What's New in Public Transportation

An overview of the public transportation program section of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act is provided in Federal Public Transportation Program: In Brief, a report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The program has evolved to support operational expenses in some circumstances, as well as safety oversight, planning, and research.

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...

Research shows a concerning trend in transit ridership. Overall transit ridership is down. Bus ridership is down the most in mid-size cities (populations of 200,000 – 500,000), and, after six years of consecutive decline, it is at its lowest point overall since the 1970s. Exceptions to this new downturn is commuter rail and demand-responsive transit. TRB convened experts to oversee a current lo...

Transit ridership is down across all modes except commuter rail and demand response. Bus ridership is down the most in mid-size cities (populations of 200,000 – 500,000), and, after six years of consecutive decline, it is at its lowest point overall since the 1970s. The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Research Report 209: Analysis of Recent Public Transit Ridership Trends presen...

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...

Local policymaking in California that supports transit-oriented development is identified in Planning and Policymaking for Transit-Oriented Development, Transit, and Active Transport in California Cities , a report from the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California at Davis. This report aims to assess motivations, perceived obstacles, and priorities for development nea...

A clear funding and business case –neither of which have yet been clearly articulated – will be important for the success of AVs and shared mobility. Transportation Research Circular E-C261: TRB Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility: Mini-Workshop on the Economic Implications of Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility details the roles of government and the public sector ...

Tactical urbanism can improve cities through their built environments. TRB is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET that describes what tactical urbanism is and identifies current practices in tactical transit projects. Presenters will discuss how to improve transit speed, access, and ridership at a fraction of both the cost and time of conventional projects....

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 ...

Transit agencies around the country are facing the challenges of reducing transit bus collisions and the injuries, fatalities, and liability expenses associated with these collisions. The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 145: Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents documents the current practices in the use of th...

TRB is hosting the Transit Safety and Security Peer Conference from November 16-18, 2020 in Washington, D.C. The goal of the conference is to provide an opportunity for transit agencies to present research, demonstration outcomes, and associated lessons learned related to transit safety and security policy. The conference will also allow agencies to discuss procedure modifications, technology d...

Various U.S. transit industry uses of automation technologies are identified in Transit Automation Technologies: A Review of Transit Agency Perspective , a report from the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University. Examples of these technologies include lane-keep assist systems, collision avoidance systems, guidance systems for precise docking in Bus Rapid Tra...

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...

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a request for proposals to prepare guidelines for state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other public and private organizations involved in rural development and the provision of transportation services. These guidelines should address a range of components, building on a variety of examples of how agencies currently...

Research problem statements are now being accepted for the FY 2021 Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). To submit a problem statement, first review and follow  the format in this outline . Problem statements may be submitted electronically . Previously submitted proposals may be resubmitted. The deadline for consideration is June 19, 2020.   TCRP is managed by TRB and sponsore...

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...

The federal public transit program is detailed in Reauthorization of the Federal Public Transportation Program , a report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The report identifies funding levels, ridership numbers, and public transportation’s impact on climate change.

TRB is sponsoring the 24th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation from October 18-21, 2020 in Charleston, SC. The conference is held once every two years, and offers a valuable experience for rural transit and human service transit providers, tribal transit managers, planners, state agency staff, intercity bus operators, consultants, researchers, and trainers. The ...

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a request for proposals to provide state departments of transportation and public transportation providers with a report and implementation guidebook on innovative applications for integrating public transportation in less populated areas with Shared-Use Mobility services and providers.  Proposals are due March 10, 2020.

Automatic passenger counters (APCs) provide passenger boarding and alighting information associated with time and location data. They are a standard tool used by many transit authorities to measure and report monthly ridership to the National Transportation Database, with resulting federal subsidies calculated solely based on the data they provide. The TRB IDEA (Innovations Deserving Explorator...

Transit agencies are beginning to harness the value of external data, but challenges remain. The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's pre-publication draft of TCRP Research Report 213: Data Sharing Guidance for Public Transit Agencies – Now and in the Future is designed to help agencies make decisions about sharing their data, including how to evaluate benefits, costs, and risks. Many tra...