Victoria Sheehan Named TRB Executive Director

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced that, following a national search, Victoria Sheehan will join the organization as the new executive director of TRB on December 5.

“Through our discussions about industry issues, and her track record at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and AASHTO, I am confident Victoria is an excellent choice to lead TRB in its crucial mission of providing transportation professionals with the research and advice they will need to address our shared challenges,” said Nathaniel P. Ford, chair of the TRB Executive Committee and chief executive officer of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

Read more about Sheehan and her experience leading cross-disciplinary transportation projects.

Register Early to Save Up to 20%

Don’t miss out on over 4,000 presentations, over 500 workshops and sessions, and 3 days of exhibits. Register now to take advantage of the early bird registration discounts. Rates go up after December 2. And don’t forget to make your hotel reservation when you register. Hotels are already starting to sell out.

Jennifer Homendy to Keynote Chair's Plenary Session

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy will provide the keynote address during the Chair's Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11 at the 2023 TRB Annual Meeting. Chair Homendy has used her national platform to focus on protecting vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and people with disabilities.

Julie Lorenz Receives the 2022 George S. Bartlett Award

TRB congratulates Julie Lorenz as the recipient of this year's George S. Bartlett Award. Lorenz is recognized for her outstanding leadership as the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation; her extensive service to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials as a member of AASHTO's Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Chair of AASHTO’s Council on Aviation; and for her years of service to TRB.

TRID Survey Results

More than 80 TRID users from departments of transportation, academia, and nonprofits from the U.S., Sweden, and Canada completed responses to a recent survey. Results show that keyword searching is the most useful search feature, and most find TRID easy to use for finding TRB publications, state DOT research, peer-reviewed journal articles, and all research on a single topic or current state of practice. Check out the TRID database to see how you can put it to use.

U.S. DOT Has Multiple R&T Job Openings

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) at the U.S. Department of Transportation has three GS-15 level job openings in its Office of Research, Development and Technology (RD&T): Transportation RD&T Portfolio Manager, Director of Climate & Sustainability RD&T Program, and RD&T Program Manager for Climate & Sustainability. Please email a short expression of interest and an up-to five-page resume to OST.RDT.Vacancies@dot.gov. Positions are open until filled.

Attracting, Retaining, and Developing the 2030 Transportation Workforce: Design, Construction, and Maintenance (NCHRP Research Report 1008). State departments of transportation are responsible for providing a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system of infrastructure and services. To meet these responsibilities, transportation agencies need a highly skilled workforce.

Guide to Understanding Effects of Raising Speed Limits (NCHRP Research Report 1006). Over the past decade, there has been a trend toward higher speed limits, especially on rural interstates and freeways. 

October 26 - TRB Webinar: New Transit Fare Policy—Capping and “Cashless” Collection

October 27 - TRB Webinar: Protocols for Macrotexture Measurement to Prevent Wet Weather Crashes

November 22 - TRB Webinar: Legal Considerations of Renewable Energy Production in State Right-of-Way

• "A framework that city leaders can use to evaluate whether a fare-free public transit program makes sense for their community" is detailed in Smart Cities Dive's feature on a recent report from TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program.
• Victoria Sheehan's selection as TRB's next Executive Director drew coverage in the New Hampshire Union Leader, Yahoo News!, AASHTO News, Transportation Today, and Railway Age.