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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>AI-Enabled Airport Capital Program Delivery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772543</link>
      <description><![CDATA[U.S. airports are undertaking increasingly complex capital programs that require the coordinated delivery of multiple interdependent projects while maintaining continuous airport operations. These programs often face challenges related to fragmented systems, manual and document-driven processes, coordination across multiple stakeholders, and limited integration of cost, schedule, documentation, and operational information. Although artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve efficiency and decision-making, airports currently lack practical, implementation-ready guidance for applying AI across the full capital program delivery lifecycle, including planning, design, construction, and integration with ongoing airport operations.

The objective of this research is to develop practical, implementation-focused guidance for applying AI to airport capital program delivery. The research will produce frameworks, use cases, and implementation pathways to help airports improve coordination, project documentation, and integrated decision-making across capital programs while supporting scalable, vendor-neutral AI adoption within existing program information management and digital delivery systems. Research products may include an AI implementation guidebook, program-level coordination and document management frameworks, scenario-based implementation playbooks, an AI use case library, and guidance for transitioning AI applications from pilot projects to broader capital program implementation. The research should also address quality assurance considerations associated with AI-generated information.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:24:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772543</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Capital Investment, Financing, Flood Risk, and Transportation Safety in the MidAmerica Region
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706033</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation agencies in the MidAmerica region face increasing pressure to manage aging infrastructure under fiscal constraints while improving transportation safety. Rural highways, freight-intensive corridors, and aging bridges experience elevated crash severity, yet capital investment timing and financing decisions are rarely evaluated through a safety-risk lens.
This project develops an integrated empirical and probabilistic framework to quantify how capital investment timing, financing mechanisms, and flood-related hazards influence lifecycle transportation safety outcomes. The study constructs project- and asset-level datasets linking capital programming records, delivery timelines, financing mechanisms, infrastructure characteristics, crash outcomes, and flood risk indicators. Econometric models estimate statistical relationships between investment timing and safety performance. Monte Carlo simulation propagates uncertainty in delivery delays, cost escalation, traffic growth, and flood exposure to produce distributions of lifecycle safety risk and cost. Results will support safety-oriented capital planning and risk-informed decision-making for transportation agencies in the MidAmerica region.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 17:36:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706033</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices. Topic S01-34. Leveraging Technology to Streamline Capital Improvement Program Management



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2621997</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Inconsistent technology used across airports, state aviation departments, and federal agencies can create inefficiencies in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) management. Industry stakeholders are evolving their use of technological systems for CIP portfolio management and data sharing, which allow for collaboration and streamlined processes. It also allows them to track recurring projects and share information across departments.

The objective of this synthesis is to document practices leveraging technology in ways to streamline Capital Improvement Program management through internal and external information sharing. For this synthesis, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) management encompasses the portfolio management life cycle from the idea of a project through planning, development, etc., to closeout, for all airport projects regardless of funding source. The audience for this synthesis is aviation planners, airport executives, and commissions/boards.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:28:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2621997</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Leveraging Transportation Investments for Economic Development and Wealth Building</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2607895</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research will investigate past transportation system projects such as construction of the interstate highway system and construction or expansion of public transit facilities or port facilities, to see how transportation infrastructure can be leveraged to enhance a community’s economic empowerment and unlock wealth-building and economic development opportunities. By understanding how past projects impacted residents, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local agencies can make future investments that are more equitable, promote economic development, and improve public health.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:10:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2607895</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Guide for Advancing Weather-Resilient Infrastructure Investment in Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588323</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop a guide that helps airport practitioners justify and prioritize investments related to weather-resilient infrastructure. The guide will utilize existing tools, technologies, and methodologies to validate and convey the financial benefits of developing or updating airport facilities to enhance their resilience against weather events. The guide will be supported with a WebResource for developing a business case, with interactive modules and a logical workflow. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:09:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588323</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Examining Transportation Infrastructure Investments at Large Employment Hubs for Improving Workers’ Travel: A Case Study of the Denver International Airport</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2557003</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. economy has evolved into specialized sectors where a variety of workers are needed. These sectors are as varied as logistics, information technology, health, recreation, education, and travel. Often specialized employment hubs are located outside urban centers due to cheaper land or other accessibility benefits for the movement of goods and services. Large employment hubs, located away from urban centers, are unique in their challenges for transportation for workers. Broadly, researchers have shown that the heterogeneous nature of employment agglomeration has varying impacts on commute distance, congestion, and travel mode choice. Most workers may decide to drive to and from work since transit is generally limited especially during off-peak travel times and active transportation is infeasible to/from such destinations due to greater travel distance. This pushes workers to rely on single-occupancy vehicle trips, with accompanying impacts on higher congestion in and around large employment centers.

Denver International Airport is a case study of such a large employment hub, located outside the urban center, serving 82.3 million passengers in 2024. The Airport employs about 40,000 people who experience traffic congestion, higher out-of-pocket costs, and other issues while traveling to and from work. In this research, the research team will build on previous work conducted with the Airport during the Fall 2023 semester, where Dr. Shirgaokar’s graduate transportation class had the Airport as a client and studied transportation investments to aid workers’ travel. Separately, the Airport conducted a large survey of employees (n=2700) and collected data through other techniques by engaging with both workers and on-site employers (e.g., concessioners). Denver International Airport will act as subject-matter experts and provide access to data assets and feedback for this research.

The main objective of this research is to identify consumer segments in the employee pool at the Airport through statistical analysis. The team asks: Based on stated travel preferences, what types of infrastructure investments can make travel for workers more efficient? The research team, in close collaboration with the Airport staff, will also engage directly with workers at the Airport using semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups to gather deeper insights regarding what workers value in terms of easing transportation to/from the Airport. Especially in cases such as airports, transportation investments are made with passengers in mind. The Denver International Airport’s focus on workers’ travel needs is timely and offers a unique opportunity to study policy changes in real time. The research team will help with evaluation of several strategies that the Airport will roll out during 2025-26. Working closely with the Airport Planning & Design team, this research is uniquely positioned to have a significant technology transfer component in terms of evaluation of infrastructure investment strategies and consumer segment identification.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 13:04:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2557003</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Transportation Infrastructure Development Under Uncertainties</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447061</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project proposes to improve a framework for analyzing and optimizing interrelated transportation infrastructure projects under conditions of uncertainty. The study will enhance methods for evaluating and scheduling infrastructure investments, considering interdependencies and demand changes. By developing adaptable, long-term planning tools, the project aims to support agencies in making informed decisions that account for cost and resilience across transportation systems.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:09:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447061</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Incorporating Resilience Considerations in Transportation Asset Management Planning and Project Selection Process</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437693</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to advance resilience-based transportation asset management (TAM) planning and project selection through the systematic integration of resilience for various assets. It encompasses five primary tasks: (1) Collecting asset and hazard datasets and integrating those diverse datasets for accurate disruption scenario analysis and asset condition assessment. (2) Performing vulnerability assessment based on asset conditions and disruption scenario analysis. (3) Developing a resilience-based TAM framework for various assets, which involves synthesizing insights from literature review and interviews with the Resilience Working Group to (i) identify resilience metrics for different asset types, (ii) conduct lifecycle cost analysis, (iii) develop a decision-making model for resource allocation, and (iv) conducting sensitivity analysis to identify critical factors for improving resilience and investment prioritization. (4) Creating a user-friendly tool to operationalize the proposed framework. (5) Conducting pilot studies to demonstrate the resilience-based TAM framework. This project benefits district transportation authorities by improving resource allocation, asset resilience, and project selection. Through structured evaluation of trade-offs between competing TAM objectives like resilience and cost-effectiveness, and investment prioritization, this project ensures efficient resource allocation and long-term resilience under resource constraints. Ultimately, this project establishes the groundwork for the resilience-based TAM Plan and Statewide Resiliency Plan.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Oct 2024 11:09:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437693</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>RES2025-05: Case Studies on the Economic Benefits of TDOT's Rail Connectivity Grant Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437330</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As Tennessee's economy continues to expand, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has increasingly recognized the importance of an efficient transportation network in aiding industrial growth. Particularly, the improvement and extension of railroads have garnered attention for their potential to increase job opportunities and attract capital investment while also offering a cost-efficient alternative to roadway transportation. Freight transportation accessibility is critical to enhancing rural area development and providing service to smaller communities, which are often composed of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. In addition, intermodal solutions reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. In 2018, TDOT made strategic investments of approximately $10 million in this sector through the Rail Connectivity Grant Program with three pivotal objectives: to increase job creation and capital investment by facilitating industries that necessitate rail access; to enhance the marketability of available industrial sites through improved rail connections; and to reduce highway and bridge maintenance costs by shifting the bulk of heavy freight transport from the road to rail networks. To date, funding has been allocated for four projects, with three of them having reached completion. Despite these efforts, there remains a lack of comprehensive analytics to calculate the benefits and relative returns on investment outcomes for these projects, and to provide a recommendation of a best investment plan that could be implemented by TDOT. This proposed project will develop a framework to analyze the economic benefits and relative returns on investment outcomes for the rail connectivity projects and conduct an analysis of such projects funded by TDOT. The assessment ensures that TDOT’s investments are validated, thereby informing future investment decisions and optimizing the program's contribution to Tennessee's overall growth agenda.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2024 16:07:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437330</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Multi-Objective Decision Analysis and Optimization
Model for Transportation Investment Decision-Making at
MDOT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2406635</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Fair and objective resource allocation is key to effective transportation asset management. Given resource constraints, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) must invest in projects that simultaneously improve asset condition, safety, accessibility, and mobility. To optimize decisionmaking,
it is critical to forecast the short-and long-term impacts of these projects on system performance, as well as the tradeoffs
of deferring investments in other competing areas to a later time. This project is intended to develop a performance-based
approach and model to advise decision-making for the highway capital program, where available data can be analyzed
to prioritize projects by considering multiple agency objectives, as well as factors such as cross-asset impacts, mobility, risk,
environmental impacts, equitable benefits distribution, safety and condition targets, and financial constraints. Public and
private market software that utilize this approach are available and used in a variety of business settings, including by
transportation agencies, but vary widely in method. It is therefore vital to first understand how these methods vary in their
benefit, and how they could improve and integrate with decision-making processes at MDOT. Once a core approach has been
established, consistent with needs and MDOT’s mission, a broader decision-making model that address the issues outlined
above can be developed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:32:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2406635</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4905: Feasibility Study on the Development of Indiana’s Connected and Automated Vehicle Roadmap and Strategic Plan</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2394548</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will provide Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) with critical insights into major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)’ connected and automated vehicles (CAV) development plans, guiding infrastructure investment and policy decisions. By understanding technological roadmaps, INDOT can strategically position Indiana, ensuring it aligns with industry advancements, enhancing road safety and traffic efficiency, and facilitating seamless integration of CAVs on its transportation network in the near future.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:57:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2394548</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building an Effective Framework for Active Transportation Messaging</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381710</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Active transportation consists of human-powered modes of transportation such as biking and walking. In addition to providing health benefits to users, active transportation can enable positive societal outcomes such as reducing vehicle usage and associated emissions, injuries, and air pollutants, and enhancing economic vitality in communities. As such, active transportation encompasses several complex and intersecting issues, such as public health, accessibility, data, economics, and safety. Historically, active transportation has been viewed in a silo, as an optional add-on, or as a design exception. Active transportation projects and strategies are developed by transportation and other government agencies, including state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations, localities, and municipalities. Communications and messaging are critical to raising the awareness of the benefits of active transportation and enabling the culture shift needed to consistently and sustainably provide safe active transportation. Research is needed to develop effective communication and messaging practices to reinforce and institutionalize active transportation investment.

The objective of this research is to develop a framework for state DOTs and other government agencies to communicate the processes and strategies for institutionalizing active transportation investment.
 ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2024 21:57:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381710</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Travel Demand Survey to Inform Infrastructure Investments (4.15)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2378078</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Maine is challenged to fund and implement transportation solutions that address climate
change, connect people with employment opportunities, and provide equitable, affordable access to services for all communities. Maine’s investments in transportation infrastructure and strategies must deal with the realities of a few urban clusters with transit and active transportation options, but where large portions of the the state are quite rural with limited choices for travel other than personal vehicles. To date, most transportation research has been oriented toward higher density urban areas, dealing primarily with reducing congestion and increasing mobility through a combination of surface road and multi-modal improvements, transit improvements, and changes in road design for vulnerable road users. For states such as Maine, new strategies need to consider rural travel distances, challenging economics for public transit, changing vehicle connectivity technology and the expanded use of remote technologies for work,
education, healthcare and social activities. This project will provide a better understanding of the elasticity of travel demand and the factors that influence current and future transportation patterns, such as fuel prices, micro transit and mobility as a service, new vehicle technologies and broadband connectivity. The research team is proposing new primary data collection through the use of a travel survey that will expand upon the US Census National Household Travel Survey. The work will develop a detailed profile of current travel choices and patterns in each of Maine 16 counties. The survey will focus on understanding of current travel needs and the perceived priorities for infrastructure needed to deliver the services communities need to thrive.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2024 15:11:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2378078</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigating Innovations in Litter Collection 
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359168</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ODOT invests substantial resources every year removing trash from the highways. These efforts not only help maintain the beauty of Ohio, but also support a safe transportation system by moving potentially hazardous obstructions away from traveling vehicles, mowing equipment and specialized habitat and pollinator areas.  There are a variety of efforts currently underway in Ohio to address the litter issue. Current practices are not only costly, but individuals are put in harm's way close to moving traffic. This risk is evident from the tragic incident in 2022 along I-75 involving a sheriff deputy and inmate cleanup crew. Not only are there safety hazards from traffic, but also from the debris being collected by hand that can often include needles, drug paraphernalia and items containing human waste. Whether it is an ODOT worker, Adopt-A-Highway volunteer, contractor, or inmate crew, ensuring the safety of those collecting litter along Ohio's roads is critical. Dealing with litter is further complicated by terrain. Ohio has a very diverse landscape. While some areas of the state are flat and spacious, other areas are hilly with lots of curves and trees growing close to the roadside. Some of the rural two-lane portions of the highway system have very little shoulder that is accessible. 

The goal of this research is to identify new and innovative programs, processes, or equipment to assist with the safe, efficient, and cost-effective collection of litter statewide. Objectives include (1) developing or identifying efficiencies for litter removal across the state, including, but not limited to rest areas, truck stops, on and off ramps, tourist attractions, and highways; (2) determining the benefit/cost analysis and justification of the various recommendations, and (3) developing an implementation guide of the various recommendations (inclusive of both processes and equipment) based on the best use-case scenarios for each recommendation. Research that enhances efficiencies, improves effectiveness, and increases safety in litter collection will help ODOT be more efficient and provide opportunities for flexibility in approaches and potentially reduce costs.              ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:54:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359168</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Financing for Marine Transport: Analyzing the Impact of Resilient Infrastructure Investments for the Inland Waterways (Part II)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2347371</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. inland waterways play a vital role in the domestic economy, but disruptive weather events, namely floods and droughts, perennially threaten to disrupt their operations. The frequency and severity of these disruptions are of particular concern. In Part I of this project, our research team successfully integrated downscaled flood projections with agent-based and economic models to effectively simulate supply chain disruptions along the inland waterways due to various flood scenarios and estimate resulting economic impacts of businesses’ decisions to re-route, or not re-route, shipments in response to these events. In Part II of this project, we focus on integrating the decoupled net present value (DNPV) financial framework with the simulations. Doing so will allow us to highlight cases where investments in resilient, water-borne infrastructure can offer cost-effective means of mitigating impacts of disruptive weather events. We aim to use the development of The Port of Cates Landing, a flood-resilient port located near the mouth of the Upper Mississippi River, as an in-depth case study to demonstrate this approach. However, our work can be extended to other sections of the waterways and transportation modes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:22:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2347371</guid>
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