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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=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O1VuaXRlZCBTdGF0ZXMmcXVvdDsiIG9yaWdpbmFsX3ZhbHVlPSImcXVvdDtVbml0ZWQgU3RhdGVzJnF1b3Q7IiAvPjwvZmlsdGVycz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" 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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Micromobility Decision-Making Atlas</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669653</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This work will examine how U.S. micromobility users make everyday travel and safety decisions. Participants will be identified from two experience groups: riders who integrate e-scooters or e-bikes with public transit and those who substitute them for car trips. Situated within the broader mixed-methods design, this project builds directly on the “Healthy Micromobility: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity” pilot project. It will provide explanatory depth on the psychosocial and contextual mechanisms that shape micromobility use and user safety. These findings will also inform the system-level analyses by clarifying how user experiences and perceptions translate into behavioral, safety, operations, and other relevant outcomes.   

A micromobility decision-making atlas will be designed to serve as a current, comprehensive database of local micromobility regulations and policy environments across U.S. jurisdictions, providing an updated and more detailed successor to existing resources such as the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s Policy Atlas. The atlas would compile and standardize policy data from the environmental scans, allowing users to explore and compare domains such as fleet management, parking, speed limits, and accessibility provisions. An optional infrastructure layer could incorporate indicators of supportive design conditions, such as protected lane coverage or PeopleForBikes Bicycle Network Analysis scores, to contextualize how local infrastructure aligns with policy intent.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:30:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669653</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enabling Mobility for Older Adults in the US</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669552</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Driving is essential for the preservation of functional independence for older adults, yet there is a growing number of older adult drivers with comorbid health conditions that might impair their ability to drive safely. Older adult drivers are overrepresented in motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries, which is a major public health concern. The purpose of this project is to (1) develop a comprehensive understanding of the mobility needs and challenges of older adults in the United States, and (2) develop an innovative tool to extend their safety while they drive.  

Aim 1: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the mobility needs and challenges of older adults  

To develop a comprehensive understanding of the mobility needs of older adults, the research team will analyze data from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults aged 65 and older. The survey contains a comprehensive set of questions that explore driving behavior, transportation options, mobility limitations, and attitudes toward future transportation technologies and policies among adults aged 65 and older.   

Aim 2: Develop an innovative tool to extend their safety while they drive.  

The goal of this project is to understand older adults’ perceptions of an app (StreetCoach) that provides a driving score based on actual driving behavior. A number of apps exist for older adult drivers but the perceptions of older drivers towards their driving score is poorly understood. This study will use a sequential explanatory research design by asking 10 older adults to download and use the app for 60 days. Following this, the research team will conduct in-depth interviews with the participants to gain an understanding of their perception and interpretation of their telematics score, and what factors might motivate them to change their driving to improve the score.   ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:16:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669552</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Wildlife Fencing Effectiveness in Reducing Crashes in the Western US</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2655748</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Research from a recent past study with data only from Utah identified the benefit-cost for installing wildlife fencing. Wildlife fencing projects are currently justified and determined for potential safety funding using only crash history and assumptions of the crash reduction and benefit of installing wildlife fencing. An expanded-scope research project to include data from other western states (Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada) will help quantify the reduction in crashes from installing wildlife fencing, providing a better comparison of safety benefit as compared to other safety projects and providing much better justification for when wildlife fencing installation is a worthy expenditure of safety funds, particularly federal funds that require a positive benefit-cost ratio.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:33:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2655748</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 56. Student Fare Programs to Increase Ridership</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Public transportation agencies across the U.S. have implemented student fare and pass programs in order to broaden their ridership base and provide new agency revenue streams. There exist a wide variety of programs and fare offerings for both university and secondary students, with different goals and funding sources.  Research suggests that exposure to high-quality transit in one’s 20s and 30s increases the likelihood of using transit later in life. Encouraging transit use by students can have positive long-term ridership impacts for the entire transit industry. 

TCRP Synthesis 131 examined university pass programs in a limited way in 2018. Since then, many more agencies have adopted these programs. Student fare programs vary widely depending on transit market, regional operating structure, fare systems, and types of institutions served.

Public transit agencies seeking to adopt new student fare programs or expand an existing program face uncertainty regarding costs, program feasibility, impacts on ridership and operations, and overall benefits. Research into the wide variety of student fare programs would assist in these evaluations.

The objective of this research is to provide information to assist transit agencies and policymakers in adopting and expanding student fare programs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:08:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>TCRP Study Update on Local and Regional Funding Mechanisms for Public Transportation



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636145</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Public transportation in the United States relies on a complex mix of federal, state, regional, and local funding, supplemented by directly generated revenues such as fares, advertising, taxes levied by transit agencies, and bond proceeds. Since the publication of TCRP Report 129 in 2009, the funding landscape has changed significantly. Today, agencies face mounting financial pressures driven by slow ridership recovery, rising operating costs, inflation, state-of-good-repair demands, and the exhaustion of federal pandemic relief funds. Many systems, large, mid-sized, small, and rural, are confronting what has been widely described as a looming “transit fiscal cliff.”

As a result, transit agencies urgently need an updated, comprehensive, and user-friendly assessment of the full spectrum of funding options available across federal, state, regional, and local levels. While recent TCRP efforts, including J-11/Task 50, Transit Funding Sources and Governance Models and other quick-response activities are producing targeted updates, the industry requires a broader, deeper, and more forward-looking analysis that threads the needle between existing ongoing work and the larger structural funding challenges facing the sector. The research must also identify unique, emerging, or unconventional funding sources, including those beyond traditional transit revenue streams, and examine how multiple mechanisms can be coordinated for greater stability and efficiency.

Funding and financing mechanisms extend beyond transit-specific sources. Agencies increasingly depend on non-transit aligned funding, including economic development tools, value capture strategies, environmental programs, state-level special districts, public-private partnerships, impact fees, and new “market-based” mechanisms. Understanding how these revenue sources interact—and how they can be strategically combined—is essential for long-term sustainability. Agencies also need clarity on federal funding roles, including competitive programs, discretionary grants, and ongoing reauthorization opportunities.

Given the urgency of these challenges, it is critical to deliver actionable information as quickly as possible, while also producing a longer-term, comprehensive reference. While TCRP cannot maintain a perpetual database, research can identify replicable templates for agencies, outline structures for future updates, and highlight governance and process considerations for coordinating multiple revenue streams at scale.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:55:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636145</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Regional Disparities in Work Zone Crashes: Understanding Factors and Predictive Modeling for Targeted Safety Measures
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627354</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Roadway work zones play a vital role in maintaining and improving infrastructure, yet they often expose workers and drivers to dangerous situations, leading to concerning frequencies of occupational and traffic accidents in the United States. With over 700 fatalities and thousands of injuries annually attributed to work zone crashes, efforts to enhance safety have been hindered by the complexity and variability of contributing factors. The escalating fatalities, coupled with growing infrastructure demands in U.S. Department of Transportation Region 7—encompassing Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas—underscore the imperative to address underlying causes and improve work zone safety. This study aims to address this persistent issue by analyzing work zone crash data in Region 7 and comparing it with other regions to identify influential factors. By leveraging recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to develop region-specific predictive models, the research seeks to forecast crash occurrences and provide targeted insights for policymakers and transportation authorities. Ultimately, the research aims to deepen understanding of regional disparities in work zone crash dynamics, enabling effective resource prioritization and implementation of tailored safety measures. The development of predictive models using RNNs holds promise for enhancing proactive safety planning and resource allocation, ultimately contributing to a nationwide reduction in work zone crashes and advancing the overarching goal of improving road safety for workers and motorists.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:35:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627354</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investing in Talent for Next-Generation Transportation Engineering
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627155</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Recent federal investments in infrastructure necessitate a surge in transportation engineering graduates, yet recruitment and retention pose challenges due to mismatches between job supply and degree pursuits, compensation, benefits, and work-life balance. Research by the Northeast Transportation Workforce Center and National Transportation Career Pathways Initiative highlights these issues, but gaps remain in state department of transportation (DOT) strategies. Moreover, there is a pressing need for diversity in the engineering workforce to reflect the United States demographics. This research aligns with the Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) focus on education and workforce development, aiming to enhance workforce diversity, which is crucial for inclusive transportation planning and safety. The purpose of this study is to explore the age gap within state transportation engineering jobs. The following research question will be addressed: In what ways do state departments of transportation in the midwestern United States attract or detract new engineers to state transportation engineering jobs based on current policy structures?
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:58:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627155</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices. Topic S01-33. Practices for Determining Landing Fees at General Aviation Airports</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2621998</link>
      <description><![CDATA[General aviation (GA) airports across the United States face increasing pressure to develop sustainable funding sources while maintaining fair and competitive pricing strategies. Landing fees represent a significant potential source of revenue, yet there is little consistency in how these fees are established or structured. GA airports do not have a standard way to determine fee schedules that balance operational costs, market competitiveness, and stakeholder expectations. Recent Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) reports have addressed topics related to airport operations and finance, but not specifically the determination of landing fees at GA airports. Other industry research tends to focus on commercial service airports or on general airport funding strategies without a detailed examination of landing fee methodologies. This synthesis will fill focus on the unique considerations and challenges faced by GA airports.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document practices for determining landing fees for aircraft at general aviation airports. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:25:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2621998</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Identification of Factors Contributing to the Decline of Traffic Fatalities in the United States</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2611417</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Report 928 describes a comprehensive analysis of the factors associated with fatality rates in states, especially as they relate to the substantial drop in fatalities occurring in the years from 2008 to 2011. The analysis included predictors representing a wide variety of potentially related factors including travel, demographics, the economy, vehicle safety systems, and state spending on several categories of infrastructure and safety improvements. Understanding the broad array of factors that influence traffic safety in the United States is particularly important for state highway safety planning.

From 2008 to 2011, the United States, along with several other countries, experienced a substantial drop in annual traffic fatalities. State departments of transportation are keenly interested in capturing the key contributing factors to this decline so that the information can be used to help focus resources on effective countermeasures in future years. Safety countermeasures are implemented in a wide variety of ways—changing behavior (e.g., through driver education), changing vehicles (e.g., with Electronic Stability Control and other safety technologies), and changing the environment (e.g., improving roadways, laws, and enforcement). Safety can be influenced by factors other than safety efforts themselves, so it can be difficult to know which changes are responsible for overall reductions in fatalities.

Under NCHRP Project 17-67, the research conducted by the University of Michigan, with support from Texas A&M was asked to provide a multidisciplinary analysis of the relative influence of the types of factors that contributed to the national decline in the number of highway fatalities and rates in the United States during the years of 2008–2011. The research team used the Haddon matrix to identify many potential travel, demographic, economic, vehicle, and infrastructure influences on fatalities. Data on these factors were then collected from data sources publicly available at the state level (e.g., FHWA Highway Statistics). Annual state-level measures of these factors were compiled into a database covering the years from 2001 to 2012 and matched with fatalities from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database.

These data were analyzed using statistical methods to predict fatalities in states as well as changes over time. Because the statistical models closely approximated the reduction in fatalities from 2008 to 2011, the factors could then be evaluated in terms of their individual (and combined) contributions to fatalities. This report covers the scope of the problem, the data obtained to measure each factor, the statistical models, and the interpretation of results to understand how different factors play a role in total fatality counts. The knowledge gained from this process can be used to predict future fatality levels for planning at the state level and to provide insight into factors influencing these levels and actions that might reduce them. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:48:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2611417</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide for Airports to Mitigate Outdoor Worker Exposure to Extreme Temperature Conditions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588331</link>
      <description><![CDATA[U.S. airports have outdoor workers who are exposed to extreme heat and cold, which may contribute to substantial health hazards and productivity losses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require measures to protect outdoor workers but do not provide specific mitigation strategies that airports can implement. The types of operations and the built environment of an airport may impact workers’ exposure to extreme temperatures.

Research is needed to provide airports with guidance for protecting outdoor workers’ health and safety while maintaining operations in extreme temperatures. A resulting guidance document would help airports mitigate exposure to extreme temperatures and minimize risk to outdoor workers. 

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for airport practitioners to protect outdoor workers’ health and safety while maintaining operations in extreme temperatures. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:23:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588331</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide to Analyzing Economic Impact of Changes in Air Service Connectivity</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588337</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No abstract provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:53:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588337</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of U.S. Vehicle Capacity Models for Multilane and Turbo Roundabouts

</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558402</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Turbo roundabouts are designed to limit improper lane changing behavior within multilane circulatory roads by providing physical lane separation. Turbo roundabouts also feature more radial entries than conventional designs, which may affect vehicle entry paths, speeds, and gap acceptance. Originating in Europe, turbo roundabouts have been gradually adopted internationally. Although many state, local, and tribal transportation agencies are contemplating turbo roundabouts as potential alternatives for new or reconstructed intersections to improve safety and operations, to date only a few have been constructed in the United States.

A key question in implementing turbo roundabouts in the United States is vehicle capacity, as drivers may approach, enter, and navigate these facilities differently from conventional roundabouts. A U.S.-based capacity model for turbo roundabouts does not currently exist, and European models are not directly transferable due to differences in driver behavior, vehicle characteristics, and design practices. In addition, the existing multilane roundabout capacity model in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), 7th edition, was developed over a decade ago and cannot account for key geometric factors that influence capacity and operations. In addition, changes in design practices and increased driver familiarity with roundabouts may have further affected the model’s accuracy since its development.

Research is needed to support efforts by state departments of transportation (DOTs) to assess operational performance of multilane and turbo roundabouts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop adaptable vehicle capacity models for multilane and turbo roundabouts to accurately estimate performance by considering key geometric factors such as entry and exit angles, inscribed circle diameters, and physical separation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 09:52:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558402</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Legal Aspects of Airport Programs. Topic 16-03. Legal Requirements and Liabilities Arising from Airport Security</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2555868</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Airports want to create a travel environment that is efficient and responsive to passengers' needs without compromising security. Airport operators share responsibility for the ever-evolving security requirements with federal and local agencies. Security practices should be designed with individuals’ rights in mind, but finding a balance between safety and security and individuals’ rights can be a challenge. These challenges encompass all passengers, visitors, and airport workers subject to security protocols.

Airports are confronted with a multifaceted framework of requirements related to security, such as constitutional and civil rights and privacy, and new requirements and technology add complexity. Research is needed to support airports to understand their legal responsibilities, the potential risks, and the implications for airport operations, passengers, and stakeholders.

The objective of the research is to examine public facing airport security measures and help airports understand the legal requirements and liabilities arising from airport security. The final report should: (1) provide stakeholders with the current legal and regulatory airport security requirements; (2) identify the parties responsible (e.g., airport operator, federal agency, etc.); and (3) identify additional practices undertaken by airports that are not required by current legal and regulatory airport security requirements. The report should identify and analyze the risks or exposures that may arise in the context of these requirements and practices. The report should identify and analyze novel legal issues involved with anticipated or proposed airport security measures.

The research should supplement ACRP Legal Research Digest 27: The Fourth Amendment and Airports to include relevant cases decided after that publication.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2025 14:39:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2555868</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Protecting People in Midwest Road and Transport Systems During Periods of Extreme Heat</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553660</link>
      <description><![CDATA[US transportation infrastructure requires significant increases in resilience to periods of extreme heat. Periods of extreme heat (as well as the related conditions of higher dew points and higher solar insolation) are increasing. This increase is clear in the observational record, and is one of the most certain climate impact predictions. Retrofits, operational adaptations, and changes to new construction are all needed to prevent economic disruption from road and rail transport problems related to extreme heat. This proposal moves beyond this first-order engineering problem of designing for extreme heat, and considers two critical second order problems: (a) the protection of people during extreme heat transportation emergencies; and (b) the compound effects of extreme heat and power outage. The research team will consider how operators, repair crews, the public, and public safety personnel can be kept safe on and around road and rail systems during extreme heat events. The team will consider extreme heat events on their own and compounded with power outage. The specific objectives include: create state and decade-specific (2020s, 2030s, 2040s, & 2050s) probabilities for extreme conditions, including geophysical variables (air temperature, winds, precipitation, soil moisture, solar insolation, and humidity); these will be coupled with existing models to derive human heat stress indices and infrastructure surface temperatures. Fault tree analyses will be conducted to assess critical factors that influence mortality of people during a “simple” extreme heat event, and during extreme heat combined with power outage.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2025 15:02:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553660</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analysis and Implications of the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2549196</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To better understand the future of travel behavior and demand this research effort will explore the National Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS).  There is a keen interest in this survey as a result of the fact that a growing share of all travel is non-household-based travel for freight commercial and service functions. These functions account for an estimated 40% of all vehicle miles of travel and, due to the fact that they are larger vehicles, their energy use and emissions are disproportionate to their vehicle miles traveled (VMT) share and represent a majority of all energy use and emissions for transportation. In addition, these vehicles, many owned by businesses and commercial entities, are different than household-owned vehicles in several respects including how decisions are made regarding their purchase and use. Many of these activities do not have travel alternatives such as bike and public transit that may be available for person trips. Thus, having a richer understanding of these vehicles and their utilization is important to modeling and understanding travel demand as well as influencing transportation policy strategies and investments.

Findings from the exploration of this survey will be contrasted with other sources of information regarding travel by these classifications of vehicles. It is anticipated that a comprehensive descriptive understanding of the use of these vehicles will facilitate understanding their role in things like transportation safety, transportation electrification, and future travel demand.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2025 15:14:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2549196</guid>
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