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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Utilizing Public Perceptions to Inform Successful Roadside Vegetation Planning and Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725587</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Current roadside vegetation planning and management is informed by a robust set of technical guidelines and principles rooted in engineering and natural sciences. However, public-facing roadside landscapes are part of critical infrastructure networks experienced by millions of people daily, and those experiences may vary based on traffic intensity and roadway speeds. Existing research on public perception offers limited practical guidance, as studies are often fragmented, focusing on isolated variables (like a single plant type or driver behavior). These isolated studies do not directly address the needs of engineers, vegetation managers, and transportation planners as they lack the operations and logistics needs of managing roadside vegetation in the context of local site conditions
This project aims to address these deficits through three objectives. Objective 1 will assess the current state of public perceptions as it relates to roadside vegetation management practices and regulations with the academic and grey literature. The results from this objective will then be used to inform a statewide online survey of Minnesota residents (Objective 2) focused on key attributes of the vegetation itself (e.g. height, color), vegetation composition, broader ecological factors, and perceptions of aesthetics, psychological restoration, and safety. Finally, driven by the results of the two previous objectives, in Objective 3, Roadside Vegetation Profiles (RVPs) will be created as a decision support tool for engineers, vegetation managers, and transportation planners to select for and optimize various attributes that they wish to prioritize for a specific roadside context.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:47:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725587</guid>
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      <title>SPR-5135: CARSx Traveler Information Message (J-2735) Module Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709429</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will facilitate joint engagement between Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and Castle Rock Associates. The objective of this proposal is to establish a collaborative, cost-sharing approach for work currently defined under an existing scope of work developed by Castle Rock for MnDOT, while ensuring that each state receives its own independent implementation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:27:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709429</guid>
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      <title>Utilizing Hydrogen Fuel Technology for a Transportation Fleet</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487229</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Minnesota Executive Order 19-27 commits the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to reducing fleet fossil fuel consumption 30% by 2030 and greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. Additionally, Minnesota State Statute 16C.135 establishes a zero- and low-emission preference for new fleet vehicle purchases. Hydrogen fuel technology -- specifically sustainably produced hydrogen (“green hydrogen”) -- offers a potentially promising alternative pathway to reducing carbon emissions from MnDOT’s fleet while continuing to meet operational and business needs. The objective of this research is to survey existing and emerging hydrogen fuel technology applications that could be piloted in the MnDOT fleet as a strategy for cutting carbon emissions, and to identify potential costs and benefits of MnDOT investing in hydrogen fuel technology.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:19:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487229</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Using LCA to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Pavement Infrastructure at MnDOT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577112</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this project is to investigate the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and life cycle assessment (LCA) as a standard practice in project procurement for pavement infrastructure at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:20:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577112</guid>
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      <title>Vulnerability Assessments of Critical Slope Areas Using Advanced Monitoring Techniques</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577111</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recently conducted a multi-phase study on developing a geographic information system (GIS)-based model to determine the risk of slope failure along state highways. The risk assessment identified 1.4% of the studied ;and as Critical Slope Areas (CSAs). The proposed study aims to utilize state-of-the-art sensor technology, having both LIDAR and camera sensors, mounted on uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide high-resolution data to reevaluate the slope vulnerability assessments of the areas identified as CSAs by the current model.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:58:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577111</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Navigating Improved Outcomes with Transportation Corridor Rankings</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577110</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Risk rankings and other measurement tools like level of service are trusted approaches utilized by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to ensure projects lead to systematic improvements over time. This research will explore how to develop a similar, comprehensive system for assigning public health ratings (community context, safety, health inequities, physical activity, chronic disease, air quality, etc.) to Minnesota trunk highway corridors. The project will also identify how to integrate the health ratings into state transportation decision-making efforts, such as project selection criteria, project prioritization, or mitigation guidance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:29:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577110</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Research Synthesis: Design and Impacts of Rural Roundabouts </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577109</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will synthesize previously conducted research and currently available design guidance to develop a report documenting key findings on design alternatives and the associated impacts for rural roundabouts. This project will also create, disseminate, and interpret results from a state-of-the-practice survey on how other state departments of transportation (DOTs) handle rural roundabout designs and implications to provide guidance to Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) on policy needs and best practices concerning this topic.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:11:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2577109</guid>
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      <title>Speed Impacts on Complete Streets Elements, Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487323</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Minnesota State University has recently completed related complete streets research that explored the effects of various roadway cross-sectional characteristics on driver speed selection in urban and suburban areas across Minnesota. This research resulted in a series of speed reduction factors (SRF) for various roadway cross-sectional elements and related guidance as to how those elements reduce speeds. However, some important questions remain. In particular, there is interest in understanding how driver speed selection varies when non-motorized users are present. There are also areas from the initial research that warrant further investigation, such as how driver behavior varies based on median dimensions, the presence of curb and gutter, and the degree of parking activity along a corridor. This study aims to address these gaps by investigating how these elements affect driver speed selection through a series of field studies at 16 sites throughout Minnesota. The results of this study will provide additional guidance that furthers efforts of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local road agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:52:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487323</guid>
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      <title>National Road Research Alliance - NRRA</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398590</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) are:  (1)	Conduct structured construction, field testing and evaluation using the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnROAD) cold weather facility; (2) Evaluate pavement materials, equipment and methods under real-world conditions; (3) Establish industry standards and develop performance measure for improving pavement performance; (4) Develop and/or revise specifications and recommendations;  (5) Studying and promoting innovative techniques and technologies that will save agencies money, improve safety and increase efficiency; (6) Supporting technology transfer by developing practical field guides, best practices,  and training curriculum to promote the results of research projects; (7) Conduct cost-benefit analysis to ensure that new technologies, materials or methods contribute to operational efficiencies; (8) Support the exchange of information and ideas through collaborative research efforts that provide opportunities for public agencies to share experiences. (9) Identify and prioritize common road related research needs to address regional and national issues that are built on existing efforts such as Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) and hot mix asphalt (HMA) Roadmaps as well as the Foundation for Pavement Preservation Roadmap; (10) Fund high priority, readily implementable research projects though research contracts and university partnerships; and (11) Leverage knowledge, skills, and resources from participating partners to advances pavement research and implementation efforts while developing the workforce of the future. Support technology transfer that highlights the implementation of research results and the associated benefits.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:39:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398590</guid>
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