|
Addressing Climate Resilience and Greenhouse Gases in the Transportation Planning Process
4/30/2024 6:00:00 PM
Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) are undergoing organizational changes to address climate change. Changes range from hiring additional staff to creating new offices within the organizational structure of the agency. State requirements in the form of legislation, executive orders, and climate action plans are primary drivers for state DOT involvement with climate change. NCHRP Synthesis 624: Addressing Climate Resilience and Greenhouse Gases in the Transportation Planning Process , from TRB...
Programmatic Implementation of Alternative Contracting Methods
4/17/2024 6:00:30 PM
Alternative contracting methods (ACMs), including design-build, construction manager/general contractor, and public-private partnerships have added a wide range of options for state departments of transportation (DOTs) to consider when delivering projects. NCHRP Synthesis 625: Programmatic Implementation of Alternative Contracting Methods , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents state DOT practices of programmatic approaches to ACMs.
Practices for Statewide and MPO Coordination
4/17/2024 6:00:29 PM
State departments of transportation (DOTs) are required by federal law to coordinate transportation planning and programming processes with metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the state. However, state DOTs and MPOs have varying coordination practices depending on their specific contexts. NCHRP Synthesis 626: Practices for Statewide and MPO Coordination , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents current DOT strategies and practices to facilitate coordination between s...
Wintertime Pavement Maintenance Practices
4/4/2024 7:00:30 PM
State transportation agencies have many tools available with which to maintain pavements proactively. These include tools such as pavement management systems to track roadway conditions and life cycle cost analysis tools. NCHRP Synthesis 623: Wintertime Pavement Maintenance Practices , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents the current state DOT practices for the reactive pavement maintenance performed during the winter months when flexible and rigid pavements must be repaire...
Truck Emergency Escape Ramp Design and Operation
4/4/2024 6:00:06 PM
Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) build and operate escape ramps to allow heavy trucks that cannot maintain safe speeds on steep downgrades to safely exit the highway instead of losing control and crashing. Some escape ramps use upward-sloping beds of loose aggregate to slow the vehicles, while others employ passive or active mechanical devices such as cables to slow the vehicles. Some agencies use intelligent transportation technologies to detect trucks that are driving at excessive speeds...
Quality Processes for Bridge Analysis Models
4/3/2024 2:00:18 PM
The design of bridges often involves the use of structural analysis models of varying degrees of complexity. A variety of analysis methods and software can be used to create and analyze these models, and the process can be quite complex, with significant amounts of input and output data. Quality assurance and quality control are two essential processes. NCHRP Synthesis 620: Quality Processes for Bridge Analysis Models , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents state department ...
DOT Practices on Road Safety Audits
3/8/2024 8:00:47 PM
One tool utilized by some departments of transportation (DOTs) to improve safety performance is conducting road safety audits (RSAs), also known as “road safety assessments.” An RSA is a formal evaluation of the safety performance of an existing or future highway segment or intersection performed by an independent, multidisciplinary team. NCHRP Synthesis 615: DOT Practices on Road Safety Audits , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, seeks to address the need for more knowledge regard...
Advancing Gender Equity in the DOT Workforce
3/8/2024 8:00:14 PM
Women comprise only 15 percent of the transportation workforce, and this statistic declines in executive and leadership positions and does not reflect those who may not identify as men or women. For women of color, the numbers are even more disparate. NCHRP Synthesis 618: Advancing Gender Equity in the DOT Workforce , from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents current state departments of transportation (DOT) practices related to advancing gender equity in DOT workforces.
Prevention and Mitigation of Surficial Slope Failures on Fill Highway Embankment Slopes
3/7/2024 8:00:49 PM
Surficial slope failures in highway fill embankments are shallow landslides that occur within the embankment fill, usually affecting only a portion of the slope’s height. These failures tend to occur after a vulnerable embankment slope is subjected to a triggering event. An embankment’s failure susceptibility generally depends on factors such as slope steepness, material composition, and ability to withstand adverse drainage conditions. Examples of trigger mechanisms include intense rainfall, snowmelt, s...
|
|