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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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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>The Effects of Curb Extensions and Stormwater Infrastructure on Traffic Safety in Philadelphia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2778224</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In order to meet the goals set out in the City's landmark stormwater management plan, and to satisfy state and federal regulations, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is planning, designing, and constructing a portfolio of stormwater infrastructure systems.  These systems capture, filter, and store stormwater run-off utilizing sub-surface trenches, and vegetated features, from raingardens to street trees, mimicking natural processes where possible.  As part of this program PWD has developed 156 stormwater management bumpouts, and anticipates bringing 342 more online within the next 5 years. These bumpouts have vegetated curb extensions that protrude into the street at mid-block or intersection locations. When located at crosswalks, curb extensions are thought to improve traffic safety by reducing the crossing time of pedestrians, improving visibility at intersections, and slowing drivers by reducing the turning radii at intersections. 

This proposed project will examine the effects of these curb extensions over time on traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities relative to similar roadways where curb extensions will but have not yet been installed. Although pre-existing crash data featured in the selection of treated locations, the focus on stormwater management and long list of treated and untreated intersections provide unique, quasi-experimental conditions under which to examine the effects of curb extensions. Although curb extensions are widely accepted roadway design interventions in the fields of traffic calming and traffic safety, little is known about their effects on crashes or how these effects may vary by roadway conditions, location, or other features. 

While data processing is in progress, the City and Water Department have geocoded the locations of the existing and proposed curb extensions. Crashes from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT’s) crash reporting system will be to the nearest intersection nodes of the eligible bump-outs. From here, the number of crashes, fatal and serious injury crashes, and injury crashes within each buffer can be counted and aggregated by year, with results associated with their corresponding intersection nodes and curb extensions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:57:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2778224</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title> 
Impacts of Left-Turn Traffic Signal Phasing Strategies on Safety Outcomes
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2762048</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Left-turn (LT) maneuvers are among the most challenging and highest-risk movements at signalized intersections. Transportation agencies across the United States have adopted varied signal phasing and operational strategies to manage LT movements, such as Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) displays in lieu of the Solid Green Ball for permissive turns, and FYA used in place of or in combination with protected-only phasing. While prior studies have examined safety performance at regional or whole-intersection levels, limited information exists at the intersection-approach level, where phasing decisions are actually implemented.
This project develops a methodology for approach-level safety analyses at signalized intersections based on left-turn signal phasing and operational strategies, focusing on crash involvement and outcomes in the vicinity of signalized intersections. The methodology quantifies and compares safety outcomes across locations, time periods, and operational strategies (e.g., before-and-after conditions; peak versus off-peak periods) using crash frequencies, severity outcomes, and exposure-adjusted rates, with analytical techniques including non-parametric statistical tests. Application is demonstrated through a Las Vegas metropolitan area case study, drawing on crash records from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and local agencies; signal, roadway, and traffic characteristics from the RTC of Southern Nevada; and vehicle trajectory and operational data (e.g., Streetlight, INRIX) from regional partners.
Results will advance the state of the science and practice for approach-level LT safety analysis and provide transportation agencies a basis to refine policies and procedures that enhance safety and operational efficiency at signalized intersections.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:02:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2762048</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analyzing Trends in Micromobility Safety to Inform ODOT’s Safety Programming</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726155</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The use of electric micromobility devices, including e-bikes, e-scooters, e-unicycles, and other emerging devices, has been steadily increasing as modes of transportation in Oregon over the past several years, generating many questions about how best to integrate these devices into the transportation system. Safety concerns, as the rate of injuries sustained while riding an electric micromobility devices that necessitated an ER visit or hospitalization has significantly increased between 2021 and 2024, rising from 414 potential injuries in 2021 to 1,229 in 2024, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data. These numbers probably underrepresent total crashes. Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Transportation Safety Office (TSO) oversees safety education and training programs, including bicycle and motorcycle safety, but they currently do not have a clear picture of the crash data and magnitude of risk associated with e-micromobility devices given the relative nascency of the mode. Analyzing the available sources of data and developing a deeper understanding of the safety concerns of local agencies and community organizations are critical first steps. This research will help the agency and their transportation safety partners to be data driven in their development of e-micromobility safety materials, safety training programs, strategic project planning and funding investment decisions to reduce the crash and injury risk related to these devices.
OBJECTIVES: This research will help answer the following questions: What’s the extent and magnitude of injuries? What’s the rate of injury for youth compared to adults?  Through a safe system approach, what are the primary causes or factors of crashes involving people riding e-micromobility devices?  What types of devices are most involved in crashes? What are the current concerns for transportation partners and law enforcement related to e-micromobility safety and how are these concerns compared to what is seeing in the data?  
The findings of this important research project will help ODOT identify the core strategies to better tailor ODOT safety programming and partnerships. The results will also be used to educate policymakers, interested partners, and the public. ODOT is seeking a deeper understanding of safety issues and concerns related to the emerging field of small devices that have varying amounts of assisted power beyond human propulsion, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-unicycles. While usage of these devices has emerged in the last decade—and in higher numbers in the last five years—safety research and recommendations have been slow to catch up. Analyzing the available data will help inform the development of data-driven strategies and investments within ODOT, as well as the external partners ODOT works with.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:27:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726155</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Compliance: Evaluating The Aries Pilot and Illegal Bypass Behavior in Oregon</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Illegal bypass of weigh stations and roadside inspection facilities poses a measurable safety and compliance risk within Oregon’s commercial motor vehicle (CMV) system. When vehicles evade inspection, potential violations such as overweight operations, equipment deficiencies, and hours-of-service noncompliance may go undetected, increasing crash exposure and infrastructure damage risk. Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD) currently lacks a standardized, integrated methodology to quantify illegal bypass behavior or link bypass events to inspection outcomes, crash involvement, and carrier safety history.
OBJECTIVES: This research will deliver to ODOT: (1) A standardized and replicable data integration framework linking ARIES pilot data with CCD inspection, violation, crash, and carrier safety records. (2) Measurable and trackable performance indicators to support ongoing internal monitoring of illegal bypass activity and automated enforcement effectiveness. (3) Quantitative analysis of the magnitude, characteristics, and safety implications of illegal bypass behavior in Oregon. (4) Evaluation of ARIES pilot impacts on compliance rates, inspection targeting efficiency, enforcement productivity, and CMV safety outcomes. (5) Implementation guidance and best-practice recommendations to inform strategic investment decisions, future site deployments, and FMCSA Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD) funding applications.
This research will strengthen ODOT’s ability to detect and deter illegal bypass behavior, directly advancing Oregon’s transportation safety goals. By integrating ARIES data with inspection and crash records, CCD will be able to target high-risk vehicles more effectively, reduce unnecessary inspections of compliant carriers, and improve enforcement productivity. The project supports ODOT priorities related to Safety, Innovative Technologies, Process Improvement, and Stewardship of Public Resources by providing measurable evidence to guide enforcement modernization.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:24:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comparing Traffic Safety Risks Across Transportation Modes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2685708</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project compares traffic safety risks across different transportation modes. Very few studies have quantified crash risk across modes, especially recently in the United States. First, this study will calculate and compare mode-specific crash rates, using data from Utah and potentially elsewhere. Second, these mode-specific crash rates will be adjusted for key traffic safety risk factors, about the locations where and times when crashes take place, and the people who are involved. Finally, this work will propose a research-informed framework and analytical methods for improved comparisons of traffic safety risks across transportation modes, especially considering the contexts, factors, and mechanisms of crash causation. Overall, this research will generate useful traffic safety performance measures to help with prioritizing transportation safety investments and communicating safety risks to the public.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:54:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2685708</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Method 2 Horizontal Curvature in Freeway Work Zones: Safety, Suitability, and Alternatives</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2608464</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In freeway design, Method 5 is the standard approach for determining horizontal curvature on high-speed highways, while Method 2 is intended for low-speed urban facilities where higher side friction values are acceptable. However, in Utah, Method 2 has been implemented in high-speed freeway work zones through Alternative Technical Concepts
(ATCs), most notably on the I-15 Technology Corridor project. Post-construction crash records revealed truck overturning incidents and other safety concerns, raising questions about the suitability of Method 2 in high-speed environments.

While Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has already developed a five-year statewide database of work zones containing crash data (AASHTOWare Safety) and project details (Masterworks), this database does not distinguish between projects that used Method 2 horizontal curvature versus standard lane-shift tapers (Method 5). Without this distinction, UDOT lacks the ability to directly assess whether Method 2 increases crash severity, particularly for heavy vehicles, in comparison to established design practices. This gap in knowledge is critical given the safety implications for drivers and workers in high-speed freeway work zones, as well as the need to guide ATC approvals on future Design-Build projects.

This research is needed to provide UDOT with a data-driven evaluation of Method 2’s risks, safety impacts, and design suitability in freeway work zones. Findings will clarify whether Method 2 should remain an acceptable option and under what conditions it might be safely applied.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:12:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2608464</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analyzing Residential Speeding Using Connected Vehicle Data: A Case Study in the Charlottesville, VA Area</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606405</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research addresses speeding issues on residential roads that frequently result in crashes involving non-motorized road users by utilizing connected vehicle data to investigate speeding behaviors where traditional data collection is costly and time-intensive. The study leverages Wejo telematics data provided by Virginia Department of Transportation combined with crash data to analyze residential road speeding patterns in the Charlottesville area and Albemarle County. The methodology develops procedures to reduce large connected vehicle datasets by filtering residential roads through open street mapping, counting speeding events exceeding posted limits by 10-15 mph, and normalizing by total vehicle events. The research explores correlations between speeding frequencies and crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists on residential segments, recognizing that while crash correlations may be limited due to rare event nature, frequent speeding locations can support continuous monitoring and public awareness efforts. Analysis includes temporal patterns comparing day versus nighttime speeding, school zone hour violations, land use factors, and roadway design elements including curb parking, lane widths, and existing traffic calming interventions. The project addresses critical gaps in residential road speeding research by combining real-world vehicle telematics analysis with police-reported crash records to establish foundations for data-driven safety interventions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:10:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606405</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluate Emerging Transportation Technologies and Advancements in Engineering and Roadway Safety Efforts Impact on Crashes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606397</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Emerging technologies and advancements in transportation and engineering are becoming increasingly prevalent across the transportation spectrum. From advanced driving systems to the development of innovative corridors, and the use of 3D modeling for engineering, new technologies and tools are being implemented by the public and private sector with the goal of reducing crashes and saving lives. No analysis has been conducted to determine their safety effectiveness and what practical impact they may have in the future. The research team will develop a safety and policy framework to explore the correlations between the emerging technologies and engineering tools and purported reductions in fatalities and serious injuries. The research team will demonstrate how public agencies, like the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), can objectively assess the extent to which emerging technologies and tools will achieve desired safety outcomes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:41:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606397</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Crash Modification Factors/Functions for Bus Stops</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2601434</link>
      <description><![CDATA[​Public transit, including bus services, plays a crucial role in the United States by enhancing economic productivity and community livability. Deciding where to place a bus stop involves several key considerations to ensure safety, accessibility, and efficiency. Planners typically evaluate factors such as passenger safety, proximity to major trip generators, and accessibility for people with disabilities. They also consider traffic patterns, the availability of adequate curb space, and the potential impact on nearby
properties.

Historically, bus stops were easy to install and relocate due to minimal infrastructure requirements. However, as bus stops and systems (e.g., bus rapid transit or BRT) become more complex incorporating elements like shelters, seating, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant features they have become more expensive and difficult to locate. This complexity increases the importance of understanding the safety, operational, accessibility, and other impacts of bus stop locations on a roadway network before installation. Despite this, there is relatively little information on how bus stops affect roadway safety performance. There is no established equation or set of factors to determine whether perceptions of safety impacts are supported by numerical data, nor how these factors interact. Additional elements contributing to increased crash rates at bus stops may often be overlooked during placement decisions.

In light of the above, the overall objective of this project is to develop a suite of Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) that quantify the impact of adding a bus stop on crash frequency in North Carolina. These CMFs will be derived from crash prediction models (CPMs) designed to predict the safety performance (i.e., annual crash frequency) at a given location as a function of roadway-specific and bus stop-specific features. The models will specifically focus on all crashes (and all fatal + injury crashes) that occur at
these locations, not only crashes involving a bus. The CPMs will be  developed using cross-sectional models in which the safety performance of sites with bus stops will be compared to sites without bus stops. The research team proposes to use the propensity scores-potential outcomes (PSPO) approach for this cross-sectional analysis. The PSPO approach mimics a randomized experiment when the placement of the treatment being studied (in this case, bus stops) is not random. This helps to balance between features in the treatment and non-treatment groups and results in more reliable estimates of the safety impact of the treatment. The team plans to include as many bus stop locations as possible, given the anticipated low average crash frequencies at these sites. It is anticipated that the CPMs will yield CMFs in the form of Crash Modification Functions that provide an estimate of the safety impacts of bus stop locations as a function of several design variables. Candidate variables that the research team intends to explore include: bus stop location relative to the intersection (i.e., far-side vs. near-side), distance from nearest major intersection, number of travel lanes, traffic volume, speed limit, functional classification,
presence of on-street parking, and presence of nearby pedestrian/bicycle facilities.

Anticipated research products include a final report documenting the process of developing the bus stop CMFs, the CMFs themselves, and accompanying interpretations. Additionally, the research will produce an implementation plan for the CMFs, describing their applicability, use, and potential limitations. The Page 3 of 31 research team will provide the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) with a final implementation plan detailing how to use and apply the research results. This plan will also address the level of confidence in the findings and identify data gaps and quality issues encountered during data collection. The research team will collaborate with NCDOT to identify necessary training resources, policies, and guidelines that need updating to incorporate the research results. Specific recommendations for updating these documents will be documented.​]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:01:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2601434</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Signs at Highway-Rail Crossings</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2601423</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project evaluates the safety impacts of replacing STOP signs with YIELD signs at highway–rail grade crossings. The study examines whether this transition has resulted in measurable reductions in crashes and near misses, while also analyzing key crossing characteristics—including traffic volume, train frequency, visibility, and roadway type—that may influence safety outcomes. Findings will be used to provide data-driven recommendations on whether to retain, modify, or reverse the signage change at specific locations, supporting evidence-based decisions for improving transportation safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:18:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2601423</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Near Misses And Crash Outcomes At Intersections In Oregon</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2594039</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over 44,000 crashes occurred on Oregon roads in 2022, 41% of which were at intersections, according to data from Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit data. Intersections are also discrete locations where design improvements can reduce crash rates while minimizing costs, when supported by relevant data. Crash analysis is a useful tool for characterizing the safety of a system, then refining the system’s design. However, assessing the safety of novel transportation designs or existing facilities using real crash data may not be feasible because of the long observational periods and low numbers of crashes, typically at least three years of before and after data, required to acquire statistically significant quantities of data. Significant advances have been made in the ability to characterize transportation system safety with tools such as the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) predictive methods, however these tools require that crash modification factors (CMFs) have been produced for the infrastructure treatments in question, and for those models to have been calibrated to local conditions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:18:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2594039</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Turn-on-Red Prohibitions for Dual Right-Turn Lanes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593920</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will examine right turn on red at signalized intersections where there are two right-turn lanes. Researchers will study the impacts of different right-turn-on-red configurations at various locations on safety performance and traffic level of service by analyzing crash and traffic data as well as observing travel behaviors at selected intersections. The researchers will develop recommendations for right-turn-on-red policies, helping transportation agencies to improve traffic safety and travel efficiency as well as ensure consistent practices across Illinois Department of Transportation districts.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:56:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593920</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A New Method to Reduce Broadside Crashes at Signalized Intersections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2592237</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this research project is to test the hypothesis that moving stop bars 45-50 feet back from the conflicting lanes of traffic will significantly reduce the number of broadside crashes. Potential benefits include a statewide reduction of broadside crashes as well as new statewide standards for placement of stop bars at signalized intersections.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:17:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2592237</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing Performance of the SR 29 Advanced Wildlife Warning System in Collier County</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2569150</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective is to determine if the newly installed wildlife detection and warning system provides a measurable reduction in wildlife-vehicle related crashes within the detection zone. Secondary objectives include evaluating: (1) the reliability of the advanced wildlife warning system (AWWS) in correctly detecting target wildlife species, and (2) the effectiveness of the AWWS in eliciting positive driver responses when alerted to a hazard in the roadway (increased awareness, vehicle speed reduction and advanced braking).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:43:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2569150</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Covid and Traffic Crashes/Impact on Safety Targets</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562323</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The public health emergency due to COVID-19 in March of 2020 significantly changed driving patterns and behaviors.
Research is needed to assess how the pandemic has affected mobility patterns and impacted the number of road
fatalities. Travel was decreased for a period of time but speeds and fatalities increased. Determining the potential
explanations for these differences and understanding the characteristics of the drivers, the engagement in high risk
behaviors, and the continued impacts (current fatality estimates are still increasing) needed to be researched to better
understand these safety impacts and how Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other safety stakeholders may be able to address these underlying
issues with proactive countermeasures, policies, programs and future target setting.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:59:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562323</guid>
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