performance tests KW - Temperature UR - http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/Crash Avoidance/Technical Publications/2015/812166-2014AutomaticEmergencyBrakingTestTrackEval.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363227 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571960 AU - Harrison, Robert AU - University of Texas, Austin AU - Southwest Region University Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Impact of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) on Freight Flows in the Texas-Louisiana Megaregion PY - 2015/06 SP - 53p AB - This report addresses the benefits of maintaining the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) both in totality (5 States) and specifically between Texas and Louisiana since their coastal regions have been identified as a potential U.S megaregion. The chapters include a historical background and current conditions, the opportunities for raising barge productivity and safety, the challenges of increasing GIWW funding, the introduction of articulated tug barges (ATBs) which may have diverted some GIWW traffic, and finally summarizes both findings and recommendations. It argues for sharply focused improvements and protecting system integrity for future technologies and barge designs. KW - Barges KW - Financing KW - Freight traffic KW - Gulf Intracoastal Waterway KW - Louisiana KW - Megaregions KW - Recommendations KW - Texas UR - http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/600451-00080-1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363158 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01571957 AU - Daniel, Jo Sias AU - Jacques, Christopher AU - Salehi, Saeid AU - University of New Hampshire, Durham AU - New Hampshire Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance of High RAP Pavement Sections in NH PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 56p AB - This report summarizes the University of New Hampshire (UNH) results of test pavements used to determine the effect of using higher amounts of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has allowed RAP in HMA for over 20 years but has limited use to 15-20% of the mix. This study evaluated the changes in performance due to increased amounts of RAP as well as evaluating the impact of bumping the binder grade (to a softer binder) for higher RAP contents. The pavements tested were in place for approximately three years. Long-term performance was not evaluated. Binder testing included PG grade, shear modulus master curve, and the multiple stress creep recovery test. Mixture testing included complex modulus, flow numbers, Hamburg Wheel tracking, and fatigue. Test results for both binder and mixes using PG 58-28 demonstrated expected results with high RAP contents having a stiffer modulus, better rutting performance, and lower fatigue resistance. The PG 52-34 binder had unexpected trends. Testing did not include determining the presence of binder additives. The results of this project support the practical limitation of 1% total recycled binder (TRB) in NHDOT surface mixtures. KW - Bituminous binders KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Mix design KW - New Hampshire KW - Pavement cracking KW - Pavement performance KW - Recycled materials KW - Rutting UR - http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/materials/research/projects/documents/15680B-FINALREPORT.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363117 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570621 AU - Morris, C Craig AU - Bureau of Transportation Statistics TI - Motor Vehicle Occupant Fatality Risk Based on Person-Time Exposed: Age, Sex, and Period of Week PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 15p AB - During the 5 years from 2008 through 2012, motor vehicle crashes killed 34,091 people each year in the United States, on average, 23,783 (69.8) percent of whom were motor vehicle occupants. This study analyzes motor vehicle occupant fatality risk in terms of person-time exposed as a function of age, sex, period of week, and interactions of these factors. Results reveal strong circadian periodicities of occupant fatalities and fatality risk, with greater risk during late evening-early morning hours every day of the week and the greatest risk during Friday–Saturday and Saturday–Sunday evening-to-morning hours. But these circadian trends interact with age and sex whereby young male occupants exhibit the most fatalities and risk. The circadian variation in occupant fatality risk—across demographic age-sex populations, days of the week, and drunk- and nondrunk-driver-related fatal crashes – suggests a drowsiness component acting alone, and sometimes synergistically with alcohol, to impair the judgment and performance of motor vehicle occupants. KW - Age KW - Days KW - Drowsiness KW - Fatalities KW - Gender KW - Periods of the day KW - Risk assessment KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - Vehicle occupants UR - http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/motor_vehicle_occupant_fatality_risk.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1362628 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570611 AU - Kevern, John T AU - Halmen, Ceki AU - Hudson, Dirk P AU - University of Missouri, Kansas City AU - Missouri Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of Resistivity Meters for Concrete Quality Assurance PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 181p AB - This research evaluated a series of Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) concrete mixtures to verify existing relationships between surface resistivity (SR), rapid chloride permeability (RCP), chloride ion diffusion, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) penetrability classes. The research also performed a precision and bias evaluation to provide acceptable limits should SR be implemented for quality assurance and to refine language in the AASHTO test standard. In the precision and bias determination concrete was produced from three field sites and tested at both University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) and MoDOT labs. Field mixtures included a paving mixture, a bridge deck mixture, and a structural mixture. Eleven other mix designs were produced in the lab and evaluated for RCP correlation and included paving, bridge deck, structural, and repair mixtures per Missouri Department of Transportation requirements. Additional testing included surface resistivity testing on sealed samples and an existing bridge deck. Results showed excellent correlation between SR and RCP which matched existing relationships provided by AASHTO and other state DOTs. The structural mixture containing 50% Class F fly ash had the best performance with “very low” chloride ion penetrability at 90 days. A ternary paving mixture with 20% Class C fly ash and 30% slag replacement for cement also demonstrated low permeability as well as high compressive strength with an average value of over 9,000 psi at 90 days. The two repair mixtures showed moderate to low penetrability readings and high early strength consistent with their desired purpose. Tests were also performed on a series of slab samples to evaluate SR as a tool for evaluating sealer application. The presence of silane and lithium silicate were able to be detected by the SR test. As value added to the laboratory research, field testing was attempted on a bridge deck with the goal of providing non-destructive insight to the steel condition in the field. Due to the condition of the bridge, conclusions could not be drawn other than making recommendations for future bridge deck evaluations. The extensive amount of surface resistivity testing (>4500 tests) on 14 concrete mixtures at ages from 3 hours to 90 days using multiple labs, equipment, operators, and curing conditions has verified RCP relationships and allowed refinement of a testing procedure for a MoDOT standard in the Engineering Policy Guide. Surface resistivity presents an opportunity to improve MoDOT concrete mixtures and specifications to increase durability without adding significant additional testing costs. KW - Admixtures KW - Concrete KW - Durability KW - Electrical resistivity KW - Evaluation KW - Field tests KW - Laboratory tests KW - Missouri Department of Transportation KW - Permeability KW - Quality assurance KW - Rapid Chloride Permeability Test KW - Test procedures UR - http://library.modot.mo.gov/RDT/reports/TR201414/cmr16-001.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55367/cmr16-001.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361885 ER - TY - SER AN - 01570519 JO - Research Results PB - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Jette, Aaron AU - Damm-Luhr, David AU - Ranney, Joyce TI - Evaluation of FRA Trespass Prevention Research Study PY - 2015/06 IS - RR 15-21 SP - 4p AB - The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), under the direction of the US DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development (R&D), conducted an independent internal evaluation of the FRA-sponsored Trespass Prevention Research Study (TPRS). The Volpe Center conducted the TPRS from 2009-2013 to develop and demonstrate trespass prevention and mitigation best practices. The study focused on a 7-mile stretch of South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Right-of-Way (ROW) on which SFRTA, CSX, and Amtrak trains operate, and 5 miles of Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC) ROW in the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. This evaluation focused on the design and implementation of the TPRS rather than the impact or efficacy of specific trespass prevention treatments. The evaluation identified lessons learned to use in the design and implementation of future trespass prevention studies, for example: Clarify upfront study’s intended outcome; Anticipate likely resource needs to support countermeasure implementation; Have a replicable research design; Engage stakeholders around specific issues; and Use risk-based metrics to assess impact. KW - Best practices KW - Countermeasures KW - Design KW - Florida East Coast Railway Company KW - Implementation KW - Prevention KW - Railroad facilities KW - Right of way (Land) KW - South Florida Regional Transportation Authority KW - Trespassers KW - West Palm Beach (Florida) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55116/TPRS_Evaluation_Research_Result.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361258 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570518 AU - Brecher, Aviva AU - Epstein, Aexander K AU - Breck, Andrew AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration TI - Review and Analysis of Potential Safety Impacts of and Regulatory Barriers to Fuel Efficiency Technologies and Alternative Fuels in Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 193p AB - This report summarizes a safety analysis of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MD/HDVs) equipped with fuel efficiency (FE) technologies and/or using alternative fuels (natural gas-CNG and LNG, propane, biodiesel and power train electrification). The study included a comprehensive literature review, complemented with inputs from subject matter experts (SMEs), and a scenario-based hazard analysis. Specific FE technologies examined include: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and telematics, speed limiters, idle reduction devices, tire technologies (single-wide tires, tire pressure monitoring systems-TPMS and Automated Tire Inflation Systems-ATIS), aerodynamic components, long combination vehicles (LCVs) and lightweighting materials. Federal and State safety regulations, and voluntary technical standards affecting MD/HDV fleet adoption of FE technologies and alternative fuels were discussed, and potential regulatory barriers identified. The findings suggest that the potential safety hazards identified can be prevented or mitigated by complying with safety regulations and voluntary standards and industry best practices. The study did not identify any major regulatory barriers to rapid adoption of FE technologies and alternative fuels by the MD/HDV fleet. KW - Aerodynamic features (Vehicle body components) KW - Alternate fuels KW - Buses KW - Compliance KW - Fuel efficiency KW - Heavy duty trucks KW - Heavy duty vehicles KW - Idle reduction KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Lightweight materials KW - Literature reviews KW - Longer combination vehicles KW - Medium trucks KW - Safety analysis KW - Safety regulations KW - Speed limiters KW - Telematics KW - Tires KW - Vehicle fleets UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55162/812159-RevSafetyImpactsRegulatoryFuelEfficiencyTechMDHD.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361255 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570515 AU - Horton, Suzanne AU - Segev, Eran AU - Meltzer, Neil AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - FMCSA Safety Program Effectiveness Measurement: Roadside Intervention Effectiveness Model, Fiscal Year 2011 PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 36p AB - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in cooperation with the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, has developed an analytic model to measure the effectiveness of roadside inspections and traffic enforcements in terms of the number of crashes avoided, injuries prevented, and lives saved. Traffic enforcements and roadside inspections are considered interventions; this analytic model is known as the Roadside Intervention Effectiveness Model (RIEM). This model provides FMCSA management with the information needed to address the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, which requires Federal agencies to measure the effectiveness of their programs as part of the budget cycle process. It also provides FMCSA and State safety program managers with a quantitative basis for optimizing the allocation of safety resources in the field. This report discusses the results of the RIEM for fiscal year (FY) 2011. KW - Commercial vehicles KW - Government Performance and Results Act KW - Inspection KW - Roadside KW - Roadside Intervention Effectiveness Model (RIEM) KW - Traffic law enforcement UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55113/RIEM_FY2011_FINAL_June_2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361254 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570511 AU - Tarr, Ronald W AU - Gammoh, Diala T AU - Totten, Eric P AU - University of Central Florida, Orlando AU - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration TI - Using Driver Simulators to Measure the Impact of Distracted Driving on Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 74p AB - Driver distraction is at the forefront of public discussion concerning safety on America’s roads and highways. Understanding the risks of distracted driving and finding ways to prevent it has been the goal of Federal, State, and private organizations for decades. The objective of this study was to address the identified gaps in the literature by conducting applied research to better quantify the dangers of distracted driving. Using state-of-the-art driving simulators in realistic traffic, this project focused on the performance of commercial driver’s license (CDL) operators while experiencing distractions in several driving scenarios, combined with various attention-stealing distractions. A research design was created to account for real-world phenomena, using touchscreen devices, cell phones, and external distractions while commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers drove a motion-based truck-driving simulator. These actions and the level of distraction inflicted were quantified by simulator, observation, and electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) data. Overall, both performance and physiological measures showed evidence of driver distraction. Performance measures suggested that the largest performance deficiencies came from actively using a touchscreen Mp3 player. Physiological measures (e.g., EEG) showed that both Mp3 players and cell phones increased workload and decreased attention. After the experiment, drivers provided testimonials that were recorded on video for use in outreach activities to communicate the extreme risks of distracted driving. KW - Cellular telephones KW - Commercial drivers KW - Commercial vehicle operations KW - Distraction KW - Driving simulators KW - Electrocardiography KW - Electroencephalography KW - Highway safety KW - Touchscreens KW - Truck drivers UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55167/13-048_Distracted_Driving_-_FINAL_-_June_2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361257 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570396 AU - Schwebel, David C AU - Rodriguez, Daniel AU - Sisiopiku, Virginia AU - Combs, Tabitha AU - Severson, Joan AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - University of Alabama, Birmingham AU - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill AU - Alabama Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Community-Based Pedestrian Safety Training in Virtual Reality: A Pragmatic Trial PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 28p AB - Child pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity across the United States and the world. Repeated practice at the cognitive-perceptual task of crossing a street may lead to safer pedestrian behavior. Virtual reality offers a unique opportunity for repeated practice without the risk of actual injury. This study conducted a pragmatic pre-post within-subjects trial of training children in pedestrian safety using a semi-mobile, semi-immersive virtual pedestrian environment placed at schools and community centers. Pedestrian safety skills among a group of 44 seven- and eight-year-old children were assessed in a laboratory, and then children completed six 15-minutes training sessions in the virtual pedestrian environment at their school or community center over the course of three weeks. Following training, pedestrian safety skills were re-assessed. Results indicate improvement in delay entering traffic following training. Safe crossings did not demonstrate change. Attention to traffic and time to contact with oncoming vehicles both decreased somewhat, perhaps an indication that training was incomplete and children were in the process of actively learning to be safer pedestrians. The findings suggest virtual reality environments placed in community centers hold promise for teaching children to be safer pedestrians, but future research is needed to determine the optimal training dosage. KW - Children KW - Crosswalks KW - Education and training KW - Pedestrian movement KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Virtual reality UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_final_report_2013-004S_Schwebel.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55331/STRIDE_final_report_2013-004S_Schwebel.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360192 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570394 AU - Puccinelli, Jason AU - Karamihas, Steven M AU - Hall, Kathleen T AU - Minassian, Jonathan AU - Senn, Kevin AU - Nichols Consulting Engineers AU - University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance Evaluation of Arizona’s LTPP SPS‐9 Project: Strategic Study of Flexible Pavement Binder Factors PY - 2015/06 SP - 90p AB - As part of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) constructed eight Specific Pavement Studies 9 (SPS‐9) test sections on Interstate 10 near Phoenix (04B900). SPS‐9A 04B900 is an overlay project and is accordingly given independent analysis and documentation in this report separate from Arizona SPS‐9B projects (040900 and 04A900) located on US 93, which were new construction and are documented in a separate report. The SPS‐9A project studied the effect of asphalt specification and mix designs on flexible pavements, specifically comparing Superpave binders with commonly used agency binders. Opened to traffic in 1995, the project was monitored at regular intervals until it was rehabilitated in 2005. 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 ADOT. KW - Arizona KW - Binders KW - Deflection KW - Flexible pavements KW - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program KW - Mix design KW - Pavement design KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement layers KW - Pavement performance UR - http://apps.azdot.gov/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ396(9A).pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359771 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570390 AU - Swenty, Matthew K AU - Cousins, Thomas E AU - Roberts-Wollmann, Carin L AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Investigation of Panel-to-Panel Connections and Block-outs for Full-Depth Precast Concrete Bridge Decks PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 73p AB - Experimental tests were performed at Virginia Tech to investigate transverse panel-to-panel connections and horizontal shear connector block-outs for full-depth precast concrete bridge deck panels. The connections were designed for a deck replacement project for a rural three-span continuous steel beam bridge in Virginia. Two reinforced and four post-tensioned connections were designed and tested in cyclical loading. Each connection was tested on a full-scale, two-beam setup in negative bending with a simulated HS-20 vehicle. The block-outs for the horizontal shear connections were also scrutinized during construction and testing. Several surface treatments were investigated to determine the best strategy to limit cracking and leakage at the grout-concrete interface. The strain profile, cracking patterns, and ponding results are presented for all specimens. The reinforced connections and two post-tensioned connections with 167 psi initial stress experienced cracking and leaked water by the end of the cyclic loading regime. In two connections post-tensioned with an initial compressive stress of 340 psi, the tensile stress in the deck under full live load remained below approximately 3√(f'c). These transverse connections did not leak water, did not have full-depth cracking, and maintained a nearly linear strain distribution throughout the design life. Full-depth deck panels may be effectively used on continuous bridges if post-tensioning force is applied to the transverse connections to keep the total tensile stress (remaining prestress minus live load stress) below 3√(f'c). The block-outs with a sand-blasted surface or an epoxy primer combined with a grout that met the requirements recommended by Scholz et al. (2007) had only slight water leakage, and had smaller cracks at the grout-concrete interface than the control samples. These surface treatments are recommended for best long-term performance. KW - Bridge decks KW - Cracking KW - Grout KW - Laboratory tests KW - Load tests KW - Panels KW - Posttensioning KW - Precast concrete KW - Structural connection KW - Surface treating KW - Tensile strength UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r5.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55229/15-r5.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360033 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570372 AU - Schmalzer, Peter N AU - Karamihas, Steven M AU - Punnackal, Timin AU - Meyer, Hans AU - Senn, Kevin AU - Puccinelli, Jason AU - Nichols Consulting Engineers AU - Arizona Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Performance Evaluation of Arizona’s LTPP SPS‐5 Project: Strategic Study of Rehabilitation of Asphalt Concrete Pavements PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 186p AB - As part of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) constructed 11 Specific Pavement Study‐5 (SPS‐5) test sections on Interstate 8 near Casa Grande. The SPS‐5 project studied a variety of different rehabilitation methods for asphalt concrete pavements. The project was opened to traffic in 1990 and monitored at regular intervals until it was placed out of study in 2009. Surface distress, profile, and deflection data collected throughout the life of the pavement were used to evaluate the performance of rehabilitation methods using unique combinations of minimal and intensive surface preparation, virgin and recycled asphalt, and thick and thin overlay thicknesses. This report documents the analyses conducted as well as practical findings and lessons learned that will be of interest to ADOT KW - Long-Term Pavement Performance Program KW - Arizona KW - Asphalt concrete pavements KW - Deflection KW - Overlays (Pavements) KW - Pavement distress KW - Pavement performance KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) UR - http://apps.azdot.gov/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ396(5).pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55232/AZ396_5_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359784 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570336 AU - Fontaine, Michael D AU - Ma, Jiaqi AU - Hu, Jia AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of the Virginia Department of Transportation Adaptive Signal Control Technology Pilot Project PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 56p AB - Currently, most traffic signals operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) use actuated plans that vary by time of day (TOD) and day of the week. These timing plans are typically developed off-line using traffic count information collected in the field and then processed using signal optimization software. This method works well as long as traffic volumes remain consistent with the conditions used to develop the timing plan, but timing plans can become suboptimal if traffic demands deviate from those conditions. Traffic growth over time, seasonal changes in traffic, special events, or incidents can all cause TOD plans to perform poorly, resulting in increased delays to drivers. As a result, VDOT must regularly retime signalized intersections to deal with long-term changes in travel patterns, which incurs costs to VDOT. Even so, non-recurring events can still cause TOD plans to perform poorly. Adaptive signal control technology (ASCT) is one tool that has been proposed to handle variable traffic demand better. VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division began a pilot program to install the InSync ASCT developed by Rhythm Engineering on 13 corridors around the state beginning in 2011. The InSync system uses enhanced detection along a corridor to adjust signal timing parameters dynamically to meet observed demand in real time, eliminating the need to develop static timing plans. This allows the ASCT system to adjust signal timing parameters to account for variations in flow attributable to special events, seasonal flows, incidents, or simply the increase of volumes over time. In this case, signal timings are not pre-defined based on historic data, so ASCT systems can potentially reduce delays created by outdated static TOD plans. These pilot deployments were evaluated to determine if ASCT created operational and safety improvements large enough to justify the additional costs to install ASCT. Data on mainline traffic operations, side street delays, and intersection crashes were collected with and without ASCT active. The results showed that mainline traffic operations generally improved if (1) the corridor was not oversaturated; (2) the corridor did not have characteristics that encourage platoon dispersion; and (3) the corridor did not already function well. Side street delays generally increased, although net benefits in overall corridor travel time were usually still observed. An empirical Bayes safety analysis of crashes at the intersections where ASCT was installed also found a 17% decrease in total crashes. Overall, ASCT generally produced a favorable benefit/cost ratio. The findings from the pilot tests were used to identify key considerations for future ASCT deployments so that VDOT could better identify future sites that might benefit from ASCT installation. KW - Adaptive control KW - Bayes' theorem KW - Before and after studies KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Pilot studies KW - Traffic crashes KW - Traffic delays KW - Traffic signal control systems KW - Traffic signal timing KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r24.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55230/15-r24.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360032 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570333 AU - Levine, Jonathan AU - Morton, Tom AU - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor AU - University of Illinois, Chicago AU - Woodward Communications AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - The Impact of Automated Transit, Pedestrian, and Bicycling Facilities on Urban Travel Patterns: Summary Report PY - 2015/06 SP - 24p AB - Researchers conducted a survey in four metropolitan Chicago neighborhoods served by commuter rail to explore how residents’ travel preferences might change with the potential addition of (1) an automated community transit (shuttle) service to and from the station and (2) a package of streetscape improvements to facilitate walking and bicycling to the station. The neighborhoods differ in levels of population density, current rail use, land use, and affluence. By using a telephone and mail survey to determine residents’ current travel patterns and preferences with the potential improvements, agent-based modeling, and activity-based modeling, the researchers forecast a possible overall decrease in car use of 39 percent and an increase in commuter rail use of 34 percent with the improvements. The shuttle service produced greater changes in lower density neighborhoods, with forecast of transit use doubling in the lowest density neighborhood. Travelers’ perceptions of cost, time, and safety are explored, and the differences among communities’ responses to the improvements and their implications for the relative effectiveness of each potential improvement are discussed. This report summarizes the Exploratory Advanced Research Program project “Effects of Automated Transit and Pedestrian/Bicycling Facilities on Urban Travel Patterns.” The final project report is available at https://taubmancollege.umich.edu/faculty/ faculty-publications/effects-automated-transit-pedestrian-and-bicycling-facilities-urban. KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Chicago (Illinois) KW - Consumer preferences KW - Forecasting KW - Improvements KW - Pedestrian areas KW - Population density KW - Railroad commuter service KW - Shuttle service KW - Streetscape KW - Surveys KW - Travel patterns UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/15015/15015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1361074 ER - TY - SER AN - 01570330 JO - Civil Engineering Studies, Illinois Center for Transportation Series PB - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Tutumluer, Erol AU - Ozer, Hasan AU - Hou, Wenting AU - Mwumvaneza, Vincent AU - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Illinois Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Sustainable Aggregates Production: Green Applications for Aggregate By-Products PY - 2015/06 IS - 15-012 SP - 73p AB - Increased emphasis in the construction industry on sustainability and recycling requires production of aggregate gradations with lower dust (cleaner aggregates) and smaller maximum sizes—hence, increased amount of quarry by-products (QBs). QBs are usually less than 1/4 in. (6 mm) in size. This report provides findings of an industry survey conducted among Illinois aggregate producers on the annual production rate, excess QBs generated, and current application areas of QBs. In addition, a detailed laboratory study was conducted to characterize the engineering properties of QB materials produced in the primary, secondary, and tertiary aggregate production stages from four different quarries operating in the State of Illinois. Since unconfined compressive strength for QB materials was low (less than 11 psi), chemical admixture stabilizers such as Portland cement and Class C fly ash were used to improve the strength properties of QB materials. Significant increases in the strength of stabilized QB materials observed may indicate suitability of QBs for sustainable pavement applications. Recommendations are made on potential strategies to utilize excess fines by incorporating QB materials in pavement construction. KW - Aggregates KW - Compressive strength KW - Fines (Materials) KW - Illinois KW - Laboratory studies KW - Quarries KW - Recommendations KW - Surveys KW - Sustainable development KW - Waste products UR - https://apps.ict.illinois.edu/projects/getfile.asp?id=3507 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55316/FHWA-ICT-15-012.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360904 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570320 AU - Liu, Lee AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Exploration of Walking Behavior in Vermont Using Spatial Regression PY - 2015/06 AB - This report focuses on the relationship between walking and its contributing factors by applying spatial regression methods. Using the Vermont data from the New England Transportation Survey (NETS), walking variables as well as 170 independent variables are derived including some through spatial analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Among those independent variables, people’s lifestyle and perception of the built environment variables are included. A linear regression model is first established to serve as a base model for comparisons with spatial regression models. The results reveal that people’s lifestyle and perception of the built environment are significant variables explaining Vermonters’ walking behavior. Methodologically, the results reveal that no spatial effect is found and that there are no significant differences between the linear and spatial regression models. Therefore, the study concludes that it may be appropriate to apply traditional non-spatial statistical tools to analyze the relationship between walking and its contributing factors. However, the study suggests that researchers examine whether spatial effect exists in these inherently spatial behaviors before using only traditional statistics. This caution is particularly relevant as methods to estimate spatial models become more commonplace and easily available. The two spatial methods used in this report both reveal small but different challenges. KW - Behavior KW - Geographic information systems KW - Linear regression analysis KW - Spatial analysis KW - Vermont KW - Walking UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-14-011.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55281/UVM-TRC-14-011.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360030 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570310 AU - Laval, Jorge A AU - Yin, Yafeng AU - Lou, Yingyan AU - Cho, Hyun W AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Comparative Analysis of Dynamic Pricing Strategies for Managed Lanes PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 81p AB - The objective of this research is to investigate and compare the performances of different dynamic pricing strategies for managed lanes facilities. These pricing strategies include real-time traffic responsive methods, as well as refund options and tradable credit schemes. Analytical expressions for the assignment, revenue and total delay in each alternative are derived as a function of the pricing strategy. It is found that minimum total system delay can be achieved with many different pricing strategies. This gives flexibility to operators to allocate congestion to either alternative according to their specific objective while maintaining the same minimum total system delay. Given a specific objective, the optimal pricing strategy can be determined by finding a single parameter value in the case of high-occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes. Performances of pricing strategies are compared by simulation experiments. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Managed lanes KW - Revenues KW - Road pricing KW - Simulation KW - Traffic delays UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/2012_089S_STRIDE_FINAL_REPORT_Laval_final.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55330/2012_089S_STRIDE_FINAL_REPORT_Laval_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360024 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570277 AU - Watkins, Kari AU - La Mondia, Jeffrey AU - Brakewood, Candace AU - Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Developing a New Course for Public Transportation Education PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 30p AB - Safe, efficient, and accessible public transportation is a key component of livable and sustainable transportation systems. It is therefore critical that both undergraduate and graduate-level Civil Engineering students have a better understanding of the planning, design, and operation of public transportation systems so they can improve or support these systems when they enter the workforce. Unfortunately, this material is not readily available in most university curriculums. Therefore, the main goal of this project is to develop a set of public transportation course modules for both the Introduction to Transportation (an undergraduate senior course) and a stand-alone Transit Planning and Operations course (a specialized graduate course) that will be shared and evaluated at different universities. The modules were designed to be easily applied by instructors with limited experience in the transit industry and in conducting transit systems research. The process for designing the modules included researching applicable literature, reaching out and collaborating with educators and practitioners, and mind mapping the core concepts needed for transportation practice. The modules were implemented, assessed and revised based on student learning outcomes. KW - Civil engineering KW - Curricula KW - Education KW - Public transit KW - Sustainable transportation UR - http://stride.ce.ufl.edu/uploads/docs/STRIDE_Report_Final_2012-029S_Watkins.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55328/STRIDE_Report_Final_2012-029S_Watkins.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360023 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570267 AU - Lyon, Craig AU - Persaud, Bhagwant AU - Eccles, Kimberly AU - Vanessa Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated AU - Persaud Lyon, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Safety Evaluation of Centerline Plus Shoulder Rumble Strips PY - 2015/06 SP - 64p AB - The Federal Highway Administration organized a pooled fund study of 38 States to evaluate low-cost safety strategies as part of its strategic highway safety effort. One of the strategies selected for evaluation was the combined application of centerline and shoulder rumble strips. This strategy is intended to reduce the frequency of crashes by alerting drivers that they are about to leave the travelled lane. Geometric, traffic, and crash data were obtained at treated two-lane rural road locations in Kentucky, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. To account for potential selection bias and regression-to-the-mean, an Empirical Bayes before-after analysis was conducted, using reference groups of untreated two-lane rural roads with similar characteristics to the treated sites. The analysis also controls for changes in traffic volumes over time and time trends in crash counts unrelated to the treatment. The combined results for all States indicate statistically significant crash reductions for all crash types analyzed. The crash type with the smallest crash modification factor (CMF) (i.e., the greatest crash reduction) is head-on, with a CMF of 0.632. Run-off-road and sideswipe-opposite-direction crashes have estimated CMFs of 0.742 and 0.767, respectively. For run-off-road, head-on, and sideswipe-opposite-direction crashes combined (i.e., lane departure crashes), the estimated CMF is 0.733. For all crash types combined, CMFs of 0.800 for all severities and 0.771 for fatal+injury were estimated. Intersection-related and animal crashes were excluded from the evaluation. Benefit-cost ratios were estimated to range from 20.2 to 54.7, depending on the treatment cost and service life assumption, which varied by State. These results are based on conservative service life assumptions. KW - Bayes' theorem KW - Before and after studies KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Center lines KW - Crash rates KW - Evaluation KW - Kentucky KW - Missouri KW - Pennsylvania KW - Road shoulders KW - Rumble strips KW - Rural highways KW - Two lane highways UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/15048/15048.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360393 ER - TY - SER AN - 01570264 JO - Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note PB - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration AU - Greenwall, N K TI - National Child Restraint Use Special Study PY - 2015/06 SP - 2p AB - From June to August of 2011 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted the National Child Restraint Use Special Study (NCRUSS). This survey was nationally representative, with data collected at 24 randomly selected geographic areas in the United States. The survey data includes observations of the restraint systems of child passengers from birth to age 8, conducted by certified child passenger safety technicians, as well as associated interview data given by the drivers of these child passengers. In total, 4,167 complete observations (child restraint inspections with driver interviews) were gathered by the research staff. The Study documents how car seats and booster seats are used in the field, drivers’ attitudes and beliefs about car seats and booster seats and their confidence with installing them, and lower anchor connectors and tether strap installations. Misuse of car seats and boosters seats can be derived from the study, which resulted in an estimated 46 percent combined rate of misuse for car seats and booster seats. Incorrect amount of recline, loose car seat installation, and improper lap belt position were the most observed misuses for rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, and booster seats, respectively. KW - Attitudes KW - Child restraint systems KW - Children KW - Drivers KW - Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) KW - Surveys KW - United States KW - Vehicle safety UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812157.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360888 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570262 AU - Lemp, Jason AU - Cambridge Systematics, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Peer Review PY - 2015/06//Final Report AB - This report details the proceedings of a peer review of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) statewide transportation model. The peer review was intended to provide guidance to the VDOT Transportation and Mobility Planning Division on their statewide model, which is currently under development. KW - Peer review KW - State departments of transportation KW - Transportation planning KW - Travel demand KW - Travel Model Improvement Program KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tmip/resources/peer_review_program/vdot/fhwahep15042.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359986 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570261 AU - Fukagawa, Naomi K AU - Holmén, Britt A AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Department of Transportation TI - Biological Inflammatory and Metabolic Effects of Petro- and Bio-diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter Emissions from a Light-Duty Diesel Engine PY - 2015/06//Final Technical Report SP - 14p AB - Sustainability of our transportation system depends on making well-informed choices on vehicle energy sources for human and goods mobility. Motor vehicles operating on fossil fuels are a significant source of air pollution risk and challenge the ability of humans to mitigate climate change. Biodiesel is a low carbon fuel substitute for petroleum diesel, but relatively little is known about how exposure to biodiesel combustion particles affects chronic diseases such as asthma and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined the effect of particulate matter (PM) generated by the combustion of commercially available petrodiesel and soybean biodiesel fuels on inflammation and metabolic dysfunction using two types of in vivo experiments. To evaluate inflammation response, oropharyngeal 3-day exposures of females to B20 (20% biodiesel/80% petrodiesel by volume) and B0 (100% petrodiesel) particles from a light-duty diesel engine operating on a semi-transient cycle were followed by lung fluid and tissue biochemical analysis. Prenatal exposure effects on offspring growth and metabolism were evaluated by maternal exposure during gestational days 9-17 (delivery 18-20 days) and monitoring offspring for 12 months. Prenatal exposure to exhaust PM from petrodiesel fuel combustion had different metabolic effects in male vs. female offspring. For B20 exhaust PM, the number of offspring was too low to detect differences. The results of this study suggest that males and females may have differential risk for metabolic dysfunction after prenatal exposure during gestation. Future studies should be conducted to quantify sex-specific effects on exposure to vehicle exhaust PM from biodiesel fuel blends. KW - Air pollution KW - Biodiesel fuels KW - Diesel engine exhaust gases KW - Diseases and medical conditions KW - Gender KW - Metabolism KW - Particulates UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-009.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360027 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01569007 AU - Colgrove, George W AU - Vermont Agency of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Assessment of Jahn Permeable Mortar System in a Historic Bridge Abutment Application PY - 2015/06//Initial SP - 37p AB - Increasingly, the importance of historic preservation is competing with the requirements to enhance structural capacity of older unique structures. Preservation of the functional and aesthetic qualities limits potential change to meet the expanded needs of the traveling public. The Taftsville Covered Bridge in Woodstock, Vermont was deteriorating at a time the public needed increased capacity. Then in 2011, the tropical storm remnant of Hurricane Irene rendered the bridge impassable. Significant damage to the substructure and superstructure occurred. The bridge required a complete deconstruction and reconstruction to correct deficiencies and enhance capacity. Design and construction techniques focused on retention of the historic presence and value the bridge offered for over a century and a half. The Taftsville Covered Bridge has been repaired and improved many times over its life. This project continued that trend by restoring one abutment and pier with added strength by the use of Jahn mortar and grout. The existing laid-up stone was repointed with Mortar with minimal addition of new stone where large gaps were located. Once the shell formed by the existing stone and the new mortar set up, a flowable grout was placed within the stones to bond the stones together, thereby strengthening the substructures. The containment of the stones provided increased reliability in addition to strength. The feature the Vermont Agency of Transportation hoped to maintain was the high permeability of the abutment. The permeability of the Jahn system minimizes damage caused by internal hydrostatic pressures and the effects of chlorides locked within the stone substructures observed in other mortars and grout systems. KW - Bridge abutments KW - Bridge piers KW - Covered bridges KW - Grout KW - Historic bridges KW - Mortar KW - Permeability KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Woodstock (Vermont) UR - http://vtransplanning.vermont.gov/sites/aot_policy/files/2015%20-%2010%20Assessment%20of%20Jahn%20Permeable%20Mortar%20System%20In%20a%20Historic%20Bridge%20Abutment%20Application.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359325 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568661 AU - Li, Dingqing AU - Wilson, Nicholas AU - Tajaddini, Ali AU - Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Needs Assessment—Railroad Test Track Siding Options for High Speed Testing PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 44p AB - This report presents the results and findings from a study titled “Needs Assessment—Railroad Test Track (RTT) Siding Options for High Speed Testing.” This study was conducted to (1) determine potential capabilities that the proposed siding test track for the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) RTT can offer, (2) develop requirement specifications for a siding test track for high speed rail (HSR) testing and track geometry car qualification, and (3) develop and analyze various options to achieve the specified requirements and provide rough order of magnitude (ROM) design and construction costs. Based on a literature review that will include a survey of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations, a siding test track to RTT can be built to offer a number of essential HSR testing capabilities for research and development, vehicle performance testing, endurance testing, and communication and train control testing. Eight options for a siding test track have been developed. Each option was evaluated on its ability to meet testing requirements, particularly the requirements for a perturbed track section and high speed turnouts, its limitations and merits, and associated ROM design and construction costs. KW - Costs KW - Design KW - High speed rail KW - Literature reviews KW - Needs assessment KW - Sidings (Railroads) KW - Specifications KW - Test facilities UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14790 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359215 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568657 AU - Wilmot, Chester G AU - Li, Wan AU - Glascock, Stephen AU - Graham, Glen AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge AU - Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - National Center for Intermodal Transportation for Economic Competitiveness AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Improving Freight Crash Incident Management PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 79p AB - The objective of this study was to determine the most effective way to mitigate the effect of freight crash incidents on Louisiana freeways. Candidate incident management strategies were reviewed from practice in other states and from those published in the literature. Current legislation in the state was also reviewed. A procedure to estimate the cost of delay caused by an incident was developed and used to provide a rough estimate of the cost efficiency of an Instant Tow Dispatch Program and an Expedited Towing Program. Both were estimated to be highly cost-efficient with the estimated cost of delay far exceeding the estimated cost of the programs. Implementation of an Instant Tow Dispatch program and an Authority Removal Law was recommended. KW - Costs KW - Freight transportation KW - Incident management KW - Laws and legislation KW - Literature reviews KW - Louisiana KW - State of the practice KW - Traffic crashes UR - http://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/2015/FR_542.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359230 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568656 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Citizen Reporting of Current Road Conditions: Experiences at Five State Departments of Transportation PY - 2015/06 SP - 9p AB - This best practices document reviews, compares, and contrasts citizen reporting programs that capture current weather and road conditions at five state departments of transportation—Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Iowa, and Minnesota. KW - Best practices KW - Case studies KW - Crowdsourcing KW - Idaho KW - Iowa KW - Minnesota KW - Public participation KW - State departments of transportation KW - Traveler information and communication systems KW - Utah KW - Weather conditions KW - Wyoming UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/best_practices/citizenreportingcrc/citizenreportingcrc.pdf UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/best_practices/citizenreportingcrc/index.htm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359223 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568647 AU - Chellappa, Rama AU - Gibert, Xavier AU - Patel, Vishal AU - University of Maryland, College Park AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Robust Anomaly Detection for Vision-Based Inspection of Railway Components PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 58p AB - The Computer Vision Laboratory at the University of Maryland has completed a two-year research project in which it developed a library of tools and algorithms that are used to inspect railway tracks with machine vision technology. This technology has been integrated into a distributed computing framework and a user-friendly review package with a client-server interface. This framework is built on top of high-quality open-source C++ software libraries and can run on many different platforms, including Windows, Linux, OS X, and iOS. The software has been thoroughly tested and ENSCO, Incorporated has successfully used these tools during the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-sponsored project that evaluated the degradation rates of concrete ties on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The final deliverable contains algorithms for crack detection, fastener detection and classification, as well as semantic segmentation for material classification and anomaly detection. KW - Algorithms KW - Cracking KW - Flaw detection KW - Machine vision KW - Rail fasteners KW - Railroad tracks KW - Software UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14789 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359216 ER - TY - SER AN - 01567486 JO - Research Results PB - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Zhao, Tom TI - Low Ground Clearance Vehicle Detection and Warning PY - 2015/06 IS - 15-18 SP - 4p AB - A Low Ground Clearance Vehicle Detection System (LGCVDS) determines if a commercial motor vehicle can successfully clear a highway-rail grade crossing and notifies the driver when his or her vehicle cannot safely traverse the crossing. That is, differences in elevation between the roadway and track at some locations are such that certain vehicles are more likely to become immobilized with the attendant risk of being struck by an oncoming train. To create such a detection system, the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA’s) Office of Research and Development awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract to Advanced Technology and Research (ATR) of Columbia, Maryland to assess whether an LGCVDS is feasible and, if it is possible to develop a conceptual design for such a system. Specifically, ATR was asked to develop a reliable automated active system which would be installed at approaches to identified high-profile grade crossings. KW - Clearances (Navigation) KW - Commercial vehicles KW - Detection and identification systems KW - Low-clearance vehicles KW - Rail profiles KW - Railroad grade crossings UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14564 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1356583 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567454 AU - Khattak, Asad J AU - Wang, Xin AU - Son, Sanghoon AU - Liu, Jun AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Data Needs Assessment for Making Transportation Decisions in Virginia PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 85p AB - To better plan, operate, and maintain the transportation system in Virginia, this study identifies Virginia transportation professionals’ planning-related data needs, obstacles to fulfilling those needs, and potential solutions for overcoming those obstacles. Based on interviews with practitioners, a survey of 182 professionals, and a review of data management practices in the literature, the study finds that needs vary by organizational type: whereas only 41% of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) survey respondents have at least one unmet data need, this percentage climbs to 70% for metropolitan planning organization and local respondents. When all respondents were asked to name, out of 51 databases, those that were needed but not available, almost one-fifth of all respondents cited three databases relating to infrastructure, safety, and operations; in Virginia these databases are known as roadway network system (RNS), Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), and data maintained by the Traffic Operations Center (TOC), respectively. A primary obstacle to meeting data needs is data availability: some proprietary data owned by VDOT cannot legally be shared with external agencies, some datasets are restricted in how they can be shared due to security concerns, and some datasets can be shared but are not known to external partners. Other obstacles include data quality, time required to access datasets, and database diversity as the survey suggested that planners need access to a wider variety of databases than do other types of transportation professionals. Potential solutions documented in the report are to increase user awareness through seminars or the creation of a transportation data map, improve ease of access for select users through the use of virtual private networks, improve ease of use through providing a single location as a starting point for acquiring some publicly available existing data, and integrate databases in instances where common data elements allow such integration. In the short term, two recommended courses of action appear feasible: (1) conduct a workshop to make external partners and VDOT staff aware of some of these diverse databases, and (2) conduct periodic meetings of planning, information technology, and research staff to identify ways to enhance data sharing. KW - Data management KW - Data sharing KW - Databases KW - Information dissemination KW - Literature reviews KW - Needs assessment KW - Surveys KW - Transportation planning KW - Virginia UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r23.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358921 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567437 AU - Lopez-Bernal, Gabriel AU - Schweiger, Carol AU - Jacobi, Amy AU - Craig, John L AU - Noblis AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Transit Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Applications: Near Term Research and Development: Transit Traveler Information Infrastructure Mobility Application: Operational Concept PY - 2015/06//Final Report AB - This document serves as an Operational Concept for the Transit Traveler Information Infrastructure Mobility Application. The purpose of this document is to provide an operational description of “how” the Transit Traveler Information Infrastructure Mobility Application may operate. The Transit Traveler Information Infrastructure Mobility Application connects transit vehicles and travelers to nearby infrastructure, such as a smart intersection, smart bus stop and smart parking. For example, transit vehicles would communicate with transit stops to provide travelers information on approaching vehicles, such as passenger loads, available disability seating, bicycle rack availability, fare information, etc. The application would support dynamic trip planning at transit stops. The Operational Concept discusses the following scenarios: Scenario 1: Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) (and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V)) traveler information and dynamic trip planning at bus stops for travelers without personal information devices. Scenario 2: V2I (and I2V) traveler information and dynamic trip planning at bus stops for travelers with personal information devices. This document is intended to convey at a high-level how the application may work, so others may design and implement systems in the future. As such, the Transit V2I Operational Concept documents are “generalized” and not specific to a geographic area, an operating entity (e.g., transit agency), existing systems that may be in place for a region, agency operating procedures, nor political environment. KW - Advanced traveler information systems KW - Bus stops KW - Mobile applications KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Mobility KW - Public transit KW - Travel demand management KW - Vehicle to infrastructure communications UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55100/55145/FHWA-JPO-15-212_v1.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358318 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567403 AU - Williams, R Christopher AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Premature Asphalt Concrete Pavement Cracking PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 163p AB - Recently, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has identified hot mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) pavements that have displayed top-down cracking within three years of construction. The objective of the study was to evaluate the top-down cracked pavement sections and compare the results with the non-cracked pavement sections. Research involved evaluating six surface cracked pavements and four non-cracked pavement sections. The research included extensive field and laboratory investigations of the 10 pavement sections by conducting distress surveys, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing, dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) testing, and coring from the cracked and non-cracked pavement sections. Cores were then subjected to a full laboratory-testing program to evaluate the HMAC mixtures and binder rheology. The laboratory investigation included dynamic modulus, indirect tensile (IDT) strength, and specific gravity testing on the HMAC cores, binder rheological tests on asphalt binder and aggregate gradation analysis. The FWD and DCP tests indicated that top-down cracked pavement sections were structurally sound, even some of the sections with top-down cracking showed better structural capacity compared to non-cracked sections. The study also found that top-down cracking initiation and propagation were independent of pavement cross-section or the HMAC thickness. The dynamic modulus testing indicated that cores from all the top-down cracked pavement sections except one section (OR 140) possessed stiffer mixtures than that of non-cracked pavement sections. All four non-cracked pavement areas were found to be exhibiting fairly high IDT strength, and low variability in IDT strength and HMAC density when compared to top-down cracked sections as indicated by the IDT strength tests and air void analysis. Asphalt binder rheological test result indicated that asphalt binders from all the top-down cracked sections except OR140 showed higher complex shear modulus (stiffer binder) compared to non-cracked pavement sections. The study concluded that top-down cracking could be caused by a number of contributors such as stiffer HMAC mixtures, mixture segregation, binder aging, low HMAC tensile strength, and high variability in tensile strength or by combination of any. KW - Aggregate gradation KW - Asphalt concrete pavements KW - Cone penetrometers KW - Cracking of asphalt concrete pavements KW - Dynamic modulus of elasticity KW - Falling weight deflectometers KW - Field tests KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Laboratory tests KW - Pavement distress KW - Rheological properties KW - Tensile strength UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SPR734_PrematureCracking_FinalReport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357778 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567392 AU - Spencer, B F AU - Moreu, F AU - Kim, R AU - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Campaign Monitoring of Railroad Bridges in High-Speed Rail Shared Corridors using Wireless Smart Sensors PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 78p AB - This research project used wireless smart sensors to develop a cost-effective and practical portable structural health monitoring system for railroad bridges in North America. The system is designed for periodic deployment rather than as a permanent installation to enable campaign-style bridge response monitoring under in-service conditions. This research project measured bridge responses from a 310 feet long steel truss bridge using wireless sensors and developed a finite element (FE) model to obtain global bridge responses under varied train loads and speeds. Additionally, this project developed a new simple beam model that predicts critical speeds and resonances based on train traffic properties. The results from this pilot project provide a technological foundation to develop campaign monitoring sensor technology as an important tool with which to manage railroad bridge assets. KW - Bearing capacity KW - Finite element method KW - High speed rail KW - North America KW - Railroad bridges KW - Sensors KW - Structural health monitoring UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14569 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357771 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567380 AU - Mehary, Selamawit Tesfayesus AU - Dusicka, Peter AU - Portland State University AU - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium AU - Oregon Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Seismic Retrofit Benefit Considering Statewide Transportation Assessment PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 88p AB - The purpose of this study was to identify and demonstrate a methodology to prioritize bridges for retrofit in the State of Oregon. Given the limited resources available, retrofitting all vulnerable bridges in the foreseeable future would not be impractical. Instead, a retrofit strategy needs to be developed to prioritize the inventory and enumerate the retrofit cost. In this study, a prioritization methodology used a holistic assessment of overall roadway system to consider highway route segments, rather than individual bridges. The overall assessment was based on a cost-benefit analysis including retrofit cost, expected economic loss (with or without retrofit) and social loss caused by system wide travel time delays. A review of 2010 Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) bridge inventory suggested that a continuous concrete girder bridge (CCGS) with three spans could be utilized to represent a sizeable portion of vulnerable inventory for Oregon highways bridges. After reviewing several potential retrofit measures, carbon fiber composite material was selected for retrofit of vulnerable columns representing those built from the 1950s to mid-1970s. Four full-scale typical square columns were tested to failure. The results showed that despite the intentionally selected square geometry of the reinforced concrete columns, the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite material showed to be an effective retrofit measure and could be deployed for to address this deficiency. The software package REDARS2 was used for seismic risk analysis (SRA) of the highway network in this study. This platform was adopted to simulate the impact of scenario earthquakes in an effort to assess the expected benefit considering direct bridge costs as well as social costs from traffic induced delays resulting from seismic retrofitting of a particular bridge type. The assessment considered three scenario Cascadia Subsection Zone earthquakes of magnitudes 9.0, 8.5 North, and, 8.5 South. The study area included all highway routes west of the I-5 corridor, highway routes in the Portland area, the entire length of US-101 and extending partially east on I-84 Columbia River Highway. Due to the considerations of a single bridge type and other limitations identified in the seismic analysis software (REDARS2), the retrofit assessment outcomes should be regarded as a first order estimate. KW - Assessments KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Columns KW - Continuous girder bridges KW - Earthquake resistant design KW - Highway bridges KW - Oregon KW - Reinforced concrete KW - Retrofitting KW - Risk analysis KW - Traffic delays UR - http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/ResearchReports/SRS500_480_FinalReport.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357777 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567371 AU - Burden, Lindsay Ivey AU - Hoppe, Edward J AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Synthesis of Trenchless Technologies PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 45p AB - The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of the practice of state highway agencies regarding methods and specifications for using trenchless technologies. From the perspective of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the paramount concern associated with trenchless construction is the safety of the traveling public. Since such construction typically takes place without the re-routing of traffic, any sudden and substantial surface displacement of the overlying roadway has the potential for catastrophic consequences. Surface monitoring during and after construction is a critical activity to ensure successful installation. The study focused on the most commonly used trenchless methods for new construction, including the selection of the most appropriate trenchless technology for specific applications, the identification of minimum geotechnical investigation requirements, design considerations, construction monitoring, costs, and performance. The study did not address all potentially available methods of utility construction and rehabilitation. To achieve the study objective, two tasks were performed: (1) the literature on the current state of the practice with respect to the use of trenchless technology in other states was reviewed, and (2) identified specifications and design guidelines of various state transportation agencies were analyzed and examined for potential applicability to trenchless construction activities administered by VDOT. The study concluded that trenchless technologies have been widely adopted but design guidelines and construction specifications vary significantly. Accurate subsurface characterization is critical to the selection of the most appropriate technology for a specific project. Obstructions pose a significant risk for all types of trenchless work. In general, the risk of using the directional drilling method increases with pipe diameter. The opposite is usually the case for microtunneling. Unguided trenchless methods are suitable only for short drives. Monitoring of trenchless construction is usually limited to observations of installation procedures and surface monitoring. For the most part, a high level of expertise is required for operators of trenchless equipment. The study recommends that VDOT’s Materials Division, Location and Design Division, and Construction Division jointly develop and approve the criteria for selection of trenchless technologies. Specific technical recommendations for inclusion in VDOT special provisions and the VDOT Materials Division Manual of Instructions are enumerated. KW - Construction KW - Excavation KW - Literature reviews KW - Recommendations KW - Specifications KW - State departments of transportation KW - State of the practice KW - Trenchless technology KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r16.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358567 ER - TY - SER AN - 01567369 JO - TechBrief PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Fitzpatrick, Kay AU - Avelar, Raul AU - Potts, Ingrid AU - Brewer, Marcus AU - Robertson, James AU - Fees, Chris AU - Hutton, Jessica AU - Lucas, Lindsay AU - Bauer, Karin TI - Investigating Improvements to Pedestrian Crossings with an Emphasis on the Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon PY - 2015/06 SP - 11p AB - The goal of this research effort was to improve pedestrian safety at urban and suburban crossing locations by identifying and evaluating low- to medium-cost pedestrian treatments. The treatments were to have the potential to reduce pedestrian crashes at both midblock and intersection locations. While several treatments were considered during early efforts of this project, later tasks focused on the rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB). The RRFB has received extensive national attention because of high yielding rates observed at multiple installations, and several studies have found increased driver yielding after installing this device. The key research effort for this study included a closed-course study and an open-road study. The objectives of the closed-course study were as follows: (1) Determine whether the shape, size, and placement of flashing beacons/light-emitting diodes (LEDs) affect sign legibility distances and object detection. (2) Determine driver ratings of disability glare for 8-inch circular beacons and LED-embedded signs using a rapid flash pattern. (3) Identify up to two assemblies for field evaluation to be conducted following the conclusion of the closed-course tasks. The objectives of the open-road study were as follows: (1) Determine whether drivers yielded differently to circular or rectangular beacons when used with a rapid-flashing pattern. (2) Determine to what extent, if any, a driver is more likely to yield to a pedestrian when the rapid-flashing beacon is activated than when it is not activated. (3) Determine whether vehicle traffic volume affects driver yielding. KW - Crosswalks KW - Drivers KW - Flashing beacons KW - Glare KW - Intersections KW - Light emitting diodes KW - Midblock crossings KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Yielding UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/15043/15043.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357481 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567368 AU - Druta, Cristian AU - Alden, Andrew S AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Evaluation of a Buried Cable Roadside Animal Detection System PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 45p AB - Animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) are a concern for departments of transportation as they translate into hundreds of human fatalities and billions of dollars in property damage each year. A recently published report states that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) currently spends over $4 million yearly to remove about 55,000 deer carcasses from its roadways. Currently, one of the most effective existing methods to reduce AVCs is the use of animal detection systems, which can detect animals near the roadway and alert approaching drivers accordingly. In order to reduce AVCs in Virginia, VDOT, in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, proposed the evaluation of an innovative roadside animal detection system in naturalistic and controlled conditions. This type of system offers numerous apparent advantages over aboveground animal detection technologies when environmental interferences, such as precipitation and vegetation, and site-specific characteristics, such as topology, subsidence, and road curvature, are considered. The subject animal detection system (ADS), a 300-m-long buried dual-cable sensor, detects the crossing of large and medium-sized animals and provides data on their location along the length of the cable. The system has a central processor unit for control and communication and generates an invisible electromagnetic detection field around buried cables. When the detection field is perturbed, an alarm is declared and the location of the intrusion is determined. Target animals are detected based on their conductivity, size, and movement, with multiple simultaneous intrusions being detected during a crossing event. The system was installed and tested at a highly suitable site on the Virginia Smart Road where large wild animals, including deer and bear, are often observed in a roadside environment. This report describes the installation of the ADS, data collection and analysis methodology, evaluation of the system’s reliability and effectiveness, cost analysis, and implementation prospects. The system used continuous, all-weather and nighttime video surveillance to monitor animal movement and to gauge system detections, and potential non-detections of the ADS. Also, a communication link between the buried ADS and the Virginia Smart Road fiber optic network was established to allow operation and monitoring of the system from a dedicated server in the Virginia Smart Road Control Room. A performance verification of the network communication was successfully conducted through continuous data collection and transfer to a storage unit. Data were collected continuously for a period of 10 months that included winter, and then analyzed to determine overall detection performance of the system. Data analyses indicate that the ADS, if properly installed and calibrated, is capable of detecting animals such as deer and bear, and possibly smaller animals, such as fox and coyotes, with over 95% reliability. The ADS also performed well even when covered by 3 ft of snow. Moreover, the system was tested under various traffic conditions and no vehicle interferences were noted during the same monitoring period. The acquired data can be used to improve highway safety through driver warning systems installed along roadway sections where high wildlife activity has been observed. Additionally, this system may be integrated with the connected vehicle framework to provide advance, in-vehicle warnings to motorists approaching locations where animals have been detected in or near the roadway. KW - Animals KW - Cables KW - Costs KW - Data collection KW - Detection and identification systems KW - Evaluation KW - Highway safety KW - Implementation KW - Installation KW - Virginia KW - Warning systems UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r25.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358922 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567326 AU - Hossain, M Shabbir AU - Lane, D Stephen AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Development of a Catalog of Resilient Modulus Values for Aggregate Base for Use With the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 45p AB - Base aggregate is one of the intermediate layers in a pavement system for both flexible and rigid surfaces. Characterization of base aggregate is necessary for pavement thickness design. Many transportation agencies, including the Virginia Department of Transportation, assign a layer coefficient for pavement design where consideration for gradation or rock type is not obvious. The mechanistic-empirical pavement design requires base aggregate to be characterized using a resilient modulus value. Therefore, 16 aggregates from different geophysical regions of Virginia were collected and tested for resilient modulus in order to develop a catalog for the implementation of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). A wide range of resilient modulus values for base aggregate was found for different sources with different rock types. A catalog was developed with resilient modulus values for 16 aggregates from Virginia. The resilient modulus values ranged from approximately 10,000 to 30,000 psi. In general, limestone showed the higher modulus as compared to granite. An increase in compaction moisture content, even within allowable limits, adversely affected the resilient modulus value for many aggregates. This moisture sensitivity is related to both the percent of material passing the No. 200 sieve and the plastic nature of these fines. These values are recommended to be used as reference values for the MEPDG, but engineering judgment should be applied to account for moisture sensitivity. KW - Aggregates KW - Base course (Pavements) KW - Catalogs KW - Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide KW - Modulus of resilience KW - Moisture content KW - Pavement design KW - Virginia UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r13.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358568 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567323 AU - Nicks, J E AU - Gebrenegus, T AU - Adams, M T AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Strength Characterization of Open-Graded Aggregates for Structural Backfills PY - 2015/06//Technical Report SP - 154p AB - Open-graded aggregates are common in road and bridge construction because they are easy to place, and they have the advantages of very low fine content, free-draining characteristics, low frost heave potential, and simple quality assurance testing. They are a suitable alternative to well-graded aggregate blends in many applications. Another key benefit is their strength, but this attribute it is often not accounted for in design. This report presents strength characteristics of 16 open-graded aggregates commonly selected as structural backfills and discusses the impact of different test and data interpretation methods. Results of large-scale direct shear and large diameter triaxial tests indicate higher strengths for these materials than typical default values typically assumed in design. It was also observed that the mean grain size, sphericity, angularity, and void ratio play a role in the measured friction angles. This information will help designers better understand these backfills and aid in the cost-effective design of retaining walls and bridge foundations. KW - Backfill soils KW - Bridge foundations KW - Friction KW - Open graded aggregates KW - Retaining walls KW - Shear tests KW - Strength of materials UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/15034/15034.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358314 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567319 AU - Sheehan, Ryan AU - Gacnik, Jill AU - Gage, Scott AU - Morgan, Richard AU - Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Positive Train Control Test Bed Upgrades to Provide Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System Testing Support Capabilities at Transportation Technology Center PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 30p AB - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Task Order 314 upgraded the Positive Train Control (PTC) Test Bed at the Transportation Technology Center to support testing of PTC systems, components, and related equipment associated with the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) in a revenue service environment. Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) purchased and installed the necessary components, which included a combination of wayside, onboard, and back office server equipment. A final test of the ACSES II system, which accurately represented ACSES installation in revenue service, was successful and the objective of the task order was accomplished. In the future, FRA’s Task Order 331 will allow for additional transponders to be placed within the PTC Test Bed and programmed for different track speeds, Positive Train Stops, and Permanent Speed Restrictions. Also, within task order (TO) 331, TTCI will be able to adjust and reprogram the ACSES equipment to reflect changes to desired testing scenarios and track layout. KW - Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System KW - Positive train control KW - Speed KW - Test beds KW - Test facilities KW - Transportation Technology Center UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14633 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357769 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567317 AU - Howe, Roger W AU - Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research AU - Virginia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Improving Collaboration and Consensus Building in the Coordination of Access Management and Land Use in Corridor Planning PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 48p AB - The success of access management depends on the coordination of access management planning and land use planning, but the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has control over access management in Virginia and cities and counties adjacent to a road in Virginia have control over land use; as a consequence, consensus is needed if access management and land use are to be adequately coordinated. Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board asked that VDOT increase and improve the collaboration with localities along Virginia’s Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS) in order to improve the coordination between access management planning and land use planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the approach that VDOT could take to increase collaboration and to improve the quality of collaboration and consensus building in the planning for the CoSS and also for the principal arterials not included in the CoSS. The study examined and analyzed the literature on collaboration and consensus building and examined several case studies of attempts to incorporate collaboration in transportation planning. The study concluded that despite the fact that the incorporation of a fully collaborative process in the negotiations between VDOT and localities along the CoSS and along the principal arterials that are not part of the CoSS is not feasible at this time, collaboration could be incorporated in negotiations wherever it is deemed useful and feasible to do so. The study also concluded that the use of professional facilitators to facilitate meetings would go a long way toward ensuring that the engagement among VDOT, local governments, and all stakeholders along all of these corridors would be as collaborative as possible in the current environment. The recommendations of the study are as follows: (1) At a minimum, where feasible, VDOT’s Transportation and Mobility Planning Division (TMPD) should hire professional facilitators to organize and lead planning meetings for the CoSS and for the principal arterials not included in the CoSS that involve negotiations among VDOT and local governments, stakeholders, and citizens. The TMPD’s on-call transportation planning consultant contracts and, in appropriate situations, contracts for specific studies should include provisions for the consultant to be able to provide professional facilitator services when needed. It is important to ensure that the facilitators used are properly trained and have experience facilitating meetings among state departments of transportation and local governments, stakeholders, and the public. (2) Where feasible, the TMPD should also use professional facilitators to assist in achieving consensus among stakeholders along the principal arterials that are not included in the CoSS. KW - Access control (Transportation) KW - Case studies KW - Consensus KW - Cooperation KW - Land use planning KW - Literature reviews KW - Recommendations KW - Stakeholders KW - Transportation planning KW - Virginia KW - Virginia Department of Transportation UR - http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/15-r20.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358919 ER - TY - SER AN - 01567313 JO - Traffic Safety Facts - Crash Stats PB - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2014 PY - 2015/06 SP - 3p AB - A statistical projection of traffic fatalities shows that an estimated 32,675 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2014. This represents a very marginal decrease of about 0.1 percent as compared to the 32,719 fatalities that were reported to have occurred in 2013. Also in 2014, fatalities decreased in the first (down 3.9%), second (down 0.2%), and third (down 1.9%) quarters and increased in the fourth (up 5.0%) quarter, as compared to the corresponding quarters in 2013. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2014 increased by about 27.3 billion miles, or about a 0.9-percent increase. On a quarterly basis, the 2014 VMT, since decreasing by 0.3 percent in the first quarter, has increased in each subsequent quarter of 2014 (by 1.8%, 2.1% and 3.0% in the second, third, and fourth quarters, respectively). The fatality rate for 2014, per 100 million VMT, is projected to decrease to 1.08 fatalities per 100 million VMT, down from 1.09 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2013. Also, the 5-percent increase in fatalities in the fourth quarter of 2014 represents the first quarterly increase since the third quarter of 2012. The actual counts for 2013 and 2014 continue to be updated, and the number of fatalities as well as the ensuing percentage-changes and fatality rates are, therefore, subject to revision with the release of the final file for 2013 and the annual report and final files for 2014. KW - Fatalities KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - Vehicle miles of travel UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812160.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1356974 ER - TY - SER AN - 01567305 JO - Research Results PB - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Continued Improvements at One C³RS Site PY - 2015/06 IS - 15-17 SP - 4p AB - Human-factors-based solutions, along with process and technology innovations, can make significant contributions to improving safety in the railroad industry. As part of ongoing efforts to address human-factors, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) implemented the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C³RS), which includes: Confidential reporting of close call or “near miss” events; Root-cause-analysis problem solving by a Peer Review Team (PRT), which includes representatives from labor, management, and FRA; Implementing and reviewing corrective actions developed in response to close call events—some locally and others with the help of a Support Team made up of senior managers; Tracking the effects of each change; and Reporting the results of changes to employees. Demonstration pilot project sites included Union Pacific Railroad (UP); Canadian Pacific Railway (CP); New Jersey Transit (NJT); and Amtrak. FRA has sponsored a rigorous evaluation of C³RS that was designed to answer three questions: (1) What conditions are necessary to implement C³RS successfully? (2) What is the impact of C³RS on safety and safety culture? (3) What factors help to sustain C³RS over time? This evaluation was organized into baseline, midterm, and final time periods. To protect company confidentiality, specific sites are not identified in this report. This document is part of a series of Research Results Reports that provide the public with the evaluation’s findings. This paper discusses the findings from one demonstration site (Site A), using these data sources: Site A’s decertification and derailment/incident data; the Railroad Safety Culture Survey; interviews with workers, managers, and other stakeholders; and redacted C³RS program data. KW - Crash reports KW - Demonstration projects KW - Evaluation KW - Human factors KW - Implementation KW - Near miss collisions (Ground transportation) KW - Railroad safety KW - Stakeholders KW - Surveys UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14563 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55000/55084/Continued_Improvements_at_One_C3RS_Site_final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1356584 ER - TY - SER AN - 01567304 JO - Research Results PB - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Jette, Aaron AU - Damm-Luhr, David AU - Ranney, Joyce TI - Evaluation of FRA Trespass Preventation Research Study PY - 2015/06 IS - 15-21 SP - 4p AB - The United States Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), under the direction of the US DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development (R&D), conducted an independent internal evaluation of the FRA-sponsored Trespass Prevention Research Study (TPRS). The Volpe Center conducted the TPRS from 2009-2013 to develop and demonstrate trespass prevention and mitigation best practices. The study focused on a 7-mile stretch of South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Right-of-Way (ROW) on which SFRTA, CSX, and Amtrak trains operate, and 5 miles of Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC) ROW in the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. This evaluation focused on the design and implementation of the TPRS rather than the impact or efficacy of specific trespass prevention treatments. The evaluation identified lessons learned to use in the design and implementation of future trespass prevention studies. KW - Evaluation KW - Implementation KW - Railroad safety KW - Research projects KW - Trespassers KW - West Palm Beach (Florida) UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14572 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357768 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567279 AU - Dahlberg, Justin AU - Phares, Brent AU - Iowa State University, Ames AU - Iowa Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Iowa ABC Connections PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 43p AB - For several years the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), Iowa State University, the Federal Highway Administration, and several Iowa counties have been working to develop accelerated bridge construction (ABC) concepts, details, and processes. Throughout this development, much has been learned and has resulted in Iowa being viewed as a national leader in the area of ABC. However, at this time, the Office of Bridges and Structures does not have a complete set of working standards nor design examples to accompany ABC portions of the bridge design manual (now called the Load and Resistance Factor Design/LRFD Bridge Design Manual). During the fall of 2013, the Iowa DOT constructed a bridge on IA 92 in Cass County using an ABC technique known as slide-in bridge construction. During the design of the Cass County Bridge, several questions were raised about the performance of critical design and construction details: the pile-to-pile cap connection and the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated bearing pads on which the bridge would slide. The timing of this specific need and the initiation of this project offered a unique opportunity to provide significant short- and long-term value to the Office of Bridges and Structures. Several full-scale laboratory tests, which included several variations of the pile-to-pile cap connection and bearing pad slides, were completed. These tests proved that the connection was capable of achieving the desired capacity and that the expected coefficient of friction of the bearing pads was reasonably low. Finally, a design tool was developed for the Office of Bridges and Structures to be used on future projects that might benefit from a precast pile cap. KW - Bridge bearing pads KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge design KW - Coefficient of friction KW - Design standards KW - Iowa KW - Laboratory tests KW - Pile caps KW - Polytetrafluoroethylene KW - Structural connection UR - http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/research/documents/research-reports/Iowa_ABC_connections_w_cvr.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55200/55288/IADOT_ISU_RB06-013_.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1359024 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567272 AU - Bullough, John D AU - Skinner, Nicholas P AU - Brons, Jennifer A AU - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute AU - New York State Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Analysis of Energy Efficient Highway Lighting Retrofits PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 38p AB - Solid state lighting technology is advancing rapidly to a point where light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems can be viable replacements for existing lighting systems using high pressure sodium (HPS). The present report summarizes analyses conducted to document existing lighting conditions along a parkway (Southern State Parkway, Long Island) and an arterial roadway (Central Avenue, Albany County). Several LED alternative lighting systems were compared using photometric analyses to identify ones that meet light level criteria for each roadway type; several options were available that resulted in energy savings compared to the existing HPS lighting systems. Energy economic analyses confirmed that the initial investment could be paid back in terms of reduced operating costs, and that energy savings were larger for LED systems when compared to HPS systems that produced similar levels to those from the LED alternatives. Further energy cost savings would be expected with the use of adaptive lighting controls specified to take advantage of temporal nighttime traffic patterns on the roadways investigated. The report concludes with considerations for incorporating LED performance characteristics, such as ensuring they do not produce interference with radio equipment, into specifications for LED retrofit alternatives. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Arterial highways KW - Costs KW - Economic analysis KW - Energy consumption KW - Light emitting diodes KW - New York (State) KW - Parkways KW - Photometry KW - Retrofitting KW - Street lighting UR - https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-14-12-Final Report_June 2015.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357767 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567263 AU - Prabhakaran, Anand AU - Singh, Som P AU - Vithani, Anand R AU - Sharma & Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Railroad Administration AU - Federal Railroad Administration TI - Prototype Design of a Collision Protection System for Cab Car Engineers—Fabrication and Test PY - 2015/06//Final Report SP - 61p AB - Advancements in the structural crashworthiness of passenger rail cars now make it possible to preserve the compartmentalized space occupied by a cab car engineer during a train collision. In order to translate this additional protection into improved survivability and mitigate injuries, it is necessary to protect the engineer from secondary impacts in such accident scenarios. Prior work on this issue resulted in the design of a conceptual Engineer Protection System (EPS) that could protect an engineer under moderate-to-severe frontal impact conditions. The performance of this prototype EPS, which consists of an airbag and a deformable knee bolster system, was successfully demonstrated under simulated collision conditions, using a dynamic sled test for a 95th percentile anthropomorphic test device (ATD). The test highlighted the ability of the EPS to protect a cab car engineer in a moderate-to-severe train collision, meeting all design criteria, including compartmentalization and limits of injury to the head, neck, chest, and femur, and continuing to the meet all functional requirements. The system functions without requiring input from the engineer, without restraining him or her, and without impeding egress, while adding minimally to cost or weight of the car. KW - Air bags KW - Cabs (Vehicle compartments) KW - Crashworthiness KW - Dummies KW - Occupant protection devices KW - Prototypes KW - Railroad crashes KW - Railroad safety KW - Sled tests UR - http://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14570 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357770 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01566729 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: Children PY - 2015/06 SP - 7p AB - In 2013: there were 61 million children in the United States, 19 percent of the total U.S. population; of the 32,719 traffic fatalities in the United States, 1,149 (4%) were children; the 1,149 child traffic fatalities were a 2-percent decrease from 1,173 in 2012; the estimated 172,000 children injured in traffic crashes were a 2-percent increase from 169,000 in 2012; on average, 3 children were killed and an estimated 470 children were injured every day in the United States in traffic crashes; and boys accounted for 55 percent of child traffic fatalities and an estimated 48 percent of children injured in traffic crashes. From 2004 to 2013, the number of child fatalities in traffic crashes decreased by 47 percent, with the 8-to-14 age group showing the largest decrease (54%). A figure is provided which shows the child fatality trends of four age groups (under 1, 1 to 3, 4 to 7, and 8 to 14 years old) in traffic crashes from 2004 to 2013. Additional information is provided in this report on the following topics: child restraint use and effectiveness; child pedestrians; child pedalcyclists; children in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes; and child traffic fatalities by State. KW - Age groups KW - Child restraint systems KW - Children KW - Crash injuries KW - Cyclists KW - Drunk driving KW - Fatalities KW - Gender KW - Pedestrians KW - States KW - Traffic crashes KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812154.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1356588 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01566728 AU - National Center for Statistics and Analysis TI - Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data: Large Trucks PY - 2015/06//Revised Edition SP - 8p AB - In 2013, there were 3,964 people killed and an estimated 95,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks. In the United States, an estimated 342,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes during 2013. The majority of the 2013 percentages show minimal change when compared to 2012. Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks remained relatively level with only a half-percent increase from 3,944 in 2012 to 3,964 in 2013. Of the fatalities in 2013: 71 percent were occupants of other vehicles; 17 percent were occupants of large trucks; and 11 percent were nonoccupants. From 2012 to 2013 there was a 13-percent increase in the number of nonoccupants killed. In 2013, there were an estimated 95,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks—a decrease of 9 percent from an estimated 104,000 in 2012. Of the people injured in 2013: 72 percent were occupants of other vehicles; 25 percent were occupants of large trucks; and 2 percent were nonoccupants. From 2012 to 2013 there was a 9-percent decrease in the number of occupants of other vehicles injured. Additional information is provided in this report on the following topics: crash characteristics; large-truck drivers; and the States. KW - Crash characteristics KW - Crash injuries KW - Fatalities KW - Heavy duty trucks KW - Large trucks KW - States KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - Truck crashes KW - Truck drivers KW - Trucks KW - United States UR - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812150.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1356590 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580924 AU - Miller, Kevin AU - Bouattoura, Fariel AU - Zingalli, Joe AU - Macias, Roberto AU - Miller, Bryan AU - Dallas Area Rapid Transit AU - Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Federal Transit Administration TI - Test Report, Dallas Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Demonstration Project PY - 2015/05/29/Final Report SP - 27p AB - The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is leading the US 75 Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Demonstration Project for the Dallas region. Coordinated corridor operations and management is predicated on being able to share transportation information on highways, arterials, transit, weather, and incidents. The ICM system will utilize the existing Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Center-to-Center standards based communication infrastructure, and will provide direct connections to agencies not on the Center-to-Center network, via a web-based interface known as SmartNET. The ICM system uses SmartNET as the main graphical user interfaces for the ICM Stakeholders to create, edit, and view events in the corridor and region, view current conditions of field devices and congestion on the roadway network, and coordinate responses to incidents within the corridor. This Test Report covers the test process and results for the various phases of testing for the ICM system. KW - Dallas (Texas) KW - Dallas Area Rapid Transit KW - Demonstration projects KW - Information dissemination KW - Integrated corridor management KW - Stakeholders KW - Systems analysis KW - Test procedures UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56235/FHWA-JPO-15-211_v2.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373249 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576221 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration Project: High Friction Surface Treatment PY - 2015/05/29/Final Report SP - 34p AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration grant program, which is administered through the FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovation (CAI), provides incentive funding and other resources for eligible entities to offset the risk of trying an innovation and to accelerate the implementation and adoption of that innovation in highway transportation. This report documents the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s (SDDOT) demonstration grant award for Interstate I-229 and US highway 14A using High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) on four horizontal curves with higher than average accident rates. The report presents details relevant to the employed project innovation(s), the overarching Technology and Innovation Deployment Program (TIDP) goals, performance metrics measurement and analysis, and the status of activities related to adoption of HFST as conventional practice by SDDOT. KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highway curves KW - Ice KW - Performance measurement KW - Snow KW - South Dakota Department of Transportation KW - Surface treating KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants/pdfs/SD_2014_AID_Grant.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367849 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01567464 AU - Manning, Robert AU - Reigner, Nathan AU - Wimpey, Jeremy AU - Valliere, William AU - Xiao, Xiao AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Adaptation and Application of Micro-Simulation Modeling to Recreational Use of Parks and Public Lands PY - 2015/05/27 SP - 44p AB - The University of Vermont’s (UVM) Park Studies Laboratory (PSL) and Applied Trails Research (ATR) undertook a program of cooperative research with the purpose of building foundational transportation research expertise using advanced technologies for integrated transportation and land use modeling to examine the complex systems linking and supporting the sustainability of transportation, tourism travel, and recreation in parks and on public lands. The development of this expertise will allow UVM to help satisfy the large and growing needs of transportation and recreation researchers and managers for state of the art simulation modeling. Building foundational expertise in transportation and recreation simulation modeling require researchers from the PSL and ATR to work closely in all phases of the work from planning, through execution, to communication of findings and lessons learned. Simulation modeling efforts undertaken as part of this collaboration identified, tested, and optimized indicators of quality for both transportation and recreation systems and opportunities. That is, simulation models were designed and operated to examine both the functional and experiential qualities of transportation and recreation facilities and operations representative of parks and public lands. KW - Land use models KW - Level of service KW - Microsimulation KW - National parks KW - Public land KW - Recreation KW - Sustainable development KW - Tourism KW - Vermont UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-15-008.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1357872 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01575021 TI - Advancing Collaborative Planning among Economic Development Districts and State Departments of Transportation AB - This project, Advancing Collaborative Planning among Economic Development Districts and State Departments of Transportation, will strengthen partnerships among entities responsible for planning and implementing infrastructure improvements and economic conditions, to allow for better leveraging of investments and increased awareness and responsiveness to private sector needs. This project will advance State, metropolitan, regional and local transportation planning capacity building by targeting information to economic development district staff and state department of transportation staff to improve planning and collaboration. In addition, aspects of this work will address areas such as Freight Planning, as this project will include researching the capacity and practice of economic development districts and state departments of transportation to analyze shifting economic flows and private sector trends and economic forecasts. Planning and Environmental Linkages will also be addressed through the provision of resources regarding inclusion of community economic goals and economic analysis in transportation planning, programming, and implementation. KW - Economic development KW - Implementation KW - Investments KW - Partnerships KW - Programming (Planning) KW - State departments of transportation KW - Transportation planning UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367077 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01574376 TI - Building Capacity among Regional Transportation Planning Organizations AB - This project, Building Capacity among Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, will build capacity among regional transportation planners in rural and small metropolitan regions to be able to identify required tasks of Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, understand what the basic deliverables entail, and find sample documents completed by other regions, and complete regional planning tasks that meet a basic standard of development. This project will advance State, metropolitan, regional and local transportation planning capacity building by providing research and training that identifies potential models for use by regional transportation planners. Because public involvement is a necessary element of transportation planning, this project will secondarily address Public Involvement, Environmental Justice, Visualization in Planning. KW - Environmental justice KW - Local government agencies KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Public participation KW - Regional transportation KW - Transportation planning KW - Visualization UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367033 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01575239 AU - Newton, Diane AU - Schaefer, Ron AU - Cassady, Jim AU - Black, Chuckerin AU - Roth, Robert AU - Leidos AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Department of Transportation TI - Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) Dallas- Fort Worth – Final Report PY - 2015/05/22/Final Report SP - 45p AB - This is the Final Report for the Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) prototype system. The FRATIS prototype in DFW consisted of the following components: optimization algorithm, terminal wait time, route specific navigation/traffic/weather, and advanced notice to terminals. The high level architecture is described for each of the recommended component options. The Final Report summarizes the lessons learned from the prototype process, presents the analysis of the Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) terminal queue time data, and discusses the opportunities for similar prototypes going forward. KW - Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area KW - Dedicated short range communications KW - Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) KW - Freight terminals KW - Freight transportation KW - Prototypes KW - System architecture UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55302/fratis_dfw_final_6_23_15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366763 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01619073 AU - Lautala, Pasi AU - Graman, Gregory AU - Nelson, David AU - Pentti, Frank AU - Rasul, Irfan AU - Tafesse, Akalu AU - Pengelly, Sean AU - Kalluri, Sumanth AU - Michigan Technological University, Houghton AU - National University Rail Center (NURail) AU - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology TI - Rural Freight Rail and Multimodal Transportation Improvements PY - 2015/05/18/Final Report SP - 202p AB - In this time of globalization, urbanization, congestions and increasing fuel prices, the growing importance of both freight and passenger transportation has been widely acknowledged. However, the importance of competitive transportation for rural America has received less attention. Affordable freight transportation is a requirement for survival for many rural industries, and in many cases this is challenging to accomplish without the presence of freight rail systems. Many of these industries are located along light-density rail lines where loss of a single shipper may negate the economic profitability of the line and lead to threat of abandonment. Without rail services, many industries would be required to consider relocation of their facilities to a location with better transportation alternatives. The State of Michigan has numerous rail lines that meet these characteristics, both in the northern part of Lower Peninsula and throughout the Upper Peninsula (UP). This project investigated the transportation system in the UP, concentrating on identifying challenges faced by rural freight rail service providers and shippers along light-density lines and on developing tools and methods that facilitate the current and future rail and multimodal transportation alternatives in the study area. The project was conducted as a collaborative effort between National University Rail Center (NURail) (Michigan Tech) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The complete technical report submitted to MDOT can be accessed at https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/RC1606C_470325_7.pdf and is included as an Appendix in this report. KW - Freight transportation KW - Multimodal transportation KW - Railroad transportation KW - Railroads KW - Rural areas KW - United States KW - Upper Peninsula (Michigan) UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/60000/60200/60279/NURail2012-MTU-R05_Rural_Freight_Rail_Final_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1436226 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01581020 AU - Stephens, Denny AU - Timcho, Thomas AU - Schroeder, Jeremy AU - Brown, James AU - Bacon, Paige AU - Smith, Theodore AU - Balke, Kevin AU - Charara, Hassan AU - Sunkari, Srinivasa AU - Battelle AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) Prototype Seattle Small-Scale Demonstration Report PY - 2015/05/15/Final Report SP - 109p AB - This report describes the performance and results of the Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) Prototype Small-Scale Demonstration. The purpose of the Small-Scale Demonstration was to deploy the INFLO Prototype System to demonstrate its functionality and performance in an operational traffic environment and to capture data that can help assess hypotheses pertaining to system functionality, system performance, algorithm performance and driver feedback. In this Small-Scale Demonstration, Battelle and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) worked with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to deploy connected vehicle systems in 21 vehicles in a scripted driving scenario circuiting a corridor on I-5 from Tukwila to Edmonds through downtown Seattle, during morning rush hour the week of January 12, 2015. The INFLO Prototype System collected vehicle speed data from both the WSDOT infrastructure-based speed detectors and the connected vehicles during the driving scenario. The System processed the data in real time and delivered queue warning and speed harmonization messages to drivers. The Team captured performance data as well as driver feedback. The Small-Scale Demonstration fully confirmed the functionality of the INFLO Prototype System using both cellular communications and dedicated short-range communications (DSRC). The Demonstration confirmed that the System has the latency, processing speed and communications bandwidth to support INFLO application functionality in an operational traffic environment. KW - Demonstration projects KW - Driver information systems KW - Drivers KW - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Operating speed KW - Performance KW - Real time data processing KW - Seattle (Washington) KW - Systems analysis KW - Traffic queuing UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56240/FHWA-JPO-15-223.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373248 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580935 AU - Stephens, Denny AU - Gibbs, Williams AU - Timcho, Thomas AU - Balke, Kevin AU - Charara, Hassan AU - Sunkari, Srinivasa AU - Smith, Theodore AU - Batelle Memorial Institute AU - Texas A&M Transportation Institute AU - Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) Prototype Acceptance Test Summary PY - 2015/05/15/Final Report SP - 133p AB - This document summarizes the Prototype System Acceptance Test for the Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) application bundle, with a focus on the Queue Warning (Q-WARN) and Speed Harmonization (SPD-HARM) with Weather Responsive Traffic Management (WRTM) applications. These two applications together comprise a tightly integrated bundle that is a key research activity within the Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA) portion of the Connected Vehicle Program. This document summarizes the component, system integration and prototype pilot acceptance testing conducted to verify that the system meets its functional and performance requirements. These objectives and results are organized as Test Cases, and trace back to the System Requirements. The results of the acceptance tests summarized here may be used by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine whether a small-scale demonstration of the Prototype will be conducted. KW - Acceptance tests KW - Driver information systems KW - Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO) KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Optimization KW - Prototype tests KW - Queuing KW - System design KW - Traffic speed UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56234/FHWA-JPO-15-209.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373250 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576132 AU - Christensen, Donald AU - Morian, Dennis AU - Wang, William AU - Advanced Asphalt Technologies, LLC AU - Quality Engineering Solutions, Incorporated AU - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Cost Benefit Analysis of Anti-Strip Additives in Hot Mix Asphalt with Various Aggregates PY - 2015/05/15/Final Report SP - 106p AB - This report documents research on moisture sensitivity testing of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixes in Pennsylvania and the associated use of antistrip. The primary objective of the research was to evaluate and compare benefit/cost ratios of mandatory use of antistrip, and of antistrip usage conditional on the results of moisture resistance testing, based upon life cycle cost analyses. A secondary objective was to evaluate a unique version of the modified Lottman procedure used in Pennsylvania between 2003 and October 2014, which involved a relatively low level of saturation in specimen conditioning. This procedure (low-saturation method) typically results in saturation between about 30 % and 67 %, as compared to the 70 to 80 % required in the test version used by Pennsylvania prior to 2003 and after October 2014 (high-saturation method). It was found that the low-saturation method passed all HMA mixes, even those with a documented history of high susceptibility to moisture damage. This procedure therefore had a benefit/cost ratio of zero. For the high-saturation method, it was found that both antistrip usage dependent on the results of testing and mandatory usage for all mixes had benefit/cost ratios that were greater than one and in general much greater than one. The benefit/cost ratios for mandatory antistrip usage were greater than those for conditional usage, because of the high cost associated with the failure of moisture resistance testing to identify all moisture susceptible mixes. KW - Aggregate mixtures KW - Antistrip additives KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Hot mix asphalt KW - Life cycle costing KW - Moisture damage KW - Pennsylvania UR - http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete Projects/Construction/Cost Benefit Analysis of Anti-Strip Additives.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55393/Final_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367529 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01575489 TI - Advancing Transportation Planning Through Innovation and Research BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS USING ACTIVITY-BASED MODELS AB - The purpose of this research is to develop practical methods and software tools that significantly enhance traditional benefit cost approaches to extend their application to address equity and the distribution of benefits across users; to incorporate more accurate person and context-specific values-of-time; and to attempt to implement innovative expected utility-based approaches using the activity based travel demand model systems used by major United States metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). Ultimately, the project would demonstrate how the improved methods can support performance based planning in two regions using activity-based models to support long-range planning efforts. KW - Benefit cost analysis KW - Innovation KW - Long range planning KW - Metropolitan planning organizations KW - Transportation planning KW - Travel demand KW - Value of time UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367781 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01570354 AU - Zia, Asim AU - Koliba, Christopher AU - Schulz, Anna AU - University of Vermont, Burlington AU - Department of Transportation AU - National Science Foundation TI - Examining the Effects of Transportation Governance on Infrastructure Adaptation to Climate Change PY - 2015/05/15 SP - 45p AB - Transportation agencies across the United States are faced with the challenge of effectively adapting infrastructure to withstand the predicted effects of climate change. This challenge is magnified by a nationwide funding shortage, uncertainty about impacts, and a limited (but growing) body of information regarding best practices. The literature on transportation infrastructure adaptation is weak in terms of strategies for undertaking improved planning. The work presented here seeks to help fill that gap. This report discusses research efforts and presents findings regarding the influence of transportation governance structures and mechanisms on infrastructure adaptation to climate change. This work is a continuation of research that began in 2009 as part of the ongoing efforts in climate change resiliency through the Research on Adaptation to Climate Change (RACC) project. Several different research topics and methodologies have contributed to the results. KW - Climate change KW - Data collection KW - Infrastructure KW - Research projects KW - Transportation departments KW - United States UR - http://www.uvm.edu/~transctr/research/trc_reports/UVM-TRC-13-009.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1360269 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01575023 TI - A Guidebook for Structuring a Tribal Transportation Planning Program for Meaningful Participation in the Federal Transportation Planning Process AB - The objective of this project is to advance the practice and application of transportation planning among State,metropolitan, regional, local, and tribal transportation planning governments in response to significant changes in the planning process and to identify new tools, techniques, and approaches that respond to national priorities. This research meets the BAA objective through the introduction of an instructive Guidebook that presents tools, techniques and methodologies for the successful structuring, administration, management and implementation of tribal transportation planning programs based on surveyed and documented best practices. The intent of research is to increase the capacity of these programs to participate meaningfully in the Federal process. KW - Best practices KW - Guidelines KW - Handbooks KW - Indian reservations KW - Management KW - Transportation planning KW - Tribal government UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1367080 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01576039 TI - First International Roadside Safety Conference and Peer Exchange AB - Every year, over 17,000 people are killed in roadway departure crashes in the U.S. The primary goal of this conference and peer exchange on Roadside Safety Design is to effect changes that will reduce the frequency and severity of roadside crashes. The ultimate measure of effectiveness is a reduction in the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from run-off-road crashes. To help meet this goal, roadside safety researchers, experts, and U.S./international partners have deemed it highly beneficial to develop and implement a Roadside Safety Conference that would occur every 3 to 5 years. The primary objective for the First International Roadside Safety Conference (IRSC) and Peer Exchange would be to reduce deaths and serious injuries associated with run-off-road crashes. The IRSC would contribute to this objective by: (1) peer exchange and improved dissemination of information within the international roadside safety community; (2) increased collaboration with international roadside safety experts, researchers, government agencies, and engineering consultants; and (3) a more rapid implementation of new technologies, best practices, and products from around the world. Key focus areas may include: (1) Advances in rigid and flexible barrier design; (2) Geometric features - i.e., slopes, ditches, drainage culverts, curbs, pavement edges; (3) Work-zone and temporary traffic control safety; (4) Implementation guidelines for safety treatments; (5) In-service performance evaluations; (6) Barrier compatibility for vehicles and motorcycles; (7) Vulnerable user safety - pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists; (8) Cost-effective safety improvements for low-volume roads; (9) Barrier selection criteria; (10) Narrow hazards - trees, luminaires, utility poles, signs, and traffic signals; (11) New energy-absorbing technologies; (12) Aesthetic safety treatments and practices; (13) Median design and crash prevention; (14) Improved visibility and delineation; (15) Maintenance of existing roadside safety infrastructure; (16) Computer simulation, dynamic component testing, and full-scale crash testing; (17) Road/roadside safety audits or management systems; (18) "Safe System Approach;" (19) Before/after crash data studies; (20) Concepts, products, and methods designed to reduce roadway departure crashes; (21) Strategic Highway Safety Plans and; (22) Rollover crashes. KW - Barriers (Roads) KW - Conferences KW - Crash analysis KW - Design KW - Geometric design KW - Highway safety KW - Medians KW - Prevention KW - Ran off road crashes KW - Roadside KW - Roadside hazards KW - Rollover crashes KW - Traffic crashes KW - Vulnerable road users UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/578 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369882 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01589872 TI - ASSURE Project Management AB - After a rigorous competition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a Mississippi State University (MSU) team as the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS). The COE is known as the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) and Mississippi State University is the lead. The COE will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to the safe and successful integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace. The team brings together 21 of the nation’s leading UAS and aviation universities that have a proven commitment to UAS research and development and the necessary resources to provide the matching contribution to the government’s investment. The purpose of this grant is to provide the initial funding for the Mississippi State University to instantiate operations. MSU will oversee all administrative duties for ASSURE and will host and facilitate all FAA required meetings. Funds are requested to support the Lead University, Mississippi State University, for ASSURE management activities and December and February quarterly meetings. KW - Airspace (Aeronautics) KW - Development KW - Drone aircraft KW - Education and training KW - Management KW - Operations research KW - Research UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1397601 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568662 AU - Cordahi, Gustave AU - Ettefagh, Mahsa AU - Kamalanathsharma, Raj AU - Murari, Sudeeksha AU - Department of Transportation AU - Booz Allen Hamilton TI - Impact Assessment of Incident Scene Work Zone Alerts for Drivers and Workers (INC-ZONE) and Incident Scene Pre-Arrival Staging Guidance for Emergency Responders (RESP-STG) PY - 2015/05/08/Final Report SP - 67p AB - Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management, and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.) is a bundle of applications that targets the improvement of traffic safety and mobility during crashes and other emergencies that affect the highway network. A key R.E.S.C.U.M.E. focus is on traffic incident management and responder safety. Another is emergency communications for evacuation. The R.E.S.C.U.M.E. bundle includes the following three applications: (1) Incident Scene Pre-Arrival Staging Guidance for Emergency Responders (RESP-STG), (2) Incident Scene Work Zone Alerts for Drivers and Workers (INC-ZONE), and (3) Emergency Communications for Evacuation (EVAC). This document constitutes the Impact Assessment Report for the INC-ZONE and RESP-STG applications. The assessment includes a qualitative evaluation of a prototype of the two applications that were demonstrated in Maryland on November 13, 2014. It further includes a quantitative analysis that estimates the potential impacts of INC-ZONE and RESP-STG on mobility and safety, using the US 101 San Mateo corridor simulation, and an extrapolation of the impacts using incident data from I-495 in Maryland. KW - Assessments KW - Construction and maintenance personnel KW - Emergency communication systems KW - Emergency responders KW - Incident management KW - Maryland KW - Mobility KW - San Mateo (California) KW - Simulation KW - Traffic safety KW - Traveler information and communication systems KW - Warning systems KW - Work zone safety UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55000/55047/R_E_S_C_U_M_E__INC-ZONE_RESP-STG_IAReport_FINAL_FHWA-JPO-15-203.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358909 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568655 AU - Cordahi, Gustave AU - Roden, David AU - Wolshon, Brian AU - Yin, Weihao AU - Department of Transportation AU - Booz Allen Hamilton TI - Emergency Communications for Evacuation (EVAC) in New Orleans Impact Assessment Report PY - 2015/05/08/Final Report SP - 67p AB - This document constitutes the Impact Assessment Report for Emergency Communications for Evacuation (EVAC) in New Orleans. Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management, and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.) is a bundle of applications that targets the improvement of traffic safety and mobility during crashes and other emergencies that affect the highway network. A key R.E.S.C.U.M.E. focus is on traffic incident management and responder safety. Another is emergency communications for evacuation. The R.E.S.C.U.M.E. bundle includes the following three applications: (1) Incident Scene Pre-Arrival Staging Guidance for Emergency Responders (RESP-STG), (2) Incident Scene Work Zone Alerts for Drivers and Workers (INC-ZONE), and (3) Emergency Communications for Evacuation (EVAC). Areas of interest within the EVAC application include information on traffic and road conditions, location of available lodging, and location of fuel, food, water, cash machines, and other necessities for evacuees using their own mode of transportation and those for whom transportation services were provided. The EVAC application bundle employs mobile communications technologies. This document assesses the potential impacts of EVAC through simulation that uses a model of the Greater New Orleans region. KW - Assessments KW - Disasters and emergency operations KW - Emergency communication systems KW - Evacuation KW - Mobile communication systems KW - New Orleans (Louisiana) KW - Simulation KW - Traveler information and communication systems UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55000/55045/R_E_S_C_U_M_E__EVAC_IAReport_FINAL_FHWA-JPO-15-204.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358908 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574074 AU - Dolbeer, Richard A AU - Department of Agriculture AU - Federal Aviation Administration TI - Trends in reporting of wildlife strikes with civil aircraft and in identification of species struck under a primarily voluntary reporting system, 1990-2013 PY - 2015/05/07 SP - 45p AB - Reporting of wildlife strikes with civil aircraft is voluntary for airports and pilots but strongly encouraged by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) via Advisory Circulars and other activities. In 2009, the FAA undertook a review of the trends in strike reporting from 1990-2008 to determine if mandatory reporting was needed, as was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board in 2009. The review concluded that given the positive trends in reporting rates and species identification coupled with the decline or stabilization in damage strikes, mandatory reporting was not recommended at that time (2009) to achieve the objectives of the database. Recommendations were made to further enhance the reporting of strikes. The objective of this report is to determine if the positive trends in reporting documented in 2009 have been sustained based on the recommended outreach actions and if any changes are needed in FAA policies regarding strike reporting at this time. The primary focus is to examine strike reporting for the past 5 years (2009-2013) compared to the previous 5 years (2004-2008). Although this report covers both commercial and general aviation aircraft at Part 139-certificated and non-certificated airports as was done in the 2009 study, the focus of this report is strike reporting for commercial aircraft at Part 139 airports. KW - Airports KW - Aviation safety KW - Bird strikes KW - Civil aircraft KW - Data collection KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States KW - Wildlife UR - http://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/wildlife/media/trends-in-wildlife-strike-reporting-1990-2013.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363958 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574012 AU - Bielenberg, Robert W AU - Faller, Ronald K AU - Lechtenberg, Karla A AU - Schmidt, Tyler L AU - Rosenbaugh, Scott K AU - Reid, John D AU - Sicking, Dean L AU - Midwest Roadside Safety Facility AU - Nebraska Department of Roads AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Design of an Improved Post for Use in a Non-Proprietary High-Tension Cable Median Barrier PY - 2015/05/07/Final Report SP - 238p AB - The objective of this research study was to develop a revised post section for the non-proprietary high-tension cable median barrier that improved the safety and function of the post by lowering strong-axis forces. A total of twenty dynamic component tests were performed, along with one cable pull test – ten tests with the 7-gauge C-section post, eight with the 10-gauge C-Section posts, and three with the Midwest Weak Post (MWP). The tests were conducted with the posts installed in either a compacted, crushed limestone soil or a rigid sleeve in order to determine the force vs. deflection and energy vs. deflection characteristics of the various post configurations. Although the C-section posts were found to provide up to 58.7 percent and 70 percent reductions in strong-axis forces through 10 in. (254 mm) and 15 in. (381 mm) to that of the S3x5.7 (S76x8.5) posts, the C-section hinged at the location of the keyway when a keyway was punched in the posts and left a 15-in. (381-mm) stub sticking out of the ground. This behavior caused concerns for occupant compartment intrusions. Subsequently, the MWP was designed to bend over at the groundline while maintaining the desired strong- and weak-axis post forces. In dynamic tests, the MWP was found to provide up to 54.3 percent and 64 percent reductions in strong-axis forces through 10 in. (254 mm) and 15 in. (381 mm), as compared to the S3x5.7 (S76x8.5) posts. The weak-axis forces were found to be up to 14.3 percent and 6.7 percent greater than the S3x5.7 (S76x8.5) post through 10 in. (254 mm) and 15 in. (381 mm). These comparisons indicated that the MWP section had significantly reduced strong-axis capacity as compared to the S3x5.7 (S76x8.5) post while maintaining similar weak-axis capacity to the S3x5.7 (S76x8.5) post, as intended. KW - Cables KW - Design KW - Highway safety KW - Impact tests KW - Median barriers KW - Posts UR - http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/mat-n-tests/pdfs-docs/ARLinks/TRP-03-286-15.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1365280 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01574091 AU - Branch, Victor AU - Mississippi State University, Canton AU - National Center for Intermodal Transportation for Economic Competitiveness AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Student Technology Exchange Program (STEP) for Engineering/Robotics in Middle School Students PY - 2015/05/05/Final Report SP - 21p AB - This project's objective was to deliver a yearlong project that included a 3 day professional development for teachers and 5 day workshop for 25 students from 4 schools. It also included approximately 40 hours of teacher mentoring over the 9 month school year to implement activities and concepts that will help to improve math and engineering principles with test scores. This program interacted with children on robotics, basic engineering principles, transportation logistics, teamwork and critical thinking skills, in order to heighten their interest in math and science while providing teachers with professional development and mentoring to bolster confidence. The targeted focus was on engineering and robotics application related to intermodal transportation. This project targeted economically disadvantaged underserved populations in the central Mississippi area. KW - Education and training methods KW - Engineering KW - Intermodal transportation KW - Middle school students KW - Mississippi KW - Robotics KW - Teachers UR - http://www.ncitec.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013-21FR.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1363649 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01568648 AU - Richardson, Heather AU - Frazier, Jonathan AU - Rasmussen, Ben AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area AU - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TI - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area: Shuttle Market Analysis PY - 2015/05/05/Final Report SP - 28p AB - This report summarizes the results of marketing interviews conducted with National Park Service units operating shuttle services similar to what is being considered for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The focus of the interviews was marketing, but the Volpe Center and peers also discussed initial start-up, funding, and other issues. The report includes lessons learned, best practices, and estimated ridership. The four market study parks were: Adams National Historical Park (Adams NHP) in Quincy, Massachusetts; The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site (HOFR) in Hyde Park, New York; New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (NEBE) in New Bedford, MA; and Presidio Trust, which is within the Golden Gate National Recreational Area (GGNRA) in San Francisco, California, but operates independently. KW - Best practices KW - Case studies KW - Financing KW - Marketing KW - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area KW - National parks KW - Ridership KW - Shuttle service UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55000/55025/MNRAA_Confluence_Shuttle_Market_Analysis.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1358911 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01599252 AU - McCullough, Patrick AU - Shilling, Donn AU - University of Georgia AU - Georgia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Enhancing Extension Education Recommendations to Minimize Spread of Invasive Species and Establish New Grasses for Georgia Roadsides PY - 2015/05/01/Final Report SP - 43p AB - Current Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) management practices could be contributing to the release of invasive weeds, such as broomsedge and vaseygrass, on Georgia roadsides. The herbicide imazapic, used to reduce mowing requirements of roadside grasses, injured bermudagrass twice as much as broomsedge, an invasive species, in greenhouse experiments. Imazapic provided no control of broomsedge in the field. MSMA applied in fall provided good control of broomsedge for 1 year after initial treatment. However, imazapic tank-mixed with MSMA provided less control than MSMA alone, suggesting imazapic antagonizes efficacy of MSMA on broomsedge. The new herbicides Derigo and Pastora controlled or suppressed vaseygrass populations when applied in late spring. However, these herbicides did not control broomsedge. MSMA will need to be applied in sequential programs when ALS inhibitors are used for controlling other weeds or for growth regulation of roadside grasses. Introducing new grasses for roadside vegetation could reduce the spread of invasive weeds and enhance management. Centipedegrass and zoysiagrass have potential to establish under roadside conditions as alternatives to bermudagrass and fescue in Georgia. These grasses effectively established when planted from sod or plugs. Centipedegrass was the quickest grass to establish from sod. Growth of centipedegrass was comparable to zoysiagrass from plugs, and both species were more competitive than bermudagrass under guardrails. None of the grasses established from seed under simulated roadside conditions. Significant differences in vaseygrass germination were detected by location. Vaseygrass seed germinated in June from collections in south Georgia. Seed germination was detected from July to November in Newnan, but other locations had minimal germination in fall. These results suggest that mowing operations could spread significant amounts of viable seed throughout the state from June to November. KW - Georgia KW - Grasses KW - Herbicides KW - Invasive plants KW - Mowing KW - Roadside flora KW - Seeding UR - http://g92018.eos-intl.net/eLibSQL14_G92018_Documents/12-37.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1405568 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01596067 AU - Herman, David AU - Brohard, Andrew AU - Burns, Matthew AU - Zink, Gregory AU - Timcho, Thomas AU - Battelle AU - Department of Transportation AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - System Design and Architecture for the IDTO Prototype – Phase II Demonstration Site (Central Florida) PY - 2015/05/01/Final Report SP - 107p AB - This report documents the System Design and Architecture for the Phase II implementation of the Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO) Prototype bundle within the Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA) portion of the Connected Vehicle Program. This version updates the previous submission to document the revised design elements that were implemented in the demonstration of IDTO using providers in the central Florida / Orlando region. It also includes design elements for features that were designed but not fully implemented due to changes in the deployment schedule of participating partners. Finally, this report includes design elements for a D-RIDE rideshare partner that was ultimately demonstrated separate from the specific Phase II demonstration, but integrated with the complete IDTO system. KW - Central Florida KW - Demonstration projects KW - Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO) KW - Mobile communication systems KW - Orlando (Florida) KW - Prototypes KW - Ridesharing KW - System architecture KW - System design UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/57000/57000/57030/FHWA-JPO-16-274.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400951 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01594255 AU - McCullough, Patrick AU - Shilling, Donn AU - University of Georgia AU - Georgia Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Enhancing Extension Education and Recommendations on Vegetation Management for the Georgia DOT PY - 2015/05/01/Final Report SP - 55p AB - The greatest challenge in grassy roadside management in Georgia is weed control. Herbicides are applied for controlling weeds but are also used for growth regulation to reduce mowing requirements and seedhead development of desirable grasses. This research aims to improve efficacy of weed management practices by evaluating herbicide selection and vegetation management practices on emerging weeds on Georgia roadsides. It was found that mowing and herbicide application timing appears to affect bermudagrass release and grassy weed control, but the effects on broadleaf weeds was inconsistent. KW - Education KW - Georgia KW - Herbicides KW - Mobile applications KW - Mowing KW - Vegetation control KW - Weeds UR - http://g92018.eos-intl.net/eLibSQL14_G92018_Documents/12-09.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1398240 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01573300 TI - Practical Design Guidelines for Replacement of Deficient Bridges with Low-Water Stream Crossing in the Rural Midwest AB - This project will produce a report that provides practical engineering guidance for the replacement of deficient bridges with low-water stream crossings in the rural Midwest. The report will address the following issues: (1) site assessment and economics; (2) selection of crossing type -- the two basic types of low-cost low-water crossings are the unvented ford and the vented ford; (3) design of roadway profile and culvert pipes; (4) selection of crossing materials -- low-water crossings can be built of concrete, crushed stone, natural stone, stone reinforced with geogrid or geotextile, stone-filled gabions and other materials; and (5) general design details. The project will provide guidelines for materials selection, provide general design details for unvented fords and vented fords constructed of different materials, and also provide guidance on signage of low-water crossings. KW - Culverts KW - Gabions KW - Geotextiles KW - Guidelines KW - Midwestern States KW - Rural areas KW - Stone KW - Streams UR - http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/567 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1366524 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01619074 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Organizing for Reliability-Capability Maturity Model Assessment and Implementation Plans PY - 2015/05//Executive Summary SP - 46p AB - The Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) L06 research determined that agencies with the most effective transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) activities were differentiated not by budgets or technical skills alone, but by the existence of critical processes and institutional arrangements tailored to the unique features of TSM&O applications. The significance of this finding has been validated in 40 State and regional self-assessment workshops using the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) process. This report summarizes the general background, process, and outcomes of the CMM self-assessment workshop program. Section 1 describes the basic SHRP 2 research identifying the key dimensions of capability needed to support effective TSM&O, the CMM framework structured around these dimensions, and the criteria for capability self-assessment in each. It describes the SHRP 2 and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored workshops to date – their structure, process, and participants – and identifies the host State Department of Transportation (DOT) and regional entities. Section 2 presents the general findings on TSM&O state-of-the-practice based on 40 workshops and subsequent implementation plans developed at 23 of those sites. Section 3 presents a separate discussion for each of the six dimensions including: Key findings for the major elements of the subject dimension; Key synergies with other dimensions; and State DOT/Regional implementation plan priorities for the subject dimension. Section 4 uses the common implementation plan priorities for the six dimensions as the basis for determination of a set of potential national activities needed both to disseminate best practice and to support development of certain new business and technical methods and processes. Important roles are seen for FHWA, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE). An appendix contains a comprehensive list of implementation plan priorities as indicated in the 23 workshops. KW - Capability Maturity Model KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Implementation KW - State departments of transportation KW - State of the practice KW - Strategic Highway Research Program 2 KW - Transportation operations KW - Transportation system management KW - Workshops UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/docs/cmmexesum/cmmexsum.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1437080 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01613834 AU - Parkany, A Emily AU - University of Virginia, Charlottesville AU - Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Webinars To Disseminate Information and Results From University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute Mid-Atlantic University Transportation Center Research Projects PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 15p AB - This report serves as documentation for the MAUTC project: “Webinars to Disseminate Information and Results from UVA and VPI MAUTC Research Project.” The intention of the project is to enable the technical transfer of results from Mid-Atlantic University Transportation Center (MAUTC)-funded research projects conducted at the University of Virginia (UVA) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI). A series of six webinars was organized with UVA researchers presenting in July, September, and November of 2014 and VPI researchers presenting in August, October, and December of 2014. The webinars featured 19 speakers and had over 200 total attendees. A record of the webinars along with the presentations and recorded versions of four of the six webinars are found at: http://www.cts.virginia.edu/mautc/ . KW - Evaluation and assessment KW - Information dissemination KW - Research projects KW - Research reports KW - Webinars UR - http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/mautc-2013-07.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1424169 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01592640 TI - Vehicle-Based Low Clearance Detector AB - The objective of this project is to demonstrate commercially available vehicle-based technologies for 1) detecting a low-clearance overpass in the path of a commercial vehicle, and 2) warning the commercial driver about the low clearance prior to striking the low-clearance overpass. Fatalities have occurred with motorcoaches striking bridges. Bridge strikes by trucks ranged from 5,971–6,171 across the Nation between 2005 and 2008. In a press conference on September 24, 2012, New York Senator Schumer raised the issue, and in a public letter asked former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to address the problem. The technology to be considered will be vehicle-based as opposed to infrastructure-based. For example, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is looking at reducing bridge strikes using technologies that are installed on the infrastructure. Infrastructure-based technologies are not a complete solution to the problem of avoiding bridge strikes because they are expensive and there is no requirement for the local or State governments that own the bridges to install the technologies. Global positioning systems for trucks are also not a complete solution because there are many low-clearance overpasses that are not documented, and thus not in a navigation database for trucks. There is also no requirement for a local or State government to document all low-clearance overpasses. The final outcome will be a final report. KW - Bridge approaches KW - Clearances (Navigation) KW - Highways KW - Safety KW - Safety equipment KW - Technology KW - Trucks KW - Vehicle accessories UR - www.fmcsa.dot.gov UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400250 ER - TY - ABST AN - 01592558 TI - Evaluation of the Impact of Changes to the Hours-of-Service Rules Governing Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers AB - The objective of this project is to determine whether changes to the hours-of-service (HOS) rules have had any impact on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety, carrier productivity and cost, and the U.S. highway system. The Agency is primarily interested in examining data before and after the HOS rules changes and the impact of the rule changes on safety, driver schedules and productivity, cost of trucking, and measures of highway system performance. This is a two-phased effort. The first phase will be to investigate data sources, secure data agreements, and specify the methods of evaluation that can answer the study questions. Safety. An evaluation of the full 12 months of crash and injury data before and after the rule change (with an attempt to control for upward trends based on increased freight activity). The full 12 months of safety data became available mid-December 2014. Driver Schedules and Productivity. Study team will collect electronic logs where available from the year before the final HOS rule went into effect and the year after. This data will allow the Agency to compare how drivers were operating before and after the HOS rule change. Are drivers now using the new break requirement, and are they using the 34-hour restart any differently than before the rule change? Cost of Trucking. American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently published a study that showed that the marginal cost of trucking between 2012 and 2013 increased only a modest 3 percent from $1.63 to $1.68 per mile. Most of this increase was attributed to driver wages and benefits; however, it is important to note that the marginal costs of driver wages and benefits were still lower in 2014 than they were in 2008. Measures of Highway System Performance. FMCSA is asking the contractor to work with the FHWA Office of Freight Policy to determine how changes to the HOS rule have affected vital highway metrics. A report that identifies the impacts of changes in the HOS provisions on the trucking industry and the U.S. economy. KW - Commercial vehicle operations KW - Data analysis KW - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards KW - Highways KW - Hours of labor KW - Hours of Service Act KW - Impact studies KW - Motor vehicle industry KW - Productivity KW - Safety KW - Truck drivers UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1400161 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01587764 AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - ATDM Planning Brief: ATM Feasibility and Screening Guide PY - 2015/05 SP - 4p AB - In the context of Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM), Active Traffic Management (ATM) strategies focus on influencing travel behavior during a trip with respect to operations and lane and facility choices. ATM strategies have been receiving significant attention of late given the operational benefits that have and can potentially accrue from deploying these strategies thereby helping to achieve one or more regional transportation goals, such as safety, mobility, reliability, environmental, improved transit operations, and accessibility. At the same time, implementing ATM strategies can involve significant capital costs, followed by ongoing operations and maintenance requirements. As such, some or all ATM strategies may not be cost effective for certain segments and links of the surface transportation network. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed an ATM Feasibility and Screening Guide (the Guide) to assist agencies in making informed investment decisions by determining the feasibility of ATM strategies before committing significant resources. This brief presents a summary of ATM operational benefits and the recommended process for ATM strategies. KW - Advanced traffic management systems KW - Benefits KW - Decision making KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Highway traffic control KW - Implementation KW - Travel behavior UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop14018/fhwahop14018.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1378521 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01587604 AU - Neudorff, Louis AU - McCabe, Keith AU - CH2M HILL AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Active Traffic Management (ATM) Feasibility and Screening Guide PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 130p AB - Active Traffic Management (ATM) concepts, strategies, and supporting technologies have been receiving significant attention given the potential operational benefits that have and can potentially accrue from deploying these strategies. Implementing these ATM concepts and strategies can also involve significant capital costs, followed by ongoing operations and maintenance requirements. As such, some or all ATM strategies may not be cost effective for certain segments and links of the surface transportation network. The Active Traffic Management Feasibility and Screening Guide was developed to assist transportation agencies and planning organizations in making informed investment decisions regarding ATM by determining the feasibility of ATM strategies before committing significant resources towards any subsequent project development and design activities. The Guide was based on an extensive review of literature and This Guide, coupled with interviews with several practitioners who have been directly involved in the feasibility analyses, design, deployment, and/or operation of ATM strategies. It presents a recommended process for agencies to follow as they consider ATM deployment at the feasibility and screening analyses level. Following the guidance will help practitioners to identify specific roadway segments most suited for ATM and the appropriate strategies, and the expected costs and range of benefits. KW - Advanced traffic management systems KW - Benefits KW - Costs KW - Decision making KW - Feasibility analysis KW - Highway traffic control KW - Implementation KW - Transportation planning UR - http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop14019/fhwahop14019.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1378520 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01582444 AU - VanFrank, Kevin AU - CME Transportation Group AU - Utah Department of Transportation AU - Department of Transportation TI - Cold In-Place Recycle Phase III, Supplemental — Field Protocol: Short Term Field Stability PY - 2015/05 SP - 13p AB - Cold In-Place Recycle (CIR) has become a useful tool in pavement rehabilitation due to cost savings. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) wishes to improve the reliability of the process as well as improve the final outcome. A balance is achieved between fracture durability and rutting resistance by controlling void content and added emulsion. This balance is well reflected in the current mix design method but has proven difficult to achieve in the field. Observation of field methods has pointed toward modifications to the mix design procedure as well as to tests providing same-day feedback to the CIR process. State Route (SR) 32 is the second field project where a variety of tests were used to control the process consistency and quality as well as the release to traffic conditions. The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) along with the Shear Vane test are further validated and a new test protocol using the Marshall Hammer is developed. Recommendations for test thresholds are made. Recommendations are made for control of both longitudinal and lateral density. Roller patterns are recommended. Emulsion break temperatures are evaluated leading to best compaction practices. Recognition of system sensitivity to temperature results in proposed changes to the mix design procedures. Specification changes are recommended with respect to the pickup machine and paver. KW - Asphalt emulsions KW - Cold in-place recycling KW - Compaction KW - Dynamic Cone Penetrometer KW - Field tests KW - Mix design KW - Recommendations KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Rutting KW - Test procedures KW - Utah UR - http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=25597817969078436 UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56600/56678/Cold_In_Place_Recycle_Phase_III.Supplemental.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1376023 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580993 AU - Shin, Hyeon-Shic AU - Bapna, Sanjay AU - Farkas, Andrew AU - Bonaparte, Isaac AU - Maryland State Highway Administration AU - National Transportation Center AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Measuring the Economic Contribution of the Freight Industry to the Maryland Economy PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 73p AB - Economic impacts of freight movement to Maryland’s economy were estimated by input-output analysis using the 2010 IMPLAN data. A freight economic output (FECO) index was also developed based on the historical payroll data and gross domestic product (GDP) between 2002 and 2010. This effort was motivated by the absence of defendable performance measures for the economic contribution of freight transportation services. It was found that the freight industry generates sizable ripple effects. While the trucking sector is the largest in terms of an absolute employment size, the spillovers of the freight water and port services are about seven times its employment size. The impact of government spending is also significant. The aggregate FECO index parallels the Maryland GDP and the national freight service index. Interestingly, the evidence of modal competition between truck and freight rail is observed. Their trends and the magnitude of the changes are generally moving in opposite directions. The findings and methodologies of the study will help decision makers understand the role that each freight mode plays in order to make more informed decisions. The economic indicators used in this study – jobs, income, and GDP – can be used for public outreach to mitigate the negative perception of freight movement. While travel time reduction and increased business productivity used in past impact studies are useful performance measures, jobs and income measures appeal to citizens. KW - Economic analysis KW - Economic impacts KW - Employment KW - Freight traffic KW - Freight transportation KW - Government funding KW - Gross domestic product KW - Income KW - Input output models KW - Maryland KW - Transportation modes UR - http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OPR_Research/MD-15-SHA-MSU-3-5_Measuring-the-Economic-Contribution-of-the-Freight-Industry_Report.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/56000/56200/56250/MD-15-SHA-MSU-3-5_Report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373318 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580981 AU - Spasovic, Lazar N AU - Besenski, Dejan AU - He, Yang AU - New Jersey Institute of Technology AU - Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation AU - New Jersey Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration AU - Research and Innovative Technology Administration TI - Quantifying Impact of Port Truck Traffic on Highway Operations Using GPS-Based Speed Data PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 29p AB - The introduction of mega-ships (i.e. post-Panamax vessels) presented an opportunity for ports to be even more competitive and cost-effective. For example, the construction and investment commitment of over $ 3.45 billion between 2013 and 2018 into Port Newark/Elizabeth are being made with a goal of maintaining and improving navigation transportation infrastructure and developing new terminal capacity. In late 2013, The Port Authority of New York-New Jersey (PONYNJ) established a task force to identify challenges to port efficiency and service reliability, and recommend potential solutions. For this reason it is necessary to understand and quantify the effect of the increasing introduction of the mega-ships and related changes in port operations on highway system. Better understanding of these effects will help planners identify the solutions and evaluate their effectiveness in preventing serious disruptions. The developed simulation model is used to analyze “what-if” scenarios that depict the change in truck demand on terminal gate operation. Three developed scenario illustrated the impact of change in truck demand on Port access roadway network. The analysis compared the truck queues and delays at the gate as results of change in truck demand. Two policies, commonly used to control the truck arrival patterns at the gate, the extended gate hours and the gate appointment system, were examined to address the gate operation. Their impact on truck delays and queues at the gate is observed and noted. In addition, analysis investigates the critical truck demand that will cause a queue spillover on a surrounding highway network. The sensitivity analysis identified network deficiencies and truck demand at which queue will reach highway access point. KW - Global Positioning System KW - Highway operations KW - Impact studies KW - Port operations KW - Ports KW - Sensitivity analysis KW - Simulation KW - Traffic delays KW - Traffic queuing KW - Truck traffic UR - https://cait.rutgers.edu/files/CAIT-UTC-023-final.pdf UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55300/55334/CAIT-UTC-023-final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1375162 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580339 AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Utah Demonstration Project: Replacement of Manderfield Bridges, Beaver County PY - 2015/05//Final Technical Brief SP - 6p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE (HfL) initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided a $1 million grant to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to replace the Manderfield Bridges on I-15 in Beaver County. This project involved the replacement of twin multispan bridge structures (Bridge Number 1D 699 and 3D 699) with an innovative low-weight hybrid composite beam (HCB) in place of the more traditional bridge girder. The UDOT application also included constructing the bridge offsite and sliding it into place. The HCBs and the lateral bridge slide were expected to provide a lightweight superstructure to facilitate a more efficient bridge slide and provide extended service life. However, UDOT could not use HCB due to the procurement challenges. UDOT expended $700,000 and returned $300,000 to the FHWA. UDOT used prestressed concrete beams for the twin bridges. KW - Beaver County (Utah) KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge replacement KW - Demonstration projects KW - Economic analysis KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Hybrid composite beams KW - Lateral bridge slide KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/Utah-HfL-Manderfield-Bridges-HCB_Techbrief_Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1373002 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01580073 AU - Thomas, Libby AU - Ryus, Paul AU - Semler, Conor AU - Thirsk, Nathan J AU - Krizek, Kevin AU - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks: A Review of International Practices PY - 2015/05 SP - 67p AB - The purpose of this study was to identify noteworthy and innovative international designs, treatments, and other practices that have potential to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and access and increase walking and bicycling in the United States. This report covers treatments and practices from a total of 11 countries, covering six thematic areas: (1) network infrastructure, (2) limited auto traffic areas, (3) signalization, traffic control, and intelligent transport systems, (4) policy change, (5) criteria or methods for prioritizing improvements, and (6) goals and network performance measures. A number of treatments and practices appear to have significant potential to help improve bicycle and pedestrian network safety, comfort, and connectivity in the U.S. Additional study and actions are needed to better understand, test, and refine the most promising designs and practices for use by U.S. jurisdictions. KW - Access KW - Best practices KW - Bicycling KW - Countries KW - Infrastructure KW - Intelligent transportation systems KW - Pedestrian safety KW - Performance measurement KW - Policy KW - Traffic control KW - United States KW - Walking UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/global_benchmarking/global_benchmarking.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1372822 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01579630 AU - Taylor, Peter AU - Wang, Xuhao AU - National Concrete Pavement Technology Center AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Materials-Related Distress: Aggregates: Best Practices for Jointed Concrete Pavements PY - 2015/05//Tech Brief SP - 6p AB - Concrete is considered, in general, as a cemented-aggregate mixture. In other words, aggregates are central to concrete and are bound together by a cementitious matrix. Aggregates comprise a significant volume in most concrete mixtures, which is generally desirable because aggregates are less expensive than components of the paste, they provide the load-carrying capacity of a concrete mixture, and they provide dimensional stability. However, some failure mechanisms in pavement concretes can be attributed to issues related to the quality of the aggregate. The purpose of this tech brief is to provide pavement engineers with information to help them specify and choose materials that will last for the desired lifetime of the pavement. Paste-related mechanisms are discussed in a separate parallel tech brief. KW - Aggregates KW - Alkali silica reactions KW - Best practices KW - Concrete pavements KW - D cracking KW - Materials selection KW - Mix design KW - Pavement distress KW - Thermal expansion UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/pubs/hif15013.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1372403 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01578609 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Goodman, Dan TI - Let’s Ride! PY - 2015/05 VL - 78 IS - 6 SP - pp 2-7 AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is working to encourage walking and biking as forms of transportation while also improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Bicycle infrastructure, including bike lanes separated from automobiles, can make cycling safer and make cyclists feel more comfortable on the road. FHWA has released a new publication, Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide to help develop bicycle infrastructure. The document uses case studies and lessons learned to demonstrate the design and usage of separated bike lanes. Introducing separated bike lanes will help increase bicycle ridership. KW - Bicycle facilities KW - Bicycling KW - Case studies KW - Pedestrian safety KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration KW - Walking UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15mayjun/01.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371727 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01578598 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Oster, Alexandra TI - Advancing the Triple Bottom Line PY - 2015/05 VL - 78 IS - 6 SP - pp 36-42 AB - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is working to improve sustainability through a balance of environmental, economic, and social values, in order to provide the best benefits to natural and human environments. FHWA supports research, development, and implementation of sustainability efforts and promotes the responsible use of natural resources. FHWA supports a variety of programs and activities to help organizations with sustainable development. FHWA’s efforts have helped improve public health, increase transportation options and accessibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. The administration will continue to work to advance sustainable development. KW - Economic factors KW - Environmental impacts KW - Natural resources KW - Social factors KW - Sustainable development KW - Transportation departments KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15mayjun/06.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371734 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01578538 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - King, Jeffrey A TI - A Pivotal Job for Police PY - 2015/05 VL - 78 IS - 6 SP - pp 30-35 AB - Traffic incident management (TIM) requires a coordinated team of multidisciplinary responders. An area of TIM that is necessary to continue improving is the practice of collection, reporting, and assessment of performance data for secondary crashes and clearance times. The Federal Highway Administration is developing clear guidance and current practices to help law enforcement measure the performance of TIM response. Performance measurement can help assess the strength of TIM response as well as identifying areas for improvement. KW - Emergency management KW - Incident management KW - Law enforcement KW - Performance measurement KW - Traffic incidents KW - U.S. Federal Highway Administration UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15mayjun/05.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371733 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01578530 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Zammit, Grant AU - Irwin, Ben TI - Smooth Operators PY - 2015/05 VL - 78 IS - 6 SP - pp 8-12 AB - The National Operations Center of Excellence was launched in January 2015. It is a central resource for improving reliability and safety and will help the development of transportation system management and operations (TSM&O) frameworks. The center identifies best practices so individual agencies can benefit from the knowledge gathered. The National Operations Center of Excellence was developed in part through the second Strategic Highway Research Program and is working to address roadway issues such as congestion and safety. KW - Best practices KW - Highway safety KW - Information dissemination KW - Traffic congestion KW - Transportation system management UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15mayjun/02.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371729 ER - TY - JOUR AN - 01578516 JO - Public Roads PB - Federal Highway Administration AU - Bravo, Nelda AU - Yen, Phil AU - Vélez, Agnes TI - Partners Across the Pacific PY - 2015/05 VL - 78 IS - 6 SP - pp 13-19 AB - The United States and Japan have been collaborating for over thirty years on seismic design for bridge engineering. Japan is a leader in research related to earthquakes and wind, due to seismic activity in the region. Some regions of the United States face similar seismic activity, and collaboration improves knowledge and resources. A U.S.-Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop is held every year, where papers are presented and participants attend site visits. Cooperation has allowed the two nations to share information and technology, as well as costs, and has benefitted bridge engineering research greatly. KW - Bridge engineering KW - Cooperation KW - Earthquake resistant design KW - Information dissemination KW - Japan KW - United States KW - Workshops UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/15mayjun/03.cfm UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371731 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01578167 AU - Lee, Hyung AU - Raghunathan, Deepak AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - New Hampshire Demonstration Project: Auburn-Candia Resurfacing Project PY - 2015/05//Final Technical Brief SP - 24p AB - As a part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highways for LIFE initiative, a Federal grant of $2,000,000 was provided to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) for this project, which was in addition to FHWA’s 80 percent contribution under the Federal-aid highway funding program. The Auburn-Candia project involved resurfacing of a 14.8-mile segment (7.4 miles eastbound and 7.4 miles westbound) of NH Route 101, from the Manchester-Auburn line to the Auburn-Candia line. The project scope primarily included a mill-and-fill operation with a 2-inch intermediate course placed in the two travel lanes, followed by a 1.5-inch wearing course installed over both lanes. Additional work included guardrail upgrade, roadway drainage structures adjustment, and pavement work on the Exit 2 and Exit 3 ramps. The resurfaced highway segment, last paved under the 1999/2000 Federal Resurfacing Program, includes three bridges in each direction. This project incorporated six innovations: recycled asphalt pavement, warm mix asphalt technology, asphalt-rubber wearing surface course, highly modified asphalt wearing surface course, Safety Edge pavement, and smart work zone techniques. The project was let on May 17, 2012, and the construction was completed in October 2013. The NHDOT’s total construction costs on this project, including mobilization and traffic control, were $13.4 million. Although the project could not be evaluated for all of the Highways for LIFE performance goals, NHDOT gained valuable insight into the innovative materials and techniques—both those that were successful and those that need further evaluation. In support of NHDOT’s “green” initiatives, the lessons learned from this project may promote the use of recycled materials, such as the milled asphalt material and the ground rubber tires, while providing pavements with extended service life and reduced tire-pavement noise. KW - Asphalt rubber KW - Costs KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highways for LIFE KW - New Hampshire KW - Recycled materials KW - Resurfacing KW - Safety edge (Pavement safety feature) KW - Technological innovations KW - Warm mix paving mixtures KW - Wearing course (Pavements) KW - Work zone traffic control UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/NH_auburn-candia_resurfacing_project_tech_brief_508.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1371167 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577854 AU - Bhajandas, Amar AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Idaho Demonstration Project: Replacement of SH 75 East Fork Salmon River Bridges PY - 2015/05//Final Technical Brief SP - 23p AB - As a part of the Highways for LIFE initiative, the Federal Highway Administration provided a $1.38 million grant to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to replace two bridges on SH 75 in Custer County. One of the bridge structures crosses over the Salmon River, and the other crosses over the East Fork of the Salmon River, between mile post 226.6 and mile post 227.4. The project’s innovative aspects included the use of precast bridge elements and system (PBES) and accelerated bridge construction (ABC), which enabled completion of construction and opening of the new bridges to traffic in one construction season and provided ITD personnel with valuable experience in this technology. The project was let on January 14, 2014. The construction began in spring 2014 and was completed and open to traffic in fall 2014. The traffic volume on this rural roadway was very small, and because the two bridges were constructed on new alignments, there was minimal impact on the traveling public. The total construction cost incurred by ITD on this project, including mobilization, was $7,367,883. The overall experience of the project was positive, as it enabled completion of two bridges in one construction season with minimal change orders. As a consequence of the experience gained on this project, ITD plans to specify precast abutments and columns where practical in the future. KW - Bridge construction KW - Bridge replacement KW - Costs KW - Demonstration projects KW - Highways for LIFE KW - Idaho KW - Prefabricated bridges KW - Technological innovations UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/ID-HfL-SH75-East-Fork-Salmon-River-Techbrief-Final.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370472 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577115 AU - Lee, Hyung Suk AU - Raghunathan, Deepak AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Connecticut Demonstration Project: Pavement Preservation on Interstate 95, Towns of Westbrook and Old Saybrook PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 42p AB - The Connecticut DOT (CTDOT) initiated a pavement preservation project to resurface a section of I-95. The project limits spanned over 17.8 miles in both the northbound and southbound directions, from mile post 60.65 to mile post 78.45. The innovative technologies deployed on this project included warm mix asphalt (WMA) and Safety Edge pavement. CTDOT’s current standard specification does not allow for the use of WMA or polymer modified binders. Nonetheless, CTDOT is interested in implementing the WMA technology due to its advantages, such as production/compaction of asphalt concrete at reduced temperatures and increased mixture workability especially for polymer modified mixtures. To this end, CTDOT had already constructed five pilot projects that utilized the WMA technology, and the current project will add to CTDOT’s experience in implementing WMA for production use. This project also delivered the first pavement section in Connecticut constructed with Safety Edge. CTDOT has been aware of the benefits of this technology in reducing roadway departure accidents and improving the durability of the outer edge of the pavement. This project will help CTDOT to develop standard guidelines for future projects. Due to the limited crash history that were available from the locations where Safety Edge was installed, analysis on safety was deemed unnecessary. According to the field observations made by the project staff and the results from a user satisfaction survey, the construction activities resulted in minimal queuing of traffic. Although some of the Highways for LIFE goals were not fully evaluated, and those for smoothness and noise were not met, the end product was a smooth riding pavement, as indicated by the user survey and a smoothness bonus to the contractor. KW - Connecticut KW - Demonstration projects KW - Durability KW - Edge lines KW - Pavement performance KW - Resurfacing KW - Surveys KW - Technological innovations KW - Warm mix paving mixtures UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/connecticut-i-95-pavement-preservation-project.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370100 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01577109 AU - Bledsoe, Jay AU - Mallela, Jag AU - Applied Research Associates, Incorporated AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Arkansas Demonstration Project: The Use of Roller Compacted Concrete to Reconstruct a Segment of SH 213 in Fayetteville PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 45p AB - As part of a national initiative sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration under the Highways for LIFE program, the Arkansas State Highway Transportation Department (ASHTD) was awarded a $420,000 grant to demonstrate the use of roller compacted concrete (RCC) as a durable and cost-effective alternative to traditional treatments. This report documents the rehabilitation/reconstruction of RCC pavement on Highway 213 in Conway County near Hattieville. The project is located in the Fayetteville Shale Play area, which houses more than 4,000 new gas wells. The pavement infrastructure in this area has rapidly deteriorated due to the recent increase in truck volume and loadings from the natural gas exploration activities. This report details the innovation used to rehabilitate two segments of Highway 213 with RCC, cement treated reconstruction base, and SafetyEdge. This project met the Highways for LIFE goals for safety, queuing, and user satisfaction. The use of RCC technology required additional days for construction, but the increased time for road closures/detours during construction will be partly offset by lesser need for future maintenance activities. Using RCC for pavement rehabilitation increased the construction costs, both initial and life cycle costs, over traditional asphalt overlay. However, considering the fact that the future natural gas exploration activities would result in higher truck volumes and heavier loadings, the cost of RCC can be justifiable over a 30-year period. The experience gained on this successful project will help the ASHTD use RCC more routinely on future projects. KW - Costs KW - Demonstration projects KW - Durability KW - Fayetteville (Arkansas) KW - Reconstruction KW - Rehabilitation (Maintenance) KW - Roller compacted concrete pavements UR - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/summary/pdf_2/arkansas-hwy-213-rcc-report.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1370097 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576171 AU - Volpe National Transportation Systems Center AU - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service TI - National Alternative Transportation Evaluation (NATE): Overview of Data and Trends for Alternative Transportation in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service PY - 2015/05 SP - 12p AB - Between 2010 and 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Volpe Center, and the Office of Federal Lands Highway conducted eight Regional Alternative Transportation Evaluations (RATEs) across all of the FWS regions. The National Alternative Transportation Evaluation (NATE) is an overview of what FWS learned and how it will help to plan for transportation in the future. Sections include: national and regional travel trends; visitor's transportation choices and preferences; alternative transportation system (ATS) snapshot; access by underserved populations; ATS needs; and FWS accomplishments in transit and trails. KW - Alternatives analysis KW - Mode choice KW - National Wildlife Refuge System KW - Nonmotorized transportation KW - Public transit KW - Transportation planning KW - Trend (Statistics) KW - United States UR - http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/55000/55400/55454/DOT-VNTSC-FWS-15-02.pdf UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369013 ER - TY - RPRT AN - 01576121 AU - Chamberlin, Robert AU - Talbot, Eric AU - Lin, Haiyun AU - RSG, Incorporated AU - Utah Department of Transportation AU - Federal Highway Administration TI - Impact of High Efficiency Vehicles on Future Fuel Tax Revenues in Utah PY - 2015/05//Final Report SP - 31p AB - The Utah Department of Transportation Research Division has analyzed the potential impact of high-efficiency motor vehicles on future State of Utah motor fuel tax revenues used to construct and maintain the highway network. High-efficiency motor vehicle use (including electric, hybrid, compressed natural gas (CNG), and other alternative fuel vehicles) is on the rise in Utah. New light duty vehicles with standard gasoline-powered engines are more efficient to comply with adopted Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. As the motor vehicle fleet in Utah becomes more efficient, using less gasoline per mile traveled, there is a potential for a significant slowing in the growth, or a reduction, of revenue from this source. This research project developed three scenarios for understanding how a variety of factors could combine to affect future fuel tax revenues in Utah. The time horizon of the analysis is 2040. To estimate the effect of high-efficiency vehicles on future fuel tax revenues, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Energy and Emissions Reduction Policy (EERPAT) Analysis Tool was used. EERPAT was parameterized and calibrated to 2010 conditions in Utah, and used to estimate future transportation conditions such as vehicle miles traveled (VMT), fleet mix, fuel choice, fuel consumption, and fuel tax revenues. Future demographic, travel, and income projections, obtained from State of Utah data sources, were used as inputs to the analysis. Key driving assumptions include: 1) future fuel efficiency of heavy duty vehicles; 2) future market penetration of CNG for heavy duty vehicles; 3) future market penetration of alternative drive train vehicles – battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid – into the light duty vehicle fleet; and, 4) future motor fuel tax rates. The analysis shows that, even with a growing population and increasing VMT, total fuel tax revenues are projected to decline by 29% in constant 2015 dollars when compared to 2010. Assuming very modest penetration of alternative drive train vehicles (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric) in the Base Case (<1%/year), total revenues decline due to higher efficiency of light duty vehicles, high penetration of CNG in the heavy-duty vehicle fleet, and erosion of the purchasing power of the gasoline tax (0.245 in 2015$) due to inflation. Assuming moderate to aggressive penetration of alternative drive train vehicles in the future, overall fuel tax revenues decline even further. A moderate penetration of alternative drive train vehicles would result in a further 19% reduction from the 2040 Base Case (or, a 42% decline in constant dollar fuel tax revenues compared to 2010); an aggressive penetration of alternative drive train vehicles would result in a further 25% reduction in fuel tax revenues from the 2040 Base Case (or, a 47% decline in constant dollar fuel tax revenues compared to 2010). KW - Alternate fuels KW - Electric vehicles KW - Forecasting KW - Fuel consumption KW - Fuel taxes KW - Revenues KW - Utah KW - Vehicles UR - http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=24031622150823756 UR - https://trid.trb.org/view/1369351 ER -