What's New in Environment

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 429: Geotechnical Information Practices in Design-Build Projects addresses how states use geotechnical information in solicitation documents and contracts for design-build highway projects. The report examines current practices regarding the allocation of geotechnical risk and the level of geotechnical information provided wi...

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 63: Measurement of Gaseous HAP Emissions from Idling Aircraft as a Function of Engine and Ambient Conditions is designed to help improve the assessment of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions at airports based on specific aircraft operating parameters and changes in ambient conditions.

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...

The Congressional Budget Office has released a report that examines how a proposed rule to tighten fuel economy standards for cars, pick-up trucks, and other light-duty vehicles would affect cash flows of the Highway Trust Fund.

The Institute of Transport Economics in Norway has released a report that explores the travel patterns of car commuters, busy drivers, locally mobile seniors, public transport users and cyclists, and active youth. The report also assesses the challenges and opportunities to enable sustainable mobility among these segments.

The Center for Clean Air Policy has released a report that summarizes the presentations and discussions from a workshop on climate adaptation and transportation held in November 2011.

TRB will conduct a webinar on June 12, 2012, from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. ET that will explore National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 708: A Guidebook for Sustainability Performance Measurement for Transportation Agencies . Participants must register in advance of the webinar, and there is a fee for non-TRB Sponsor employees. A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hour...

TRB’s Transportation Research Circular E-C162: Winter Maintenance and Surface Transportation Weather includes papers that were presented at the April 30-May 3, 2012, conference in Coralville, Iowa. Issues addressed by the papers include environmental stewardship and sustainability, road safety under winter conditions, decision support systems, winter surface friction, blowing and drifting snow,...

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released the latest issue of its Successes in Stewardship monthly newsletter, which highlights current environmental streamlining practices from around the United States.

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...

The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University has released a report that explores the a framework for levying mileage-based user fees designed to achieve various air quality improvement policy objectives. 

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that explores ecodriving. Ecodriving is a collection of changes to driving behavior and vehicle maintenance designed to impact fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in existing vehicles.

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a request for proposals to compare and contrast environmental resource, regulatory, and other processes that various governmental entities use to facilitate recovery from catastrophic events. Proposals are due May 21, 2012.

The Partnership for AiR Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER) has released a report that examines the extent to which aircraft carbon dioxide emission standards may influence future aircraft fleet development, evolution, and associated fleet-wide carbon dioxide emissions.

Eco-Logica Ltd has released the latest issue of its peer-reviewed journal, which focuses on global research and practices that encourage sustainable transportation.

TRB is cosponsoring the 10th International Symposium on Cold Regions Development (ISCORD) on June 2-3, 2013, in Anchorage, Alaska. The symposium will explore efforts necessary to conduct large scale commercial and research activities in cold regions that don’t have significant adverse effects to the environment as well as to the local population. Issues to be addressed during the symposium incl...

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.

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.

TRB is sponsoring the Waste Management and Resource Efficiency in Transportation Summer Workshop on July 8-11, 2012, in Madison, Wisconsin. The workshop will explore the development and integration of proactive environmental management systems and sustainability concepts into transportation programs in the industry’s evolution from a solid and hazardous waste remediation and managemen...

TRB is sponsoring the Transportation-Related Environmental Analysis, Ecology, and Air Quality Summer Conference on June 24-27, 2012, in Little Rock, Arkansas. The conference will look at the latest developments in approaches, technologies, and policies as they affect environmental, ecology, and air quality challenges of planning, design, construction, and maintenance of surface transportation s...

TRB is sponsoring the Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration Committee Summer Conference on July 22-25, 2012, in Asheville, North Carolina. The conference is designed to explore transportation-related noise and vibration and to examine the environmental impact of alternative strategies and control techniques for reducing noise and vibration levels. Future research needs will also be a topic...

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that explores the extent to which previously-developed performance measures have the potential to evaluate transportation investments and policy decisions that optimize transportation, environmental, economic, and equity outcomes.

In regions across the nation, bridge engineers know that the next major seismic event is coming—maybe tomorrow, maybe centuries from now. DOTs have the critical charge of designing for earthquakes and protecting the lives of travelers.

The North Carolina State University College of Engineering has released the latest issue of its newsletter, which provides updates on the civil, construction, and environmental engineering activities taking place within the college.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a report that integrates research on climate science, disaster risk management, and adaptation to help inform policy discussions on how to reduce and manage the risks of extreme climate events and disasters.  The 594-page full report, 20-page summary for policy makers, video, slide deck, and 2-page fact sheet are av...

VTI (the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) has released a report that explores a method for monitoring the proportion of pedestrian and cycle traffic in Sweden. The report is written in Swedish with an English summary.

VTI (the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) has released a report that explores instances when road operations and maintenance practices may interfere with the ecology and environment of the surrounding land.  The report is written in Swedish with an English summary.

The World Bank has released a report that explores the outlook for world air transport energy consumption; discusses air transport’s impact on the environment; and highlights potential energy efficiency gains in aircraft design, air service operations, and infrastructure design.  The report also examines potential policy options for countries with respect to air transport energy efficiency.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released the latest issue of its Successes in Stewardship monthly newsletter, which highlights current environmental streamlining practices from around the United States.

The National Research Council Canada has released a report that describes a decision-making approach designed to address sustainable design and management of highway bridge decks.  Factors that the approach attempts to balance include minimization of the owner’s costs, users costs, and environmental impacts.