Resources

NCHRP 8-36, Task 65 – This study investigates how state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) use the Commodity Flow Study (CFS) through a review of the literature and practice, highlighting innovative applications of the CFS that others could learn from. It provides an overview of the CFS and describes best practices in the application of the CFS. It further explains the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) and FAF2 and cites a few success stories in using FAF2. Through interviews, it finds that not many states or MPOs are using the CFS but FAF2 is more widely used. Some suggestions in enhancing the FAF2 website have also been offered.

TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Web-Only Document 49: Methods for Forecasting Demand and Quantifying Need for Rural Passenger Transportation is designed as a workbook to help planners with the ability to answer questions regarding the magnitude of the need for public transit services within a geographic area, as well as the annual ridership--i.e. “demand”--that a transit service might be expected to carry.

An Excel spreadsheet for applying the procedures described in TCRP Web-Only Document 49 is available online. Appendix B of the report provides step‐by‐step instructions for use of the spreadsheet.

Last Modified Date: 8/4/2010

Project: Project Information
E-Newsletter Type: Recently Released TRB Publications
TRB Publication Type: TCRP Web-Only Document

NCHRP 08-36, Task 95 - The objective of this research was to plan and conduct a Virtual Conference on Transportation Planning Research Needs. In the past, TRB has sponsored research needs development conferences, such as the Environmental Research Needs in Transportation Conference held in 2002 in Washington, DC. These conferences allow transportation practitioners to meet face-to-face, typically over a two to three-day period, to identify research gaps and help to define research priorities. Unfortunately, face-to-face conferences are a luxury few state DOTs and MPOs can afford today. AASHTO’s Standing Committee on Planning, Subcommittee on Research recognized the need to take a new approach to soliciting, gathering, and compiling research needs statements. The SCOP Subcommittee on Research also wanted a very inclusive process that would bring in perspectives from State DOT and MPO planners from across the country to identify research needs. The Subcommittee proposed a “Virtual Conference” on Transportation Planning Research Needs where participants gather via the Internet or telephone, since this would offer an opportunity to expand the level of participation in defining research needs and developing research project statements.

This report documents the structure of the virtual conference, the resulting research statements, and lessons learned from the experience of utilizing a virtual conference format.

NCHRP 08-36, Task 93 - The purpose of this report is threefold:
1. Review and synthesize a substantial literature on the acceptability of road pricing, drawing out implications for communications and engagement strategies most likely to bring acceptance, adoption, and successful implementation
2. Summarize findings from interviews at various sites around the U.S. with planners engaged in proposing, developing and managing road pricing proposals and projects, again drawing out lessons for maximizing acceptability and prospects for successful implementation
3. Based on the above two sources, provide specific guidance to planners interested in developing road pricing proposals and projects, including communication and engagement examples illustrating guideposts and lessons; also, provide resource links for further information and follow up

NCHRP 08-36, Task 89 - The goal of this guidebook is to make the modeling process more understandable to planning practitioners in order to minimize the potential for misinterpretation, misrepresentation, and misapplication of TDF models in the planning process. Transportation planners should be able to 1) ask and answer critical questions about their agencies’ models and model development processes; 2) understand how robust or sensitive the outputs are, why that matters; and 3) incorporate that knowledge into planning and programming decision-making processes.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released the latest issue of its quarterly newsletter designed to provide information to the transportation planning community. Articles are written and submitted by FHWA and U.S. Federal Transit Administration staff to promote the sharing of ideas, highlight good practices, and inform on current events.

Presentation by Kyle Schneweis of High Street Consulting at the TRB summer meeting.

NCHRP 08-36, Task 90 and 96 - This research focuses on an objective assessment of the state of the practice in the use of traffic micro simulation tools by states and metropolitan areas for transportation planning studies. A major issue faced by state agencies and MPOs is whether the extra overhead associated with developing, applying, and maintaining micro simulation traffic models is warranted and justified. The overall objective of the research is to provide guidance to officials and policy-makers who are considering using micro simulation models for future studies.

Domestic Scan 08-01 - Federal fiscal constraint requirements have been a significant element of the transportation planning process since 1991. Federal guidance and regulation has evolved over the years with the most recent policy guidance issued in April 2009. This scan was initiated to identify some of the best practices that states and MPOs are using to comply with current law and regulation. Practices in seven states and ten MPOs were reviewed and the accompanying report was prepared to share the findings and recommendations. A Webinar was conducted by the Scan Team on February 10, 2010. Go to http://www.statewideplanning.org/news.php?id=25 for more information on the Webinar.

NCHRP 08-36, Task 92 - The focus of this research is to evaluate and report on existing technical methods for estimating motorcycle vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This research summarizes current literature and research, and interviews with both collectors and users of motorcycle VMT estimates. It includes an evaluation of biases that may exist in counting technologies that are in current use and the identification of technologies that appear to be capable of producing more accurate counts of Class 1 vehicles. Recommendations are presented for the next steps to accomplish the mission of more accurate motorcycle VMT estimates to support safety analyses.