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Economics Research at TRB

The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. This page highlights recently released TRB reports, meeting announcements, requests for proposals, and other announcements related to economics. In addition, it includes links to selected economics research-related activities taking place at the federal and state levels, and within the academic and international transportation communities. Finally, this page also highlights and provides links to TRB programs and activities, which are the source of most of TRB’s economics-related research products.

What's New

TRB Economics-Related Programs and Activities

Engineering Economic Analysis Practices for Highway InvestmentEngineering Economic Analysis Practices for Highway Investment
May 10, 2012
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 424: Engineering Economic Analysis Practices for Highway Investment explores how U.S. transportation agencies have applied engineering economics--benefit–cost analyses and similar procedures--to decisions on highway investments.
2012 TRB Planning Committee Summer Meeting
May 9, 2012
Join more than 150 transportation professionals expected to participate in the 2012 TRB Planning Committee Summer Meeting, July 8-10, 2012, in Irvine, California. Transportation professionals specializing in planning, policy, and data systems will share information in open committee meetings, joint collaborative discussions, and general sessions. Advance registration expires June 8, 2...
2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting: Spotlight Theme2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting: Spotlight Theme
May 9, 2012
The spotlight theme for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C., is Deploying Transportation Research—Doing Things Smarter, Better, Faster. These uncertain times are also exciting times for the transportation community, which looks to build on its successes as never before. Spotlight sessions, workshops, and discussions at the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting will highlight...
Annual Privatization Report 2011: Surface Transportation
May 7, 2012
The Reason Foundation has released an annual report that explores global and American-led efforts to finance surface transportation projects through private funding.
2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers2013 TRB 92nd Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record Call for Papers
May 2, 2012
TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...
Annual Privatization Report 2011: Air Transportation
April 30, 2012
The Reason Foundation has released an annual report that explores global and American-led efforts to privatize the airline industry.
Economic Census: Uses for the Transportation Community Workshop
April 25, 2012
TRB is sponsoring the Economic Census: Uses for the Transportation Community Workshop on July 17, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The workshop is designed to enhance awareness and use of economic census data among transportation professionals at the federal, state, regional, and local levels; identify follow-up activities to support the sharing of information on the experience and use of the economic...
A National Authority on RoundaboutsA National Authority on Roundabouts
April 17, 2012
Roundabouts have seen unprecedented growth across the United States, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 2,000 and counting. National guidance had to keep pace with the needs of states and communities planning and implementing roundabouts, and NCHRP took a lead role.
Review of Potential Impacts and Cost Estimates for the Cancelled Hudson River Tunnel ProjectReview of Potential Impacts and Cost Estimates for the Cancelled Hudson River Tunnel Project
April 16, 2012
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores the mobility, economic, and environmental benefits of the cancelled Hudson River Tunnel Project; the project cost estimates over time; and how documents prepared as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts process addressed potential cost growth for the project.
Dedicated Revenue Mechanisms for Freight Transportation InvestmentDedicated Revenue Mechanisms for Freight Transportation Investment
April 13, 2012
TRB’s National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Report 15: Dedicated Revenue Mechanisms for Freight Transportation Investment explores methods that might be used to raise revenue to support government investment in freight transportation facilities, primarily for highway transportation. The report assesses revenue-generating mechanisms such as motor-vehicle fuel tax surcharges, vehi...

Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) report series, Synthesis of Highway Practice.
Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
TCRP is an applied, contract research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems facing transit agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) report series, Synthesis of Transit Practice.
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies.
Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems
TRB's Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Problems searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) report series, Synthesis of Airport Practice.
National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP)
NCFRP conducts research and disseminates timely findings that will inform investment and operations decisions affecting the performance of the freight transportation system.
Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program
TRB's Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) report series, Synthesis of Commerical Truck and Bus Safety Practice.
Cooperative Research Programs
TRB's Cooperative Research Programs Division manages several cooperative research programs that frequently produces reports that have relevence to issues outside of the program's core focus areas.
Technical Activities Standing Committees
TRB's Technical Activities Division provides a forum for transportation professionals in all modes and functions to identify research needs and to share information on research and issues of interest. The Division's staff of specialists in each mode and discipline work with a network of volunteers to carry out activities on behalf of TRB sponsors and the transportation community, including the TRB Annual Meeting, conferences and workshops, publications, visits to each state, and responses to inquiries. This network includes members and friends of over 200 standing committees, supplemented by designated TRB representatives in each state, over 150 universities, and 35 transit agencies.
Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2)
Congress established the SHRP 2 in 2006 to investigate the underlying causes of highway crashes and congestion in a short-term program of focused research. To carry out that investigation, SHRP 2 targets goals in four interrelated focus areas--Safety, Renewal, Reliability, and Capacity.
Research in Progress in this Subject Area
TRB's Research in Progress (RiP) Database now contains more than 11,900 current or recently completed transportation research projects. Most of the RiP records are projects funded by federal and state departments of transportation. University transportation research is also included. The RiP Database also serves as a clearinghouse of University Transportation Centers ongoing research.
Research Needs in this Subject Area
An important function of TRB is to stimulate research that addresses concerns, issues, or problems facing the transportation community. In support of this function, TRB Technical Activities standing committees identify, develop, and disseminate research need statements (RNS) for use by practitioners, researchers, and others.
Research Completed in this Subject Area
TRB's TRID is integrated database that combines the records from TRB's Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Database and the OECD's Joint Transport Research Centre’s International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) Database. TRID provides access to over 900,000 records of transportation research worldwide.

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