National Volunteer Appreciation Week

TRB Volunteers work closely with TRB staff to provide guidance on technical aspects of our Cooperative Research Program research; review research papers; work on standing technical committee projects; and present and preside at sessions of the TRB Annual Meeting, TRB specialty conferences, and TRB webinars. Ultimately, TRB’s mission is accomplished with the hard work and dedication of more than 8,000 volunteers. Thank you! Find out how you can start getting involved. Follow #TRBvolunteer on social media to see some of the outstanding efforts of these individuals.

Congratulations New Committee Leadership!

Welcome new members and chairs of TRB's more than 175 standing technical committees! If you are a Friend of a standing technical committee, check out the new members and chairs on MyTRB.org. These TRB volunteers propose research ideas, share research findings, sponsor special events, and lead discussions on critical issues. Each committee has a required turnover of one-third of its members every 3 years, and members may not continue for more than three consecutive 3-year terms.

Announcing Climate Crossroads

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are launching Climate Crossroads, a major new initiative to help the nation meet the challenges of climate change. This initiative will leverage the disciplinary breadth of the organization, provide space to be responsive as new challenges arise, and expand the impact of the Academies’ work to a more diverse range of stakeholders and decision-makers. Nominate an expert for the Climate Crossroads new advisory committee to steer its work.

EPA Regulations Expected to Boost EV Sales 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed tailpipe emissions regulations designed to increase the share of electric vehicles on the road. EPA administrator Michael Regan called the new rules “the strongest ever federal pollution standards for cars and trucks.” To help prepare for the shift, explore TRB's wealth of research on EVs compiled in one spot on TRB's blog and register for TRB Webinar: Electrification and Hydrogen Technologies in Airports on May 25.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in Bus Rapid Transit and High-Priority Bus Corridors (TCRP Synthesis 169). High-quality BRT is not only about designing bus stops and stations that make access easier and more efficient. It's also about pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations along the bus routes. In some places, BRT systems are safer than other bus services, but this is not always the case. Specific design elements to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety are almost always decided on a case-by-case basis, and transit agencies and partners rely on an array of design guidance to consider when making decisions about BRT route design.

April 19 - TRB Webinar: Guide Specifications—Constructing Slurry Seals, Scrub Seals, and Tack Coats

April 24 - TRB Webinar: Remaining In-Service Life of Culverts and Other Geotechnical Assets

April 25 - TRB Webinar: Resilient Freight Planning—Lessons from Ukraine and Puerto Rico

May 11 - TRB Webinar: Real-Time Quality Control with DPS and PMTP

California Department of Transportation – 2023 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned