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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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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>
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    <item>
      <title>Improving Safety, Privacy, and Innovation: Distracted Driving Mitigation Strategies for Arizona</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780412</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ This project has five measurable objectives: (1) synthesize national state-of-practice and Arizona crash-data gaps related to distracted driving; (2) characterize Arizona drivers’ distraction behaviors, motivations, technology acceptance, and privacy concerns through a statewide survey; (3) prioritize candidate mitigation strategies using safety, privacy, acceptance, cost, technology maturity, and deployment feasibility criteria; (4) quantify the effects of selected strategies on eyes-off-road time, hazard response, workload, and user acceptance through simulator and controlled vehicle-based testing; and (5) develop a privacy-aware Arizona Distracted Driving Mitigation Framework with voluntary adoption and implementation pathways for Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:26:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780412</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Freeway Management System Modernization</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780410</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To address the issues noted above, this research proposes the following objectives: 
(1) Develop a full state of the practice of current approaches to freeway system management, including a literature review, market scan of PBD and non-intrusive detection devices, and a survey of freeway management organizations with select follow-up interviews to provide the research team with an understanding of what is currently available on the market, the capabilities as well as advantages and disadvantages of various devices and SaaS products, and insight into how other agencies with similar responsibilities are navigating these same waters. (2) Conduct a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), an approach used to assist rational decision making between various options when there are conflicting objectives including situations where criteria cannot be directly compared and there are multiple stakeholder objectives that may be in conflict with each other, to drive the content contained in a migration roadmap to assist Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) in moving from current practice to the integration of PBD and non-intrusive sensor data into its Freeway Management System (FMS). (3) Create a migration roadmap for ADOT to use as it moves forward with next generation sensor integration. This roadmap will include outcomes to be expected by various stakeholders from various levels of investment at different time horizons.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:18:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780410</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>State of Project review Nationwide DOT use of GIS for Environmental Planning and Compliance. AZTI FY2026-C1-PS1</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780405</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The proposed project will conduct a nationwide state-of-the-practice review of geographic information systems (GIS) applications for environmental planning and compliance while working closely with Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) TAC and EPG personnel. The project will evaluate peer DOT practices, assess ADOT’s existing datasets and workflows, identify implementation barriers and opportunities, and co-develop a practical GIS framework, governance strategy, and implementation roadmap tailored to ADOT’s needs and priority. The resulting framework will support improved environmental screening, compliance tracking, data management, and cross-program coordination while providing a foundation for future GIS modernization.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:58:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780405</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Artificial Intelligence Policies at State Departments of Transportation: The State of the Practice</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780402</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To support the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) development of an agency-wide Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, this project will document the state of the practice across U.S. DOTs, highlighting both adopted policy frameworks and implementation experiences. The effort is especially timely given Arizona’s P2000 Generative AI Policy, which requires agencies to define acceptable AI uses and ensure proper governance. The study will provide ADOT with actionable recommendations for policy design and implementation that both align with P2000 requirements and reflect the unique mission of a transportation agency. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:47:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2780402</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Liquid Nitrogen-Cooled Concrete</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2778088</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Placing concrete in warm weather can accelerate cement hydration and moisture evaporation, reducing workability and long-term strength. One method to rapidly cool concrete in warm weather is to use liquid nitrogen, which lowers a mix’s temperature without adding water or ice or altering the design. This project’s goal is to review current industry practices and assess the effectiveness of using liquid nitrogen to cool concrete in warm weather. Researchers will identify key considerations and recommended practices for the use of liquid nitrogen to cool concrete in Illinois Department of Transportation projects. Effectively using liquid nitrogen to cool concrete will allow construction personnel to pour concrete for longer, uninterrupted periods, improving its consistency and quality.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:01:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2778088</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update of ACRP Report 4: Ground Access to Airports by Public Transportation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772536</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Airport operators continue to strengthen public transportation access for passengers and employees to enhance customer experience, support regional mobility goals, expand access to airport employment opportunities, reduce roadway congestion, and improve the environmental performance of the transportation system. The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) has produced several reports documenting strategies for improving public transportation access to airports, including ACRP Report 4 and related Cooperative Research Program publications. Since these reports were published, the transportation landscape has evolved with the emergence of transportation network companies and shared micromobility services, advancements in autonomous vehicle technologies, expanded rail connections at many U.S. airports, and new approaches to data collection and analysis. In addition, current airport transit ridership and passenger and employee mode share data are needed to support benchmarking, planning, and decision-making. Research is needed to update the existing body of knowledge, document current practices and emerging approaches, and compile current airport transit ridership and passenger and employee mode share data. The objective of this research is to update the strategies and information contained in ACRP Report 4 and related Cooperative Research Program reports, with a focus on airport passenger and employee mode shares and bus and rail transit ridership. The research should document current transit strategies, practices, and lessons learned; examine relevant changes and emerging approaches in airport ground access; and compile and analyze current airport transit ridership and passenger and employee mode share data using current survey methods and other available data sources. The resulting guidance should address airports of varying sizes and operating environments and be designed for use by airport planners and operators, transit agencies, regional planners, and other stakeholders involved in improving public transportation access to airports.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:39:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772536</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SC-10. Planning and Implementation Considerations for Alternative Propulsion Transit Vehicles in Rural Public Transportation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772538</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Public transportation providers in rural and small urban communities operate under diverse service, funding, infrastructure, workforce, and geographic conditions that influence fleet investment decisions. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) play a central role in supporting these providers through planning, funding administration, technical assistance, procurement support, and fleet management programs.

Transit agencies are increasingly evaluating alternative propulsion technologies, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, renewable fuels, compressed natural gas, propane, hybrid-electric, and other emerging vehicle technologies, to meet operational, environmental, and policy objectives. However, each technology presents unique considerations related to vehicle performance, charging or fueling infrastructure, maintenance, workforce training, lifecycle costs, and operational suitability. These considerations may be particularly significant for rural transit providers because of long travel distances, limited utility infrastructure, constrained maintenance resources, and smaller vehicle fleets.

Although many state DOTs and rural transit agencies have begun planning, piloting, or deploying alternative propulsion vehicles, their experiences have not been systematically documented. A synthesis of current practice would provide state DOTs and rural transit providers with practical information on planning approaches, implementation strategies, operational experiences, and lessons learned to support informed fleet transition decisions.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document current practices used by state DOTs and rural public transportation providers to plan, implement, and support alternative propulsion transit vehicles. The synthesis should identify planning approaches, implementation strategies, operational experiences. This synthesis would provide state DOTs with current practices for the adoption and evaluation of future fleets for rural transit.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:35:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772538</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SG-23. Data-Driven Approaches for Optimizing Transit Parts Procurement, Lead Time Risk, and Critical Spare Parts Planning</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772554</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transit agencies depend on the timely availability of spare parts to maintain fleet reliability, minimize vehicle downtime, and sustain safe and efficient service. Agencies employ a variety of approaches to procure, stock, and manage spare parts inventories; however, practices vary considerably based on fleet composition, agency size, operating environment, warehouse capacity, staffing resources, and supplier relationships.

In recent years, transit agencies have experienced increasing challenges associated with extended supplier lead times, supply chain disruptions, parts obsolescence, and limited availability of critical vehicle components. At the same time, agencies are making greater use of maintenance management systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, inventory management software, vehicle diagnostic data, asset management programs, and other operational data to improve procurement and inventory decision-making.

Although many agencies have developed innovative practices to address these challenges, there has been limited documentation of current industry approaches for managing spare parts inventories, mitigating supply chain risks, identifying critical spare parts, and using data to support procurement decisions. A synthesis would provide transit agencies with a comprehensive understanding of current practices, emerging approaches, and lessons learned across the industry.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document current practices used by transit agencies to optimize spare parts procurement, inventory management, supplier lead time risk, and critical spare parts planning. The synthesis should identify how agencies use data, technology, and operational practices to improve parts availability, reduce vehicle downtime, and support reliable transit service.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:16:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772554</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SG-22. Inter-Jurisdictional Approaches to Cost Sharing for Regional Transit Services</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772555</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Preliminary Scope
 
Background
Many transit agencies provide regional transit services that extend across municipal, county, and/or state boundaries. These services often rely on financial contributions from multiple funding partners, including local and state governments, metropolitan planning organizations, human services agencies, healthcare organizations, tribal governments, educational institutions, and other public or private entities.
Establishing transparent cost-sharing arrangements is essential to sustaining regional transit service. Transit agencies use a variety of approaches to allocate costs among funding partners, including service-based measures (e.g., revenue miles or hours), ridership, passenger origins and destinations, population served, geographic coverage, and other measures of service benefit. Cost-sharing methodologies also support regional decision-making by informing investment priorities, evaluating return on investment, assessing the distribution of costs and benefits, and supporting funding initiatives.
Although cost allocation has been examined in previous research, including TCRP Research Report 144: Sharing the Costs of Human Services Transportation (2011), changing travel patterns, expanding regional mobility needs, evolving funding partnerships, and advances in transit data and analytics have created new approaches to allocating costs and demonstrating the value of regional transit investments. A synthesis is needed to document current practices and lessons learned across the transit industry.
Objective
The objective of this synthesis is to document current approaches used by public transportation agencies to allocate and share the costs of regional transit services among multiple funding partners. The synthesis should identify the range of cost-sharing methodologies, governance structures, supporting data, and implementation practices used to establish and maintain regional funding partnerships.
Information to Be Gathered
At a minimum, the synthesis should gather information on:

Policies, agreements, and governance structures used to establish and administer inter-jurisdictional cost-sharing arrangements.

Types of funding partners participating in cost-sharing agreements, including governmental, nonprofit, healthcare, educational, tribal, and private-sector organizations.

Cost allocation methodologies and the metrics used to distribute operating and capital costs.

Data sources, analytical tools, and technologies used to support cost allocation and financial reporting.

Practices for evaluating return on investment and the distribution of costs and benefits among funding partners.

Approaches for communicating cost-sharing methodologies to governing boards, funding partners, elected officials, and the public.

Challenges associated with establishing, maintaining, and updating cost-sharing agreements, along with strategies agencies have used to address those challenges.


Tasks
Information shall be gathered through:

Literature review

Survey of public transportation agencies, with follow-up interviews as appropriate

Case examples illustrating a range of regional cost-sharing approaches

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:10:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772555</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SE-09. Transit Cleanliness – Understanding the Current Condition and Perceptions Across the Transit Industry</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772560</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Clean, well-maintained transit vehicles and facilities are essential to providing a positive customer experience and maintaining public confidence in public transportation. Transit agencies invest considerable resources in cleaning vehicles, stations, stops, and passenger amenities; however, agencies vary considerably in how they define cleanliness, establish cleaning standards, measure performance, and communicate results.

Cleanliness is influenced by both objective conditions (e.g., cleaning frequency, litter, graffiti, and maintenance) and subjective customer perceptions, which may differ based on service type, operating environment, and rider expectations. Although most transit agencies monitor cleanliness as part of their maintenance and customer service programs, there are no widely accepted industry practices for defining, measuring, or reporting cleanliness performance. A synthesis is appropriate because transit agencies routinely address cleanliness but employ a wide range of policies, performance measures, inspection methods, and customer feedback approaches.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document current practices used by public transportation agencies to define, measure, manage, and communicate transit cleanliness. The synthesis should identify similarities and differences in agency practices, summarize approaches used to assess both objective cleanliness and customer perceptions, and identify practices that may support greater consistency in evaluating and communicating cleanliness across the transit industry. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:28:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772560</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis and Verification of Link Slab Practices for Jointless Bridge Decks in Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2744923</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge deck expansion joints are among the most maintenance-intensive
components of highway bridges, often leading to premature deterioration,
increased repair costs, and reduced service life. Link slabs provide an effective
alternative by enabling jointless deck configurations, improving durability, and
reducing long-term maintenance demands. Despite their proven benefits,
inconsistencies in design methodologies particularly regarding the need for deck
debonding and the use of advanced materials such as Ultra-High-Performance
Concrete (UHPC) have limited their broader adoption in Accelerated Bridge
Construction (ABC) applications. Early studies recommended partial debonding
near girder ends, while more recent large-scale investigations, such as SHRP2
R19A, concluded that debonding may not be required. At the same time, UHPC-based link slabs have demonstrated excellent crack control and durability, yet
remain without standardized design guidance. This project aims to synthesize
existing research, field applications, state DOT practices, and emerging material
innovations to establish practical best practices for link slab design. To this end,
the current study will (1) compile and evaluate past research and
implementations, (2) compare conventional and UHPC-based link slab
approaches, (3) conduct analytical and limited experimental verification to resolve
conflicting recommendations, and (4) develop design provisions and example
details suitable for ABC applications. The proposed work will produce a
comprehensive synthesis report, validated guidance, and actionable
recommendations for DOTs and practitioners. By clarifying design assumptions,
addressing uncertainties in debonding requirements, and evaluating the role of
UHPC, this study will promote the consistent and reliable use of link slabs in
jointless bridge decks.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:21:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2744923</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Transit Signal Display Options</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2716608</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a need to assess the operational and safety impacts of alternative transit signal
displays and inform recommendations to be incorporated in state and national transit signal
design guidelines. OBJECTIVES: 1. Understand the current state of practice on the implementation of transit signal displays through a thorough review of the literature and outreach to transit agencies and other relevant stakeholders. 2. Explore transit operator preferences regarding positioning and display of transit signals through a survey to transit operators. 3. Investigate correlations between crashes and transit signal displays, through crash report analyses. 4. Understand driver behavior when encountering transit signals through field observations, static evaluation surveys, and driving simulation. 5. Develop recommendations for consideration in the next version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regarding positioning and display design of transit signals.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:03:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2716608</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Research for the AASHTO Standing Committee on Planning. Task 90. Best Practices in the Use of Microsimulation Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706285</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Research resulted in a report that summarizes whether there is consensus on the state of the practice regarding where, when and how micro simulation modeling can be best supported, justified, and cost effective.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 15:09:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706285</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 56. Transit Fare Programs for High School and Postsecondary Students</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop guidance for United States transit agencies of all sizes and modes and their partners to support the design, implementation, operation, funding, promotion, sustainability, and evaluation of student fare programs for high school and postsecondary students (see Special Note A). At a minimum, the resources should do the following: Describe and analyze different models (or examples) of transit student fare programs applicable to a variety of communities and students with different characteristics throughout the United States; Discuss and examine public transit fare policies (e.g., pricing, eligibility, dissemination, verification, and enforcement) and payment methods and technologies that effectively serve different types of public transit agencies, high schools, postsecondary educational institutions, and students, including those with disabilities; Present and evaluate funding sources and identify circumstances that align with different stakeholder goals, with a particular emphasis on a resource-constrained funding environment; Identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities and partnership structures to develop, implement, strengthen, and sustain student fare programs; Present communication and outreach strategies to help transit agencies increase awareness, communicate benefits, and promote (1) adoption of student fare programs by high schools and postsecondary educational institutions and (2) transit ridership by their students; Provide criteria and methods to evaluate the impacts of student fare programs on high school and postsecondary students including, but not limited to: Near- and potential long-term transit ridership and travel behavior impacts, Cost and financial implications for transit agencies, high schools and postsecondary educational institutions, and students, Different outcomes based on program characteristics; and Other intended and unintended consequences; Identify potential barriers to effective student fare programs and mitigation strategies for public transit agencies, high schools and postsecondary educational institutions, and students.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:08:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Sequencing for Phases with Flashing Yellow Arrow</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2608463</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) first implemented flashing yellow arrows (FYA) for left-turn phasing, high crash rates were observed with lagging FYA operations. As a result, current UDOT policy for FYA operations for protected/permitted left turn phasing is to not “lag,” meaning to allow the protected left turn phase to follow the opposing through movement, due to a “perceived yellow trap.”

The purpose of this research is to evaluate current UDOT policies on leading/lagging left turn sequencing to determine if more flexibility could be provided, while still maintaining an acceptable level of safety. This will include reviewing the operation of FYA signal heads in other states, along with reviewing potential driver behaviors leading to the “perceived yellow trap.” The research will compare UDOT policies with other state DOT policies on leading/lagging left turns with FYA. Design and hardware factors will also be analyzed for safety impacts.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:57:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2608463</guid>
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