<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Economic Analysis of RCUT Access Impacts in Georgia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508954</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to identify changes to patterns in access after installation of a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersection and any associated changes to economic performance of the impacted businesses nearby. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:28:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508954</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title> Guidelines for Managing Current and Future Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) Operations at Airports







</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413910</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No abstract provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:37:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2413910</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business Impacts of Access Changes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2314004</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Some types of geometric improvements that Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has proposed, such as the reduction in the number of arterial access points, the replacement of a traditional four-way intersection with a roundabout or a restricted crossing u-turn (RCUT), or left-turn prohibitions, have elicited expressions of concern from businesses that operate on property adjoining the improvements.  The concern is that the improvement, by creating more circuitous access for motorists, will reduce customer traffic, thereby reducing revenue or the value of the affected commercial parcel.  Furthermore the recently passed Senate Bill 666 requires consideration of these business impacts in those cases where the improvement requires the taking of land from a private business.  VDOT has never compiled a data set of quantitative, Virginia-specific information regarding how access changes have affected adjacent businesses.  This study seeks to fill that deficit by estimating the impacts of changes in access using a Virginia-specific data set.  Three options will be explored: (1) measuring changes in economic activity more or less directly (via customer counts, night-time illumination, etc.) at affected businesses before and after an improvement that affected access to adjacent real estate parcels; (2) measuring changes in customer traffic indirectly by changes in revenue (or taxable sales) before and after; and (3) measuring changes in customer traffic even less directly by changes in parcel value.  The goal is to retrieve information from a sufficient number of projects to permit an estimate of the impact that a commercial establishment can expect when VDOT investment changes motor vehicle access to the establishment’s property. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:18:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2314004</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Transit Validation Project</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067954</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project would pilot and evaluate 'transit validation' strategies that distribute subsidized contactless mobile transit tickets to customers across industry sectors. Up  to fifteen local businesses, hospitals, and community-based organizations would participate in both urban/rural areas.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:26:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067954</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Economic Impact of Access Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2008582</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall goal of this research is to assess the economic impact of access management techniques on business in the corridor where such projects have been implemented in Louisiana. A secondary goal is to assess the perception of businesses near completed projects. The analysis in this study can be used by LA DOTD for a more effective access management in Louisiana. This becomes even more critical since fatalities are on the rise again after several years of decline and countermeasures are therefore warranted. 
To achieve the objectives of this study, the research team will complete several tasks.
(1) Identify current state of knowledge about Access Management
(2) Measure the impact on sales of businesses near Access Management Projects
(3) Assess perception of business owners near Access Management Projects
(4) Assess perception of patrons and residents near Access Management Projects
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:07:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2008582</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Initiative
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1637647</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SELA region is 62 square miles and includes 11 cities, 4 unincorporated areas, a high proportion of manufacturing and warehousing, and major highway and rail facilities serving port related freight (Figure 1). The population is majority Hispanic, generally low income, and classified by the state’s primary environmental burden mapping tool, CalEnviroScreen, as having high pollution burden. This case study is motivated by and leverages an earlier analysis of the area conducted by USC in 2017 in collaboration with the CSULA Pat Brown Institute and the SELA Collaborative, a partnership of 11 community and non-profit organizations (Giuliano et al, 2018). The research subtasks performed as part of this proposal are based on the above mentioned analysis and community input, including input received at a November 2017 community summit that gathered over 250 local elected officials, civic leaders, and community members. There are two main research subtasks in this the SELA initiative research plan and one engagement and outreach subtask.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:39:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1637647</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4355: Synthesis Study: Facilities (Enterprise Development, Sponsorship/Privatization)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1628173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team proposes Rest Area 2.0, a proposal that uses a platform model to enable industry participation, and create an in depth knowledge of best practices. The team will provide a complete analysis regarding opportunities and constraints to the development of such a solution. How should parameters be established that enable an open access platform
for local small businesses, farmers markets, craftsmen as well as new emerging requirements?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2019 15:22:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1628173</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Understanding Economic and Business Impacts of Street Improvements for Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility - A Multi-City Multi-Approach Exploration</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1420073</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many cities across the country, as part of Complete Streets initiatives or to promote community livability and environmental sustainability, have engaged in street improvement or transportation infrastructure upgrade projects that increase access and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists through a reduction of on-street parking or traffic lanes. With various transportation modes competing for scarce resources (including right-of-way and transportation funding), city planners and transportation agencies often struggle with how to justify these infrastructure investments for non-motorized modes such as bicycling and walking, particularly when driving is still the predominant mode of transportation in most cities. There is a vital need to understand whether and how these investments impact economic vitality, business activities and neighborhood equity in surrounding areas. This proposed research project will be the first component of a larger national study of the economic and business impacts of street improvements for bicycle and pedestrian mobility. By examining multiple data sources, utilizing multiple longitudinal economic and business activity indicators (e.g., employment by industry sector, number of establishments, business revenues, etc.), and applying distributional analysis and spatially-based econometric approaches to a variety of street improvement corridors (treatment and control) in 4-5 selected study cities across the US, this proposed study aims to accomplish two main objectives: (i) to establish whether and how these types of investments impact economic vitality, business activities and demographic composition of surrounding neighborhoods with outcomes that are applicable to additional cities and corridors for pre-implementation assessments; and (ii) to develop a systematic and rigorous methodological approach that is replicable to other cities and corridors for post-implementation evaluation and analysis. The work will provide policy makers and planners with a solid research and practical foundation as well as a robust analytical framework to strategize the implementation of a multimodal transportation network and to support non-motorized transportation infrastructure investments.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:51:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1420073</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Multi-layered Integrated Urban Freight Delivery Network - Phase I: Identification of Policy Preferences based on Qualitative and Conjoint Analyses</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1372389</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Building on an ongoing study conducted by Dr. Hyeonshic Shin in collaboration with the University of Maryland and West Virginia University, this study conducts a large scale survey of freight related businesses and analyze the survey using choice-based conjoint analysis technique. This study is envisioned as a multi-stage effort. The first phase of the study will establish a conceptual framework, conduct outreach and surveys of industries, and identify preferred strategies. The second phase involves the formulation of a model for the chosen strategy and evaluates potential benefits and costs. The third phase will conduct a pilot implementation of the concept. The fourth phase will be a real world implementation. The study area of interest is the Baltimore metropolitan area. The goal of this proposal is to analyze freight sector stakeholders' preferences for various policy alternatives on managing last mile delivery. Specific objectives are to (1) conduct in-depth interviews with leaders of the freight sector to guide the development of a survey to measure stakeholder opinion; (2) carry out a large scale survey of the industry; (3) conduct conjoint analysis to identify freight stakeholder's preferences for alternative freight transportation policies; (4) develop a guide for the next stage of the study that will involve the development of an evaluation model for the chosen alternative policy.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2015 01:00:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1372389</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Legal Aspects of Airport Programs. Topic 07-02. Preemption of Worker Retention and Labor Peace Agreements at Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1351004</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Airport authorities impose (or consider imposing) labor peace and worker retention agreements on various companies that do business at the airport. The labor peace agreements generally require that, as a condition of operating on airport property, a company must become signatory to a valid collective bargaining agreement with a labor organization. The company must also require any work done by subcontractors to be performed under the same conditions. Worker retention agreements typically require a successor company taking over for a predecessor company to hire all of the predecessor's employees who worked for the predecessor prior to the successor taking over operations.   For decades, the federal courts have ruled that when a state or other subdivision of the state attempts to regulate activity that is either arguably protected or prohibited by the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA"), the state's conduct is preempted and the state is forbidden from taking any kind of action that interferes with federal labor laws and national labor policy.  The Supreme Court has allowed lawsuits for damages against state governmental authorities who have imposed regulations found to be preempted by federal labor law under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, there is an exception to federal labor law preemption under a Supreme Court case called Boston Harbor. (Building and Constr. Trades Council v. Associated Builders &amp; Contractors of Mass/RI, Inc. ["Boston Harbor"], 507 U.S. 218, 224 [1993]) When a state, as an owner or manager of property, acts as a private participant in the marketplace, the state is not subject to preemption because preemption only applies to state regulatory actions, but not when the state is acting as a proprietor or a market participant. In the Boston Harbor case, it was permissible for a state agency to require a project labor agreement for any contractor that was going to work on a project to clean up the Boston Harbor. Because a private entity could require a project labor agreement under the NLRA, it was permissible for a state agency to require a project labor agreement when it was contracting with an employer to provide goods or services to the state. The preemption doctrine also exists under the Railway Labor Act ("RLA") for air carriers covered by the RLA, and entities owned or controlled by air carriers that perform traditional airline functions. The Supreme Court and other federal courts have held that preemption similar to the NLRA exists under the RLA. While there do not appear to be specific cases that say a Boston Harbor-type of market participant exception to preemption definitively exists, the courts could find such an exception to preemption under the RLA given that federal courts often look to the NLRA to interpret the RLA. Similarly, the Airline Deregulation Act ("ADA") prohibits state or local government regulation of an air carrier's "price, route, or service," subject to an exception preserving an airport operator's "proprietary powers." The objective of this research is to produce an analysis of the scope of the preemption doctrine applicable to efforts by airport authorities to control or regulate the labor relations practices of various companies that do business at the airport or with the airport authority. The analysis should provide background on the theory and underlying legal sources for the principle of the market participant exception or proprietary exception as applied in the airport context. It should also identify the various categories of companies doing business at the airport and analyze the scope of preemption as applied to those businesses, including but not limited to the following: (1) Air carriers and their wholly owned subsidiaries performing aeronautical activities; (2) Companies licensed by the airport to perform aeronautical services to air carriers, including companies that pay privilege fees (either fixed or as a percentage of gross receipts) to the airport; (3) Companies licensed by the airport to provide services to the passengers, such as wheelchair or electric cart operators, whose contracts are with air carriers, whether or not privilege fees are imposed; (4) Companies, concessionaires, or contractors selected by the airport operator to provide services to the public; and (5) Companies or contractors selected by the airport to provide services directly to the airport authority. This research will be conducted in two phases and four tasks in a firm fixed price agreement. At the conclusion of Phase 1, Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) will make a determination whether to proceed with Phase 2. The tasks will be as follows: Phase 1 Task 1. Detailed Report Outline. Conduct background research and collect relevant material. Based on the initial but complete review of the source material, propose a detailed report outline. The outline should contain sufficient detail to describe what a report of appropriate length will contain. This outline should also contain the estimated pagination for each proposed section and/or subsection. This material will be submitted for ACRP consideration and approval. Participate in a conference call with the ACRP project review panel 3 weeks after submission of the outline. Phase 2 Task 2. After ACRP approval of the detailed outline, conduct additional research, and case and statutory/regulatory analysis. Collect additional primary data to the extent necessary. Task 3. Submit an initial draft report in accordance with the approved outline (including any modifications required by ACRP). Participate in a conference call with the ACRP project review panel 3 weeks after submission of the initial draft report. Task 4.  Revise the initial report as necessary and provide a red-line and a clean version of the draft final report (DFR). The ACRP will provide written comments to which each comment will need a point-by-point response and the report will be revised as appropriate, and submitted as the final report. Funding: $55,000; 25% paid upon submission and approval of the Task 1 Outline; 50% paid upon submission and approval of the Task 3 Report; 25% paid upon submission and approval of the Task 4 Final Report. Proposals should be submitted as a single PDF with the following information and in the following order: (1) A statement of interest and qualifications; (2) A statement of resources (e.g., hours per person per task) allocated to this project and timelines for each task; (3) Resumes of key team members along with a description of responsibilities; (4) Any additions, deletions, or changes you may wish to suggest for undertaking the work; (5) A list of relevant prior publications (you may enclose a one or two samples); and (6) An executed, unaltered liability statement. Here is a printable version of the Liability Statement. Proposers will be evaluated by individuals collectively knowledgeable in this problem area.  Evaluations are based upon the proposers': (1) experience in the subject area; (2) understanding of the work (demonstrated by the commitment of resources); (3) prior relevant publications (including briefs); and (4) schedule for completing the work. Proposals should be submitted electronically to mgreenberger@nas.edu by 4:30 pm (EST) by June 1, 2015. Proposers can read Guidance for Working on ACRP Legal Studies Projects for more information.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2015 01:00:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1351004</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Firm Size Affects Safety Performance in the U.S. Motor Carrier Industry</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1350440</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this study was the development of a driver-focused truck crash prediction model with a particular focus on the size of the carrier that the driver is associated with at the time of a state reportable crash. While previous studies have shown that the characteristics of the driver affect driver involvement in reportable crashes, scant attention has been paid to how the size of the carrier affects crash rates. Generally speaking, smaller carriers do not have the resources to invest in monitoring and implementing sound safety practices to ensure safe operations in the United States (U.S.) motor carrier industry. This represents a significant problem because the majority of carriers in the industry are small carriers. This study seeks to enhance the understanding of how the characteristics of carriers contribute to driver involvement in state reportable crashes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 01:01:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1350440</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Business Establishment Spatial Evolution Microsimulation (BESEM)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1239195</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In this research project Dr. Kostas Goulias and Srinath Ravulaparthy will develop a model system and define initial testing of a business establishment spatial evolution microsimulator (BESEM). The main objective of this method is to create a self- standing software that is able to replicate the change in location of each business establishment in California as a function of its relationship with other business establishments and the transportation infrastructure connecting all businesses. This is a much needed method to: a) show the spatial correlation between business location (and implicitly jobs) and infrastructure by each business type at a microlevel; and b) compute activity opportunity based accessibility indicators that capture observed changes due to businesses moving into the state, moving out of the state, and relocating from one region to another. Schemata for each business type (medical, retail, legal) will be first developed and tested with real world data using point process statistical models. These models will then be used in a small scale simulation as proof of concept to show their spatial and temporal relationship with transportation infrastructure. The tasks include data assembly and assessment of quality, testing of spatial statistics models, creation of the simulator framework, and testing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:01:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1239195</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Economic and Social Role of Bike Paths in Rhode Island</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1235172</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study proposes to examine the use and impact of bike paths in the state with consideration of the economic and social outcomes of nearby businesses and communities through surveys and interviews. In addition this study will seek to identify potential barriers and best practices in regards to the use of bike paths as a stimulus for economic and community development by examining out of state communities with strong bike paths. Finally this study proposes to annually conduct a user count of Rhode Island bike paths and install automated counters.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:25:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1235172</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>