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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>
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      <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>NCHRP Implementation Support Program. Implementation Project to Measure and Communicate the Value of Access Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342022</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Effective ingress and egress along highways and major arterial roads are essential for minimizing and separating road-user conflicts. Closely spaced driveways, median openings across turn lanes, and driveways near major intersections are examples of poorly designed access features that contribute to unsafe, unsightly, and congested roadways. Access management techniques—used to minimize and separate potential conflict points—help reduce crashes, preserve roadway capacity, improve corridor aesthetics, and reduce congestion. Well-managed transportation corridors also benefit from more stable property values, improved livability, less delay to freight movers and the commuting public, and better market reach for retail businesses. 

NCHRP Research Report 1032: How to Measure and Communicate the Value of Access Management contains a guide for practitioners on how to use the online Access Management Communication Toolkit (AMC Toolkit). The report is designed to help public agency staff and their consultants more easily understand, measure, and communicate the value of access management techniques when developing or implementing access management plans, programs, or projects. The AMC Toolkit Resources consist of spreadsheets for state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local practitioners to use to access management practice, and presentations, brochures, and factsheets for stakeholders to use.

NCHRP 20-44(56) will provide training on using the toolkit and help DOT staff understand and incorporate its principles and tools into existing programs, policies, and projects. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:36:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2342022</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Best Practices for Maintenance of Control Access Fencing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114948</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this project are to: (1) determine the best maintenance practices of access control fencing; (2) develop an informational guide for access control fencing maintenance that may aid in updating existing fencing policy; and (3) determine alternative fencing and other practices to lower maintenance costs.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:12:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114948</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Economic Impact of Access Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2008582</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall goal of this research is to assess the economic impact of access management techniques on business in the corridor where such projects have been implemented in Louisiana. A secondary goal is to assess the perception of businesses near completed projects. The analysis in this study can be used by LA DOTD for a more effective access management in Louisiana. This becomes even more critical since fatalities are on the rise again after several years of decline and countermeasures are therefore warranted. 
To achieve the objectives of this study, the research team will complete several tasks.
(1) Identify current state of knowledge about Access Management
(2) Measure the impact on sales of businesses near Access Management Projects
(3) Assess perception of business owners near Access Management Projects
(4) Assess perception of patrons and residents near Access Management Projects
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:07:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2008582</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Use of Crowdsource Passive Data to Evaluate Effectiveness of Access Management Projects Proof of Concept</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2004404</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Implementation of access management projects has historically caused conflict between practitioners who support the safety and mobility benefits of access management and business/property owners who are concerned about the potential negative impacts of reduced access to adjacent properties. Elected officials who are responsible for supporting or approving project funding find themselves in a delicate balancing act in the debate between safety, economy, and mobility. Past evaluations of access management projects have been limited to manual traffic data collection, simulations, and evaluation of crash data many years after the project is implemented. In addition, evaluation of sales tax receipts before and after implementation of the project has been limited. The purpose of this project is to test the use of innovative data sources (Wejo connected vehicle data and SafeGraph point of interest data) to evaluate the safety, mobility, and economic effects of access management projects by comparing trips into adjacent development before and after implementation of the project. Wejo connected vehicle data is a rich data source that provides information about vehicle movements and vehicle events (e.g., hard braking, acceleration, etc.), so there are several aspects of this data that are beneficial to this evaluation. In addition, an economic analysis will be performed to evaluate the financial impacts on adjacent businesses.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 2022 15:39:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2004404</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Driveway Assistance Devices (DADs) in Signalized Work Zones </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1907378</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has granted the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 5 to experiment with using Driveway Assisted Devices (DADs)  to control residential and commercial driveway access within a two-way, one-lane traffic work zone.  The DAD units will be used along State Route 60, in Muskingum County, Ohio, as part of ODOT's construction contract 210208 (PID 101004) to determine if DADs are a viable alternative to using actuated signals to maintain driveways within a two-way, one-lane signalized work zone.  The construction project includes full depth pavement replacement for an 8-mile section of a two-lane State highway.  Without an option to detour traffic, the construction plans require each of the driveways in a work zone to be actuated with signals.  Research is needed to evaluate the performance of the DADs. 

The goal of this research is to evaluate the performance of the DADs and, based on the findings, provide recommendations for consideration of their inclusion into FHWA's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).         ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:20:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1907378</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Identification of AASHTO Context Classifications</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1628614</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 855: An Expanded Functional Classification System for Highways and Streets served as a key reference informing the seventh edition of AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book). The new Green Book introduces a change in guidance for state transportation officials by introducing a broader set of land use context classifications (i.e., rural, rural town, suburban, urban, and urban core). These context classifications provide a mechanism for better targeting design solutions to specific contexts while providing needed flexibility to address planning and design needs.

The AASHTO Committee on Design has begun planning for the eighth edition of the Green Book and envisions a major restructuring. This includes organizing design guidance by the context classifications listed in the seventh edition with the addition of a context classification, "Industrial, Warehouse, or Port Roads." NCHRP Project 15-77, "Aligning Geometric Design with Roadway Context" will be drafting these chapters.

Many state, regional, and local transportation and planning agencies are interested in applying the new context classifications in their jurisdictions. The existing research and guidance, however, does not point to specific methodologies or parameters for implementing these context classifications. Research was needed to help agencies proceed efficiently and consistently. 

The objective of this research was to develop practical guidance to assist state, regional, and local planners in identifying the appropriate context classification(s) for an area or a transportation project. Critical questions were (1) what are the context(s), (2) how will those context(s) change (spatially and temporally), and (3) what are the implications for the various travel modes.

The final report documents the research objectives, methodology, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including: (1) A summary of approaches that state, regional, and local transportation agencies have used to determine the context classification of a project, included form-based codes. (2) Inventory of data sources and tools that could be applied to context classification decisions. (3) A final report that documents the entire research effort with an executive summary that outlines the research results. (4) Short info-graphic briefing(s) for policy- and decision-makers on the key research findings.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:00:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1628614</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Access Magazine/Tech Transfer to 023</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441880</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To support the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Institute of Transportation Studies University of California Transportation Center (UCTC) technology transfer program, ACCESS Magazine.  Includes funding for two issues: Issue 48 (Spring 2016) and Issue 49 (Fall 2016).  ACCESS Magazine: Publication of Spring 2016 and Fall 2016 Issues ACCESS Magazine has been one of UCTC’s greatest successes. Read by over 9,000 people, ACCESS was the California Transportation Foundation’s Organization of the Year, and won the American Planning Association’s award for Communications Initiative at both the California and National level. ACCESS translates academic research into readable prose that is useful for policymakers and practitioners. Articles in ACCESS catapult academic research into debates about public policy, and convert knowledge into action.  The expenses on this Task Order are associated with the editing, preparation, design, printing, and mailing of physical copies of Issue 48 (Spring 2016) and Issue 49 (Fall 2016) of ACCESS Magazine.  Expenses are also associated with laying out the Spring 2016 and Fall 2016 issues (Issues #48 and #49) on the new website, www.accessmagazine.org, performing outreach for both issues including to local, state, and federal representatives who deal in transportation issues, and providing general office support (HR, Tech Support, etc.) to keep the magazine running.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:55:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441880</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Alternative Design of Geometric Configuration for High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Facilities in California</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441785</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A recent study by the University of California, Riverside, has revealed that: a) limited access High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facilities are good at regulating traffic flows, which results in higher freeway throughput; while b) continuous access HOV facilities have potential to spread out lane changes, which allows traffic to maintain higher travel speed.  Therefore, it is desirable to explore alternative designs of geometric configuration for HOV facilities that combine advantages of the two existing configurations in order to further improve the performance of HOV facilities in the state.  One such alternative design is called “partially limited access” configuration where continuous access is generally provided along a freeway to achieve higher travel speed while buffers are strategically placed on selected freeway segments (e.g., bottlenecks, ramp merges) to accommodate higher throughput on those segments. Thus, there is a need to evaluate the operational performance of HOV facilities with the partially limited access configuration relative to those with the existing configurations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:52:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441785</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1407199</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 1094 presents a deterministic methodology for evaluating the operational performance of weaving sections on arterials. This methodology is based on field data supplemented by microsimulation and driving simulation data and extends the urban streets analysis of the existing, Sixth Edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM6). Accompanying the methodology is a computational engine for implementing it and instructional materials for disseminating it. Two case studies are also provided to illustrate the methodology, which should be of interest to state departments of transportation and other agencies seeking to reduce weaving-related crashes and conflicts on arterial roadways.

Arterial roadways are crucial links in the national transportation system. Providing both local and regional mobility and access, they are critical to economic vitality and quality of life in the United States. As drivers place increasing demands on transportation infrastructure and freeway congestion continues to increase, arterials have become an alternative route for many drivers, resulting in the lower performance of these roadways. In many areas, weaving maneuvers negatively affect arterial operations and safety. Furthermore, weaving maneuvers can affect the operations and safety of many alternative intersection configurations, including median U-turns and restricted crossing U-turns. Understanding the operational and safety performance of arterials and the effect of weaving thereon is important for transportation agencies tasked with maintaining these roadways. The HCM6 provides a methodological approach for estimating the performance of weaving sections on freeway segments. This methodology, however, is not applicable to arterial weaving due to differences between freeways and arterials in traffic control, traffic flow characteristics, and driver behavior. 

Under NCHRP Project 15-66, “Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections,” the University of Florida was asked to (1) develop a deterministic methodology for evaluating the operational performance of weaving sections on arterials and (2) identify the safety effects of varying geometric, volume, and traffic control conditions in weaving sections on arterials. The methodology and analysis are based on field data supplemented by microsimulation data and driving simulation data. The operational analysis methodology extends the HCM6’s urban streets analysis and is based on the calculation of Potential Conflict Opportunities and the Turbulence Index of the arterial weave. The project developed a computational engine which implements the new procedure, along with instructional materials for disseminating the methodology and two case studies. The safety analysis was based on both crash data and conflict data obtained in the field and in the driving simulator. The analysis concluded that as the weave length increases, the chance of weaving-related crashes and conflicts decreases. 

In addition to NCHRP Research Report 1094, three deliverables are not included in the published report but are available on the TRB website at trb.org by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1094. The deliverables are as follows: (1) a computational engine; (2) two case studies; and (3) instructional materials. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2016 13:43:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1407199</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of a Comprehensive Access Management Policy and Guidelines - Phase 3: Data Analysis/Risk Assessment</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398214</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposal outlines the activities proposed as a part of Phase III of the project titled, "Development of a Comprehensive Access Management Policy and Guidelines". Phase I included a review of the existing research literature, as well as an assessment of available data. Phase II has involved a quantitative risk assessment aimed at quantifying crash risk as a function of access point spacing while controlling for the effects of other important factors (e.g., AADT, segment length, number of through and auxiliary lanes, etc.). The results of these analyses provide an important Iowa-specific supplement to existing access management safety research. This will allow for the determination of thresholds for various access management policies. This will address issues such as the minimum spacing between freeway off-ramps and the first side-street driveway (full movement, three-quarter movement, right-in/right-out, etc.), the minimum spacing between  on ramps and the first at-grade intersection on expressway facilities, and other access management characteristics of interest to the Iowa DOT.
The objective of Phase III will be to establish a new and more functional access program framework within the DOT that incorporates modem access management strategies and is supportive of DOT goals to support the economic vitality of the State, preserve the functional integrity of the public's capital investment in the highway system and help ensure that the traveling public are provided with safe roads.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:21:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398214</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Impact of Access Management Practices to Pedestrian and Bicycle Operations and Safety </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1397949</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The thrust of this proposal falls under the vital role which transportation system and network play in ensuring livability of communities through safe and efficient transportation services. In particular, this study focuses on the impact of access management (AM) practices to the operation and safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The study which will be conducted in two phases whereby the start of phase two (operations simulation) will depend on phase one (safety evaluation) findings will consider access management practices that impact pedestrian and bicyclists including limiting direct access to and from major streets, locating signals, limiting the number of conflict points and separating conflict areas, removing turning vehicles from through traffic lanes, using nontraversable medians to manage left-turn movements and providing a supporting street and circulation system. All these can affect safety and operations of pedestrian crossing and bicyclist maneuvering. There is a need therefore to address how pedestrians and bicyclists operations and safety are impacted by these different access management practices. The study will evaluate through statistical modeling the correlation between access management practices to pedestrian and bicyclists crash types, crash frequency and injury severities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:02:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1397949</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-3912: Economic Development Impact of Corridor Improvements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1343876</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will develop a sketch-planning tool to assess the economic development impact of (non-traditional) corridor improvements. Examples of such improvements and treatments include (but not limited to): intelligent transportation system (ITS) implementation strategies; access management; road diets; high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes; reversible lanes etc. The research team will:  (1) investigate the synergies among travel demand, traffic, and economic impact models in evaluating alternative corridor-level projects; and (2) investigate ways to adapt the ISTDM, and/or Major Corridor Investment-Benefit Analysis System (MCIBAS) or develop a post-processing method to meet the needs of the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT's) Division of Asset Planning and Management.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 01:00:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1343876</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1342937</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Airport administrators, engineers, and researchers often face problems for which information already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience and practice. This information may be fragmented, scattered, and unevaluated. As a consequence, full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviating the problem.
There is information on nearly every subject of concern to the airport industry. Much of it derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with problems in their day-to-day work. To provide a systematic means for assembling and evaluating such useful information and to make it available to the entire airport community, an ACRP synthesis program has been established similar to those currently in existence in both the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). These programs search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor will constitute an ACRP Synthesis of Airport Practice series.
The objective of this project is to provide a synthesis program for the ACRP. A synthesis is a relatively short document (40-60 pages) that summarizes existing practice in a specific topic area based typically on a literature search and a survey of relevant organizations (e.g., airports). Synthesis reports are most valuable when they are focused on issues or problems common to many organizations. The primary users of the reports are the practitioners who work on those issues or problems using diverse approaches in their individual settings. Note that syntheses merely summarize existing practice. They do not undertake new research, nor do they contain policy recommendations. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2015 01:00:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1342937</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Transportation Cost Implications of New Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1339631</link>
      <description><![CDATA[New large-scale development often occurs where the in-place transportation infrastructure cannot accommodate the ensuing growth in traffic and congestion. Consequently, transportation infrastructure improvements must be made to improve access and mitigate congestion. Typically, development occurs in stages as incremental improvements are made to the surrounding infrastructure to improve access to developing areas and accommodate increased traffic generated by those areas. Impacts may also spill over to adjoining areas and neighborhoods. When an area is improved, it often induces new incremental development over time. Eventually, the transportation system may become overburdened because of the continued growth and constrained financial resources for further improvements.

While it is common practice to do an impact study before any new development, there is no recognized guide for predicting how development will expand and change over time, and how that will impact transportation needs. There is a need to help local planners, transportation engineers, decision makers, and the public predict cumulative transportation costs in newly developing areas associated with induced development and to identify sources of revenue to address these costs.

The objective of this study was to develop a planning guide for (a) predicting cumulative transportation costs in newly developing areas associated with incremental and induced development over time and (b) identifying sources of revenue to respond to that development.

This effort developed a report that documents effective methodologies to estimate the transportation infrastructure costs necessary to accommodate and support new development of various types with guidance and suggestions for how to apply the methodologies and analysis tools to real-world situations.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:01:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1339631</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Measure and Communicate the Value of Access Management</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1334521</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 1032 presents a state-of-the-art guide on measuring and communicating the value of access management. The guide is accompanied by a complementary toolkit (the Access Management Communication Toolkit) with messaging strategies, spreadsheet tools, fact sheets, as well as a series of case studies and videos illustrating the toolkit application. The guide and associated tools and methods were developed based on an extensive literature review, survey, research, and interviews with state transportation agencies. These project deliverables are designed for immediate use by new and experienced practitioners in their efforts to implement access management plans, programs, or projects.
Effective ingress and egress management along highways and major arterial roads are essential for minimizing road-user conflicts. Closely spaced driveways, median openings across turn lanes, and driveways near major intersections are examples of poorly designed access features that contribute to unsafe, unsightly, and congested roadways. Access management techniques&mdash;used to minimize potential conflict points&mdash;help reduce crashes, preserve roadway capacity, improve corridor aesthetics, and reduce congestion. Well-managed transportation corridors also benefit from more stable property values, less delay to freight movers and the commuting public, and better market reach for retail businesses. Research on the benefits of access management has focused mainly on operational and safety effects and the economic impact of access changes on businesses. Little focus has been placed on the economic impacts to transportation agencies that may result from poor access management decisions or the lack of access management planning. Transportation agencies
that do not successfully implement access management often incur additional costs as roadways and interchanges are reconstructed or replaced. Research was needed to help these agencies&mdash;charged with making prudent access management decisions&mdash;demonstrate and articulate the benefits of access management at the program, corridor, and project levels.
Under NCHRP Project 25-47, the University of South Florida was asked to develop a guide for transportation agencies on measuring and communicating the value of access management at all levels. The guide involves research-based techniques to identify, measure, and assess the benefits and costs of access management using both quantitative and qualitative metrics.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:00:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1334521</guid>
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