Subject: TRB Transportation Research E-Newsletter - September 11, 2007
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:46:41 -0400

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TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH E-NEWSLETTER
Transportation Research Board
of The National Academies
9/11/2007
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SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

***** TRB NEWS *****

* 2008 TRB 87th Annual Meeting: Secure Your Exhibit Space and/or Meeting
Sponsorship Today

* TRB and National Academies Security-Related Products and Links
* Roadway Measurement Evaluation System RFP Revision

* RFP: Test Methods for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse and
Fine Aggregate - Proposals Due October 30, 2007
* RFP: Guidelines for Evaluating and Selecting Modifications to Existing
Roadway Drainage Infrastructure to Improve Water Quality in Ultra-Urban
Areas - Proposals Due November 6, 2007

***** RECENTLY RELEASED TRB PUBLICATIONS *****

* Building the Road Safety Profession in the Public Sector
* Racial and Gender Diversity in State DOTs and Transit Agencies
* Protecting Building Occupants and Operations from Biological and
Chemical Airborne Threats: A Framework for Decision Making

***** FEDERAL RESEARCH NEWS *****

* Successes in Stewardship Newsletter: September 2007
* Maritime Transportation: Major Oil Spills Occur Infrequently, but
Risks to the Federal Oil Spill Fund Remain
* Review of Congressional Earmarks within Department of Transportation
Programs
* Draft National Response Framework Released: Public Comments Requested
* Long-Life Concrete Pavements in Europe and Canada
* Investigating the Use of Color in Timeline Displays

***** STATE RESEARCH NEWS *****

* Permeability of Concrete: Comparison of Conductivity and Diffusion
Methods

***** UNIVERSITY RESEARCH NEWS *****

* HSRC Directions: Summer 2007

***** IN THE KNOW *****

* Hearing on Structurally Deficient Bridges in the United States

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TRB News
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2008 TRB 87TH ANNUAL MEETING: SECURE YOUR EXHIBIT SPACE AND/OR MEETING
SPONSORSHIP TODAY
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=7815

For the first time ever, TRB is offering two opportunities for
businesses and other organizations to showcase themselves, and to show
their support for transportation research and innovation at the 2008 TRB
87th Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2008, in Washington, D.C. TRB is
launching commercial exhibits at which products and services may be
presented to the more than 10,000 transportation professionals in
attendance during the meeting. In addition, general meeting and targeted
sponsorship opportunities are available. Hurry, more than half the
exhibit space and a number of the limited sponsorship opportunities have
been reserved. TRB's Annual Meeting Prospectus includes general exhibit
information, exhibit rules and regulations, and details on the general
and targeted sponsorship packages. Exhibit space and/or sponsorship
packages may be purchased using TRB's exhibit and sponsorship
application online system. Exhibit reservations close on December 15,
2007, or when available space sells out. Sponsorship packages are
available until December 15, 2007.

TRB AND NATIONAL ACADEMIES SECURITY RELATED PRODUCTS AND LINKS
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=5195

Since September 11, 2001, citizens and government have looked to the
scientific and engineering research community to develop faster and more
effective ways to detect, thwart, and respond to terrorist attacks on
the transportation system. TRB and other divisions of the National
Academies have developed a bookshelf of resources and guides for
transportation professionals, decision makers, and members of the
general public on ways to enhance transportation security.

ROADWAY MEASUREMENT EVALUATION SYSTEM RFP REVISION
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8112

TRB's Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP 2) has discovered a
formatting error on Appendix A, the preliminary list of data elements,
associated with the July 30, 2007, request for proposals for SHRP 2
safety project S03: Roadway Measurement Evaluation System. The
formatting error caused elements in the chart to be misaligned. A
corrected version of the chart as part of the S03 RFP is now available.
The deadline for submission of proposals remains September 18, 2007.

RFP: TEST METHODS FOR SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND ABSORPTION OF COARSE AND FINE
AGGREGATE - PROPOSALS DUE OCTOBER 30, 2007
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8109

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a
request for proposals to develop improved test methods for determining
the specific gravity and absorption of coarse and fine aggregates for
consideration by the AASHTO Highway Subcommittee on Materials.

RFP: GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING AND SELECTING MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING
ROADWAY DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN ULTRA-URBAN
AREAS - PROPOSALS DUE NOVEMBER 6, 2007
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8110

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a
request for proposals to develop guidelines for evaluating and selecting
hydraulic modifications to existing drainage infrastructure in order to
reduce pollutant loads and concentrations in ultra-urban areas.

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Recently Released TRB Publications
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BUILDING THE ROAD SAFETY PROFESSION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8114

TRB Special Report 289: Building the Road Safety Profession in the
Public Sector examines the growing need for experts at all levels of
government to develop and implement systems- and science-based
approaches to road safety management. According to the committee that
authored the report, the lack of professional recognition and
comprehensive road safety education and training opportunities is
threatening the ability of public agencies to build the knowledgeable
and skilled road safety workforce that is needed to make safety
advances. To address this need, the report recommends that the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the
Governors Highway Safety Association forge a broad-based alliance of
public, private, and educational organizations to champion the road
safety profession. The report recommends that the alliance encourage
states to take advantage of federal workforce training funds for the
purpose of developing road safety professionals and to advocate
comprehensive road safety education and training by universities,
including the many publicly funded transportation and safety research
centers. In addition, the report urges the alliance to explore the
creation of one or more specialized institutes to provide comprehensive
instruction and training for road safety professionals.

RACIAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY IN STATE DOTS AND TRANSIT AGENCIES
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8027

TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) and National
Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) have jointly produced and
published Racial and Gender Diversity in State DOTs and Transit
Agencies. The product, which can be referred to as TCRP Report 120 or
NCHRP Report 585, examines racial and gender diversity in state
departments of transportation (DOTs) and transit agencies for purposes
of establishing a baseline that reflects the current status of racial
and gender diversity in state DOTs and transit agencies based on
existing data.

PROTECTING BUILDING OCCUPANTS AND OPERATIONS FROM BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL AIRBORNE THREATS: A FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION MAKING
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8093

The Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology and the Board on Life
Sciences, both part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and
Life Studies (DELS), have released a report that examines existing work
on preventing and mitigating the effects of airborne biological or
chemical threat agents released within or infiltrated into built
structures. The report explores general principles that can be derived
from those studies and existing test beds and reviews the cost, benefit,
and risks of potential protection schemes. DELS, like TRB, is a
division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy
of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and
National Research Council.

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Federal Research News
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SUCCESSES IN STEWARDSHIP NEWSLETTER: SEPTEMBER 2007
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8116

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. This issue explores the design-build final rule that outlines
new contracting procedures to streamline project development.

MARITIME TRANSPORTATION: MAJOR OIL SPILLS OCCUR INFREQUENTLY, BUT RISKS
TO THE FEDERAL OIL SPILL FUND REMAIN
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8120

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that
explores the number of major marine oil spills that have occurred since
1990 and their total cost. The report also examines the factors that
affect the cost of spills and the implications of major oil spills for
the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. According to the GAO, when oil
spills occur in U.S. waters, federal law places primary liability on the
vessel owner or operator-that is, the responsible party-up to a
statutory limit. As a supplement to this "polluter pays" approach, a
federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund administered by the Coast Guard
pays for costs when a responsible party does not or cannot pay.

REVIEW OF CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8121

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Office of the Inspector
General has released a report that explores congressional earmarks
within DOT programs. The report examines the total number and amount of
earmarks within the DOT for fiscal year 2006, the inclusion of earmarks
in DOT's annual planning and project evaluation processes, and the
effects of earmarks on DOT's mission and goals. The report was
requested by U.S. Representative Tom Coburn as ranking member of the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on
Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services,
and International Security.

DRAFT NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK RELEASED: PUBLIC COMMENTS REQUESTED
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8122

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a draft
National Response Framework (NRF) for a 30-day public comment period.
Once finalized, the framework will become the successor to the National
Response Plan. The framework, which focuses on response and short-term
recovery, is intended to articulate the doctrine, principles, and
architecture by which the nation prepares for and responds to all hazard
disasters, across all levels of government, and all sectors of
communities. The framework is designed to be responsive to repeated
federal, state, and local requests for a streamlined document that is
shorter, less bureaucratic, and more user-friendly. The framework is
intended for senior elected and appointed leaders including federal
agency heads, state governors, mayors, tribal leaders, and city
managers. It may also be useful to emergency management practitioners
by explaining the operating structures and tools routinely used by first
responders and emergency managers at all levels of government.

LONG-LIFE CONCRETE PAVEMENTS IN EUROPE AND CANADA
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8123

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of International
Programs has released a report that explores design philosophies,
materials requirements, construction practices, and maintenance
strategies used to construct and manage portland cement concrete
pavements with long-life expectancies in Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

INVESTIGATING THE USE OF COLOR IN TIMELINE DISPLAYS
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8111

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has released a report that
examines how the use of color in air traffic control-related displays
affects performance. According to the report, he use of six color
categories, as compared to three, significantly improved subjects'
accuracy in performing search and problem-solving tasks; however, beyond
six color categories, performance accuracy was not significantly aided
and was possibly degraded.

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State Research News
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PERMEABILITY OF CONCRETE: COMPARISON OF CONDUCTIVITY AND DIFFUSION
METHODS
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8115

The Florida Department of Transportation has released a report that
compares the accuracy of four rapid test procedures with two long-term
immersion tests designed to determine the amount of chloride resistance
of different concrete mixtures.

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University Research News
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HSRC DIRECTIONS: SUMMER 2007
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8119

The University of North Carolina's (UNC's) Highway Safety Research
Center (HSRC) has released the latest edition of its newsletter.
Articles in this issue of Directions include the following:
* HSRC Project Develops an Expert System for Speed Management
* Tribal School Zones Toolkit Offered as New Pedestrian Safety Resource

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In The Know
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HEARING ON STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT BRIDGES IN THE UNITED STATES
-> http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8117

On September 5, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing to explore structurally
deficient bridges on the National Highway System. Additional background
on the hearing is available online, along with opening statements and
testimony submitted by the witnesses in advance of the hearing.

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RECENTLY ADDED PROJECTS TO THE RESEARCH IN PROGRESS DATABASE
The Research In Progress (RiP) Database contains over 6,500 records of
current or recently completed transportation research projects.
http://rip.trb.org/browse/additions.asp?days=7
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The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is a division of the National
Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, National
Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research
Council. The mission of TRB is to promote innovation and progress in
transportation through research. In an objective and interdisciplinary
setting, the Board facilitates the sharing of information on
transportation practice and policy by researchers and practitioners;
stimulates research and offers research management services that promote
technical excellence; provides expert advice on transportation policy
and programs; and disseminates research results broadly and encourages
their implementation.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES: Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering,
and Medicine
The nation turns to the National Academies - National Academy of
Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and
National Research Council - for independent, objective advice on issues
that affect people's lives worldwide.
http://www.national-academies.org

The TRB Transportation Research E-Newsletter regularly covers
transportation research developments in the United States and abroad.
All articles appearing in the E-Newsletter are also available on TRB's
web page . This document is not a report of the National Research
Council or of the National Academies. The opinions expressed in reports
highlighted in TRB's Transportation Research E-Newsletter are those of
the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Transportation Research Board.

Suggestions or comments on content of the TRB Transportation Research
E-Newsletter may be sent to Russell Houston, Senior Program Officer,
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