TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 541 explores how state departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) acquire proprietary data for transportation applications. Recent technological advancements have led to new types of transportation data with characteristics that include improved quality and greater temporal and wider geographical coverage than traditional data sets. State DOTs and MPOs face challenges associated with obtaining n...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 4: Intercity Passenger Rail in the Context of Dynamic Travel Markets explains the analytical framework and models developed to improve understanding of how current or potential intercity travelers make the choice to travel by rail. NCRRP Web-Only Document 2 : Bibliography and Technical Appendices to Intercity Passenger Rail in the Context of Dynamic Travel Markets outlines materials used to develop NCRRP Report 4. The Integrated Choice/Laten...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 6: Guidebook for Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development presents the resources, strategies, analytical tools, and techniques to support all phases of planning and decision making in the development of intercity passenger rail service at state, regional, or multistate levels. Components of this guide address three major phases required to build and operate passenger rail: planning, design and construction, and operations. The guide ...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 5: Developing Multi-State Institutions to Implement Intercity Passenger Rail Programs presents models of multi-state institutional arrangements for planning, developing, and operating intercity passenger rail networks and services. These models are designed to function in the context of rail passenger service currently provided by Amtrak and in response to the primary goal of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) ...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 3: Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes provides tools that can be used to compare energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of intercity and commuter passenger rail with those of competing travel modes along a designated travel corridor. The report summarizes the research used to develop the model and presents a set of case study applications. A technical document and user guide for the Multi-Moda...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 2: A Guide to Building and Retaining Workforce Capacity for the Railroad Industry presents competency models that describe workforce requirements for the passenger and freight railroad industry. The models are based on assessments of past trends, current forecasts, and a detailed gap analysis of employee supply and demand. The report also presents a strategy for improving employee retention and enhancing educational programs designed to attr...

TRB’s National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Report 1: Alternative Funding and Financing Mechanisms for Passenger and Freight Rail Projects identifies alternative funding and financing tools that can be used to realize passenger and freight rail project development, including capital investments, operations, and maintenance. The report summary is available online.