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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=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" 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>
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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>Comparison of Sample Size and Curing time on Concrete Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672004</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this research is to continue department’s initiative to reduce test specimen size and support departments transition to Performance Engineered Mixture (PEM) implementation. The funding for this project will allow the department to sample and perform testing on various concrete mixes across the state and gain deeper understanding on how concrete mixes in Wisconsin will perform. Due to an increased use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) in Wisconsin to improve durability of concrete mixes, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Mobile Concrete Technology Center (MCTC) laboratory and Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP) studies indicated that using 28-day test results for acceptance may not be the most accurate representation of concrete performance as some SCMs require additional time to activate and gain strength in the concrete mixture. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) plans to evaluate the impact of extended curing of concrete strength specimens. These strength specimens can also be used to measure surface resistivity at 56 days to compare with surface resistivity values measured using the accelerated cure method per WTM T358. WisDOT would also investigate reducing compressive strength specimen size from 6”x12” to 4”x8”.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:28:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672004</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Field Friction Testing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672003</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary goal of this project is to perform comprehensive field friction testing on various Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) surfaces with polymer-modified asphalt binders (i.e, “H” and “V” binders) across the entire state. Conducting these tests in real-world conditions is crucial for identifying potential safety concerns related to skid resistance. Previous year friction testing conducted on certain SMA surfaces within the SE region using the “V” binder indicated that these surfaces exhibited notably lower skid resistance values compared to other SMA surfaces after few years of construction. Building on these findings, this project intends to carry out an additional round of field friction measurements targeting those same SMA surfaces in the SE region, while also expanding the scope of testing to include more SMA sections throughout the state. The data collected from this expanded field testing will be instrumental in determining whether the relatively low friction numbers are attributable to the specific type of binder used, the aggregate materials involved, or a combination of both factors. Furthermore, to gain a broader understanding of the current skid resistance condition of the state’s pavement infrastructure, several additional pavement sites will be evaluated as part of this study. This holistic approach aims to provide actionable insights that can guide improvements in pavement design and material selection to enhance overall road safety and durability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:27:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672003</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Post Construction Analysis of Major, Mega and Regionally Significant Projects</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671992</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop a framework (methodology) for evaluating post-construction outcomes of Major, Mega, or regionally significant projects. Evaluation metrics may include but are not limited to: efficiency in project delivery, effects on traffic mobility, safety, and economic impact. The framework developed by this project is intended to be implemented by future Major/Mega/regional projects to improve the transportation project delivery process. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) measures performance through state performance measures, MAPSS (Mobility, Accountability, Preservation, Safety and Service); federal performance measures (e.g., reliability, emissions, delay, etc.); and other continuous improvement programs. These efforts focus on aggregate statewide metrics that may not reveal detailed insights from individual projects. WisDOT Majors and Mega projects are generally transformative in nature and represent some of the most complex and costly investments in maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure. Having a better understanding of project-specific post-construction outcomes would improve planning and design decisions for future projects, build confidence that proposed benefits of significant projects are being realized, and provide accountability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:23:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671992</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Driver to Non-Driver Transitions: Related Health, Mobility and Safety Outcomes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671991</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project involves analyzing the impacts of becoming a non-driver (suddenly or gradually) in Wisconsin and nationally and effects on health, mobility, and safety outcomes. The project will analyze health, quality of life and mobility outcomes for drivers who are no longer able to drive. The researchers will analyze the safety, mobility, and quality of life outcomes for those who have suddenly or gradually become non-drivers. Analysis should focus on adult non-drivers of all ages and demographics, with particular emphasis on adults aging in place and urban versus rural areas. Once the analyses are conducted and complete, the researchers will report findings and provide recommendations for policies that lead to improved outcomes—namely increases in mobility and safety benefits for the entire state. Recommendations will help Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) understand how to best offset impacts to mobility for individuals suddenly or gradually transitioning from being drivers to non-drivers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:39:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671991</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hydraulic Conductivity of Base Course Material, Pavement Drainage, and Relation to Pavement Buckling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671989</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project aims to study the effects of excessive moisture in base courses, focusing on the potential contributions of base course drain ability and water retention to pavement buckling and investigate adjustments to base course gradations and drainage details and strategies to improve drain ability, control sensitivity to moisture changes, and reduce buckling potential while maintaining adequate pavement support. The proposed project will include sampling and testing of base courses around the state to characterize the index properties, hydraulic conductivity, water retention curves, drainage properties, and resilient modulus. Base course samples from pavement buckling occurrences will also be collected to assess if commonalities exist in the base courses where pavement buckling occurs. Current pavement drainage strategies employed in Wisconsin will also be reviewed. Base course gradations, water retention properties, and pavement drainage strategies of surrounding states will also be reviewed. The culmination of reviewing current 
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) base course gradations and drainage details and those of surrounding states will be the development of updated base course gradations and drainage strategies to improve moisture management while maintaining adequate pavement support.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:35:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671989</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seasonal Weight Restriction Decision Making Based on Understanding and Monitoring of Frost Susceptibility of Pavement Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671988</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study aims to critically assess the variation of stiffness, temperature and moisture throughout the base and subbase structure to better determine the capacity of roads as the seasons transition from winter to spring. The objectives of this project are to critically assess the variation of temperature, moisture, stiffness and strength throughout the base and subbase structures during different driving seasons to better determine the capacity of roads from winter to spring to summer driving seasons. And propose an interpretation and analysis protocol of continuously collected data to create a decision-making process for the frozen road declaration, midseason thaw, ending the frozen road declaration, and imposing and ending spring weight restriction in the State of Wisconsin.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:28:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671988</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigate Wisconsin Bridge Scour in Mobile (Alluvial) Sand-Bed Rivers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671987</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this research is to enhance scour prediction accuracy for bridges in Wisconsin’s mobile sand-bed rivers by developing region-specific scour envelope curves. The proposed study will address the limitations of existing scour prediction methods by incorporating Wisconsin’s unique hydraulic, geomorphic, and sedimentological conditions. By refining existing scour envelope methodologies and tailoring them to Wisconsin’s river systems, this research aims to improve scour estimation accuracy, reduce unnecessary costs, and enhance long-term bridge safety and maintenance planning. In order to provide guidance for determining the probable depth of scour under various hydraulic, geological, and structural conditions, FHWA developed Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18 (HEC-18): Evaluating Scour at Bridges (Richardson & Davis, 2012). HEC-18 has served as a technical standard for bridge scour analysis in the United States. It establishes a comprehensive methodology for evaluating scour at bridge foundations, including pier scour, contraction scour, and abutment scour. Additional documents are also available, including HEC-20: Stream Stability at Highway Structures (Lagasse, Schall, et al., 2001) and HEC-23: Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures (Lagasse, Zevenbergen, et al., 2001).These documents are also adopted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as the standard procedures for bridge scour analysis. To address the limitations of HEC-18, many state DOTs (e.g., Minnesota, Iowa, New Jersey, South Carolina) have developed regional modifications or supplemental procedures to enhance scour prediction models. While many state DOTs have developed regional modifications for HEC-18, or regional scour envelope curves, Wisconsin has not yet established a dedicated set of scour envelope curves tailored to its river systems. This study seeks to refine scour prediction in Wisconsin’s rivers by supplementing HEC-18’s methodology with locally derived scour envelope curves, improving the accuracy of scour predictions and optimizing bridge foundation designs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:26:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671987</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Ride Quality and Tining/Finishing Practices for Concrete Pavements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671982</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many state departments of transportation (DOTs), including Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), use the International Roughness Index (IRI) to assess ride quality. The researchers shall review WisDOT’s incentives and disincentives for IRI Ride and compare them to practices with neighboring states. This study will guide the incorporation of ride quality considerations into Wisconsin’s Facility Development Manual (FDM), ensuring that the design process accounts for the elements necessary to produce good ride quality. These elements include traffic staging, lane width consistency, the need for tining or turf drag, and the handling of horizontal/vertical curves. The FDM should also include guidance on integrating ProVAL software into the design stage to predict achievable ride quality before construction begins.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:18:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671982</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test (HWTT) for Rutting Resistance Assessment</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671980</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of this project are to determine if the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test (HWTT) test accurately represents rutting and stripping behaviors of fine-graded asphalt pavement design mixtures, and make appropriate adjustments to the HWTT criteria and/or propose and develop a representative rutting test that allows Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to retain the benefits of fine-graded mixes while supporting the state’s goal of fully implementing balanced mix design concepts. WisDOT expects to use the results and recommendations of this research study to support the acceptance of performance-based asphalt pavement designs. Practical candidate test procedures must also be considered for production. WisDOT has conducted significant external and internal research efforts in the past several years toward the implementation of Balanced Mix Design (BMD) to improve the performance of asphalt mixtures in Wisconsin. Based on experience, WisDOT has observed a tendency of the HWTT to rank fine-graded mixtures as having more rutting potential than coarse-graded mixtures. This tendency is noticeable even when rutting in the field is not a primary concern regarding the performance of fine-graded mixtures. A reliable BMD performance test is expected to be sensitive to changes in mixture components, but it also should have a good correlation with the field performance. Because the current rutting performance of fine-graded mixtures in Wisconsin is satisfactory, WisDOT does not want to implement the BMD approach using the HWTT as a rutting performance indicator if the test is going to lead mixture designers to develop coarser gradation mixture designs. It is, therefore, critical for WisDOT to investigate what factors drive HWTT results and understand how BMD specifications could be written to allow for finer mixtures while properly representing their field performance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:14:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671980</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigation of Reflective Cracking in Wisconsin</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671979</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research aims to determine mixture performance and mix design requirements that increase the resistance of asphalt overlays to reflective cracking in Wisconsin. Recommendations must not sacrifice other critical performance or constructability attributes, such as rutting resistance and smoothness. Research efforts should focus on mill and overlay and overlay over existing Portland Cement Concrete design scenarios. Summarize existing mix design and performance requirements for asphalt overlays used by local and State Agencies in regions with similar climatic and aggregate resources as Wisconsin. Identify and recommend process-driven methods and technologies that show promise in reducing reflective cracking in Wisconsin. Using existing Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) mixtures as a benchmark, modify or supplement the existing WisDOT balanced mix design (BMD) special provision focusing on BMD “Approach C” for mixtures designated for asphalt overlays. Researchers will summarize relevant local and State practices concerning asphalt overlays and reflective cracking resistance, focusing on regions with similar climate, traffic, and aggregate resources as Wisconsin. Identify potential process-driven methods and technologies to improve reflective cracking resistance for recommendation as future WisDOT research. Using the existing WisDOT BMD special provision as guidance, researchers will preferentially modify or supplement the provision using BMD “Approach C” to reduce the reflective cracking of asphalt overlays. Develop recommendations and requirements to validate the BMD framework developed in prior tasks. Recommendations should consider a minimum number of projects, mix design designations (such as traffic level), project scope and size, and requirements for mixture sampling and data acquisition, among other variables.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:13:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671979</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Design Requirements for High Traffic Asphalt Mixes to Ensure Pavement Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671978</link>
      <description><![CDATA[High Traffic Asphalt Mixes in Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are routinely using Stone Matrix Asphalt compacted to 100 design gyrations. Concerns have arisen that the mixtures contain low asphalt contents and are difficult to compact in the field. A more equitable balance between mixture stiffness and cracking resistance is desirable to optimize and/or improve the constructability and performance of High Traffic Asphalt Mixtures. The project objective is to modify WisDOT Hot Mix Asphalt design requirements for High Traffic mixtures to improve constructability and performance for high-volume freight corridors over a 20-year design life. The project will involve summarizing existing mix design requirements in regions with similar climates ("Wet- Freeze") and aggregate resources, benchmark existing WisDOT mixture designs using volumetric and performance testing and use a combination of laboratory-reproduced mix designs and construction/in-service performance data to propose modifications to existing mixture designs and procedures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:11:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671978</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating the Impact of Improved Roadway Lighting on Nighttime Driver Behavior and Pedestrian Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625596</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Nighttime crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists remain a significant safety concern, with 76% of pedestrian fatalities occurring in low-light conditions. Insufficient roadway lighting exacerbates visibility challenges, increasing crash risks for vulnerable road users (VRUs). Research indicates that enhancing street lighting can reduce pedestrian injuries by up to 50%; however, many urban corridors remain inadequately lit, leaving pedestrians and cyclists at heightened risk.  While improved roadway lighting is widely recognized as a potential countermeasure to enhance safety, existing studies rely primarily on crash data, which often lack the granularity needed to isolate its direct safety effects. Despite its intuitive benefits, empirical evidence quantifying the real-world safety impacts of lighting improvements remains limited. Understanding how enhanced lighting influences crash rates, driver behavior, and pedestrian perceptions is essential for guiding infrastructure investments and policy decisions.  This study aims to evaluate the safety effects of improved roadway lighting by analyzing changes in nighttime crash rates, driver behavior, and pedestrian perceptions. With support from the City of Milwaukee, corridors within the Pedestrian High-Injury Network (HIN) will be identified as study sites. Using a before-and-after observational study design combined with surveys, this research will examine the relationship between enhanced street lighting and safety outcomes for VRUs.  The research seeks to answer the following questions: How does improved roadway lighting impact VRU nighttime safety? Diminishing returns effect: Does the initial reduction in nighttime crashes decline over time as behavioral adaptation and other risk factors emerge? Spillover effect: Do safety benefits extend beyond the treated area, or does the intervention inadvertently shift risk to other locations or behaviors? What behavioral changes occur among drivers and VRUs in response to improved lighting? How do road users perceive the effectiveness of increased roadway lighting in terms of safety and comfort? By addressing these questions, this study will generate data-driven insights into the role of roadway lighting in improving nighttime safety. Findings will inform policy and infrastructure decisions while supporting Milwaukee and other cities in their efforts to create safer, more accessible urban environments for VRUs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:39:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625596</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Vehicle Telematics and Infrastructure-based Connected Vehicle Data for Real-Time Safety and Mobility Application
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625309</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The emergence of connected vehicle (CV) data has provided unprecedented opportunities for developing real-time, proactive applications to enhance safety and mobility. This project utilizes and compares telematics and infrastructure-based CV data to determine optimal applications for each and explore integration strategies for safety and mobility solutions. Specifically, telematics CV data provide the location, speed, and other key information on approximately 5-10% of vehicles on the road. In contrast, infrastructure-based CV data from the connected corridor in the City of Madison contain information about traffic signals, vehicles, and road geometry. By comparing and integrating these data sources, this project proposes physics models and neural network algorithms to detect real-time safety issues such as crashes. The detection results can be used to issue immediate warnings to drivers, traffic managers, and automated vehicle systems. To disseminate these warnings, the research team proposes utilizing roadside variable message signs and in-app notifications via platforms like HAAS, Google Maps, and Waze. The proposed applications can be piloted through field tests in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Level 3 CAV testbed and possibly later at Mcity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:31:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2625309</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Non-Proprietary Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Prestressed Bridge Girders</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427399</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge girders made of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) allow for members with shallower depths to achieve longer spans as well as reduced substructure and grading costs while still achieving required under-bridge clearances. Additionally, bridge service lives are extended due to the reduced permeability and increased tensile strength of UHPC. This project focuses on identifying and eliminating barriers to the development and implementation of precast, prestressed concrete bridge girders in Minnesota and Wisconsin using non-proprietary UHPC made of local material resources.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:15:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427399</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (PLTS) Application and Validation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2401757</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many of the existing methods to evaluate pedestrian and bicyclist suitability require a large number of inputs, some of which are not available in typical roadway inventory data (e.g., pavement condition, on-street parking coverage, heavy vehicle proportion), making them impractical for most agencies to apply. Some of these methods also require statistical modeling expertise or specialized software to run, further putting them out of reach for many agencies. Occasionally, their outputs do not make intuitive sense. The Year 1 
Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS) project created a well-researched, standardized version of a table-based, Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (PLTS) tool. It incorporates many of the most important and easy-to-collect roadway factors associated with pedestrian suitability from a) existing pedestrian suitability methods and b) the pedestrian safety literature. This Year 2 project will build on the previous effort to apply the method in at least two case study communities (including the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and validate the PLTS categories in a sample of locations against real pedestrian stress ratings from public surveys and police-reported pedestrian crash data. The goal is to establish a validated, practical PLTS method that agencies across the country can use to estimate suitability and stress for pedestrians in various contexts, ultimately leading to safer and more enjoyable walking and rolling conditions.  

As done for the BLTS in 2012, the research team will produce a final technical report that includes a description of the PLTS method. This report will include PLTS tables and example PLTS maps from communities where the method has been tested. The final report will discuss how well the PLTS method works for practitioners and matches with public perceptions of pedestrian stress and pedestrian crash locations.  As done for the BLTS in 2012, the research team will produce a final technical report that includes a description of the PLTS method. This report will include PLTS tables and example PLTS maps from communities where the method has been tested. The final report will discuss how well the PLTS method works for practitioners and matches with public perceptions of pedestrian stress and pedestrian crash locations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2024 14:54:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2401757</guid>
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