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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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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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      <title>Efficient Mobility for Rural Communities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683240</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Rural communities face unique transportation challenges due to low population density, dispersed destinations, and limited resources. Efficient mobility requires strategies that both optimize existing transit systems and embrace innovative service models. This project integrates two lines of research that can support efficient mobility and access to active modes and destinations in rural areas. The first focuses on right-sizing rural transit fleets and the second, on analyzing modal shifts from shared-use mobility services.  

On the vehicle procurement side, rural agencies must balance capital and operating costs, service quality, and reliability while meeting the capacity needs of their riders. When procuring vehicles, rural transit operators choose between transit buses, cutaways, vans, and minivans of various sizes. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding capital costs, operating costs, performance, service quality, and ability to meet the needs of their users. This study builds upon previous research to develop spreadsheet-based user tools that can help rural agencies and state departments of transportation (DOTs) make these decisions. This research improves upon the decision tools developed in a previous study by incorporating new models for the capacity needs of rural transit. Previous decision tools provide guidance on the types and sizes of vehicles to procure but they lack the ability to estimate capacity needs for individual agencies. This study develops a vehicle procurement decision model that incorporates a more sophisticated capacity needs analysis. The result will be a tool that estimates capacity needs of an agency and provides guidance on the number, types, and sizes of vehicles that can best meet that capacity need while improving efficiency and meeting the unique needs of the transit agency.  

A second tool to be developed by the study is an optimization tool. The study will improve upon a previously developed optimization model by incorporating more detailed estimates for lifecycle costs of different types and sizes of vehicles. The study will consider transit buses, cutaways, vans, and minivans of different sizes and seating capacities and include more detailed analysis of the operating costs for each vehicle type and the overall lifecycle costs. This will be incorporated into an optimization model that will minimize total costs, including capital and operating costs, for an agency while meeting capacity needs and service requirements and considering the impact of the fleet configuration on service quality.  

At the same time, emerging technology-enabled shared-use services—such as ridesourcing, microtransit, bikesharing, and carsharing—are transforming mobility in rural areas. By analyzing National Household Travel Survey data and documenting real-world deployments, the study will evaluate adoption patterns, service models, and performance outcomes of rural shared-use systems. This analysis will identify factors contributing to the success or failure of shared-use mobility initiatives and provide actionable strategies for rural agencies and policymakers . ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:22:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2683240</guid>
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      <title>Real Time Track and Vehicle Health Monitoring through Rail-mounted Load Quantification Smart Sensors</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093174</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will partner with four transit agencies to install and demonstrate smart sensing technology that is deployable on any rail transit mode. The project will primarily focuses on the final development and deployment of very small (2-3 inch) rail-mounted smart sensing modules that provide real-time information on both vehicle health and the loading conditions placed on the track structures.  The proposed smart sensors technology are cost effective and can be more widely deployed to develop further predictive analytics of the overall fleet monitoring and health of track structures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093174</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Research on the Use of Idle Reduction Technologies in Transit</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1395700</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This synthesis reviews current research and practical knowledge covering wide range of issues related to the use of idle reduction technologies in transit vehicles, including, but not limited to, potential benefits and challenges, advantages and limitations of various idle reduction technologies and approaches, critical success factors, lessons learned by the agencies that have implemented such technologies in their fleets. Overall, 48 fixed-route transit agencies around the United States. responded to the survey regarding their idle reduction practices and experiences, as well as opinions about the effectiveness of idle reduction strategies, obstacles, and existing incentives. A summary of over 100 federal, state and location idle reduction regulations and incentives was included in the synthesis. While idle reduction isn’t a new concept, transit industry may need further education to encourage wider adoption of these technologies on transit vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:31:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1395700</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>On-Going Evaluation of Alternatively Fueled Buses</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1357760</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Florida transit agencies and funding entities continue to be under pressure to reduce operating costs and to run a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fleet in the urban environment. Funding made available through the federal economic stimulus effort known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has aided growth in the acquisition of alternative fuel transit vehicles. Some Florida agencies are receiving funding through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant program (part of ARRA), while others are using regular transit capital funds. Typically, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) funds 50 percent of the non-federal share of bus capital acquisition. Pressure on agencies to procure and on FDOT to fund alternatively fueled buses has escalated with the enormous push toward compressed natural gas as a domestically produced urban fleet fuel. However, higher reliance on alternative fuels and propulsion technologies by some Florida agencies has increased both capital and operating costs for some fixed route operators, and has created challenges for the widespread adoption of advanced transit technologies. Additionally, with the wide variety of advanced transit technologies that is currently available as an alternative to regular diesel, transit agencies find it hard to choose the technology that will best fit their needs. Both transit agencies and FDOT can benefit from current data on the performance of alternative fuel transit vehicles, allowing the evaluation of advantages and limitations of different alternative propulsion technologies. FDOT is interested in collecting and analyzing up-to-date data on alternative fuel vehicles' performance to assist the department with evaluating the benefits and investment costs associated with advanced transit technologies. The Department engaged the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida (USF) in 2009, 2012, and again in 2013 to establish a reporting system for the collection of transit fleet performance and cost data. FDOT is interested in continuing regular data collection, monitoring, and evaluating field data on the performance and operating costs of alternative fuel transit vehicles that are currently in use in Florida and nationwide. These data are intended to assist decision-makers considering investment in alternative fuel transit technologies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2015 01:00:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1357760</guid>
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      <title>Evaluation of Automated Vehicle Technology for Transit</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1318068</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is interested in exploring automated vehicle (AV) applications within the state of Florida. The purpose of this project is to conduct a synthesis of available automated vehicle (AV) technologies that could be installed today on transit vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 02 Aug 2014 01:01:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1318068</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Fire Safety Materials Testing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1257618</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to develop fire safety standards for performance and testing of interior materials for transit vehicles; and to update the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 1984 Recommended Fire Safety Practices for Rail Transit Materials Selection. This research will identify and evaluate the latest fire safety technology to update guidelines for rail transit vehicle fire safety practices, including development of fire safety standards for the performance and testing of interior materials. Use of these guidelines in the selection of materials for transit vehicles is intended to reduce fire incidents, costly property damage and casualties. This 2002 project supports the update of the 1984 guidelines, Recommended Practices for Rail Transit Vehicle Materials Selection, containing tests and performance criteria for seat components (e.g., upholstery, cushions, shrouds, and frames), panels (e.g., walls and ceilings, partitions, windscreens, windows, and light diffusers) and thermal and acoustical insulation, floor structure and covering, elastomers, exterior end caps, and interior and exterior box covers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:15:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1257618</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Research</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1256589</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project supports a general program of advanced vehicle research at the University of Alabama.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jul 2013 01:00:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1256589</guid>
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