Capacity
Projects that comprise the SHRP 2 Capacity Research Plan are shown in the Projects database, which is organized by project number. Click the project number for a description of the expected project activity.
New Capacity website released
Posted January 26, 2010
Now you can explore the draft version of Transportation for
Communities-Advancing Projects through Partnership, a web-based
resource developed in SHRP 2 Capacity research project C01.
A demonstration of the website, known by its acronym TCAPPS, will be
included in a Webinar on Thursday, February 11 from 1:00 – 3:00 est. The Webinar will also serve as a pre-bid conference on opportunities to
pilot test both TCAPPS and an ecological approach to environmental
protection that will be announced in March.
Get all the details here.
Nominations Sought for Analysis of Highway Project Economic Impact
Posted: December 8, 2009
A series of 40 new case studies is being
assembled by researchers for Capacity project C03 for evaluation of the
economic impacts attributable to highway projects both before and after
construction. Candidate projects are being sought for the evaluation, including 2 new types of case studies: (1) intermodal freight terminals and (2) transit-oriented development with a highway component.
More information and a nomination form are available on the following page.
A
webinar to demonstrate the T-PICS software that is based on the results of the
first 60 case studies is planned for Spring 2010. The T-PICS software will also
be briefly demonstrated in the February 11 webinar for parties interested in
pilot testing the initial version of a web-based resource for transportation
planning.
New Project Brief from Capacity Project C01: Reaching Decisions that Deliver Capacity
Posted November 2, 2009
This project brief summarizes Capacity Project C01: A Framework for Collaborative Decision Making on Additions to Highway Capacity. The brief describes how the collaborative decision-making framework—being developed in project C01—can help practitioners systematically apply the most successful strategies for integrating environmental, economic, and community needs into the analysis, planning, and design of new highway capacity. It also announces an upcoming workshop and pilot testing opportunities.
New Report: Performance Measurement Framework for Highway Capacity Decision Making
Posted July 22, 2009
TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Report
S2-C02-RR: Performance Measurement Framework for Highway Capacity Decision Making explores a performance measurement framework that is
designed to support the collaborative decision-making framework (CDMF)
for additions to highway capacity being developed under the SHRP 2
Capacity research program. The report examines five broad areas of
performance including transportation, environment, economics,
community, and cost. Under these headings, the report identifies 17
performance factors, each of which are linked to key decision points in
the CDMF.
Project Brief from Capacity Project C02 Available
Posted May 20, 2009
SHRP 2 has released a project brief that summarizes SHRP 2 Capacity project C02, which developed a performance measurement framework designed to improve the consistency of decision making by organizing a set of performance measures that are linked to each stage of the planning and development process.
Collaborative Decision Making Framework
Posted: July 28, 2008
View the overview of the Collaborative Decision Making Framework relevant to Capacity projects C08 and C09.
Framework for SHRP 2 Transportation Decision Making (Capacity) Research
The nation’s highway system represents but one of many systems—including natural, social, economic, political, and technological—that interact with each other. The planning and design of highways, therefore, must be performed with adequate attention to how these systems interact and influence one another.
The conceptual framework for transportation decision making, developed in the research plan, is based on the need to develop approaches and tools for systematically integrating environmental, economic, and community requirements into the analysis, planning, and design of new highway capacity. The framework is characterized by three primary components:
1. Transportation as a system—The first component of the framework is the identification of alternative transportation solutions to accessibility, safety, and mobility needs. Given the need, solutions may include a combination of operations, technology, infrastructure, demand/supply management, multi-modal strategies, and other tactics. Outcomes resulting from this component of the conceptual framework include the following:
- Transportation priorities are established to support broad visions for how we want our neighborhoods, towns, and regions to prosper;
- Early consideration is given to safety, mobility, environmental, economic, community, and land use goals; and
- A broad range of potential solutions, including operational improvements, transit, highway capacity, and demand management are fully considered.
2. Transportation’s relationships to other systems—The second component of the conceptual framework deals with the inter-relationship of transportation to the other human and natural systems that define urban or rural areas, including: (1). water, energy, and communications infrastructure; (2). local, state, national, and global economies; (3). land uses; and (4). ecosystems. Successful integration of these related systems hinges on a process that can prioritize transportation solutions based on the environmental, economic, and social footprints of alternatives.
This component centers on evaluations of the transportation solutions packages that are developed under the first component. The outcomes resulting from this component of the framework will include the following:
- Transportation agencies effectively communicate with the public, decision makers, and politicians;
- The public is involved and engaged in the development of solutions and throughout the decision-making process;
- Agencies and key stakeholders work together to reach decisions collaboratively,
- in a timely manner, and with clear decision points; and
- Development of solutions to transportation capacity needs balances and integrates economic, safety, mobility, social, and environmental considerations.
3. Highway development—The third component of the conceptual framework reflects the culmination of an integrated systems planning and project development process. This component of the framework results in the following outcomes:
- Project decisions are consistent with plans and satisfy commitments made in planning and project development;
- Projects enhance the natural environment and communities, with a focus on environmental performance, community goals, and economic performance, rather than on narrow impact mitigation;
- The environmental review process is accelerated and is based on clear and firm decision points that build consensus and reduce project delivery delays;
- The best technical skills are applied in all aspects of transportation project management (from planning to implementation); and
- Project cost estimates are accurate.