What's New in Materials

A taconite/mining by-product-based repair compound was developed in Optimized Taconite-Based Pavement Repair Compound and Deployment System , a report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The goal of this report is to identify pavement failures under various seasonal weather conditions.

The handling procedures for testing modified binders are outlined in Protocol for Handling Modified Binders in Preparation for Laboratory Testing , a report from Austroads. Modified binders are heat-sensitive, and improper heating may produce inaccurate test results.

Slip coefficient testing of bolted connections are conducted in Slip Coefficient Testing of ASTM A709 Grade 50CR Steel and Dissimilar Metal Slip-Critical Bolted Connections , a report from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The goal of this report is to determine how a specific steel bolt fits into the current bridge design specifications.

The Standing Committee on Resource Conservation and Recovery continues today much as it has in the past, by evaluating trending topics that relate to our expanding scope such as managing risk associated with contaminated materials, utilizing recycled materials, looking for ways to be sustainable and resilient, and maximizing the resources we have such as finding alternative uses for our right o...

What is a significant contribution you think that TRB has made to transportation and why? Please submit your responses in to this month's question by February 29, 2020. TRB welcomes all stories: small or large, profound or light-hearted, sobering or humorous. The TRB “Tell Us ‘Our’ Story" centennial activity is designed to allow as many of you (TRB’s volunteers and friends) as possible to part...

Because of their unique features, current practices for estimating urban and low-speed pavement roughness could lead to inappropriate or misleading data. Make your measurements more accurate. TRB is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 17, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern that will describe methods for measuring, characterizing, and reporting roughness on urban and low-speed roads. The presenter wil...

If you work in the transportation industry, you probably have a plan for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). After all, part of the service you provide depends on the ability to keep people safe and healthy regardless of their travel plans. A growing list of airlines and governments have banned flights from China. Fortunately airports, airlines, first responders, and local health officials a...

By 1997, Catherine Ross gained much of her extensive experience in the transportation field through more than 15 years of research for the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and other agencies. Former co-director of the Transportation Research and Education Center at the Georgia Institut...

“Not uncontroversial” is how the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) 1994 Annual Report described the consensus study Curbing Gridlock: Peak-Period Fees to Relieve Traffic Congestion (TRB Special Report 242). The Committee for Study on Urban Transportation Congestion Pricing had dared to suggest that the federal government should encourage tolls on the country’s congested streets and highw...

The Standing Technical Committee on Environmental Analysis in Transportation has a rich history of sharing information across boundaries to forward the practice of planning, building, and maintaining environmentally thoughtful transportation solutions. To learn more about the history of the Standing Technical Committee on Environmental Analysis in Transportation (ADC10), check out the Committee...

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://...

HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROFILES-Gloria J. Jeff This is a reprint of an article that appeared in the Profiles section of the May/June 1993 issue of the TR News. As part of TRB’s year-long centennial celebration and in commemoration of Black History Month, TRB is reprinting select profiles of African Americans that appeared in past issues of the TR News. TR New Profiles recognize volunteers for their ...

The leadership and volunteer contributions of Dr. Mary R. Brooks, Dr. Jon A. Epps, Timothy A. Henkel, Dr. Daniel Turner, Dr. Patricia L. Mokhtarian, Keith Killough, James Winebrake, Hyun-A Park, Michael F. Trentacoste, and Bruce M. Smith are recognized by TRB and the National Academies. Every year, over 7,000 dedicated individuals serve without compensation on study and oversight committees or ...

Developments in federal highway policies, programs, and research and technology are examined in the latest edition of Public Roads, a magazine from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. This edition features information about: Maintenance after natural disasters Mainstreaming transportation systems management and operations Electricity production and concrete

As you determine your career path, are you looking for something that is on the cutting edge of technology? Or are you more interested in creating solutions for those in need? Are you ready to take the next step to save the planet? The transportation industry needs people who are passionate about making a difference and changing society. Have you seen TRB’s new video, Your future in transportat...

Although the bicycle inspired the Good Roads Movement in the late 19th century, bicycling received little more than an occasional aside during the Highway Research Board’s first 50 years. Then came another bicycle boom. By 1973, the sale of bicycles for adults had more than tripled in a decade, spurred on by new lightweight, multispeed bicycles; the environmental movement; the oil crisis; and i...

University Research Should Be Stimulus To Future Engineers, Says Delon Hampton This is a reprint of an article that appeared in the Highway Research Profiles section of the Winter 1972 issue of the Highway Research News (HR News), the predecessor to today’s Transportation Research News (TR News). It is being reprinted as part of the TRB Centennial Celebration. During Black History Month, TRB w...

The TRB Centennial Book is available for purchase in ebook or print format. In The Transportation Research Board, 1920–2020: Everyone Interested Is Invited , author Sarah Jo Peterson tells the story of how people and institutions created and have continued to shape TRB. In a compelling narrative accompanied by more than 150 images exploring the history of transportation and research, she argues...

According to Magnus Quarshi, CEO, Delin Consult Limited, Ghana "I have been attending TRB since 2013. The technical sessions have contributed immensely to my knowledge and skills with which I have consequently contributed to the quality of life and safety in my country, Ghana.I have been attending TRB since 2013. The technical sessions have contributed immensely to my knowledge and skills with...

A collection of test methods and specifications is outlined in Austroads Test Methods and Specifications , a report from Austroads. This compendium includes test methods for aggregates, binders, bituminous mixes, and other materials and specifications. The report is available for no fee after logging onto the site.

TRB is cosponsoring the first-of-its-kind International Conference on Resource Sustainability from October 9-11, 2020 at the Indian Institute of Technology in Tirupati, India. The focus of this year's conference is "Conservation of Resources and Emphasis on Recyclability: Sustainable Pavement Technologies" highlighting innovations in modified pavement materials and technologies; climate impacts...

A primary goal of the Standing Technical Committee on Aviation Economics and Forecasting, that continues to this day, is to help inform the FAA’s annual forecast of aviation activity. The findings of the FAA forecast are especially important for predicting the financial needs of the air traffic control system (ATC) and feed directly into the annual federal budget process. The FAA forecast in tu...

The January 12 - 16, 2020 TRB Annual Meeting generated headlines, podcasts, and video from the various press on hand to cover more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 sessions and workshops. Catch up on your reading, watching, and listening!     Video   C SPAN 2020 Transportation Policy Agenda   Automation Technology and Transportation      DC Department of...

Presentations from the 2020 Annual Meeting are now available on the interactive program . To see presentations, log into the program, then search for the session you are interested in.  If approved for posting by the speaker, the presentations are listed under the scheduled presentations towards the bottom of the page. Click the ‘View Presentation’ button to view. (If there is no pres...

We hope you had a wonderful experience at the 2020 TRB Annual Meeting. Thank you for joining us. The meeting may be over, but this is a great time to jump start your interactions with TRB. Subscribe & follow: Weekly newsletter TR News print subscription TRR Journal Social media Be a friend: Receive email updates and volunteer opportunities. Log into MyTRB , update your Profile and navigate ...

Your Future in Transportation, a new video produced especially for the TRB Centennial Celebration, is now available. You can view it on the Centennial website's homepage or watch it here. Critical to TRB’s and the transportation community’s future is a diverse workforce that can creatively deal with the innovations that will define transportation in the future. This video highlights the excitem...

Autonomous vehicles (AV) took center stage at the Chair’s Luncheon of the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting this week. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced “AV 4.0,” a new DOT-White House initiative created to unify AV efforts across 38 federal government entities, focusing chiefly on the potential of increased safety with less human error. One part ...

The effect of emulsion reduction during the cold in-place recycling (CIR) process is evaluated in Evaluating Effective Asphalt Content in CIR Mixtures , a report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The goal of this report is to identify long-term performance properties of CIR material during hot conditions.

TRB gathered a group photo at the Annual Meeting to celebrate attendees and a record year of attendance at 13,900+. The result was a magnificent display of many of the world's best and brightest thinkers in the world of transportation, also showing what a multimodal group the annual meeting brings together of people from all over the world. For the full-size photo that allows you to scroll clos...

TRB released a new video, Your future in transportation , at the TRB Annual Meeting. As the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine turns 100 on November 11, 2020, we are focused on the role of research and taking the lessons learned into the future of transportation. Along with the video, we released a companion book, The Transportation...