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This research would result in guidelines for the design of check dams for stormwater treatment in the roadside clear zone to maximize the retention and filtration of roadway runoff and
This study would develop a guidebook to help practitioners identify strategies for reducing emissions from the multi-modal freight system, which is a major source of urban air pollution and a
How to effectively capture waste plastic debris (cigarettes, syringes, bags. etc.) prior to discharge from inlets, ditches/curbs, and culvert outfalls to receiving waters that retains designed hydraulic flow characteristics. What
The primary objective of this research is to enhance the effectiveness of existing stormwater infrastructure (ponds, channels, inlets, etc.) for containing debris (cigarette litter, tire particles, etc.) and microplastics found
This research project would result in the development of a methodology to evaluate the National Register eligibility of post-World War II (postwar) institutional buildings in compliance with Section 106 of
Transportation agency managers have expressed concern that reduced mowing practices, such as those that benefit pollinators, may increase vehicle collisions with large mammals like deer, thereby reducing driver safety. Though
Wildlife crossings such as overpasses, underpasses, or culverts designed to help animals avoid vehicle traffic can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, protect animals, and help maintain their habitat connectivity. While the benefits
Spurred by information on the increasing urgency of mitigating climate change, as well as an injection of federal funding into carbon emissions reduction strategies, transportation agencies are increasingly developing and
Comparisons of alternative build and no-build scenarios in project-level air quality analyses for NEPA and conformity typically focus on comparisons of emissions and/or ambient concentrations of specific pollutants, including greenhouse
FHWA regulations for highway traffic noise (23 CFR 772) outline procedures for traffic noise analysis and noise abatement requirements for State DOT highway projects. The regulations stipulate that noise abatement
State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) conduct project-level air quality analyses for the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and to meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) transportation conformity
Is there a negative perception of DOTs if the mowing schedule leaves taller vegetation throughout more of the year and later into the growing season? Does education about the reasoning
Interseeding (also known as overseeding) can increase flowering plant diversity in grass-dominated stands of vegetation but has rarely been used on roadsides. Research is needed to better understand how to
Background DOTs routinely receive requests to add new products and materials to their lists of approved products, including culvert repair products and materials used for road and bridge repair. Many
Transportation-related infrastructure affects wildlife in a variety of ways by altering the physical environment. These alterations often negatively impact wildlife through displacement, barriers to movement, and increased mortality. They can
Background Roadway lighting has been shown to measurably reduce nighttime fatal and other crashes. However, roadway lighting can negatively impact insects and animals through attraction and disorientation or by disrupting
Background Currently, there is minimal guidance from federal agencies on how to conduct noise and vibration analyses specific to wildlife, which results in differing approaches to noise analyses that may
FY2022 NCHRP PROBLEM STATEMENT OUTLINE 1. Problem Title Concrete Curing pH Level Impacts for Minimization of Harm to Aquatic Species 2. Background Construction and maintenance actions regularly require state Department
Recent research findings identified 6PPD-quinone as the major agent responsible for exceptionally high levels of rapid mortality of adult Coho salmon in some urban streams. Lethal effects occurred in Coho
TERI Administrator Note (February 2009): Project cross-referenced in TRB Research Needs Database. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Air Quality Subcommittee. The first goal of this project is to
Since the release of the FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM), users have identified additional factors that affect highway traffic noise prediction. Improvement of the model’s acoustical capabilities will allow a
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. Highway crossings can have a negative impact on ecosystems by creating barriers that inhibit the movement
TERI Administrator Note (Feb 2009) – Related Research: Investigation of Water Runoff and Leaching Impacts from Dust Suppressants, Fred Hall, US Environmental Protection Agency, 2008 The majority of research on
Environmental regulations require Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to stabilize exposed earth along roadsides and encourage the establishment of grasses to help filter pollutants out of runoff. To comply with these regulations,
I. Research Problem Statement: Erosion (runoff) and sedimentation of and from low-volume roads can adversely impact the environment. Many low-volume roads are soil or aggregate surfaced, have steeper grades than
I. Problem Statement: There is increasing evidence that nutrients are major constituents in highway runoff. This varies with the area of ROW as well as the vegetation types and adjacent
Bats are an indispensable natural resource. Notably, they consume enormous quantities of farm and forest insect pests, saving the agricultural industry millions in lost products. Unfortunately, more than half of
Aquatic insects such as dragonflies, damselflies, and mayflies use horizontally polarized light as a cue to detect water where they lay their eggs. It is crucial that these insects lay
Widespread contamination of freshwater habitats and groundwater sources from road salt deposition is well documented. The negative effects of road salt on freshwater habitats include changes in density gradients, increased
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. Subcommitee recommended funding ID#456, which addresses similar issues. This would be a follow-up to research on the
Confocal Microscopy coupled with vital stains, can be used to characterize and profile disease states in coral. We wish to compare the appearance of various reef forming coral and algal
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Air Quality Subcommittee. The purpose of this project is to integrate and demonstrate several innovative technologies that have been
I. Research Problem Statement Today, now more than ever, the environment plays a key role in everyday activities. Some cities have smog warnings, some have water pollution warnings, and
Problem Statement – There are many definitions of the term “equity.” The way equity is defined influences the distributive goals of an action. Cost-benefit analysis, for example, usually employs the
Problem Statement – The most widely accepted and used source of information on income levels for environmental justice analysis is the U.S. Census Bureau. However, such analysis based on income
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. Transportation noise has the potential to negatively impact animal populations. In recent years several studies have
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is in the process of developing an innovative,
The United States Congress in 1991 designated certain highway corridors of national significance to be included in the National Highway System under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Corridor
The safety and maintainece of Idaho’s road and highway bridges is essential and their regular inspection, rennovation, and replacement is an important responsibility of the Transportation Department. Incidently and unintentionally,
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. Along Route 20 from Ashton to the Montana border in eastern Idaho motorists are threatened by
Idaho has mapped approximately 315 wildlife linkages associated with its road and highway system using expert opinion workshops and a rapid assessment protocol. Of these, 37 have been identified as
I. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT There is a renewed interest nationally and internationally in vehicular emissions, particularly as it relates to the formation of greenhouse gases. To date, there has been
Refine and develop technology for converting woody biomass to ehtanol. Evaluate and develop potential for substitution of ethanol for petroleum fuels. Study and develop sustainable supplies of woody biomass from
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Environmental Process Subcommittee. State departments of transportation, as well as regional transportation agencies and organizations, (herein after ‘transportation agencies’)
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Subcommittee on Cultural Resources. Develop a three-day course that would cover the basics of Tribal Consultation, including a step-by-step
Document hydrologic and hydraulic impacts of existing highway systems on nearby streams. Using 10 impacted streams in geographically diverse ecosystems, evaluate the runoff generated from a highway system and the
The Permeable Friction Course (PFC also known as Open Graded Friction Course)is a two inch thick overlay applied to existing pavement to reduce splash and spray behind vehicles, and to
In recent years, northern New England has experienced several unusually large storm events, such as the Mother’s Day storm of 2006 and the Patriot’s Day storm of 2007. These events
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Air Quality Subcommittee. Vehicle technology and trip reduction have emerged as the primary strategies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Air Quality Subcommittee. Improve fuel economy using reduced rolling resistance pavements. Develop a methodology to accurately measure the rolling
Departments of Transportation (DOTs) throughout the United States are responsible for keeping state and federally owned/operated transportation corridors safe and operational during winter months when snow and ice can accumulate
a) Extend what is known about masking effectiveness of traffic noise on the vocalizations of birds by conducting behavioral tests with a wider range of individual and species. It should
Porous asphalt installations will be monitored and the hydrologic aspects monitored over a 2-year period to study the effects of water moving through pavement and sublayer systems as well as
TERI Administrator Note: Selected for FY12 NCHRP funding as NCHRP 25-37 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT This problem statement was identified by the Natural Systems and Ecological Communities Subcommittee of AASHTO’s Standing
Ultrafine particles (UFP) can be defined as having at least one dimension that is less than 100 nanometers. Because of their dimensions, they exhibit unique properties that affect atmospheric transport
This research idea was developed as part of NCHRP Project 24-27(03) “Evaluation of Bridge-Scour Research: Geomorphic Processes and Predictions,” and addresses three Focus Areas (Climate Change, Land use, Indirect Effects/Cumulative
Problem Statement Current transportation noise policies in the United States rely heavily on scientific dose-response relationships between noise-exposure levels and various community responses, predominantly “community annoyance.” This is also the
Tire-pavement noise has become an important consideration for highway agencies, as the public increasingly demands that highway traffic noise be mitigated. Title 23, Part 772 of the Code of Federal
Among the many types of on-road vehicles traveling the American highway system, heavy trucks are the loudest frequently-heard noise sources. Comments from residents near highways at project public hearings and
Problem Common roadway construction practices impact our environment. Impacts to streams and rivers have been monitored and are considered in the design and construction process. Efforts have been made to reduce other
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT Inappropriate speed is one of the primary safety hazards facing highway users. Most road agencies attempt to achieve the right operating speed among drivers by imposing speed
Problem Statement The operation of steel-wheeled transit vehicles on steel rails may develop short-pitch corrugation of the rails. The interaction of the wheels rolling over the corrugated rails generates noise
Porous pavement usage and design has improved dramatically since 2003 when the National Asphalt Paving Association published guidelines on mix designs with continued refinements by the UNHSC and others. The use
Subsurface gravel wetlands have proven successful as a nitrogen control strategies however costly to construct. Studies show that these systems show a unique ability to remove bioavailable nitrogen in excess
The objective of this research is to develop approaches for evaluating long-term regional strategies for the use of alternative vehicle power sources. The vision is that the approaches developed may
Equity is on the agenda of a growing number of MPOs and state DOTs, following Title VI requirements and subsequent federal guidelines. At the same time, there is little practical
Construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure changes land surface permeability and runoff rates. Roadside ditches carry invisible chemicals such as zinc and cadmium, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, herbicides, and road salt.
Observations and modeling of ground water flow underneath and through road embankments will lead to a better understanding of permafrost stability. Thermal models of road embankments have been a useful
Scope: (1) Objectives. The objective of our proposed scope of research is to research and develop professional activities aimed at incorporating wildlife mitigation into standardized federal and state highway planning and
An efficient and robust surface highway transportation system is essential for continued economic growth of the US. Conversely, vehicle emission has increasingly resulted in adverse impact on air quality and environmental
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has recognized the snowshoe hare is an indicator species for habitat management. Occupying the southern tip of its range, the snowshoe hare is located in
Oregon Department of Transportation has been developing (in cooperation with other state and local agencies) a comprehensive GIS data management system. This system includes environmental, safety and asset resource information, but
PROBLEM STATEMENT It is well established that structures associated with road crossings may have negative impacts on stream fish assemblages. The two primary mechanisms through which road crossings may impact
Scope: Across the nation, streams and drainage channels have been severely degraded to provide drainage for land development and transportation projects. Federal and state regulations require mitigation for impacts to channels
The proposed research need is a decision tool for rail transit executives to use when considering rail transit safety enhancements. This would most likely require a cost/benefit and risk analysis which
Scope: A regional transit parking plan is needed in the Puget Sound region to better integrate current and planned parking facilities to the regional transit system. A survey of best
Road salt runoff is a seasonal phenomenon, largely confined to the late-winter to spring months. For most northern biota, this is a lag period of growth when they are least
Standard practice in the U.S. within hydrology is to assume a Log-Pearson III probability distribution for predicting flood flows. This practice came about due to the computational resources that were
This research project will evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness and benefits of using multi-scale modified asphalt binder and locally available low-cost materials and waste materials (e.g., recycled plastics, reclaimed asphalt pavement
This research project will evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness and benefits of using ultrahigh volume fly ash concrete (UHVFAC) for the construction and maintenance of highway structures and pavements. The environmentally
This study would examine the response of pollinator movement and subsequent gene flow and reproductive fitness between and within rare endemic plant populations that are fragmented by roads by road
Climate change may affect human health via interactions with air pollutants such as ozone and PM2.5. These air pollutants are linked to climate because they can be both affected by
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
This research project will apply a transport equation to predict noise distributions in long spaces/enclosures when multiple sources are present. Potential applications are transportation infrastructures such as tunnels, subway stations,
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
To identify the optimal placement of electric vehicle charging stations for the traveling public in order to reduce range anxiety for electric vehicle travelers along major travel corridors in Illinois.
A comprehensive study of the geophysical investigations of cemeteries using case studies (n=50) and interviews with experience practitioners to determine best practices for maximizing the effectiveness of these investigations. Analysis
Extreme weather impacts on driver safety and the development of next generation analytical tools to improve hazard analysis and causal factor traceability of those impacts is an important next step
From USC forecast model, take high priority watersheds and create watershed management plans. The management plans will assess watershed condition, threats and opportunities. Develop improvements, restorations, and protections for water
Statement of Work (Objective) This research proposal is to support work on an often overlooked naturally occurring ecosystem fuel, organic soils and/or deep duffs. These fuels have posed a threat
Currently field offices in the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) use a variety of methods to determine if species suitable habitat is in a project area. Recently the New
In 2012, the EPA MOVES model became a requirement for air emissions modeling on transportation projects. In addition to MOVES, EPA regulations require dispersion modeling using one of two allowable
November 2012 Proposal: Effective December 20, 2012, a new era in air quality analyses for transportation projects begins as regulatory requirements issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
The benefits of bats to humans and the environment are well known. Some are principal pollinators and others consume large quantities of insects detrimental to agricultural crops and human health.
Research Idea Scope Background: Current municipal and transportation-related stormwater permits in western Washington require the use of low impact development (LID) as the preferred and commonly used approach to managing
To identify the likelihood of suitable roost tree occupancy for both the Indiana and Northern Long-eared bat as the distance from cleared ROW increases. This would require a multi-year habitat
The study would determine if Monarchs are attracted to vegetation within highway rights-of-way, if this attraction is due to milkweed species being present, and would estimate roadside mortality. Tasks required
The proposed study would incorporate No Adverse Impact floodplain management and mitigation into future planned transportation projects. The objective is to evaluate potential flood risk for transportation projects early in
Wetlands are among the world’s most ecologically productive and economically important environments, but they are also one of the world’s most endangered environments. Approximately 53% of wetlands in the lower
There is a need for invasive species control performance standards. NCHRP Synthesis 363 identified that there are few studies that quantify benefits of invasive secies control, thus highway departments often commit
When applying MOVES (MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator) in project-level PM (particulate matter) conformity analysis, link-based traffic characteristics are required at local roadway level so as to ensure realistically representation of
Note: This research idea was short-listed at the 2015 TRB meeting of the Project-Level Subcommittee of the Transportation and Air Quality Committee (ADC20). The broader research problem to be addressed
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has built a number of structures to facilitate Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) over the last decade, several of which have been designed in accordance
To better understand the microhabitat preferred by roosting bats on bridges; I propose a nationwide (random selection) of bridges across the US. A comprehensive, multi-year analysis would need to be
Summary Statement: Research is needed in fusing together public and private commodity flow and operational datasets describing the light and heavy truck shipments between supplies and buyers. The data fusion
Summary Objective: The objective of this research is to provide guidelines and best practices for practitioners for developing spatial and temporally detailed vehicle fleet and activity estimates for input to
Cost benefit analysis of culvert and bridge maintenance often omit aspects of ecological integrity. Over the lifetime of a stream crossing, the structure type will impact biological communities such as
There would be two parts to this study: 1) Literature Review and Synthesis of Current Practices and 2) Development of Cost-Effective Monitoring Techniques 1. Literature Review and Synthesis of Current
The purpose of this research is to evaluate dispersion models and understand their current limitations using data collected from tracer studies conducted at locations with complex real-world traffic flow patterns.
Chloride-based deicers continue to be the primary deicing chemical of choice due to the huge cost differential with non-chloride deicers, which generally cost 15 to 20 times more than regular
A number of states have established goals for reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector but many suggested changes are outside the jurisdiction of State DOTs (efficiency standards, land-use, etc.).
Chloride-based deicers continue to be the primary deicing chemical of choice due to the huge cost differential with non-chloride deicers. Essentially there are no salt alternatives that are comparable in
Rehabilitation of historic metal truss bridges often involves the replacement of rivets in the original bridge. Insofar as the rivets are considered part of the historic fabric of the bridge,
The traditional technique for addressing hydrologic impacts of highway projects is to construct detention basins. While the basins are effective at reducing peak flows and flood issues, they are less
Post war commercial structures and areas, in particular, shopping centers, banks, gas stations,, restaurants and car dealerships were typically placed along major thoroughfares. Though some have experienced updating renovations, many
Problem Freight movement accounts for approximately 20% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation and is expected to increase in its share. International Transport Forum (ITF) estimates that global emissions
Recent studies demonstrated that vehicle toxic emissions (e.g. CO, NOx, and HC) are sensitive to geometric road design, which is also associated with driving stress and in-vehicle noise levels. For
A weaving segment on freeway is one of vehicle conflict hot spots. Many studies have been focused on the safety and mobility performance of the weaving segment, in terms of
In comparison to conventional tires, the low rolling resistance (LRR) tires often have higher prices, shorter mileage life, reduced wet and snow grip performances, and depending on the target market
For highways outside of cities, infiltration within a right of way (ROW) may be one of the few means of meeting the return to predevelopment hydrology requirement under the Energy
The efficacy of scuppers or cutouts in ‘Jersey’ or concrete median barriers on passing wildlife remains untested; yet DOTs utilize scuppers as mitigation for the impacts of constructing concrete median
With rising concerns over climate change impacts and the resilience of urban infrastructures, cities are increasingly held accountable for their total carbon footprint and for their ability to identify and
The objectives of this research will be to better understand the contribution of extended idling (hoteling) by heavy-duty diesel trucks to state and local emissions inventories, and to assist local
The transportation conformity regulation (40 CFR Parts 51 and 93) has been amended repeatedly since “Conformity provisions first appeared in the Clean Air Act Amendments [CAA] of 1977 (Pub. L.
Air quality project-level analyses (PLAs) that state DOTs are required to prepare for purposes of NEPA and the EPA transportation conformity rule have become more complicated, time-consuming and costly in
Fog induced visibility reduction is imposing a serious threat to safety, has limited traffic movements along highways and has so many indirect effect on economy and human life during winters
The objective of this research is to understand how and to what degree the full delegation of environmental permit responsibilities (and associated penalties for noncompliance) may change contractors’ construction sequencing,
Research is needed to consolidate NCHRP and other research results related to highway stormwater management, update NCHRP research, document the efforts of various DOTs to comply with stormwater requirements, and
Connectivity among populations and habitats is important for a range of ecological processes, including gene flow, migration between summer and winter range, demographic rescue, dispersal, range expansion, and population persistence.
Bats across the United States are threatened by a relatively new fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS has resulted in bat population declines of over 90% in parts
The University of Georgia, in cooperation with Georgia DOT, has developed a PROPOSED construction standard for use by DOT contractors to better restore the geotechnical properties and ecological functionality of
Directional fencing is an important component of wildlife crossing designs. When successful, fencing can guide animals to a safe crossing location and significantly reduce road mortality. Most current research is
A multi-disciplinary approach to building a national-level historic context for historic roads that will then be used to build state-level historic contexts. Using economy of scale, develop a historic context
The most commonly used fully permeable pavements are porous asphalt (PA) (excluding open-graded friction courses), pervious concrete (PC), and permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP). Unlike impervious pavements, permeable pavements must
Environmental activities in transportation are heavily founded in duly-established law and regulation. Law and regulation is augmented by defined requirements of environmental agreements/contracts and filtered through agency policies. Environmental activities,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey and Several National Cooperative Research Program studies use the USEPA definition of a synoptic storm event
The scope of this project would be aimed toward gathering data on Desert Tortoise populations in the southern portion of the Owens Valley in California. As the Owens Valley represents
The objective is to develop a consistent methodology for analyzing noise and vibration impacts on different terrestrial species. Develop standard metrics and procedures for the DOTs to conduct noise analyses
BACKGROUND There is a need to investigate the effects of artificial light on a growing list of bats, birds, insects, fish, and other members of the environmental community which may
The FHWA’s Traffic Noise Model (TNM) software must be used to analyze noise impacts on federally funded highway projects. TNM analysis is based upon a 25-year-old vehicle noise reference emission
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