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    <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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Exploration of Technical Developments and Data Sources that May Have Implications for Long-Range Transportation Planning in Virginia </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2414049</link>
      <description><![CDATA[VTrans is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s statewide multimodal transportation plan.  Virginia’s Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) maintains this plan, under the supervision of the state’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).  The Plan’s methodology uses several VTrans “trend trackers” (quantifiable metrics updated annually), “macrotrends” (“emerging patterns of change”), and CTB “objectives” (qualitative targets for which OIPI defines various metrics).  This research supports OIPI’s mission through four tasks related to these trackers, macrotrends, and objectives: (1) Compile statistical series, historical values and future forecasts, to represent seven trend trackers in the VTrans framework.  These are (a) the share of ‘Professional and Technical Services’ employment in each Virginia county and city, (b) the number of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) jobs in each county and city, (c) the number of people of age 65 and over in each county and city, (d) the share of population of age 65 and over in each county and city, (e) the total population in each county and city, (f) the total employment in each county and city, and (g) a measure of income – most likely personal income – in each county and city.  Two sets of population values will be reported: one will be based on a data set purchased from Woods & Poole; one will be based on data published by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Policy. (2) Estimate the margin of error in the Woods & Poole employment forecasts (and in the most recent historical values). (3) Investigate the possibility that a statistic derived from one or more of the trend trackers compiled in Task 1 has the potential to alter expectations of travel demand. (4) The investigators set aside some time in the project timeline to explore at least one additional area of stakeholder interest that comes to the attention of the technical review panel in the course of the study. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:12:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2414049</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Integrated Bridge, Transportation Network, and Community Resilience Framework for Nebraska</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2387166</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Climate-related disasters, such as flooding, routinely damage infrastructure, weaken economies, and significantly impact communities within the country and within Nebraska. Since 1980, 338 climate-related disasters in the United States have incurred damage exceeding $1 billion (NOAA 2022). The average number of billion-dollar disasters per year has more than doubled from 7.7 events to 17.8 events over the past 5 years and is expected to continue to increase. The State of Nebraska Long-Term Recovery and Resilience Plan specifically identifies efficient assessment, restoration, and revitalization of infrastructure systems as a priority, and the state transportation network is critical to state climate resilience. Nebraska Department of Transportation's (NDOT's) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) identified "secure and resilient transportation" as one of its six overarching goals to achieve by 2040. Climate-related disasters, such as flooding, can have initially catastrophic impacts, such as structural collapse, critical route closures, and casualties; however, the impacts can also cascade due to the interdependencies of modern communities. Given the anticipated increased frequency of major flood events combined with the potentially devastating impacts, it is critical for the state of Nebraska and the Department of Transportation to increase resilience to future hazards.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:59:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2387166</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Metropolitan Planning Organizations' Long-range Transportation Plans: Best Practices in Sustainability, Equity, and Climate Change</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359162</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The long-range transportation (LRT) planning process seeks to align an agency’s transportation investment priorities over the next 20 years with the region’s vision and goals which increasingly includes sustainable transportation, climate change and equity targets. Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are regional transportation agencies responsible for the integrated LRT of multiple independent governmental jurisdictions. This research seeks to compile from progressive MPOs lessons learned in implementing sustainable modes of transportation in their LRT that account for climate change and equity in transportation. Twenty MPOs will be chosen. Ten smaller MPOs with populations more than 50,000, but less than 200,000 and 10 MPOs with populations larger than 200,000. Two authors of each of the 20 LRT plans will be interviewed for a total of 40 interviews, and content analysis will be used to develop key themes around best practices in implementing sustainable transportation, climate change and equity targets; implementation challenges; and overall lessons learned.

In reaction to the Biden Administration’s recent executive orders on equity, fairness and justice, this research will identify best practices and inform policy development and implementation of sustainable and equitable transportation planning that is responsive to climate change at the state, regional, and local levels.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:33:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2359162</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Extending and Sharing Benefits of Strategic Planning Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2343988</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Using strategic tools for long range performance-based planning is becoming increasingly valuable. These tools are helping state and metropolitan area governments select policies and actions to address pressing issues that are fraught with uncertainty. Strategic tools are designed to explore efficiently the joint effects of a wide range of trends and policies in order to equip decision makers and the public with a clearer understanding of possible outcomes.

Strategic models can be used to assess the long-range impacts of changes to the transportation system, such as increased telework, rapid electrification, and autonomous vehicle technologies. Strategic models can accommodate the assessment of emerging technologies and policy considerations that decision makers may wish consider, in ways more flexible than traditional travel demand modeling tools.

The VisionEval system of strategic planning models has been supported by a previous Pooled Fund, ‘Collaborative Development of New Strategic Planning Models’, since 2017. These models include the Regional Strategic Planning Model (VERSPM), the Rapid Policy Assessment Model (VERPAT), and the state-wide VisionEval model (VE-State). The earlier pooled fund greatly increased the usability of the VisionEval system and added important extensions, including integration of the Regional Strategic Planning Model with the PopulationSim population synthesize to increase support for equity analysis.

VisionEval models have been deployed by numerous state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to assess possible future economic development, technology change, and policy implementation scenarios. The success of VisionEval presents an opportunity to further develop modules to include assessment of health impacts of transportation, equity analysis, and access to destinations. This new pooled fund will increase the range of applications supported by VisionEval models, reduce the barrier to implementation of the models, and enhance the interactive visualization of scenario results. These developments will enhance the abilities of planners, advocates, the public, and decision makers to reason about complex systems, and to support sound decisions in response to new challenges whose full impact is still unclear.

The development of the VisionEval framework has addressed many technical challenges to implementing scenario planning models, and has facilitated efficient development of new strategic models and enhancements that can be shared across models.

This new pooled fund will further those previous efforts and extend their benefits to the agencies who choose to participate. While it is feasible in principle for agencies to perform such work on their own, many agencies are facing similar challenges, and work done on behalf of one agency is likely to be useful to others. The pooled fund will allow participating agencies to realize an economy of scale by engaging in joint development and support activities for new strategic modeling tools, thus ensuring that each agency has timely access to usable tools that will support their emerging planning needs. 

This pooled fund, “Extending and Sharing Benefits of New Strategic Planning Models”, will make strategic tools affordably available to members. The pooled fund will support efficient investment in new and upgraded tools, avoiding duplicative expense of public funds on similar efforts, and facilitating efficient development of innovations built on the basis of existing working tools.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:41:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2343988</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>NCHRP Implementation Support Program. Workshops on Long-Range Strategic Issues Affecting Preservation, Maintenance, and Renewal of Highway Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2209734</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Project 20-83(03)A, “Long-Range Strategic Issues Affecting Preservation, Maintenance, and Renewal of Highway Infrastructure,” focused on issues affecting preservation, maintenance, and renewal (PMR) of highway infrastructure. The project emphasized preparing for plausible futures rather than predicting various future scenarios and developed a pathway to guide transportation agencies to advance the implementation of emerging PMR practices through awareness, advocacy, assessment, adoption, and action planning. The project final report, published as NCHRP Report 750, Volume 7: Strategic Issues Facing Transportation: Preservation, Maintenance, and Renewal of Highway Infrastructure, contains two guides, one for practitioners and another for leadership, to help with the understanding, identification, application, and implementation of emerging PMR practices. The report is supplemented with appendices, published as NCHRP Web-Only Document 272: Existing and Emerging Highway Infrastructure Preservation, Maintenance, and Renewal Definitions, Practices, and Scenarios.
The report identifies 16 emerging practices and technologies that have the potential to enhance significantly the capabilities of state departments of transportation (DOTs) to preserve, maintain, and renew highway infrastructure. The report also includes guidelines for agency leaders and subject matter experts (SMEs) on steps to prepare for the implementation of the practices and technologies highlighted in the report.
Therefore, there was a need to facilitate deployment of the research findings and ensure state DOTs familiarity with the research recommendations to prepare for the future and enhance system PMR in response to anticipated challenges.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this project were to develop and hold a series of workshops for state DOT leaders, managers, and SMEs to share information on emerging PMR practices and technologies and their impacts on agency PMR efforts, and promote action planning to adopt these practices and technologies.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:17:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2209734</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update Model Plans Desk Reference </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100900</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will update a 10 year old Desk Reference that illustrates how Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) could be reflected in Long Range MPO plans. The updated reference would leverage work on Transportation Performance Management (TPM), travel time reliability, connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), etc.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:17:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100900</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Leveraging Probe-Based Data to Enhance Long-Term Planning Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2056329</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Long-range transportation planning (LRTP) and travel demand models (TDMs) play an important role in the planning process, which assists transportation agencies with prioritizing future transportation investments. Improved LRTP and TDMs can bring direct benefits to transportation planning in the state. Effective transportation planning and investment decision making depends on timely, comprehensive, and accurate data. However, traditional data collection methods only provide a “snapshot” of the travel information, which limits the performance of conventional LRTP and TDMs. In this regard, while these sources are still used, transportation planners at the state, metropolitan, and local levels are beginning to incorporate third-party traffic data into their planning processes. Planners also start to look at the opportunities afforded through third-party data and provide guidance on how to take advantage of that data to expand and improve planning practices. This project aims to utilize probe-based data to improve the LRTP process and TDMs used by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and other planning agencies in the state. The research teams will study how probe-based and location-based data may be leveraged to facilitate the validation and calibration of existing planning models, enhance existing modeling tools, and incorporate advanced modeling techniques.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:11:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2056329</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 54-08. Practices for Integrating Performance-Based Plans with Long-Range Transportation Plans and Statewide Transportation Investment Programs</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953261</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this synthesis was to document current practices of departments of transportation (DOTs) related to integrating federally required performance-based plans with long-range transportation plans (LRTPs) and statewide transportation improvement programs (STIPs). DOTs must integrate the performance management goals, objectives, performance measures, and targets described in their performance-based plans into LRTPs and STIPs. However, each state DOT has a unique structure and process to meet federal and state requirements.
This synthesis gathered information through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs and the District of Columbia, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs. Four case examples illustrate a range of mature practices by state DOTs to integrate performance-based plans within LRTPs and STIPs. Michael D. Grant, Catherine Duffy, Haley Eggert, and Sarah Lettes of ICF in Arlington, Virginia, collected and synthesized the information and wrote the report. The members of the topic panel are acknowledged on page iv. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand.
The synthesis report can be found at https://doi.org/10.17226/27828.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2022 11:13:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953261</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 54-21. Practices in the Transportation Planning Process to Address Climate Resilience and GHG Emission Quantification and Reduction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953247</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this synthesis is to document current state departments of transportation (DOTs) practices to address climate resilience/adaptation and quantify or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in transportation planning processes, including long-range transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs. How DOTs address each in transportation planning can play an integral role in successfully meeting the challenges of climate change. Practices could include GHG quantification/reduction policies, program management and investment decisions, project selection criteria, or engineering directives on resiliency.


This synthesis gathered information through a literature review, a survey of DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs. Seven case examples provide greater insight into current practices on GHG emissions or resilience/adaptation in transportation planning. Additional information is available in Appendix C, which is available on the National Academies Press (nap.nationalacademies.org) page for NCHRP Synthesis 624: Addressing Climate Resilience and Greenhouse Gases in the Transportation Planning Process under “Resources.”
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2022 11:47:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953247</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>4608: Forecasting Shifts in Hoosiers’ Travel Demand and Behavior</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1862610</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop long term future forecasts of transportation demand conditions for people and freight— both conventional and micro-freight package delivery in Indiana.  The results of this study will enable the agency to properly adjust its business practices, planning models/applications (e.g., Statewide Travel Demand Model or traffic microsimulation), and investment decisions to best serve those future conditions; and to carry out long-range scenario planning.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2021 15:26:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1862610</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guidance for Agencies to Incorporate Uncertainty into Long-Range Transportation Planning



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1854173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 1168: Incorporating Uncertainty into Long-Range Transportation Planning: A Guide presents strategies to assist state departments of transportation (DOTs) with incorporating uncertainty into their long-range transportation planning processes. The guide provides suggestions on plan scoping, development, implementation, and capacity building. It was developed based on an extensive review of literature and practice and documents sources of uncertainty, decision-making frameworks, data and methods, and the regulatory context. The information contained in the guide will be of immediate interest to transportation planners and decision-makers. The findings will serve as a valuable resource for state DOTs and other public transportation agencies.

For decades, state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) have developed long-range transportation and capital investment plans as required by federal law to ensure the plans meet future and forecasted needs. These plans have anticipated trends and considered uncertainty, however, state DOTs and MPOs are facing new and compounding uncertainties that are difficult to consider, forecast, or fully understand. These challenges, coupled with additional regulatory requirements, have resulted in transportation planning and programming becoming more complex inside more constrained processes. With limited tools at their disposal to help understand uncertainty, including how to utilize methods such as scenario planning, robust decision-making, and risk analysis tools, research was needed to identify points in processes where flexibility exists and how state DOTs and MPOs can better consider uncertainty.

NCHRP Project 08-154, “Guidance for Agencies to Incorporate Uncertainty into Long-Range Transportation Planning,” EBP US, Inc. was asked to develop a guide that identifies how, when, where, and why uncertainty should be considered in state DOT and MPO planning and programming processes, with strategies to adapt plans and communicate with stakeholders and decision-makers. The research included a literature review and scan of practice, outreach to the community of practice, case example development, and a peer exchange.





]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2021 15:49:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1854173</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842753</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 1149: Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks: A Guide presents methods and strategies to quantify the benefits of closing  gaps in active transportation networks. The guide provides case studies, gap closure benefit quantification, and practitioner vetting and usability testing to support its findings. It was developed through a scan of applied methods, interviews, practical experience, and original research. The findings will prove useful to practitioners at state departments of transportation (DOTs) as well as regional and local governments.

Active transportation users include pedestrians, bicyclists, e-bike users, and those who use personal conveyances. For active transportation users, these modes not only address mobility and accessibility needs but also increase levels of physical exercise, improve access to transit, and reduce out-of-pocket travel costs. For communities, the benefits from active transportation include more mobility opportunities, healthy and active lifestyles, and local and regional development opportunities. The presence of any gaps in the network reduces the accessibility of valued destinations for system users.

Under NCHRP Project 08-149, “Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks,” Alta Planning + Design was tasked to develop a guide for state DOTs and other transportation agencies to help them estimate the benefits of closing gaps in active transportation networks. The research summarized methods of identifying gaps, produced a gap typology reflecting varying user groups and contexts, developed a methodology that estimates the economic, health, and social benefits of closing gaps, provided effective approaches to prioritizing gaps for long-range planning, programming and/or project devel opment activities, and crafted recommendations on how to effectively communicate the value of closing gaps to transportation decision-makers, local governments, communities, and other stakeholders.

In addition to the guide, the following materials can be found on the National Academies 
Press website (nationalacademies.org/publications) by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1149: Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks: A Guide: Web-Only Document 426: Developing a Guide for Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks, which is the research agency’s report documenting the development of the guide and the entire research effort. The following materials can also be found on the webpage for this publication: Web-Only Document 426 Appendix A (Phase I Report); Web-Only Document 426 Appendix B (Phase III Report); and a stand-alone Implementation Plan.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2021 21:09:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842753</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide for the Formulation of Long-Range Plans and Budgets for Replacement of Highway Operations Equipment</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1673344</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop a guide for the formulation of long-range plans and budgets for replacement of highway operations equipment. The guide shall include processes and tools for consideration in making investment decisions. For the purpose of this research, long-range is defined as 20-25 years.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:20:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1673344</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update of the Statewide Long-Range Plan Database and Analysis Performance Measures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1512094</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This effort will assess the State Departments of Transportation (DOT's) long range plans (LRPs) and determine how performance management/measures are being integrated into the planning process and conduct an analysis associated with this review.  This work will answer such questions as:  How many performance measures (PM) targets are included? What system level is included in the target setting? How are the PM selected (via plan vision goals or objectives)? Are the PM used to drive project selection?  What project selection criteria has changed?   This effort will also provide example of how State DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations are addressing safety performance measures in the planning process.  It will also highlight the differences in the methods that these organizations use in developing performance measures (within a vision goal or objective focus).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2018 13:48:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1512094</guid>
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