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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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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>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Highway Safety Manual Crash Prediction Models of Arterial Weaving Segments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712176</link>
      <description><![CDATA[More than half of U.S. roadway deaths and nearly two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities occur on non-freeway arterials. Arterial sections with weaving maneuvers are complex for all road users to navigate and traverse without incidents or collisions.

The Code of Federal Regulations requires determination of whether the location, configuration, geometric design, and signing related to a proposed change in access may be reasonably expected to serve the anticipated traffic of the Interstate system in a manner that is conducive to safety, durability, and economy of maintenance. For many existing and proposed alternative designs, the safety of the weave is not quantified between ramps. Examples include cloverleaf designs with adjacent intersections and crossing weaves from ramps to downstream left turns. A better understanding of crash outcomes is needed for a variety of rural and urban speeds and contexts.

As part of NCHRP Project 15-66, “Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections,” crash data and conflict data obtained in the field and a driving simulator were analyzed to assess the safety performance of several types of arterial weaving sections. The results of the safety analysis did not provide a definitive relationship between the length and vehicle maneuvers of arterial weaving sections and crashes or conflicts; however, sufficient information was found to suggest additional research in this area would yield promising results toward developing a methodology for predicting the safety performance of arterial weaving sections suitable for inclusion in the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual (HSM).

The objective of this research is to develop a crash prediction methodology, safety performance functions (SPFs), to assess different types of arterial weaving sections, suitable for inclusion in the HSM.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:53:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712176</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Effects of Street Repurposing on Pedestrian, Vehicle and Visitor Patterns</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2702858</link>
      <description><![CDATA[COVID is a crisis that is unanticipated both in its occurrence and also its length of impact. In the early days, many office employers implemented work-from-home policies while retail businesses shuttered, leading to deserted downtowns across the country. Yet crisis is also an opportunity, and municipalities and businesses innovated in response to the fears of infection. In particular, many cities changed transportation infrastructure, including permitting sidewalk cafes that accommodated outdoor dining, reallocating street space from travel or parking to outdoor dining, and redesigning streets to accommodate a wide variety of users etc. What are the effects of these urban infrastructure innovations? How well do they draw visitors and support businesses nearby? What are their effects on the region’s traffic patterns? Are there spillover effects spatially? As cities emerge from COVID and re-imagine the future of our urban cores, answers to these questions are critical. Though the existing literature has a wealth of knowledge on the built environment effect on travel behavior, they are nearly exclusively at much larger scale (e.g., census tracts) and static (comparing different behavioral patterns between places with different built environment characteristics. There is little to no insight on how block-level urban infrastructure innovations lead to changes in visit patterns as well as nearby businesses. And yet, changes at this scale (block-level) are where local policy changes take place. This proposal is to answer these questions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 15:19:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2702858</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Effects of Complete Streets Policies and Projects on Local Business Development and Growth in California</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696848</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to explore the effects of Complete Streets policies and projects on local business development in California. The project uses a mixed-methods research design and micro-level business databases to explore how Complete Streets influences job accessibility, business attraction, business survival rates, and the broader transformation of mixed land use surrounding Complete Streets project sites. It investigates the interplay between Complete Streets projects and local business dynamics, particularly focusing on the clustering or dispersion of businesses for the agglomeration economy. By comparing the range of Complete Streets policies adopted by different entities, such as state agencies, counties, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and cities, within varying sociodemographic, environmental, economic, and physical contexts, the research assesses their influence on transportation improvement plans and economic development strategies. The primary objectives of the research comprise three major research tasks. First, it aims to evaluate how Complete Streets policies impact changes in travel demand and behavioral patterns, considering the allocation of various transport modes. Second, the research examines the effects of proximity to Complete Streets project sites on the growth and development of local businesses. Finally, the project seeks to understand the perspectives of transportation agencies and local governments regarding the urban environment modifications driven by Complete Streets initiatives, particularly their implications for local business growth and broader land use changes. By employing mixed methods, the research aims to provide comprehensive insights that inform policymakers, urban planners, and business owners of strategies to refine Complete Streets policies for better local business development.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:07:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696848</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What Makes Complete Streets Projects Work?</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2690983</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will assess community reactions to complete streets projects that repurpose vehicular travel lanes or parking spaces for bicycle lanes, sidewalks or other pedestrian amenities, and/or transit-only or transit-priority lanes. The primary research goal is to better understand the decision-making processes – how and why cities have developed complete streets project proposals and engaged with stakeholders who may have competing interests and perspectives, such as local business owners, homeowner and community groups, bicycle and active transport groups, and public transportation agencies including Caltrans and relevant transit agencies. The project will explore whether and how stakeholder concerns overlap and align and where they do not, and how conflicts are addressed and resolved, when possible. The project will also explore whether stakeholder perspectives change over time (including after project completion). The primary research method will be to conduct case study research in a sample of communities which will vary by regional location and community type. The case studies will involve interviews of key stakeholders, a survey of local business owners, analysis of business revenue data, and document review. The findings will help planners and policymakers understand the political stakes and practical challenges involved in implementing complete streets projects, and how they can successfully be managed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:32:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2690983</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing the Impacts of Safety-Focused Design Interventions on Arterial Roadways</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2677552</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Arterial roadways serve as critical connectors in urban transportation networks, yet their design often prioritizes vehicular mobility over safety. Despite the widespread application of safety-focused infrastructure interventions on local and collector streets, similar strategies are rarely implemented on arterials due to concerns over congestion, emergency response, and operational efficiency. However, these design choices have proven to result in unsafe conditions.

This project investigates how infrastructure design interventions can improve safety on arterial roadways while addressing operational and institutional constraints. The research follows a phased approach. First, it examines the historical, regulatory, and policy factors that have limited the adoption of safety-focused interventions on arterials, including the influence of fire codes and emergency response standards. Second, it assesses the real-world impacts of infrastructure changes on speeds, crashes, and emergency response metrics. Finally, it synthesizes findings to develop actionable recommendations and a decision-making framework for arterial design.

By providing an evidence-based understanding of how design choices affect safety, mobility, and community outcomes on arterial corridors, this study aims to inform infrastructure design practices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:07:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2677552</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Designing Safer Streets</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2662686</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Designing Safer Streets is an implementation strategy in which the transportation network is planned, designed, built, operated, and maintained to enable safe mobility within the transportation system. The pooled fund will be established to conduct research on innovative strategies to design and implement a safe streets.  

OBJECTIVES: To assemble a consortium composed of State Departments of Transportation; County, regional, local, or tribal transportation agencies; additional interested entities or organizations; and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program offices to meet national needs in support of safer streets. Activities of the consortium include: Identify planning, roadway design, human factors, safety, and operational issues related to safe streets elements and projects; Select new and existing safe Streets elements and/or projects for evaluation; Initiate and monitor research projects; Disseminate results; and Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among members.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:30:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2662686</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Making CAV Deployments Compatible with Complete Streets Objectives for Safe and Efficient Operations - Phase III</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2639855</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposal is for the continuation of a multi-year effort initiated in the first year of the current Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) program, Making CAV Deployments Compatible with Complete Streets Objectives for Safe and Efficient Operation.  Phase I was initiated in 2023 and Phase II in 2024.  The primary motivation is the safety, mobility and accessibility implications of potentially conflicting forces in the progressive deployment of CAV capabilities and intelligent mobility in urban city streets. As planners and engineers focus on the next generation of disruptive technologies through connectivity and automation, a counter movement is seeking accessible, walkable, sustainable neighborhoods with easier bike and micromobility access for all residents.  Overlayed on the urban fabric is increasing reliance on delivery vehicles of all sizes associated with on-demand eCommerce. The primary question motivating this research is how to design and operate complete streets that accommodate both the requirement of flow efficiency achievable through connectivity, automation and shared autonomous mobility services with the aspirations for access to micromobility and human-scale urban spaces. For the coming year, the main objectives include (1) Complete data analysis for the interactions especially for the under-represented user categories, especially bicycling and micromobility; (2) Extend the  simulation framework to consider various arrangements and hierarchies of shared road space; and (3) Develop design framework for allocating roadway space to the various user classes that recognizes the dual needs of safe and efficient flow on one hand, and access to micromobility in urban spaces on the other. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:12:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2639855</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comparing Safety Outcomes and Overcoming Implementation Barriers for Street Redesign Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625581</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There are a handful of innovative street redesign projects that have been implemented to improve street safety, but few have been evaluated to measure their impact on aspects such as activity levels, safety outcomes, economic benefits, as well as health, wellbeing, walking rates, safety, noise and economic development benefits. Furthermore, given the nature of the opposition that precedes the implementation of some projects, successfully implemented projects can also provide guidance towards how to overcome the challenges of building such projects. There are few studies that provide a full picture of what it takes to get the projects built, although unpopular at first. In fact, to the research teams' knowledge, no comprehensive framework exists for such an evaluation, especially at the community level. The team has identified the following projects as candidates from different parts of the country that deserve further study via a comprehensive framework:  1. University Place, Bridgeport Way, WA 2. University Place, Grandview Drive, WA 3. Bird Rock, City of San Diego, CA 4. Encinitas, San Diego County, CA  Additional sites to be considered 5. Hamburg, NY 6. Hillsborough Street, Charlotte, NC, Pine Street 7. Tallahassee, Fl, Gaines Street 8. Albert Lea, MN 9. Muscatine, IA  Despite the promising intentions behind these initiatives, there remains a gap in empirical research analyzing the direct impacts of these improvements on street safety, community well-being, and economic vitality. There is also na eed to understand what it takes to get projects built, even if they are unpopular at first. Such information is critical to evaluating these investments' effectiveness and guiding future planning, policy, and funding decisions. Specifically, there is a need to assess how these interventions affect safety outcomes and economic development benefits.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:45:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625581</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigating Residential Road Speeding by Leveraging Connected Vehicle Data</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606405</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research addresses speeding issues on residential roads that frequently result in crashes involving non-motorized road users by utilizing connected vehicle data to investigate speeding behaviors where traditional data collection is costly and time-intensive. The study leverages Wejo telematics data provided by Virginia Department of Transportation combined with crash data to analyze residential road speeding patterns in the Charlottesville area and Albemarle County. The methodology develops procedures to reduce large connected vehicle datasets by filtering residential roads through open street mapping, counting speeding events exceeding posted limits by 10-15 mph, and normalizing by total vehicle events. The research explores correlations between speeding frequencies and crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists on residential segments, recognizing that while crash correlations may be limited due to rare event nature, frequent speeding locations can support continuous monitoring and public awareness efforts. Analysis includes temporal patterns comparing day versus nighttime speeding, school zone hour violations, land use factors, and roadway design elements including curb parking, lane widths, and existing traffic calming interventions. The project addresses critical gaps in residential road speeding research by combining real-world vehicle telematics analysis with police-reported crash records to establish foundations for data-driven safety interventions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:10:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2606405</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Validation of HSM Crash Prediction Methods for Specific Intersection Types in Oregon</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593954</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) is the national guidance of quantitative safety analysis used in highway transportation planning, alternatives development, highway design, operations, and maintenance. However, some crash prediction models and crash modification factors in the Highway Safety Manual were developed using data from other states, not Oregon. Therefore, it is necessary to validate these models and crash modification factors for the implementation in Oregon.
Recently the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project 17-68 “Intersection Crash Prediction Methods for the Highway Safety Manual” has developed crash prediction models of more intersection types for inclusion in the HSM. The types of intersections include all-way stop control, three-leg intersections with signal control on rural highways, intersections on high-speed urban and suburban arterials, five-leg intersections, etc. Currently, there is no guideline for how to use these new crash prediction models particularly in Oregon. It is necessary to validate these models and crash modification factors in Oregon to guide the statewide implementation.
This research proposes to focus on intersections on urban and suburban arterials, which are common intersection types.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:53:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593954</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Rural Transportation Innovation and Mobilities Equity (RTIME)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2586797</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Rural Transportation Innovation and Mobilities Equity (TIME) Project focuses on enhancing mobility and accessibility in the rural areas served by Western New Mexico University (WNMU) by addressing three interconnected areas: access to nature, innovative transportation solutions, and economic development. The first area emphasizes the creation of safe, multi-modal pathways that connect Silver City and surrounding communities to natural recreational sites, as well as linking the historic downtown to the WNMU campus through a Complete Streets framework. This initiative aims to incorporate best practices from national and global contexts. 
The second area of focus revolves around developing innovative transportation options that cater to a diverse population, including children, retirees, and individuals with disabilities. This involves creating active transportation infrastructure that provides safe and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional vehicles. The project also aims to integrate these mobility solutions with regional economic and workforce development by introducing planning for technical certifications and degree programs at WNMU, tailored to meet local workforce needs.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:15:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2586797</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Driver Speeds After Implementation of Speed Limit Reduction on Urban Streets</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487333</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law which reduced the barriers for cities to systematically reduce speed limits. In the City of St. Louis Park, traffic speeds were collected in advance of urban speed limit reductions (2021). In 2022, speed data was collected on streets where the speed limit was reduced and where the speed limit was unchanged with modest reductions noted. Theoretically, driver behavior is habitual, and it is anticipated that greater reductions will be experienced over time suggesting repeat traffic speed monitoring and assessment in three to five years after implementation (2025 to 2027). Many advocates persistently state that lowering speed limits will result in lower operating speeds, if just given enough time for a cultural shift on roadways. This study would follow up on those impacts. The first research found little to no impact with the lowering of speed limits. This study would examine if those changes occurred over a longer period (2-4 years later). The goal of this research is to follow up on the earlier research, survey which Minnesota agencies have lowered speed limits, gather data on what changes have been seen (measured and anecdotal), where needed, collect “after” speed data, analyze and identify the best practices answering some of the questions posed by local agencies. From these questions, this research will ascertain how effective speed limit reductions are, with and without accompanying treatments.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:39:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487333</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Speed Impacts on Complete Streets Elements, Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487323</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Minnesota State University has recently completed related complete streets research that explored the effects of various roadway cross-sectional characteristics on driver speed selection in urban and suburban areas across Minnesota. This research resulted in a series of speed reduction factors (SRF) for various roadway cross-sectional elements and related guidance as to how those elements reduce speeds. However, some important questions remain. In particular, there is interest in understanding how driver speed selection varies when non-motorized users are present. There are also areas from the initial research that warrant further investigation, such as how driver behavior varies based on median dimensions, the presence of curb and gutter, and the degree of parking activity along a corridor. This study aims to address these gaps by investigating how these elements affect driver speed selection through a series of field studies at 16 sites throughout Minnesota. The results of this study will provide additional guidance that furthers efforts of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local road agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:52:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487323</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Installed Wrong-Way Driving Countermeasures on Florida Freeways and Arterials</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2563982</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of wrong way driving countermeasures currently mandated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on freeways and arterials. The study will assess whether the mandated wrong-way driving (WWD) countermeasures have an impact on the number of WWD incidents and WWD crashes occurring on state highway system roadways. The effectiveness of the countermeasures will be measured by the number and extent of WWD incidents, and WWD crashes reduced due to their installation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:21:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2563982</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Complete are Your City’s Streets? Evaluating the Completeness of Urban Streets Using Big Data and Computer Vision</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553162</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objectives of this project are: (1) development and validation of detection methods on the presence and width of individual elements of complete streets at street level, (2) development of a numeric index and typology to rate the completeness of streets, (3) curation of a publicly accessible database of various elements of complete street data in Atlanta metro; and (4) demonstration of how the rating/typology can be used to help users easily communicate and utilize the data in planning and policy decisions. Additionally, this project will provide an interactive map dashboard of non-residential urban streets in the Atlanta metropolitan region to visualize and communicate the data with the stakeholders. Understanding the current condition of complete street networks is an imperative first step in planning and policy interventions. The presence and the conditions of the eight elements of complete street segments, as reflected in the rating system, will offer critical information about which areas in the street network should be prioritized for complete street upgrades and what specific form these upgrades would entail. The knowledge of complete street elements will also help in assessing whether investing in complete street design and construction influence people’s mode choices towards more active mobility and transit. While there are numerous elements that form the concept of complete streets such as public transit facilities, pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations, traffic calming, and streetscaping, this project focuses on the elements that determine the allocation of street space, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and street parking, and save other non-surface objects for future studies, such as signboards, walk signals, and other fixtures.

This project plans to collect data on both the presence of complete streets elements and their cross-sectional width where applicable. This detection uses aerial and street view images together as one input. The primary data source for image data will be Google Street View and Google Maps API. By validating the detected result through the comparison with the well-established data, this project will test the potential of the methodology as a low-cost alternative to the existing data collection system. All data will be collected at the street segment level. The relationship between complete streets and travel behavior outcomes in terms of urban vitality and public health will be demonstrated by using urban vitality data (e.g., daily median spend for each POI from Safegraph) and mobility pattern (foot traffic data from ADVAN Research). All data will be collected at the street segment level.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2025 14:42:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553162</guid>
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