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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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    <item>
      <title>Separation of Vehicles - CMV Only Lanes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1339640</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Congestion on our nation's highways is a leading contributor to the rising number of accidents. The interaction between cars and commercial vehicles, namely large trucks, having significantly different sizes/configurations, weights and operating capabilities acts to exacerbate the problem. As pressure mounts to increase the legal size and weight restrictions for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), coupled with an increase in the number of vehicles on the nation's highways, government is tasked with trying to manage a transportation system with severely limited resources. Although the issue of CMV-only lanes is raised from time to time, as a potential method for both easing congestion and reducing the number of accidents, little if any, real data exist to enlighten transportation officials as to the efficacy of such lanes.

The Federal Highway Administration has performed preliminary research and conducted modeling scenarios on lane separation for different classes of vehicles. Additionally, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTPA) has vast experience in the area of lane separation for different types of vehicles. During the latter part of the 20th Century, the NJTPA opened two lanes in each direction on the New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) that are physically separated from other traffic and that are specifically dedicated to CMV traffic. Statistics from 1998 revealed this portion of highway had a 36 percent lower accident rate than the stretch of Turnpike which has lanes open to all traffic. Furthermore, evidence suggests that other countries around the globe have experimented with the concept of lane separation for different classes of vehicles.

In summation, the concept of CMV lanes for large vehicles that travel our nation's highways is not a new one, however, considering the lack of any previous research into the aforementioned topic there is a real need for an in-depth review of existing data in this area. An examination of the current applications (NJTPA experience) and others would provide valuable information that could be utilized by transportation officials in determining the future of highway planning in their respective areas.

The objectives of this research project are to (1) examine the various performance characteristics of a CMV-only lane application within a highway (e.g., reduced congestion, accident reduction, etc.); (2) examine relative items such as cost variables, aspects of reduced and/or increased pavement wear; (3) examine/explore modeling scenarios which have been completed by others; (4) examine/explore the benefits to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies that are being used by various states [i.e., Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) readers, Driver-less Vehicle Systems (DVS), Electronic Traffic Control and Monitoring (ETCM) system as well as other systems]; (5) examine/review the feasibility of increased size and weight standards on CMV only lanes; (6) examine factors related to the success of truck-only lane projects; (7) examine the suitability of tolling and privatization; and (8) prepare a report of pertinent data and findings that includes economic implications, transportation performance, safety benefits, and other impacts associated with the application of CMV-only lanes.

The projected increase in traffic and specifically commercial vehicle traffic on the highways nationwide makes this study critically important for future highway design and planning. As highway engineers and transportation officials across the nation struggle to resolve traffic congestion, as well as other issues involving the movement of vehicles on our highways, it becomes vitally important that all avenues are explored.

The motoring public is clamoring for a transportation system that is responsive to its needs. Drivers across the nation have made it clear: they want a system that reduces congestion and reduces accidents. Moreover, they have expressed their displeasure of having to intermingle with large vehicles (namely trucks and buses) on the Interstate System and believe this to be a deadly combination that courts disaster.

The study would provide great incite into the most effective methods for accommodating a broad spectrum of commercial and noncommercial vehicles on our major highways.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:01:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1339640</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Operational and Low-Cost Improvements to Freight Transportation System Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331880</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The infrastructure for moving freight in the United States is well established but overburdened.  Dramatically increasing congestion inflicts costs on shippers, consumers, and the environment.  Because expansions to the system are often complicated and expensive, both the public and private sector benefit from making the best use of the existing system, either through improved operations or by enhancing the system using low-cost techniques.  Targeted investment and improved operations by both private businesses and government will be required to avert even more severe capacity constraints. The objective of this project is to describe successful practices in maximizing the utility of the existing freight transportation infrastructure, either through operational practices or relatively inexpensive system enhancements.  The research should examine each element of each mode for weakness or failure and then describe the operational practice or system enhancement used to strengthen it and do the same for the linkages between the modes so that a full picture of the system emerges.  These practices may be mode-specific or logistical.  The practices should be related to the different types of constraints in freight flow and the description should indicate whether implementation depends on the private sector, public sector, or both.  Operations and ITS alternatives such as routing and time of day adjustments made by carriers as well as targeted infrastructure improvements such as those done by the State of  Ohio's interchange upgrade program should be included.  It is expected that some successful practices are proprietary, but that a sufficient number of nonproprietary practices will be found to justify this effort.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:05:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331880</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Private Sector Responses to Freight Transportation Capacity Constraints</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331878</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The nation's freight infrastructure is mature, and the capacity constraints in the system are well known by logistics providers and freight carriers. It is clear that capacity is expanding too slowly to keep up with demand. The congestion and inefficiencies resulting from this gap hurt the nation's economy and its competitive status in the global marketplace.  Although private-sector firms often cannot improve the bottlenecks, they are innovative in adapting their operations to move freight through congested areas.  The users of the infrastructure, operating in a free market, compete to squeeze maximum benefit from the transportation system and may behave in ways that will affect the need for certain public sector investments.  It is also the case that public sector agencies make decisions about expanding infrastructure or changing operations without necessarily having a solid understanding of how the private sector will respond. The objective of this project is to catalogue ways in which those responsible for moving freight respond to constraints on freight system capacity.  This will be useful in assessing the impacts of projects designed to remedy system constraints.  It should also include case analyses of private sector responses to public sector decisions that illustrate both intended and unintended outcomes and the underlying causes.  This study will focus on congested segments and chokepoints in the freight transportation system that cause significant drags on its efficiency and costs to the economy.  Responses to be considered should include consolidation of origins and destinations for freight movements, as well as various strategies used in transportation management optimization software applications.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:05:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331878</guid>
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      <title>Institutional Strategies in the Freight Transportation System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331876</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The freight industry is a unique blend of private and public-sector organizations, each with its own objectives and constraints.  Political and jurisdictional boundaries do not define market relationships, but they do have a significant influence on infrastructure funding.  Effective freight policy will require coordination and collaboration among public and private interests. New forms of public-private and public-public partnerships are needed to address challenges that do not conform to government jurisdictions, geographic boundaries, or traditional dividing lines between government and business. Some state DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), for example, have established freight offices and they and others have formed freight advisory councils in order to engage carriers and shippers on issues of mutual interest.  A number of states are involved in multistate, multimodal collaborations to deal with freight transportation problems and objectives that cross state boundaries. The objective of this project is to describe successful and promising institutional strategies for the current and future freight industry.  Determining which strategies are successful and promising will require the following: (1)Determination of federal, state, and local interests and roles regarding freight movement; (2)Identification of existing institutional strategies and their context and original purpose; (3)Definition of the levers of influence in shaping the freight industry (e.g., money, regulation, and leadership); and (4)Consideration of regulatory and other constraints on the effectiveness of institutional strategies. A review of domestic and international experience should be used to identify successful and promising institutional strategies.  Of particular interest are joint entities that have the authority to make improvements to the freight system.  The research will identify potential institutional changes to address local, state, regional, and national needs and opportunities for efficient freight transportation.  It will incorporate the results of work completed and underway supported by organizations such as the NCHRP, FHWA, and AASHTO.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:05:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1331876</guid>
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      <title>Improving Goods Movement in a Metropolitan Area Adjacent to a Port</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1229555</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Southern California and specially Los Angeles faces enormous congestion associated with increase in cargo movement from/to the regional Ports. The region has started to drown in a sea of trucks and trains. This growing congestion has elevated the costs of freight transport. Also, it resulted in greater concerns regarding environmental impacts on local communities. Considering the predicted tripling of cargo movement through the ports in the next two decades, it is crucial to develop immediate alternative arrangements for freight management. More efficient operational management of intermodal transport provides effective cargo movement and maintains environmental justice. In this study, analytical tools, such as mathematical programming, are employed to develop a new strategy for cargo movement in order to lesser congestion and environmental impact.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:44:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1229555</guid>
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