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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <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>
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    <item>
      <title>Connected Corridors Advancement Initiative</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2645418</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The I-80 Corridor Coalition and I-35 Advancement Alliance are spearheading the Connected Corridors Advancement Initiative (CCAI) to address evolving challenges and leverage opportunities in corridor management and transportation technology. As critical transcontinental arteries, these corridors underpin national commerce and mobility, fostering regional connectivity and economic growth. Building upon AASHTO NCHRP 20-24(138) recommendations and inspired by successful models such as the I-95 Corridor Coalition and the Eastern Transportation Coalition, the initiative seeks to establish a framework for open data standards, infrastructure modernization, and multi-state collaboration. The Nevada DOT SMART Grant Enhancing Corridor Communication Roadmap will serves as a foundation model, showcasing enhanced inter-agency coordination and scalable technology deployment. International efforts, including Europe’s NAPCORE and Canada’s CAV Standards, highlight best practices in data interoperability and advanced infrastructure. To sustain economic competitiveness, ensure national security, and foster technological leadership, the U.S. must develop integrated, multi-state corridor frameworks focused on data sharing, operational efficiency, and resilient infrastructure. Enhanced collaboration will bolster domestic mobility, supply chain reliability, and national emergency response capacity. Corridor coalitions have demonstrated the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in addressing infrastructure needs, facilitating transportation planning, and improving operational efficiency across multiple jurisdictions. The CCAI aims to modernize corridor operations, enhance safety, and optimize economic efficiency by aligning efforts across state, federal, and private sectors. Objectives include developing and implementing open data standards for Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx), Truck Parking Information Monitoring Systems (TPIMS), and national interoperability of communication data feeds to enable seamless communication across jurisdictions. Additionally, the initiative seeks to prepare the corridor for connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies by supporting data interoperability between states, agencies, emergency services, industry partners and the traveling public.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:04:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2645418</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Statewide Innovative Corridor Planning Study</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2643440</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will increase our knowledge of best practices for coordinated corridor planning and provide a reference guidebook for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) planners. An improved corridor planning process would include approaches to harmonize transportation and land use. It would contribute to more efficient and sustainable urban development. The focus would be to improve planning for projects in CDOT’s 10-Year Plan pipeline.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:57:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2643440</guid>
    </item>
    <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>Corridor Planning Tool for Efficient and Resilient Agricultural Supply Chain in California</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2422986</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In California, which leads in agricultural output while its economy relies on an extensive freight network, there exists a gap in providing stakeholders with the necessary guidance to assess the resilience of critical infrastructure elements such as corridors, intermodal connectors, and aging bridges for efficient movement of agricultural products and its supply chain. The objective of this proposed research is to enable stakeholders to identify and implement strategies that would improve the efficiency and resilience of freight networks for the movement of key agricultural commodities in California as well as in other states in which agricultural supply chain constitutes a significant part of the economy. The research approach will involve developing a framework for risk priority of various elements of agricultural freight infrastructure in California.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:20:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2422986</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Florida Freight Corridor Planning</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2399769</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop an actionable urban transportation policy, planning, and implementation framework and vision to guide long-term investments in commercial and freight transportation. This research project will use a team of transportation and planning experts to identify concrete and tangible projects, organized with six discrete tasks. If implemented, these projects have the potential to position the State of Florida as the Southeast's central freight and commercial transportation hub.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:19:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2399769</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Strategies for Transportation System Management and Operational Enhancement of Arterial Roadways</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2366296</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall goal of this research project is to develop guidance materials for characterizing a corridor and its needs for enhancement, describing all arterial transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) strategies for implementations, and developing performance reporting goals on safety an(d mobility.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:40:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2366296</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Support for AASHTO Committees and Councils. Roadmap for Integrated Selection of Multimodal Facilities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348473</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The highway system now supports more uses than ever before, creating the need to balance them all within the limited space of the roadways. While the increase in types of use the roadways supports is beneficial to the health, economy, and resiliency of the transportation network, it also creates a substantial challenge to meet the needs of all roadway users.

Currently, a typical way to decide how to build a multimodal facility is to use multiple American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) publications focused on individual modes of travel. As several of these are independent documents focused on specific modes, there is an opportunity to review how these documents might more effectively inform decision makers in a more integrated approach. 

Furthermore, given the timing of the various design manual updates can lead to missed opportunities for the coordination of common elements in each document. Streamlined guidance at the national level may help avoid future repetitive updates that take years of overhaul, dedicated staff time, and financial investment. 

Current and forthcoming AASHTO publications (e.g., A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets; Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities; Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities) include new planning and design concepts for motorized and nonmotorized users on streets and highways. To support these publications, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to guidance and training material that would give planners and designers direction on developing a holistic process to choose a multimodal facility in one consolidated document.

The objective of this project is to produce a roadmap to establish an integrated selection process for multimodal facilities for developing transportation infrastructure projects.

This research would suggest strategies directly correlated with AASHTO strategic safety plans and initiatives to reduce serious injuries and fatalities while planning and designing safer roadways for all and streamlining and strengthening decision-making for multimodal facility selection. 

The outcome of this research will be a roadmap to establish an integrated selection process for multimodal facilities using all relevant AASHTO and related design guidance documents. Using this roadmap should enhance the safety and mobility of the traveling public across all modes and aid planning and design practitioners by removing silos when considering all roadway users in developing transportation infrastructure projects. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:00:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2348473</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Demonstration of the Application of Travel Speed Deflectometer (TSD) Data in Developing Long-Range Corridor Planning and Management Strategies for Critical Transportation Corridors Within the Mississippi State Highway System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2264433</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this work is to demonstrate the effectiveness and methods for MDOT to leverage the evaluation of traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) data generated as part of MDOT’s participation in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pooled Fund Study TPF‐5(385). Under the FHWA TPF-5(385) study, approximately 200 lane miles of TSD data was collected in the fall of 2022, primarily on MS-16 and MS-19. The proposed evaluation will include combining the TSD data with layer thickness calculated from the onboard 3D GPR system to calculate pavement layer moduli, structural number, remaining pavement service interval, and recommended asphalt overlay thickness. This analyzed data will be used to assist MDOT in the selection, prioritization, and scheduling of projects and proposed treatments based on realistic current and projected roadway structure information.  Additionally, this information will be incorporated into the newly revamped MDOT Pavement Management System (PMS).  THE PMS will be used to develop several optimized funding strategies for evaluation and implementation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:34:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2264433</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Refining C3 Context-Classification Criteria for Low-Income and Minority Populations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2256336</link>
      <description><![CDATA[FDOT’s context classification system seeks to provide guidance for design of streets in different developmental contexts. While this prescriptive approach to street design can greatly aid in addressing the safety needs of pedestrians and bicyclists, it presumes that rates of walking and bicycling are more likely to occur in areas with more “urban” developmental patterns. While this is certainly true for more affluent populations, for whom non-motorized travel is a choice, it is often not the case for lower income populations, which report lower levels of automobile ownership and thus greater reliance on walking, bicycling, and transit to accomplish basic travel objectives. (restart of BED27 977-01)]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2023 08:20:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2256336</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>USF-CUTR I-4 FRAME Project "After" Study: Data Collection and Analysis of Safety and Mobility Conditions After Implementation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2154954</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project will collect and analyze “after” data for applications allocated to USF-CUTR, perform a before-after study to evaluate impacts and improvements of the deployed I-4 FRAME applications, conduct an overall benefit-cost analysis for the I-4 FRAME project Connected Vehicle (CV) applications, perform satisfaction survey and analysis of I-4 FRAME CV Apps users, and document research findings and recommendations. The primary project objectives and efforts from the USF-CUTR team include the following: (1) complete “after” data collection for 10 selected I-4 FRAME applications allocated to USF-CUTR, addressing mobility challenges and benefit-cost analysis, and collect sample data during pre-deployment to minimize data gaps in the before-after data analysis; (2) evaluate impacts and improvements to mobility and safety from 10 selected applications via before-after studies; (3) address mobility challenges on I-4 FRAME project corridors; (4) perform an overall benefit-cost analysis for the 10 applications allocated to USF-CUTR; (5) conduct a satisfaction survey and analysis of I-4 FRAME users; and (6) document results of before-after studies, impact of I-4 FRAME application, benefit-cost analysis, user satisfaction survey, research findings, and recommendations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:26:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2154954</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>North/West Passage Transportation Pooled Fund Study Phase 5</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2087623</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Interstates 90 and 94 between Wisconsin and Washington function as major corridors for commercial and recreational travel. Extreme winter weather conditions, prevalent in the northern states within this corridor, pose significant operational and travel-related challenges. Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming are predominantly rural and face similar transportation issues related to traffic management, traveler information, and commercial vehicle operations.
 
Recognizing the value of coordinated, cross-border collaboration for ITS deployment to address these issues, Minnesota initiated a meeting in 2002 with representatives from each of the states within the corridor. The group established itself as a Transportation Pooled Fund in 2003.  
 
North/West Passage members contribute annually to the pooled fund and are reimbursed for program travel.  A work plan is developed and approved annually by the Steering Committee.  Work Plan 1 and Work Plan 2 were funded through TFP-5(093).  That project number was closed out and Work Plan 3 - Work Plan 13 were funded through the FHWA number TPF-5(190). Work Plan 14 – Work Plan 17 are currently funded under the current TPF number: 5(376). To view each work plan and project results, visit the program website at: http://www.nwpassage.info/about/workplan.php.  
 
This new TPF number will fund Work Plan 18 – Work Plan 22.

OBJECTIVES: The vision of the North/West Passage (NWP) Corridor is to focus on developing effective methods for sharing, coordinating, and integrating traveler information, operational activities, and emerging technologies across state and provincial borders.  The vision provides a framework to guide the states’ future projects in the corridor. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:58:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2087623</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effective Pedestrian/Non-Motorized Crossing Enhancements along Higher Speed Corridors</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1993828</link>
      <description><![CDATA[MDOT desires solutions for enhanced pedestrian/non-motorized crossings along highway corridors with speeds 45 mph or greater at both signalized and unsignalized intersections. Specific treatments are desired (rapid flashing beacon, HAWK signal, etc.) but do not meet minimum warrants per various guidance documents. In response, MDOT must rely on its judgment as to what the study team believes will work for additional enhancement features. MDOT would like research on effective treatments where pedestrian/non-motorized crossing warrants are not met for the bigger enhancements on corridors with speeds 45 mph or greater.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:08:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1993828</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NCHRP Implementation Support Program. Implementing NCHRP Project 20-119: Evaluating the Suitability or Roadway Corridors for Use by Monarch Butterflies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957077</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The implementation project focuses on NCHRP Report 942 Evaluating the Suitability of Roadway Corridors for Use by Monarch Butterflies published in 2020. The implementation (1) offers training to state departments of transportation (DOTs) for use of the landscape prioritization model, rapid assessment protocol, and roadside habitat evaluator tool, and (2) technical support and tool refinement for participating DOTs. Each training is tailored for the specific needs of the DOT, depending on how they wish to utilize or customize some or all of the tools. DOT training events occur over a one to two-day period, using lecture-style presentations and hands-on field activities targeted for management, landscape architects, geographic information system (GIS) experts, vegetation managers, or some combination. Trainings are being conducting for a minimum of four states across different regions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2022 11:46:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957077</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Climate Change Impacts on Asset Management of Texas Concrete Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948657</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Texas has more than 55,000 bridges, where more than 50% of the bridges are over 40 years old,
approaching their design life span with increasing maintenance and rehabilitation needs. There
has been a concerning accelerating trend of bridges in Texas transitioning from the “good” to “fair”
condition over the past 20 years. Despite these facts, bridge assets are also facing everincreasing
traffic demand due to population increase and urbanization, and are exposed to more
intense environmental threats due to climate change which can chronically degrade the bridges’
structural condition and traffic carrying functionality. Moreover, there has been strong evidence
that greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic activities have greatly affected the global
climate system. As a result, climate change may cause huge impacts on the performance and
functionality of transportation infrastructure, where the changing CO₂ concentration, temperature,
and relative humidity can exacerbate the material deterioration.
However, traditional Markov state transition models and statistical regression models, despite
their prevalent applications in bridge deterioration modeling and asset management, cannot
faithfully reflect the deterioration of bridge conditions under future climate uncertainties, and they
also suffer from the lack of parameterization on critical factors (e.g., climate measures and bridgespecific
parameters). On the other hand, physics-based deterioration modeling can explicitly
capture the contributions from temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration, as well as bridge
materials properties and geometries in the time-dependent deterioration process. Yet, such
physics-based deterioration modeling has received limited attention in the state of practice of
bridge asset management, and there is a lack of regional-level and physics-based risk
assessment framework to gauge the future changing climate impacts on bridge asset
deterioration and management. To fill this gap, the proposed research aims to probabilistically
quantify the long-term climate change impacts on the deterioration of Texas concrete bridge
portfolios. Specifically, this technical phase of this project will (1) Select and downscale state-ofthe-
art climate change models for the state of Texas; (2) Develop physics-based bridge
deterioration model and calibrate it against historical National Bridge Inventory (NBI) bridge
condition data; and (3) Develop a quantitative risk assessment framework that integrates the
climate change forecasts with physics-based structural deterioration models to offer probabilistic
spatial-temporal forecast of the Texas bridge asset deterioration extent. By linking the
deterioration extent to the direct and indirect socioeconomic consequences, new insights will be
afforded regarding the efficacy of different risk mitigation strategies to better inform the
stakeholders toward better long-term focused and cost-effective bridge asset management.
For the implementation phase, an interactive dashboard that incorporates the research
outcomes from the technical phase will be developed to facilitate interactive visualization and
decision-making. It could also serve as training materials for workforce development and
engagement with stakeholders to disseminate the research findings. The proposed research will
be synthesized into undergraduate and graduate level courses offered by the PIs. This synergy
between research and education will get students better prepared for their future career as project
managers in broad civil infrastructure industry. Two graduate students will be supported and
mentored during the project period, and such experiences will equip the students with a
competitive skillset and foster the next-generation transportation researchers and practitioners.
The research outcomes will be disseminated to the broader transportation community through
presentations at conferences such as the annual Tran-SET and TRB conferences as well as
journal publications. Outreach activities through summer programs available at UTSA will offer
summer research mentorship to underrepresented undergraduate STEM students as well as to
intrigue undergraduates in pursuing graduate school.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2022 16:00:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948657</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Multimodal, Multistate Corridor Modeling for Long-Distance Movements of Food and Containerized Goods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1890702</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this project is to develop an archetypal model for a lengthy freight corridor (comprised of many jurisdictions) that can be used for capacity, performance, and investment analysis. Uses of the model will be illustrated, along with its limitations and desired data improvements. The potential for transference to other corridors and settings will be discussed, as well as suggestions for future model development. While the same modeling approach can be used for many commodities and types of flows, this project will focus on food, energy-related, and container traffic. These primary flows are critical to global trade, economic development, and food security.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:37:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1890702</guid>
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