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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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      <title>Develop Guidance for Enhancing Work Zone Safety in the Construction of Innovative Intersections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2614517</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Innovative intersections, also referred to as alternative or unconventional intersections, are essential for enhancing traffic flow and safety. In Texas, there has been a significant increase in the construction of innovative intersection designs such as diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs), median U-turns (MUTs), and reduced conflict intersections (RCIs). However, they present notable challenges during construction. A primary concern associated with implementing these designs is maintaining traffic flow during construction to minimize disruptions and ensure safety. The geometric configurations of these intersections introduce complexities that are not addressed by previous guidelines, posing safety risks for motorists and workers. The absence of standardized specifications for work staging and risk mitigation strategies in work zones exacerbates these issues. Using a mixed-method approach, the research team will identify safety risks intrinsic to the construction of innovative intersections and temporary traffic control (TTC) measures that can eliminate or reduce these risks. The research team will develop comprehensive guidance for developing and implementing TTC strategies for innovative intersections. The documentation and evaluation of these strategies will establish a comprehensive framework for safely and effectively implementing innovative intersection designs in Texas, catering to the specific needs of drivers, including seniors and teenagers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:08:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2614517</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) Design Guidance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593933</link>
      <description><![CDATA[One-third of Kentucky’s traffic collisions occur at intersections, accounting for 35% of injury-related crashes and 20% of fatal crashes. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has recognized Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) intersections as an effective design strategy for reducing fatal and injury crashes. Over 25 RCUT intersections have been constructed in Kentucky in a variety of settings, from rural and suburban isolated intersections to urban and rural corridors. Currently, Kentucky lacks state-specific guidance to inform the planning, design, construction, and operation of RCUT intersections. Developing tailored guidance will facilitate planning analysis and location selection, public involvement needs, intersection control selection (i.e., unsignalized or signalized), traffic operational analysis (open to traffic and future year), safety performance, geometric design, multimodal accommodations, signing and striping layouts, intersection lighting, and constructability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593933</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Economic Analysis of RCUT Access Impacts in Georgia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508954</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to identify changes to patterns in access after installation of a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersection and any associated changes to economic performance of the impacted businesses nearby. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:28:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508954</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Examining Driver Hand-off and Take-over of AVs at J-turn Intersections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2425219</link>
      <description><![CDATA[J-turn intersections help to reduce fatal and serious crash risks at rural intersections. However, the novelty of the design can result in poor community acceptance and risk of navigational errors. Combining the J-turn intersection with ADAS technologies may introduce new challenges with drivers’ manually taking over ADAS at J-turns due to low trust or exaggerated out-of-the-loop errors at J-turns. This study will aim to develop a driving simulation and study methodology to examine driver take-over decisions and performance at J-turn intersections. The simulation will develop ADAS enabled driving scenarios to allow the hand-off or take-over at rural divided highway intersections with and without J-turn intersection treatments. The goal will be to prepare the needed test environment for future data collection studies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:50:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2425219</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analyze Operational and Safety Improvements Associated with Implemented Innovative Intersections in Texas</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2420101</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Innovative intersection designs (e.g., diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs), displaced left turns (DLTs), median U-turns (MUTs), and restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTs)) and modern roundabouts are increasingly used in Texas and throughout the country to remove conflict points and redistribute turning traffic from traditional intersections, improving operational efficiency and promoting increased safety. While their use is growing and their benefits have been demonstrated, Texas still has a limited number of innovative intersections throughout the state. Because many of these intersection types and their design elements are not commonly used in Texas, there is a natural tendency to be cautious about their use. Providing information to help promote these treatments for use in appropriate locations will be important to their successful adoption and implementation. The research team will build on recent research to document the benefits of innovative intersections, develop case studies of successfully implemented intersections in Texas, and provide resources for practitioners to use in support of new implementation across the state.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:46:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2420101</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Rural Intersection Enhancement and Driver Behavior Study</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2377924</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The dynamics of high speed on major roads and crossing vehicles from minor roads at rural thru-STOP intersections create ample opportunity for severe, often deadly, angled collisions. The J-turn intersection is a roadway design for divided highways, thru-STOP intersections which decreases the points of conflict at an intersection, by restricting straight crossing and left-turning movements from the minor road across the major highway to reduce some of the most serious crashes at these high-risk intersections. 
Past research at the University of Minnesota has identified errors novice drivers make in navigating a J-turn intersection upon their first exposure. Further, as any intersection (including J-Turns) poses risks due to the interaction between major and minor road traffic, a past study examining sight distances at undivided, rural thru-STOP intersections found that placing drivers stopped at the stop sign closer to the intersection reduced speeds of mainline drivers and made them more responsive to imminent collision scenarios. Such movements would also increase the sight distance of the crossing driver.
This study will use a mixed-methods approach to experimentally manipulate J-turn intersections and undivided, thru-STOP intersection markings and signage in a driving simulation and validate J-turn driver behavior findings in a field observation of a newly constructed J-turn intersection. The goal of the work is to provide design guidance for markings and signage at thru-STOP intersections to support driver decision making and safe crossing behaviors.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 15:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2377924</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Safety Performance and Design Considerations of Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUTs) in Mississippi</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2260080</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objectives of this research project are to evaluate the safety performance of unsignalized Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUTs) within the state of Mississippi to determine a CMF specific to the state, and to provide updated general design consideration and guidance to inform future RCUT-involved projects. The research will:
(1) utilize MDOT-provided crash data from both pre-construction and post-construction periods for current RCUT locations within the state to determine a CMF specific to the state and (2) utilize MDOT-knowledge as well as best practices from surrounding states to develop a set of design guidance and criteria for consideration for future RCUT projects.

The localized CMF and design considerations will provide valuable information to Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and are expected to be used as part of the safety management process, decision-making process, and the design phase. Having reliable CMFs (specific to the state of Mississippi) would allow MDOT to compare the potential safety impacts of RCUTS versus conventional intersections. Also, by using a design guideline updated based on the best practices identified from surrounding states (including North Carolina DOT with more than 150 RCUTs), guidance and criteria needed will be provide for implementation of future RCUTs to improve operations and reduce crashes in Mississippi.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Oct 2023 10:45:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2260080</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Alternative Geometric Designs on Highway Corridors - Case Study of J Turns</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1251900</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Alternative geometric designs such as J-turns, double crossover interchanges and continuous flow intersections have the potential to improve safety and traffic flow on freeways and arterials. The evaluation of such designs will provide information on their effectiveness and guidance for their proper deployment. J-turn intersection designs have been in operation in Maryland and North Carolina for years. They serve as an alternative to a two-way stop controlled intersection on high-speed roadways.  By forcing the through and left turn movements from the minor street to turn right and make a U-turn at a downstream location, the J-turn design is safer due to fewer conflict points and less severe conflict types.  Missouri Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently started using J-turn design as a corridor safety treatment on rural high-speed roads. As their first corridor deployment, MoDOT is constructing J-turns on an 8.5-mile stretch of U.S. 54 south of Jefferson City. This project will evaluate the safety and operational benefits of this J-turn deployment.  The analysis will focus on several safety and operational performance measures, including conflicts, actual crash statistics, driver confusion measures, heavy vehicle maneuverability, gap acceptance, and travel time measures. The study findings assist Missouri and other Midwest states with new knowledge on the benefits of J-turn design and guidance on when to consider deploying J-turns as a corridor level safety treatment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 01:01:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1251900</guid>
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