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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 55-21. Funding for Maintenance of Complete Streets</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2190451</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this synthesis was to document state DOT practices related to the funding and maintenance of Complete Streets projects. 


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:43:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2190451</guid>
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      <title>Design of an Alternative Work Zone Attenuator Device</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1755399</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Roadway work zone accidents, while not that common, usually end in tragedy. Currently, mobile attenuators are attached to state-owned dump trucks and operated by highway workers to lessen the impact when accidents occur. These vehicles are put into harm's way to act as a first line of defense and typically when they are involved in an accident, they are damaged and taken out of service. This is very crucial in the months leading up to winter, as these vehicles are also responsible for snow and ice removal in Ohio.  For this reason, it is necessary to develop a specification for a replacement work-zone attenuator device, in place of the dump trucks.    
The goals of this project are to research the applicability of other types of low-cost devices already on the market and develop a specification for a device that will be able to perform the functions of the dump truck.  Potential results of this research are:
(1) This research will show safety, economic, and efficiency benefits to Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). 
(2) ODOT plans to utilize the specification developed under this project to achieve lower risks to our valued snow and ice removal equipment, at a statewide level.
(3) The findings developed by this research have the capability of changing the way that work zone impact attenuators are utilized throughout the state. 
(4) ODOT plans to review the reports and specification. The specification will be advertised in a manner consistent with departmental policies. All documentation received as part of the advertisement will be reviewed to identify benefits to ODOT from a cost perspective.  
	]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:52:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1755399</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Guidebook for Mechanical Methods for Snow and Ice Control Operations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707199</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Winter weather impacts the transportation network across North America; snow and ice control is a prime winter maintenance activity for many state departments of transportation and local agencies. Strategies that employ chemicals (primarily sodium chloride) and/or mechanical means for snow and ice control (e.g., brooming, plowing, scraping, and ice breaking) have been used by state and local agencies to maintain safe and passable roadways during wintertime weather events. Fluctuations in availability and cost of deicing chemicals have often hindered highway agencies’ operation. There are also concerns about the environmental impacts of these chemicals, their contribution to corrosion of motor vehicles, and their adverse effect on longevity of roadway infrastructure.  Reducing the dependence on use of chemicals and adopting strategies that rely on mechanical means for snow and ice control operations would yield environmental, economic, and safety benefits. Currently, there are no widely accepted guidelines that address the strategies and practices for using mechanical means for snow and ice control operations. There is a need to identify, review, and evaluate such strategies and practices and develop a guidebook that addresses the different aspects of these operations and the selection of strategies for specific climatic, site, and traffic conditions. Such guidebook will help state departments of transportation personnel in making decisions regarding snow and ice control operations and implementing safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly strategies.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guidebook on the use of mechanical methods for snow and ice control operations. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2020 18:35:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707199</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Sustainable Heated Pavements for Infrastructure Longevity, Safety and Economic Competiveness</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1372914</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Icing of pavements during the winter leads to problems affecting the majority of the
U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goals. Icy roadways clearly pose a hazard to the safety of 

drivers and vehicle occupants. Icy roads also affect economic competitiveness as 

truck based transport of goods is slowed or interrupted. The use of de-icing agents, 

such as salt and Magnesium Chloride, can help prevent ice build-up on the roads, 

but bring with them significant initial and long term maintenance costs. Beyond the 

costs associated with purchasing and applying the materials, the application of 

chloride based agents to steel infrastructure (e.g. reinforced concrete pavements and 

bridge decks and steel bridge components) can lead to corrosion and possible 

premature failures. The American Society of Civil Engineers current grade of the 

U.S. roads is a D and bridges are a C+ (ASCE 2013). The deterioration caused by 

corrosion raises technological and economic issues associated with the state of good 

repair goal including how to inspect, manage, and repair deteriorating 

transportation structures. The use of these chemicals to prevent icing also has 

environmental costs, relating to the goal of sustainability. The climate of the 

Region 8 states served by Mid Planning Conference (MPC) means that icy roads are a national issue of great 

local significance. 

Heated pavements offer a potential solution for the problems caused by icy roads. 

New research is investigating the application of heated pavements to keep airport 

runways clear and decision making tools to help airport managers decide when the 

heated pavements or other snow clearing solutions are viable (Vigar 2013 ). Heating 

a full network of roads is likely not viable at this point, but the targeted heating of 

particular safety trouble spots, critical freight routes, and heavily salted areas has 

the potential to make significant contributions to the quality of U.S. and regional 


transportation networks. These networks often include generous right-of-way areas 

that may lend themselves to supporting a distributed energy producing 

infrastructure; potentially decreasing costs in remote locations. The presence of ice 

in concrete pores is a fairly well-understood process (Penttala 1998, Kauffmann 

2004) that can accelerate environmental 

degradation of pavements or other roadbases. A number of novel approaches have 

been attempted, including conductive concrete (Yehia and Tuan 1999, 2000, 2004, 

Tuan 2004), conductive asphalt (Chen and co-workers 2011), heated wiring (Tuan 

2004, Zhao and co-workers 2010) and there has been at least one full bridge 

demonstration project reported in the literature (Tuan 2008). However, there are no 

broad-based design or implementation guidelines for use of this class of technology, 

nor is there a fixed approach for powering such methods. 

Three key questions arise regarding the feasibility of a targeted heating approach: 

1) How will locations where pavements will be targeted for heating be determined 

to make substantial contributions to improving safety, movement of goods, 

longevity of infrastructure and/or impact on the environment? 

2) How will the appropriate source of energy necessary to heat the pavements be 

evaluated for each site in a sustainable manner (i.e. considering the triple bottom 

line)? 

3) What type of paving technology can be effectively heated with the available 

energy or in a way that minimizes the energy demand?
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2015 12:36:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1372914</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Clear Roads Winter Highway Operations Pooled Fund</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366544</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this ongoing pooled fund project will include: (1) Conduct structured field testing and evaluation across a range of winter conditions and different highway maintenance organizational structures to assess the practical effectiveness, ease of use, optimum application rates, barriers to use, durability, safety, environmental impact and cost-effectiveness of innovative materials, equipment and methods for improved winter highway maintenance. (2) Establish industry standards and develop performance measures for evaluating and utilizing new materials and technologies. (3) Support technology transfer by developing practical field guides and training curriculum to promote the results of research projects. (4) Conduct cost-benefit analysis to ensure that new technologies, materials or methods contribute to operational efficiency. (5) Support the exchange of information and ideas via peer exchanges and collaborative research efforts that provide opportunities for winter maintenance specialists to share experiences related to winter maintenance. (6) Promote public education and outreach related to winter maintenance and winter driving safety. (7) Conduct state of the practice surveys to share best practices on current operational issues (for example salt shortages, level of service requirements or other hot button issues).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2015 01:01:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366544</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Strategic Analysis of Snow Routes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1231551</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposal will develop mathematical optimization models to perform an analysis of existing snow routes for selected neighborhoods in Rhode Island. The scope of these decisions will include stockpile operations, fuel depots and equipment to make more efficient operations decisions, and will use the models for this analysis with data obtained by observation, transfer and discussion from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). This research seeks to extend the work done previously at the University of Rhode Island (URI) on decision making using operations research methodologies to perform an analysis and design of existing snow routes, stockpile operations, fuel depots and equipment to make more efficient operations decisions. The modeling issues of particular interest for this study are: (1) A set of linear/integer programming based models for constructing solutions which are optimal locations for sites and equipment. Large scale solution approaches including distributed solution approaches involving multiple CPUs in client/server relationships. (2) A simulation based model for determining operations improvements, including ant-colony methods for improving the solutions obtained using optimization.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:21:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1231551</guid>
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