The intercity bus industry experienced unprecedented growth before the COVID-19 pandemic and seemed poised for further expansion. The industry embraced technology to provide dynamic scheduling and pricing, booking and boarding were simplified through customer-friendly applications and electronic ticketing, and customers were enticed by free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. " Intercity Buses: Planning for a Post-Pandemic Paradigm," by  Matthew W. Daus, details that while a full recovery has not yet o...

AI technologies have fueled advances in autonomous driving and intelligent transportation systems, for example, enabling the public in Phoenix, San Francisco, and other cities to hail a self-driving taxi from their smartphone apps. Transportation professionals also are tapping computer-vision technologies to manage transportation assets, collect traffic data, and dynamically adjust traffic signals. Despite such promising developments, many who work in transportation continue to see AI as a theoretical co...

When gauging how roads, rails, or runways affect the societies they run through, the numbers often paint an incomplete picture. To illuminate the impact of transportation on tribal communities, the TRB Standing Committee on Native American Transportation Issues took an imaginative leap last year and announced a Call for Artwork. The competition reflected the committee’s focus on highlighting and supporting transportation research that benefits people within tribal communities while balancing preservation...

"This year, TRB and members of the International Coordinating Council are supporting an initiative I am leading to establish the African Transportation Research Alliance, referred to by some as 'TRB in Africa,'" says Margaret-Avis Akofio-Sowah, a global organizational change management lead for WSP and a TRB volunteer who is featured as the Transportation Influencer in the January-March 2024 edition (Issue 348) of TR News , TRB's quarterly magazine. TR News features timely articles on innovative and...

In 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation (DOT) was faced with a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) bridge abutment failing catastrophically, closing U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder. The geotechnical design subconsultants suggested the use of geofoam blocks to fast-track the project and get the embankment reconstructed prior to winter. "Geofoam: Colorado’s Innovative Answer to an Emergency Highway Repair," by Stephen Harelson, details how TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program r...

The TRB IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Program's  IDEA Program Announcement 2023  describes the IDEA programs and how they are administered, provides instructions and documents for submitting proposals for funding, and lists general research topics derived from program goals.

Rural aviation in Alaska is critical for providing access to essential services and supporting the state’s mostly rural way of life. However, current airport infrastructure faces significant operational and maintenance challenges. "Wheels Up! Alaska’s Rural Air Service," by Rebecca Douglas and Dylan Blankenship, details how the state’s geographical environment calls for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to be not only resilient but also creative in its problem solving. The a...

In the transportation industry, individuals with disabilities should comprise part of a diverse workforce and can be included in recruitment and retention initiatives. "Opening Doors: Including People with Disabilities in the Transit Workforce," by Judy Shanley, Shayna Gleason, and Patricia Greenfield, offers an overview of strategies and is one of the feature articles in the July-August 2023 edition (Issue 346) of TR News , TRB's magazine. TR News  is TRB's bimonthly magazine featuring timely artic...

Most people are willing to assist others when there are visual cues of a disability, such as a wheelchair or guide dog. However, many individuals have disabilities that are not visible and can pose signifi cant transportation accessibility challenges for them. "Invisible Disabilities: Seeing the Unseen," by Steven Jones, Roger Mackett, and Julia Castillo, is one of the feature articles in the July-August 2023 edition (Issue 346) of  TR News , TRB's magazine. TR News  is TRB's bimonthly magazine...

Over the past five years, researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute developed and implemented a simple and practical indirect tension asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT) for use during asphalt balanced mix design and quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) testing. "Indirect Tension Asphalt Cracking Test: Ensuring Asphalt Mix Designs for Durable Pavements," by Fujie Zhou and Kelly West, is one of the feature articles in the May-June 2023 edition (Issue 345) of  TR News , TRB's magazin...