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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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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>
    <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>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 53. Optimizing Work Schedules for Transit Frontline Workers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2464333</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the frontline worker shortage, particularly for operators at public transit agencies. In response, agencies have modified recruitment, hiring, and training processes to attract more candidates, while also focusing on strengthening agency culture, boosting morale, and improving working conditions to retain staff. Although agencies are adjusting practices, rigid work schedules remain a major barrier that hinder workforce retention across the transit industry, limiting agencies’ ability to support employees in balancing operational demands with personal responsibilities.

The APTA Transit Workforce Shortage Report (2023) highlighted undesirable work schedules as a top reason frontline transit workers resigned from transit agencies. The report found that adjusting work schedules is more difficult than altering pay structures, and that altering compensation alone may not be a sufficient means to reduce employee turnover. To further address the problem, TCRP Project J-07/Topic SA-64, “Transit Scheduling and Dispatch Practice that Increase Operator Quality of Life” is identifying current strategies, practices, and outcomes of transit agency efforts to attract and retain operators through changes to schedule design and assignment.

While the previously cited studies identify scheduling solutions to address the transit operator shortage problem, there remains a broad and pressing industry-wide need to explore how changes to work schedules can help improve recruitment and retention of frontline transit workers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of research is to explore and identify what gaps remain, barriers to adopting more work-centric scheduling, and how pilot or emerging business practices (planning, scheduling, allocation of the work, and labor agreements) affect staffing outcomes. The factors that can potentially improve transit operator job satisfaction by favorable work schedules resulting in enhanced quality of life and potentially increased hiring and retention rates shall be explored.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:29:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2464333</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Empowering Sustainability and Equity: Harnessing School Buses for Workforce Transit</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2441688</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project Description: In addressing the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and transportation equity, the project aims to repurpose school buses for workforce transportation. This strategy emerges against a backdrop where low-income individuals frequently face limited access to efficient transit options and are more vulnerable to climate change and environmental pollutions. The objective is to reduce dependency on private vehicles and the associated carbon footprint and air pollutions, while broadening job access for these communities. The method involves the strategic rerouting of school buses during off-peak hours to serve as a bridge between home and work. Outcomes of this innovative approach are expected to include a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutions, enhanced access to employment, and the promotion of equitable transportation options within underserved areas. This sustainable mobility model offers a blueprint for communities nationwide to improve transit access while also contributing to broader environmental goals.

US DOT Priorities: This project supports three US DOT strategies goals as follows:
a.	Climate and Sustainability. The proposed mobility solution stands as a significant stride toward the United States' goal of achieving net-zero emissions. By decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution related to commuting, it contributes directly to national efforts to curtail the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the strategy has the potential to deliver pronounced environmental and public health benefits. Low-income communities, which often bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences of climate change and air pollution, could see substantial improvements in air quality and health outcomes as a result of reduced emissions. 
b.	Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness. By decreasing the reliance of low-income workers on private vehicles, there are substantial savings in terms of direct car ownership costs and commuting expenses. This shift is likely to alleviate some of the dissatisfaction associated with long commuting distances and the high costs tied to personal vehicle use and provide a reliable public transit option opens up job opportunities for those without access to a car, which could help alleviate labor shortages that many industries are currently facing. Looking to the future, if school buses were to be electrified, we could expect even further savings in fuel and maintenance costs over their operational lives. Such savings could redirect funds towards educational activities, enhancing the quality of education and, subsequently, the workforce. 
c.	Equity. The limited access to public transportation within low-income communities contributes significantly to high transportation costs and restricts job opportunities. The proposed solution is poised to address these disparities by improving the accessibility of public transport. With the benefit of GHG emissions and air pollutions reduction, this project also contributes to the health and well-being of those most vulnerable.

Outputs: This research project is anticipated to yield innovative outputs that stand to revolutionize sustainable transportation practices. The primary result will be a new transportation model that integrates school and work schedules with work shift reschedule and route optimization to enhance the efficiency of bus fleets. Additionally, the research team will develop cutting-edge algorithms designed for route optimization, taking into account unpredictable and stochastic conditions such as fluctuating traffic patterns and variable travel times. 

The project will produce an extensive database of demonstrating the current commuting patterns, transportation needs, as well as the current commuting environmental impacts with a focus on low-income workers from Central Texas area. The project can also reveal the potential environmental impacts of the proposed innovative transportation strategy. This project will also produce a report detailing the potential challenges for the implementation of this sustainable mobility solution and discuss the necessary actions to overcome the challenges. The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, webinars, workshops, ensuring that the knowledge gained reaches a wide audience.

Outcomes/Impacts: The transportation model proposed in this research aims to repurpose school buses during their idle hours to serve low-income workers, reducing the reliance on personal vehicles and underutilized public buses. The implementation of this model requires significant policy changes, including clearances for using public assets like school buses, partnerships between private enterprises and school districts, and potentially new regulatory frameworks. The model's success also depends on adapting safety standards and possibly altering vehicle designs to accommodate adult passengers.
The environmental benefits are substantial, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, improved air quality, and public health. The model also addresses transportation equity, improving job accessibility for individuals without personal vehicles, potentially boosting economic prosperity in low-income communities.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:12:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2441688</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Web-Based Tool for Cross Dock Trailer Scheduling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2335137</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overarching goal of this project is to develop a web-based tool that makes the previous research results on cross dock scheduling that was completed though past 
Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2) projects accessible to a wider audience by removing the need for specialized knowledge of mathematical programming or computer science. The project aims to achieve success by firstly establishing the desirable characteristics of the web-based tool through comprehensive literature reviews, analysis of similar tools in different domains, and engaging in discussions with potential users. Following this, the scope of the web-based model will be defined by comparing it with existing cross-dock models and solution heuristics, aligning with the characteristics identified earlier, and ensuring technical feasibility based on available computing and interface resources. Specifications and a conceptual design for the user interface will then be developed. Subsequently, the existing model will be adapted for seamless integration into the web-based environment, allowing for easy modification of inputs and accurate model solving. The core focus lies in building a user-friendly web tool that enables intuitive adjustments of model inputs and transparent presentation of results, encompassing both quantitative measures and animated representations. The final step involves providing clear and simple user instructions, ensuring the ease of tool utilization and accurate interpretation of results.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:16:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2335137</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 45. Future of Commuter Rail in North America</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2083650</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability of many office workers to work from home seriously affected ridership on commuter rail services. Although public transportation ridership has partially recovered since the height of the pandemic, passenger counts for most commuter rail services, remain below 2019 levels. Commuter rail providers are facing challenges to redefine themselves to serve a broader array of passenger markets and improve integration with other public transportation services.

Under TCRP Project J-11/Task 45, “Future of Commuter Rail in North America,” DB E.C.O. North America was tasked to conduct research to identify practical, implementable strategies for commuter rail providers in North America that will facilitate recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, manage their transformation, and enable continued relevance. This research was built on a review of historical and current literature; data from public sources to understand trends and context for the various commuter rail systems; interviews with experts and practitioners, including transportation agency staff and board members, labor representatives, elected officials, consultants, planners, and operations teams; six case studies of U.S. commuter rail agencies focused on specific strategies and emerging practices; and a review of regional rail models in Germany.

To assess and transform for the future, the research concludes that providers follow a three-part, iterative strategic planning process that is tailored for the unique nature of commuter rail given its fixed infrastructure, historical agreements, and financial position. The planning process needs to integrate market information with service innovation options in a manner that recognizes and responds to challenges in governance, infrastructure, and funding. These factors need to fit into regional mobility discussions: this process should be part of understanding what broad mobility goals a region has and determining what is the role of commuter rail in achieving those goals.

TCRP Research Report 254, Future of Commuter Rail in North America, presents practical, implementable strategies to support the recovery of commuter rail services from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report addresses how commuter railroads might navigate the market, service, and funding challenges they face in the coming years and decades. This report is of immediate use to leadership and staff of commuter rail providers, and it can also inform funders, elected officials, other decision-makers, and stakeholders interested in regional mobility.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:30:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2083650</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Creation of the World's First Rural Multi-Modal Transit System Integrating Both Mobility on Demand and Commuter Transit with Payment and Ticketing Accomplished Within the Same Mobile Application</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071594</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Baldwin County Commission will receive funding to create a mobility-on-demand platform to automate routing, scheduling and dispatching technology. It will enhance transit access for all residents of the Mobile area while increasing efficiency, reducing wait times and improving reliability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:20:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071594</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Region 8 RTA Regional Coordination - A Technological Solution to Coordinating Regional Transportation, Creating Efficiency in Service</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062451</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Regional Transit Authority of northeast Iowa will receive funding to modernize its demand-response transportation services in Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties. Improvements include an app with real-time transit information, a scheduling website and an online platform for agencies to coordinate shared trips and reduce duplication of services.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:17:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062451</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>IndyGo Mobility Concierge</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062445</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) will receive funding to create a technology platform and enhanced customer service effort that will combine trip planning and payment integration into a single system. The project will provide riders with transportation options across public, nonprofit and private mobility providers through an app or call center.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:17:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062445</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NJ Transit Northern Bus Garage Planning and Community Impact Evaluation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2012465</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary goal of this proposal is to assist NJ TRANSIT’S Bus Service Planning department to create a complete roster of the 500 bus capacity Northern bus garage determining stats such as platform hours and non-revenue mileage totals for potential auditing purposes.

The intended outcome of the project includes several modules for bus dispatching, including data archiving, processing and visualization. These modules can directly be integrated with the existing HASTUS bus scheduling system from NJ Transit. The before and after analysis on key performance metrics will help provide insights on the impact of the new garage on the operational improvement of NJ TRANSIT bus operations in its service areas.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:50:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2012465</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SA-52. Assessing Equity and Identifying Impacts Associated with Bus Network Redesigns</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1708340</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This TCRP synthesis will document the current practice of how transit agencies are assessing and addressing the equity impacts of bus network redesigns, including and beyond Title VI analyses.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2020 11:02:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1708340</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4432: Culvert Inspection Frequency Determination – Guidelines for INDOT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1696241</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will provide guidance to optimize culvert inspection schedules and procedures in Indiana, Project will lead to a better understanding of the culvert inventory in the state system and will result in recommended inspection practices that provide cost-savings while ensuring the integrity of culvert infrastructure. The deliverables include a culvert inspection manual, conference presentation(s), and a final report.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:27:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1696241</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Condition-based Inspection and Restoration Scheduling of Pavement and Bridge Systems for Improved Post-disaster Infrastructure Systems Recovery</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1595136</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The key objectives of this proposed research effort are: 
1) Develop techniques to support recovery efforts through joint post-disaster scheduling of inspection and roadway/bridge restoration activities; 
2) Create capabilities for exploiting updated, damage condition information received from sensor technologies and designed inspection actions; 
3) Ensure computational efficiency necessary for large-scale settings with hundreds or thousands of roadway links and bridges; 
4) Take into consideration the existence and pre-event location of multiple, inspection and repair crews (pavements, bridges and other infrastructures) with stakeholders representing different assets with potentially competing objectives; 
5) Account for impacts on overall traffic system performance; 
6) Explicitly recognize effects of downtime from potentially interacting inspection or restoration actions on traffic system performance and accessibility; and 
7) Describe how developed mathematical techniques can be utilized in practice. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2019 10:56:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1595136</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Commuter Bus Demand, Incentives for Modal Shift, and Impact on GHG: Part II – Service Design Concepts</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1580238</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This is a continuation of a project to model and evaluate the opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding express commuter bus services in the Greater Boston area.  The previous project developed a model to estimate the emissions associated with the current mode split of commuters traveling by car, carpool, walk, bike, or four transit modes by walk or drive access.  The model was then used to estimate the effect of a new commuter bus service on operating costs, mode share, and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this project is to analyze the performance of existing commuter bus services that are included in the travel demand model that is maintained by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) and new commuter bus service that has since been introduced.  This project includes specific attention on one of the corridors identified as a “high-efficiency corridor”: Framingham-Boston.  It also provides the opportunity to explore whether there are additional efficiencies that could be attained through service design adjustments. Specifically, this project involves refining the accuracy of the model, analyzing the potential impact of running buses in dedicated lanes or highway shoulders, and consideration of specific details of commuter bus stop location that affect the attractiveness for access by walking or driving.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:13:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1580238</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Integrated Strategic and Operational Planning for a Fast-Charging Battery Electric Bus System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1564667</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As an integral part of a multimodal transportation ecosystem, the public bus system provides an economical and sustainable travel mode that plays a key role in reducing traffic congestion and exhaust emissions. Conventional bus fleets, however, are mainly powered by diesel engines characterized by low energy efficiency, exhaust emissions, and oil dependence. Compared to diesel buses, battery electric buses (BEBs) have several advantages, including higher energy efficiency, zero tailpipe emissions, improved reliability, a lower maintenance burden, and the capability for using renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and water energies. Moreover, BEBs are easier to deploy and more flexible in their operation than trolley buses.

Although BEBs have many advantages and have been adopted by a number of transit agencies, due to limitations in battery technology, they are disadvantaged by cumbersome and costly on-board batteries. Moreover, it takes very long time to recharge BEBs using either standard or slow-charging methods. The emerging fast-charging technology promises the potential to offset these drawbacks. With fast-charging technology, a BEB with a modest battery capacity can utilize the dwelling times between trips to quickly recharge its battery and maintain continuous operation. Fast-charging technology has been adopted by many BEB demonstration projects, and promising results have been report.

In this project, the research team simultaneously considers and optimizes the battery and charger configurations of a fast-charging BEB system, as well as its recharging scheduling during operation. The team also explicitly consider the demand charges of high-power recharging activities of BEBs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2018 13:24:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1564667</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Validating the Effects of Collaborative Partnering on Major Capital Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441947</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In recent years, the construction industry has moved away from the master builder concept to a highly diverse set of participants providing the special focused services necessary to design and build any major capital project. The resulting industry make up of highly specialized firms and narrowly defined roles and responsibilities has led to a fracturing of the capital project process, and a reliance on litigation to resolve the inevitable differences that occur with this approach. In present times, it is not at all unusual to find projects fraught with change orders, claims and lawsuits (in many cases before the project is even complete).  A process known as Collaborative Partnering provides a framework for communication and problem solving with the goal of win/win outcomes.   The partnering process aims to foster a team environment where challenges are addressed as a group and disputes are resolved early, ultimately yielding a positive impact on project measures such as cost, schedule, contract change orders, claims, safety and quality.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:57:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441947</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development and Demonstration for Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations System (IDTO)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441780</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The task will develop a fully functional Integrated Dynamic Transit Operation (IDTO) prototype system that builds upon Dynamic Traveler information, several dynamic operations, including dynamic demand responsive transit operations, Dynamic Dispatch (T-DISP) and Connection Protection (T-CONNECT). T-DISP will allow public transit to be responsive to public needs by enabling the transit agency and the public to communicate with each other. T-CONNECT will ensure that the public will be able to transfer from one transit agency to another (i.e. between buses) even if a system is running ahead or behind schedule. This prototype IDTO will be tested and demonstrated in a full scale test site in East Contra Costa County of the San Francisco East Bay operated by Tri-Delta Transit.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:52:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441780</guid>
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