Ignition Magazine: News from TRB's IDEA Programs - Spring/Summer 2005
The latest issue of Ignition, a quarterly news magazine from TRB's Special Programs Division, examines innovations sponsored by the IDEA program in the areas of carbon-fiber I-beams, automated cleaning of third rail insulators, seismic stress reduction for bridges, the safety of wheelchairs on bus rapid transit system vehicles, and the detection of cracks in rail car axles.
Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs provide start-up funding for promising but unproven innovations in surface transportation systems. The programs’ goal is to foster ingenious solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional programs. Managed by the Transportation Research Board, IDEA programs are supported by the member state departments of transportation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
This Summary Last Modified On: 5/8/2012