BMP Effectiveness Evaluation for DOTs
Background: DOTs routinely complete BMP effectiveness studies as a part of their research to improve their stormwater program. Many of the effectiveness studies duplicate research in other parts of the…
Guidebook on Streamlining Delivery and Maintenance of Projects Involving Homeless Populations
State DOTs, like many other agencies during this economic downturn, have struggled to provide basic services. At the same time, the housing market has imploded and the number of returning…
Identification of Constituents of Concern for Highways
Background: Many NPDES Permits require DOTs to identify constituents of concern from highway and support facilities. Constituent of concern are known or emerging potential pollutants that are generated within the…
An Asset Management System for Sustainable Snow and Ice Control
This project will preliminarily develop a Snow and Ice Control Asset Management System (SICAMS) for cold-climate DOTs, in order to promote sustainability in winter maintenance operations. While a phased approach…
Salt toxicity to wild finches
Some years, pine siskins, red crossbills, evening grosbeaks, American goldfinches and other finches are attracted to roads treated with salt. Observers often report lethargy and a lack of wariness as…
The performance of bridges & culverts built to stream simulation standards for passing terrestrial wildlife
Washington State has been replacing culverts with new larger culverts, or bridges, using an algorythm called “Stream simulation” for over a decade. These larger passages provide dry banks under highways during…
Forecasting Travel Activity Input Data for Project-Level Air Quality Analyses
Effective December 20, 2012, a new era in air quality analyses for transportation projects began as federal transportation conformity rule requirements and associated guidance issued by the US EPA for…
Integrating Climate Change and Extreme Weather Uncertainty into a State DOT Transportation Asset Management Plan – An Initial Process Development
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Asset Management, a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) can “act as a focal point for information” about state DOT assets, their…
Legal issues and strategies with planning for reduced maintenance in select locations, due to climate change.
Climate change is making it more difficult to maintain some infrastructure, particularly in coastal areas subject to sea level rise. In some areas, DOTs are already foreseeing that the department…
Developing Public Risk Communications about Deteriorating Transportation Infrastructure Risks
Policies are needed to fund transportation infrastructure upgrades to avoid catastrophic costs and risks. However, while transportation experts see these costs and risks as significant, members of the general public…