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Passenger Transportation Research at TRB

The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. This page highlights recently released TRB reports, meeting announcements, requests for proposals, and other announcements related to passenger transportation research activities. In addition, it includes links to selected research activities taking place at the federal and state levels, and within the academic and international transportation communities. Finally, this page also highlights and provides links to TRB programs and activities, which are the source of most of TRB’s passenger transportation-related products.

What's New

TRB Passenger Transportation-Related Programs and Activities

2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers
May 18, 2012
TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...
FMCSA 2012-2016 Strategic PlanFMCSA 2012-2016 Strategic Plan
May 11, 2012
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released its strategic plan for the next five years. The plan is designed to establish a framework that places safety as the highest priority and employs three core principles--raising the bar to entry, maintaining high safety standards, and removing high-risk carriers and drivers.
Transportation Services Index: March 2012
May 11, 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.4 percent in March, the latest month available, to 111.3. The TSI March 2012 level of 111.3 was 1.1 percent higher than the March 2011 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighte...
Use of Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Vehicles by Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems
April 25, 2012
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University has released a report that explores the results of a survey conducted of small urban and rural transit agencies regarding their use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles.
Algorithms for Routing Vehicles and Their Application to the Paratransit Vehicle Scheduling Problem
April 23, 2012
The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University has released a report that examines the application of algorithms to route and schedule paratransit vehicles as a means to potentially meet the demand of passengers, ensure quality of service, and control operating costs.
Review of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Implementation of Recommendations to Improve Passenger Carrier OversightReview of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Implementation of Recommendations to Improve Passenger Carrier Oversight
April 23, 2012
The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General has released a report that examines the extent to which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board for improving passenger carrier oversight.
Traffic Volume Trends: February 2012Traffic Volume Trends: February 2012
April 21, 2012
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released the latest issue of Traffic Volume Trends, which is a monthly report based on hourly traffic count data reported by the states. According to the report, travel on all roads and streets changed by 1.8 percent (3.9 billion vehicle miles) in February 2012 as compared with February 2011. Travel for the month is estimated to be 216.1 billion vehic...
A National Authority on RoundaboutsA National Authority on Roundabouts
April 17, 2012
Roundabouts have seen unprecedented growth across the United States, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 2,000 and counting. National guidance had to keep pace with the needs of states and communities planning and implementing roundabouts, and NCHRP took a lead role.
Review of Potential Impacts and Cost Estimates for the Cancelled Hudson River Tunnel ProjectReview of Potential Impacts and Cost Estimates for the Cancelled Hudson River Tunnel Project
April 16, 2012
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores the mobility, economic, and environmental benefits of the cancelled Hudson River Tunnel Project; the project cost estimates over time; and how documents prepared as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts process addressed potential cost growth for the project.
Transportation Services Index: February 2012
April 12, 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.3 percent in February, the latest month available, to 111.8. The TSI February 2012 level of 111.8 was 3.3 percent higher than the February 2011 level. The index, which is seasonally adjusted, combines available data on freight traffic, as well as passenger travel, that have been weighted to yield a mon...

Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
TCRP is an applied, contract research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems facing transit agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) report series, Synthesis of Transit Practice.
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) report series, Synthesis of Airport Practice.
Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program
TRB's Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) report series, Synthesis of Commerical Truck and Bus Safety Practice.
Cooperative Research Programs
TRB's Cooperative Research Programs Division manages several cooperative research programs that frequently produces reports that have relevence to issues outside of the program's core focus areas.
Technical Activities Standing Committees
TRB's Technical Activities Division provides a forum for transportation professionals in all modes and functions to identify research needs and to share information on research and issues of interest. The Division's staff of specialists in each mode and discipline work with a network of volunteers to carry out activities on behalf of TRB sponsors and the transportation community, including the TRB Annual Meeting, conferences and workshops, publications, visits to each state, and responses to inquiries. This network includes members and friends of over 200 standing committees, supplemented by designated TRB representatives in each state, over 150 universities, and 35 transit agencies.
Research in Progress in this Subject Area
TRB's Research in Progress (RiP) Database now contains more than 11,900 current or recently completed transportation research projects. Most of the RiP records are projects funded by federal and state departments of transportation. University transportation research is also included. The RiP Database also serves as a clearinghouse of University Transportation Centers ongoing research.
Research Needs in this Subject Area
An important function of TRB is to stimulate research that addresses concerns, issues, or problems facing the transportation community. In support of this function, TRB Technical Activities standing committees identify, develop, and disseminate research need statements (RNS) for use by practitioners, researchers, and others.
Research Completed in this Subject Area
TRB's TRID is integrated database that combines the records from TRB's Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Database and the OECD's Joint Transport Research Centre’s International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) Database. TRID provides access to over 900,000 records of transportation research worldwide.

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