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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 and Assessment of Needs for Sign Maintenance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593930</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District offices need to verify in-house sign/signal installation and maintenance crews are prepared to implement criteria set forth in the new Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This requires a thorough assessment of each District’s sign and signal crews to identify needs. This evaluation must review crew staffing levels, equipment and material needs, and training schedules. Based on findings of this assessment, KYTC’s sign installation handbook can be updated with best practices for assembling and managing effective sign and signal crews as well as for conducting effective and safe sign maintenance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:30 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Advancing Cyber Resilience of Transportation System Management and Operation Programs </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558388</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation systems and technology across the United States are becoming increasingly interconnected, spanning local, state, and national borders. This integration supports safe and efficient transportation networks but introduces cybersecurity challenges. Many transportation system management and operation (TSMO) strategies rely on real-time data sharing, integrated traffic management centers (TMC), and interoperable technologies, all of which create new threat vectors for cyber incidents. The potential for severe injuries and fatalities, data loss, service disruptions, and other failures necessitate a more resilient approach to cybersecurity, shifting the focus from merely preventing attacks to ensuring the ability to recover and maintain essential functions during an incident. Research is needed to develop coordinated, cross-jurisdictional frameworks and methodologies to assess, manage, and enhance cyber resilience within integrated transportation systems. 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide for incorporating cyber resiliency into state and local TSMO programs. At a minimum, the guide will address: 
(1) Build the foundation for future TSMO projects involving system integrations; (2) Evaluate and enhance cyber resilience in TSMO programs; (3) Identify cross-jurisdictional TSMO program stakeholders; (4) Improve intra-agency and interagency coordination;
(5) Reduce impacts in the event of cyber incidents; (6) Establish clear responsibilities and recovery processes; and (7) Support risk management through strategic planning. 

Accomplishment of the objective will require at least the following tasks.
TASKS: Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and subaward time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective.

PHASE I: (Task 1) Perform a literature review on relevant resources, frameworks, generally accepted industry standards and practices, and reports published by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NCHRP, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocol (NTCIP), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), etc. Conduct a national cross-jurisdictional scan (surveys and interviews with the majority of state DOTs and at least one representative municipality from each covered state with TSMO system integration needs) to cover the following topics: (1) Multimodal cybersecurity risks for TSMO projects and programs, including those related to data sharing, interoperability, connected infrastructure, cyber-physical systems (CPS) and multimodal operations. This assessment shall include the potential for failures and data loss across jurisdictional boundaries and transportation modes; (2) Reference materials to integrate cyber resilience and cyber security checkpoints into the systems engineering analysis process and support security by design for pre-procurement, procurement, deployment, implementation, system integration, maintenance and operation, intra-agency and interagency collaboration, and workforce development; (3) Possible threat vectors and mechanisms that would impact TSMO system availability; (4) Methods to map the flow of data, whether it is from a roadside device, such as an automatic traffic recorder, dynamic message sign, or traffic signal controller box, referencing the intelligent transportation system (ITS) system architecture, to detect anomalies in the data, and to devote immediate attention. (5) Near-term risks evolved by emerging technologies, including but not limited to vehicle-to-everything (V2X), digital twins, and artificial intelligence (AI); (6) Tools and noteworthy practices for coordinating cyber resiliency efforts and modes that focus on incident response incorporating identify, protect, detect, respond and recover; (7) Example narratives about how cyber resiliency/security must be embedded into the culture of infrastructure owner operators (IOOs) and across partner agencies; (8) Methods to incorporate ITS cybersecurity training into workforce development for TSMO staff and embedded information technology (IT) supporting staff; and (9) Defined roles and responsibilities for ITS network communications development and support between TSMO staff and IT supporting staff. Conduct gap analysis to identify synergy and conflicts of these topics, and areas for improvement.

(Task 2) Prepare an annotated outline that will serve as the basis for guide development in Task 4. This annotated outline is intended to provide the context for the subject matter in the guide, which will include key technical topics and associated issues, major concepts, current trends, state of the practice, illustrative case studies, and recommendations. The annotated outline shall clearly describe: (a) intended structure of the guide; (b) key topics and supporting issues to be presented in each chapter, using the topics in Task 1 as starting point; and (c) any other items to be included in the guide (e.g., appendix, figures, tables). (Task 3) Prepare Interim Report No. 1 documenting the findings of Tasks 1 and 2 and provide an updated work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 8 months after the subaward is awarded. The updated work plan must describe the methodology and rationale for the work proposed for Phase II. Note: Following a 1-month review of Interim Report No. 1 by the NCHRP panel, the research team will be required to meet with the NCHRP project panel via a virtual meeting to discuss the interim report. Work on Phase II of the project will not begin until authorized by the NCHRP. 

PHASE II: (Task 4) Execute the work plan according to the approved Interim Report No. 1. (Task 5) Prepare Interim Report No. 2 that includes a draft guide based on the final annotated outline and an updated work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 6 months before the subaward end date. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase III. Note: Following a 1-month review of Interim Report No. 2 by the NCHRP, the research team will be required to meet in person in Washington, DC with the NCHRP project panel to discuss the interim report. Work on Phase III of the project will not begin until authorized by the NCHRP. 

PHASE III: (Task 6) Present the research findings to appropriate technical committees of AASHTO for comments and any proposed revisions. Note: The research team should anticipate making two virtual presentations during the period of performance to appropriate technical committees at AASHTO meetings. Revise the draft guide after consideration of review comments. (Task 7) Prepare the final deliverables, including: (1) Guide. (2) Conduct of research report that documents the entire research effort. (3) Two-pager flyer of outreach materials to increase practitioner awareness and understanding of the guide. (4) Presentation with speaker notes summarizing the research results. The presentation shall specify the research purpose, objective, issues addressed, research product developed, and benefits identified in the guide. (5) Stand-alone technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products.” 

Note: Following receipt of the draft final deliverables, the remaining 3 months shall be for NCHRP review and comment and for research agency preparation of the final deliverables. 
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      <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 13:35:43 GMT</pubDate>
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