What's New in Energy

In 1863 the National Academy of Sciences, TRB's parent organization, took on two studies on ironclad ships.  The Academies' presence in the marine industry remains strong to this day as detailed in part by TRB's Marine Group Centennial Paper - Advancing Knowledge of the Marine Transportation System.  As part of TRB's Centennial Celebration, the Technical Activities Council invited all...

The regulatory processes to update heavy-duty vehicle emission standards are outlined in Future Heavy-Duty Emission Standards , a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. The goal of this report is to ensure the regulatory processes for heavy-duty vehicle emission standards in the European Union and the United States are coordinated.

Metropolitan area-level data on electric vehicle registrations are assessed in Electric Vehicle Capitals: Showing the Path to a Mainstream Market , a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. This report analyzes the incentives, charging infrastructure, and city promotion actions in areas that have pushed electric vehicles into the mainstream.

Act now to secure your exhibit space at the 2020 TRB Annual Meeting, January 12-16, 2020, in Washington, D.C. All indications are that attendance at the meeting will be the largest ever. Don't miss this opportunity to demonstrate your organization's support for transportation research and innovation, and to showcase your products and services to more than 13,000 transportation professionals. So...

TRB turns 100 on November 11, 2020. You are invited to join your colleagues listed below who have contributed to the TRB Century Club to support activities that will mark the anniversary; promote the value of transportation research; and celebrate the achievements of TRB’s volunteers, sponsors, affiliates, and staff. Details on the Century Club and a link to contribute is available at https://...

Be a part of TRB history! All 2020 Annual Meeting attendees are invited to participate in a group photo to celebrate TRB’s centennial. Come to Ballroom C in the convention center on Sunday, at 1:00 p.m., and the photo will be taken promptly at 1:15 p.m. Space in the ballroom is limited to about 2,000 and attendees will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Register and make hotel res...

TRB officially turns 100 on November 11, 2020. To help celebrate the centennial TRB is asking you to “Tell Us ‘Our’ Story.” The TRB “Tell Us ‘Our’ Story" centennial activity is designed to allow as many of you (TRB’s volunteers and friends) as possible to participate in the TRB Centennial Celebration through the submission of your stories, which are our stories. The “Tell Us ‘Our” Story” cente...

Before the mid-1970s, publicly-supported transportation services open to the general public were rarely available in rural communities. In TRB's Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation Committee's Centennial Paper, learn how over the last five decades, TRB’s Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation Committee and its members have helped document, research, and share through regular co...

The TRB “Tell Us ‘Our’ Story centennial activity is designed to allow as many of you (TRB’s volunteers and friends) as possible to participate in the TRB Centennial Celebration through the submission of your stories. The “Tell Us ‘Our” Story” Centennial activity consists of a series of monthly questions that will help capture your stories. According to Vesa Mannisto, Senior Advisor, Finnish Tr...

A metric that quantifies mobility energy productivity is described in Measuring Mobility Potential , a research brief from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the U.S. Department of Energy. This metric tracks changes in mobility within a single city, location, or place over time. It aims to assess the impact of emerging mobility choices.

The impact of life-cycle emissions on greenhouse gases (GHG) is evaluated in Life Cycle-Based Policies Are Required to Achieve Emissions Goals from Light-Duty Vehicles , a report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation at the University of California at Davis. GHG emissions come from vehicle production as well as vehicle operations, and this report identifies potential gaps in p...

Renewable natural gas (RNG) production in California is evaluated in Renewable Natural Gas Research Center Project , a report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation at the University of California at Davis. RNG may help California meet greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy targets. The report is available for no fee after logging onto the site.

Looking for some suggestions for navigating the nearly 800 sessions at the TRB Annual Meeting? Here is our “curated” sampling of available sessions . They are not meant to imply that the sessions listed are more worthwhile than others, but we hope these curated programs help you build your personal schedule - whether you're interested in autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, equity, governance,...

After winning the U.S. award, a TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program project is taking home the 2019 International Research Award for NCHRP Research Report 905: Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Involvement in Transportation Planning and Project Development  in the 2019 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Values Awards. The awards were announced ...

Although joining TRB only in 1999, today’s Marine Board has its roots in the late 1940s, and it builds on a legacy of maritime research that dates back to 1863 and the founding of the National Academy of Sciences. As part of the Centennial Celebration, TRB has initiated the History Highlights series that will regularly release stories that highlight the events and people that helped shape TRB d...

Register and make hotel reservations today for the TRB 99th Annual Meeting, January 12-16, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Registration is required for all Annual Meeting attendees, including session speakers, poster presenters, and those who attend the exhibit hall, career fair, or any workshops. Discounted registration fees end November 30, 2019. As part of TRB's Centennial Celebration, all full r...

It doesn’t take a long drive to realize how badly the interstate highway system has aged. Norman Augustine spearheaded a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study on how the federal government can deal with old and, in some cases, obsolete roads. The former Lockheed Martin chairman and CEO joined the Federal Drive radio show with host Tom Temin for highlights of the findings.

How does our profession engage the affected community in the decision-making process for their transportation system in a comprehensive, equitable, and accessible manner and provide meaningful input that informs transportation decision-making? Read about past, present, and future efforts by the Technical Committee on Public Involvement in Transportation Decision Making to address this question ...

Environmental regulations have long required airports to undertake review of many actions associated with planning and development. More recently, airports have embraced sustainability as a means for ensuring the long-term viability and community benefits of their facilities. The TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's ACRP Research Report 209: Integrating Sustainability Planning and the Env...

For some 70 years, the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) has presented tools for quickly evaluating and comparing the operational effects of alternative design scenarios, allowing analysists to screen a variety of approaches, and select a reasonable number before considering more costly measures. Learn about the history of the HCM--TRB's "Best Seller." As part of the Centennial Celebration, TRB has...

The costs, benefits, and associated government funding with the transition to zero-emission vehicles are analyzed in Funding the Transition to All Zero-Emission Vehicles , a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. This report seeks to answer key questions for governments: What types of support are needed for incentives, infrastructure, and other programs; how long will th...

As the Transportation Research Board (TRB) reaches its centennial and the Standing Committee on the Conduct of Research (COR) reaches its 51st year in the third decade of the 21st century, the committee is are provided with an opportunity to reflect on the history, the current state, and the future of transportation research and the role of COR. Learn more about the history and accomplishments ...

As demand for air travel grows, airport-related emissions are increasing and airports are challenged to reduce associated environmental impacts. In response, expanded regulatory programs and global climate protection initiatives are being developed that require the aviation industry—including U.S. airports—to implement new, clean technologies and to modify operational practices to reduce emissi...

The Interactive Program for the 99th TRB Annual Meeting, January 12-16, 2020, in Washington, D.C. is now available. This helpful online tool enables you to navigate through some 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 transportation-related sessions at the meeting. The Interactive Program contains the full schedule of sessions, workshops, and committee meetings. It includes titles, dates, times, pres...

The real-world fuel and electric energy consumption of light-duty vehicles is analyzed in One Goal, Multiple Pathways: A Review of Approaches for Transferring On-Board Fuel Consumption Meter Data to the European Commission , a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. The goal of this report is to determine the gap between real-world and type-approval carbon dioxide emissions.

The TRB “Tell Us ‘Our’ Story centennial activity is designed to allow as many of you (TRB’s volunteers and friends) as possible to participate in the TRB Centennial Celebration through the submission of your stories. The “Tell Us ‘Our” Story” Centennial activity consists of a series of monthly questions that will help capture your stories. According to Francine Shaw-Whitson, Senior Advisor...

December 8, 1921 -- Be it resolved that the American Association of State Highway Officials welcomes the establishment by the National Research Council of the Advisory Board on Highway Research, and that the Association pledges its support to the Advisory Board in this much-needed effort to stimulate and coordinate highway research.  Learn about the fruits of a partnership that started alm...

TRB turns 100 on November 11, 2020.  As part of TRB's Centennial Celebration, all full registrants attending the 2020 Annual Meeting will be eligible to pick up a complimentary copy of the book, The Transportation Research Board, 1920–2020: Everyone Interested Is Invited by Sarah Jo Peterson, which chronicles the important events, people, and successes that helped make TRB what it is today...

Airport personnel were invited to a TRB webinar on Thursday, November 7, 2019, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET. The webinar features research from the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Research Report 197 : Guidebook for Developing a Comprehensive Renewable Resources Strategy. This webinar discussed several renewable energy resources, offered guidance on strategic plan development, and out...

The challenges of new European CO2 standards cause for a certification procedure are identified in The Future of Vecto: CO2 Certification of Advanced Heavy-Duty Vehicles in the European Union , a report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. To meet the future regulatory requirements in Europe, the CO2 certification framework may cover vehicles and advanced technologies that ar...