#### *Transit Research Update -- July 2008* 

# *Contents*

*To view any article listed, use the mouse and control/click on the
title.*

[SPECIAL](#special)

[U.S. Transportation Secretary Peters Unveils - New Approach for
America's Transportation Future
3](#u.s.-transportation-secretary-peters-unveils---new-approach-for-americas-transportation-future)

[Public Transportation Trade Mission to India, September 2008
3](#public-transportation-trade-mission-to-india-september-2008)

[Message to you from Congress: *Take the stairs*!
3](#message-to-you-from-congress-take-the-stairs)

[FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER](#__RefHeading___Toc206471302)

[Meeting with Wiener Linien, Vienna's Public Transport Authority
3](#meeting-with-wiener-linien-viennas-public-transport-authority)

[Paris, France- Provision of Technical Assistance
3](#paris-france--provision-of-technical-assistance)

[Rail Safety Audit Course Development (OK-26-7008)
3](#rail-safety-audit-course-development-ok-26-7008)

[State of Good Repair Summit 3](#state-of-good-repair-summit)

[Visit by Director of French Public Service Management Institute
3](#visit-by-director-of-french-public-service-management-institute)

[FEDERAL RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS](#__RefHeading___Toc206471309)

[Accident Modification Factors for Traffic Engineering and Its
Improvements 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[Evaluating Innovative Practices 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[511 Deployment Coalition May 2008 Update and Statistics Report
3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis Funding Proposals Being
Accepted 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[Pedestrian Safety Prediction Methodology - Web-Only Document 129, Phase
3 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[Resources for Legal Issues Associated with Bus Maintenance
3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation, Special Report 294
3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[Urine Specimen Collection Guidelines for the U.S. Department of
Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Revised - Effective
August 25, 2008) 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471318)

[RESEARCH NEWS & INFORMATION](#research-news-information)

[Conference: Meeting Federal Surface Transportation Requirements in
Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning
3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471320)

[Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471321)

[New 15-Year Mass Transit Expansion Package Offers Rail Extensions
3](#new-15-year-mass-transit-expansion-package-offers-rail-extensions)

[Online TDM Encyclopedia 3](#online-tdm-encyclopedia)

[Senate Press Release on ADA Amendments
3](#senate-press-release-on-ada-amendments)

[TSA Expand Registered Traveler Program
3](#tsa-expand-registered-traveler-program)

[Vehicle Lift Accessories can be Certified
3](#vehicle-lift-accessories-can-be-certified)

[UNIVERSITIES](#universities)

[Is the U.S. on the Path to the Lowest Motor Vehicle Fatalities in
Decades? 3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471328)

[Algorithms and Software/Hardware Infrastructure for Distributed
Miniature Robots -- Research in Progress
3](#__RefHeading___Toc206471329)

[Guidelines and Performance Measures to Incorporate Transit and Other
Multimodal Considerations into the FDOT DRI Review Process
3](#guidelines-and-performance-measures-to-incorporate-transit-and-other-multimodal-considerations-into-the-fdot-dri-review-process)

~=============================================================================================================================================================================================~

## SPECIAL

### U.S. Transportation Secretary Peters Unveils - New Approach for America's Transportation Future

ATLANTA -- A clean and historic break with the past is needed to
encourage the future vitality of our country's transportation network,
said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, who unveiled the Bush
Administration's new plan to *refocus, reform and renew* the national
approach to highway and transit systems in America.

The Secretary said the plan sets a course for reforming the nation's
transportation programs by outlining a renewed federal focus on
maintaining and improving the Interstate highway system... The *reform
plan* also calls for greatly reducing over 102 federal transportation
programs ... replacing them with eight comprehensive, intermodal
programs that will help focus instead of dilute investments, and cut the
dizzying red-tape forced upon local planners, she said.

Secretary Peters said a hallmark of the plan is a refocused and
redoubled emphasis on safety, using a data and technology-driven
approach that also gives states maximum flexibility to tackle their
toughest safety challenges. *A copy of the reform plan is available at*
\[[www.fightgridlocknow.gov](http://www.fightgridlocknow.gov/)\]. *A
copy of the remarks can be found at*
\[<http://www.dot.gov/affairs/peters072908.htm>\].

### Public Transportation Trade Mission to India, September 2008 

Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson will be leading a public
transportation trade mission to India from September 22-30, 2008. The
cities on this itinerary include New Delhi (September 22-23);
Visakhapatnam (September 24-25); Hyderabad (September 26-27); and Mumbai
(September 28-30).

India is investing a considerable amount of funding to improve its urban
transportation system over the next several years.  There are 393
metropolitan areas in India that have a population of 100,000 or more,
and 63 of these cities have over one-half million population. These 63
cities have been targeted by the national government for significant
urban transportation improvements.

The country's urban population is currently around 30 percent of its
total population. Experience throughout the world indicates that, as
economies grow, rapid urbanization takes this proportion to over 60
percent before stabilization occurs. In recognition of this growth, the
Indian Ministry of Urban Development has identified 12 cities to be
awarded grants ranging from \$100-150 million to improve their urban
transportation systems.

This mission will begin in New Delhi, the seat of the national
government. The city is developing plans for a 200-250 mile rail system,
as well as a significant expansion of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Experimental Line. The delegation will meet with senior officials from
New Delhi Metro and the BRT Experimental Line. An industry roundtable is
also being planned that will provide an opportunity for the U.S. public
transportation industry to engage in dialogue with government and
private sector organizations from India. Read Online
\[<http://www.fta.dot.gov/assistance/international/research_4492.html>\]

To find out more about this trade mission, please contact Mr. Ronald
Boenau at (202-366-0195), <Ronald.Boenau@dot.gov>.; or Mr. Venkat
Pindiprolu at (202-366-8061), <Venkat.Pindiprolu@dot.gov>.

### Message to you from Congress: *Take the stairs*! 

The Senate Appropriations Committee apparently is concerned about
federal employees' health. The message from the Committee is twofold:

*1) Use of Stairs*.---The Committee expects a stronger effort to promote
the use of stairs in Federal buildings. The use of stairs improves
health of Federal workers and the general population, while improving
the efficiency of Federal buildings.

*2) Promoting Energy Efficiency Through Use of Revolving Doors*.---The
Committee supports the promotion of the use of revolving doors over
swing doors by staff, tenants, and visitors to Federal buildings as a
significant role in energy conservation...The Committee directs GSA to
take steps to promote energy efficiency and encourage employees and
visitors to use revolving doors when possible, and to report back to the
Committee no later than 120 days after enactment of this act on intended
steps and progress achieved to date. More Online
\[<http://www.fcw.com/blogs/editor/153204-1.html>\]

## [[]{#__RefHeading___Toc206471302 .anchor}FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER](#__RefHeading___Toc200519357)

### Meeting with Wiener Linien, Vienna's Public Transport Authority

On July 8, Ron Boenau met with Mr. Martin Huber and Mr. Matthias Winkler
of the Vienna, Austria Public Transport Authority, Wiener Linien. The
meeting addressed public transportation in Vienna and identified issues
mutual to public transportation in both Austria and the U.S. Vienna has
a population of approximately 2 million with a public transportation
system that includes subway \[5 lines with 800 vehicles\], bus \[83
lines with 500 vehicles\] and tram \[31 lines with 800 vehicles\]. The
non-auto mode split includes 35 percent for public transportation, 28
percent for pedestrian, and 5 percent for bicycles with a satisfaction
rating of 85 percent. Wiener Linien is interested in maintaining
communication with the Federal Transit Administration to exchange
information on public transportation advanced technologies and
innovative services. The June 2009 International Association of Public
Transport will conduct its World Congress in Vienna. Contact
Ronald.Boenau@dot.gov

### Paris, France- Provision of Technical Assistance

Michael Winter and Dana Loll traveled to Paris, France on July 2, 2008
to provide technical assistance to transportation and government
officials on the implementation of France's recently passed disability
legislation. Michael and Dana met with representatives from Air France,
the French metro rail and with a representative of the French parliament
during the course of this trip. Contact <Dana.Loll@dot.gov>.

### Rail Safety Audit Course Development (OK-26-7008)

On July 16, the FTA Office of Procurement awarded an intra-agency
reimbursable agreement (IAA) to the Research and Innovative Technology
Administration (RITA) for development, by the Transportation Safety
Institute (TSI) in Oklahoma City, of a training course in conducting
rail transit safety and security audits. Contact *FTA Staff Member,
\[Henry.Nejako@dot.gov\]*

### State of Good Repair Summit

Mike Flanigon, Director of Office of Technology and Staff member,
Terrell Williams, drafted a White Paper for the upcoming State of Good
Repair Summit (SGR Summit), that will take place August 13 -- 14, in the
DOT Conference Center. The White Paper was circulated for comment.
Deputy Administrator Sherry Little is spearheading FTA's leadership role
in creating solutions to maintaining and updating the nation's
deteriorating transit infrastructures. For more information, please
contact \[Terrell. Williams@DOT.gov\].

### Visit by Director of French Public Service Management Institute

Pierre Van de Vyver, Director General of the Institut de la Gestion
Deleguée, (French Institute for Delegated Public Service Management),
will visit with FTA officials in early September 2008 to discuss
cooperation in the area of innovative financing, and especially public
private partnerships (PPPs). The Institute was a partner of the 1^st^
French-American workshop on public transportation and innovative
financing held in Lyon at the beginning of July. The Institute works on
improving PPPs (contractual frameworks, relationship between public
authorities and private operators, enhancement of the public interest
through PPPs, etc.) in a wide range of sectors: urban transportation,
parking, water supply and wastewater, waste management, urban heating
networks, collective catering, tourism and leisure, specialized real
estate and corporate building management, sport and recreational
facilities, highways and bridges, airports and seaports, gas and
electric power supply networks, management and information services.
Contact <Rita.Daguillard@dot.gov>. []{#__RefHeading___Toc206471318
.anchor}

## [FEDERAL RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS](#__RefHeading___Toc200519360) 

### Accident Modification Factors for Traffic Engineering and Its Improvements

The *National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 617:*

*Accident Modification Factors for Traffic Engineering and ITS
Improvements* explores the development of accident modification factors
(AMFs) for traffic engineering and intelligent transportation system
improvements. AMFs, also known as crash reduction factors, are designed
to provide a simple and quick way of estimating the safety impacts of
various types of engineering improvements, encompassing the areas of
signing, alignment, channelization, and other traffic engineering
solutions. Online
--\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8965>\]

### Evaluating Innovative Practices

The May-June edition of *TR News Number 256: Evaluating Innovative
Practices* highlights *Scans\' Domestic Program Debut,* in the article
entitled \"Scanning the Home Front for Transportation\'s Best
Practices\". Scan is a domestic scanning program to facilitate state
agency information sharing and technology exchange. Personal contact
with new ideas and their applications is key to the exchange of
information. Both the international and domestic experiences have shown
that the Scan approach is productive, encouraging the spread of
information and innovation. Other articles in this edition are:

-   
-   
-   

Promoting Public Health Through Transportation Planning;Walking to
Transit Stations: How Far?Preparing for Climate Change.Available Online
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_browse.asp?id=12>\]

### 511 Deployment Coalition May 2008 Update and Statistics Report

###  ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.3in" height="0.20208333333333334in"} With all but two of America\'s deployed 511 Traveler Information Services reporting call statistics for the month of May 2008, the usage statistics for 511 telephone services in North America and Canada reported to the 511 Deployment Coalition totaled *2,380.004 Calls.* Over 112 million calls nationwide were made since inception; 8 consecutive months with over 2 million calls; 511 service were available to over 128 million Americans (47%) and almost 1 million Canadians (3%). Currently *forty-three 511 telephone services are operating in 33 states and 2 provinces* that are available to the traveling public. In addition, there are *30 active co-branded 511 Websites*, as of May 1, 2008. For more information please visit \[[http://www.deploy511.org](http://www.deploy511.org/)\]. See also \[<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/511.htm>\] Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis Funding Proposals Being Accepted

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) *[Program
Announcement](http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sp/IDEA_announcement.pdf)*
explains the IDEA programs, describes the two types of eligible projects
and their funding structures, suggests general areas for which IDEA
proposals are solicited, and provides guidelines and forms for
submitting proposals. [*The IDEA
programs*](http://www.trb.org/Studies/Programs/IDEA.asp) provide
start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface
transportation systems. The programs' goals are to seek out and support
new transportation solutions that are unlikely to be funded through
traditional sources.  The deadline for the next review cycle for
*Transit IDEA* *proposals is September 1, 2008.*  The Transit IDEA
Program is sponsored by FTA and conducted in the Transit Cooperative
Research Program which is administered by the Transportation Research
Board. The deadline for Safety IDEA proposals is March 1, 2009. More
Online \[http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=7316\]

### Pedestrian Safety Prediction Methodology - Web-Only Document 129, Phase 3 

The *National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only
Document 129, Phase 3: Pedestrian Safety Prediction Methodology*
explores development of improved pedestrian safety prediction models for
use in the Highway Safety Manual. Models are currently not available
that can help predict pedestrian crashes based on site-specific
conditions and operational characteristics of a roadway. The objective
of this Phase 3 work is to develop a methodology for quantifying the
pedestrian safety effects related to existing site characteristics
and/or proposed improvements on urban and suburban arterials. The scope
of this new work is similar to the scope of the work in Phases 1 and 2,
except the new work specifically addresses pedestrian safety. Online
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9255>\]

### Resources for Legal Issues Associated with Bus Maintenance 

TRB\'s *Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Legal Research
Digest*

*26: Resources for Legal Issues Associated with Bus Maintenance*
explores current federal and state statutes, regulations, and guidance
related to bus maintenance. TCRP Legal Research Digest is sponsored by
FTA and conducted in the Transit Cooperative Research Program which is
administered by the Transportation Research Board. More Online

\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9312>\]

### The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation, Special Report 294

*TRB Special Report 294: The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation*
explores the roles that transit systems can play in accommodating the
evacuation, egress, and ingress of people from or to critical locations
in times of emergency. The report focuses on major incidents that could
necessitate a partial to full evacuation of the central business
district or other large portion of an urban area. The study was
requested by Congress, funded by the FTA and the Transit Cooperative
Research Program, and conducted by a committee of experts under the
auspices of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). It is organized
around the four major elements of effective emergency
planning---mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

This report provides an overview of emergency planning in general and
evacuation planning in particular; highlights the factors that affect
the role of transit in an emergency evacuation and reports on the
findings of the committee\'s literature review. The study focus is on
the 38 largest urbanized areas, including the results of the
committee\'s plan assessment and case studies. The fifth and final
chapter summarizes the committee\'s judgment regarding the factors
critical to enhancing transit\'s role in emergency evacuation as well as
the limits on the use of transit. Recommendations and suggestions for
supporting research are included, along with action steps needed at the
federal, state, and local levels. Available Online
\[<http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr294.pdf>\]

### Urine Specimen Collection Guidelines for the U.S. Department of Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Revised - Effective August 25, 2008)

These guidelines are a complete revision of the December 1994 (last
revised in December 2006) DOT Urine Specimen Collection Procedures
Guidelines, 49 CFR Part 40, for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing
Programs. The guidelines contain all of the new requirements and
procedures contained in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rule
published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2000, effective August
1, 2001; in the Technical Amendments, published on August 9, 2001; in
the Interim Final rule, published on November 9, 2004; and in the Final
Rule, published on June 25, 2008, effective August 25, 2008. These
guidelines apply [only]{.underline} to employers and individuals who
come under the regulatory authority of the DOT and those individuals who
conduct urine specimen collections under DOT regulations. Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Publications/order/singledoc.asp?docid=802>\]

## RESEARCH NEWS & INFORMATION

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc206471320 .anchor}**Conference: Meeting Federal
Surface Transportation Requirements in Statewide and Metropolitan
Transportation Planning**

TRB is sponsoring a conference on Meeting Federal Surface Transportation
Requirements in Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning: A
Conference on September 3-5, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference
will focus on planning issues in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and
examine issues such as incorporating safety into the planning process,
congestion management, statewide travel demand forecasting models,
environmental considerations, fiscal issue in planning, and climate
change. Advance registration expires August 5, 2008. MoreOnline
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8541>\]

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc206471321 .anchor}**Downtown Seattle Transit
Tunnel**

*"The first time ever that trains and buses ran together in the
tunnel."* The newly retrofitted \[[Downtown Seattle Transit
Tunnel](http://www.seattletunnel.org/)\] reopened on schedule for
weekday bus service Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Sound Transit light rail
trains will operate jointly with buses in the tunnel when the 13.9-mile
rail line begins operation between Downtown Seattle and the airport in
2009.

*2008-06-30 Update*. Sound Transit has contracted King County Metro
Transit to be the operator of Sound Transit\'s Link Light Rail,
scheduled to begin revenue operations in 2009. Metro has phased out the
dual-mode Breda buses that operated in the tunnel before its two-year
closure 2005-2007, the construction period in which Sound Transit
installed insulated rails for the light rail trains, removed the trolley
bus wires, and installed overhead power that will serve light rail.
Metro now operates *articulated diesel-electric hybrid buses i*n the
Downtown Seattle Tunnel at headways/frequencies *compatible with* the
coming intermixing of *two-car light rail trains* next year.

Sound Transit CEO reported in her \"CEO Report, June 27, 2008\" the
following: \"This week I have another milestone to report...we
successfully ran light rail trains and buses together in the tunnel.
This was ...the first time ever that trains and buses ran together in
the tunnel. The good news is the test showed that the system works very
well and trains and buses can both safely occupy the tunnel. Two light
rail trains and nine buses were used in Friday's test, which took about
90 minutes.\" [Sound Transit](http://www.soundtransit.org/x2592.xml)
Project Update \[http://www.soundtransit.org/x2592.xml\]

### New 15-Year Mass Transit Expansion Package Offers Rail Extensions

July 10, 2008. The Sound Transit Board today discussed a new 15-year
option for expanding mass transit. The new option calls for further
light rail extensions while delivering a series of significant sounder
commuter rail and ST Express regional bus service expansions between
2009 and 2023. "This package would achieve a 53-mile regional light rail
system by 2023 while focusing on moving quickly to launch major commuter
rail and regional express bus expansions," said Sound Transit Board
Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Online
\[http://www.soundtransit.org/x8353.xml\]

### Online TDM Encyclopedia

The *Online TDM Encyclopedia* is the world's most comprehensive
information resource concerning innovative transportation management
strategies. It describes dozens of Transportation Demand Management
(TDM) strategies and contains information on TDM planning, evaluation
and implementation. It has thousands of
[hyperlinks](http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm12.htm) that provide instant
access to more detailed information, including case studies and
reference documents. The Encyclopedia has an international perspective,
with ideas and examples from all over the world, including both
developed and developing countries. The Encyclopedia is created and
maintained by the [Victoria Transport Policy
Institute](http://www.vtpi.org/) (VTPI), an independent research
organization located in Victoria, British Columbia. Online
\[http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm12.htm\]

### Senate Press Release on ADA Amendments

The following is a press release from Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah who
along with Senator Harkin of Iowa have sponsored a bi-partisan bill to
overturn the Supreme Court\'s narrowing of the scope and application of
the 
[ADA](http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2008/06/action-needed-o.html).
Here is an un-annotated version of the pending bill. [Download
ada_restoration_bill.doc](http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/files/ada_restoration_bill.doc)
The bill has already passed the
[House](http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2008/07/us-house-overwh.html).
The reforms in the bill would also apply to section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act.  ADA Amendments Act Responds To Supreme Court
Decisions that Wrongly Narrowed Definition of Disability. Read more
about the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and how it will restore the civil
rights of people with disabilities.
\[<http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2008/08/senate-press-re.html>\]

See also
\[<http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/07/senate-ada-amen.html>\]

### TSA Expand Registered Traveler Program

The Transportation Security Administration announced recently that it is
opening the Registered Traveler program to any airport that wants to use
it, and is eliminating the \$28 fee it has charged to perform background
checks. But TSA also is distancing itself from the public-private
program, which uses biometric cards for identity verification to speed
members through airport security checkpoints. It is not considered a
meaningful part of the agency's security mandate. Registered Traveler
programs now are in operation in 19 U.S. airports. TSA will conclude the
third and final pilot phase of the program with publication early next
week of a notice in the Federal Register. More Online
\[http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/46735-1.html\]

### Vehicle Lift Accessories can be Certified 

Vehicle lift accessories, like adapters, adapter extensions and rolling
jacks, enable technicians to perform more services on a greater range of
vehicles than they could with a standard lift. Like vehicle lifts
themselves, these accessories can be third-party certified to meet
ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2006 safety standards. In fact, the Automotive Lift
Institute (ALI) states that "the use of non-certified options or
accessories on a certified lift will void the certification of the
lift." Building codes for every U.S. state and much of Canada require
that all installed vehicle lifts be certified. More Online
\[<http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=6695>\]

**Workshop on Identifying Traveler Information Research Needs to Achieve
All Roads-All Modes-All The Time**

Workshop on Identifying Traveler Information Research Needs to Achieve
All Roads-All Modes-All the Time will be held on September 16-18, 2008,
in Irvine, California. The workshop is designed to examine traveler
information research and policy issues in terms of the goal of \"All
Roads-All Modes-All the Time.\" The workshop will bring together
traveler information researchers, policy makers, public and private
sector service providers, transport network managers, and modelers to
explore current knowledge and potential research needs. The mid-year
meeting of TRB\'s Intelligent Transportation Systems Committee will also
be held during this workshop. Early bird registration ends August 15,
2008. Online \[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9253>\]

## UNIVERSITIES 

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc206471328 .anchor}**Is the U.S. on the Path to the
Lowest Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Decades?**\
The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute, July 2008

Trends in U.S. motor vehicle fatalities, gasoline sales, and distance
driven were examined

for 12 months from May 2007 through April 2008. The results show
substantial year-to-year reductions in motor vehicle fatalities during
this time period that cannot be fully

explained by the reductions in gasoline sales and distance driven. This
is especially the

case for the latest two months examined (March and April 2008). Here,
the reductions in

motor vehicle fatalities averaged 20%, while the reductions in gasoline
sales and distance

driven were in low single-digits. Consequently, it appears that a major
shift in driver

behavior might be occurring. More Online
\[<http://www.umich.edu/~umtriswt/publications.html>\]

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc206471329 .anchor}**Algorithms and
Software/Hardware Infrastructure for Distributed Miniature Robots --
Research in Progress**\
\[<http://www.cts.umn.edu/Research/ProjectDetail.html?id=2007116>\]\
The development of large-scale robot teams has been prohibitive for a
number of reasons. The complexity of such systems has been hard to
simulate, especially in the case of a many to one relationship between a
marsupial robot and the robots it can deploy. However, there are
scenarios in which large scale distributed teams are advantageous such
as urban search and rescue, biological or chemical release monitoring,
or distributed surveillance and reconnaissance. This project will pursue
research into a hardware/software infrastructure to improve robotic
response capabilities in the case of robot teams and proposes some
innovative robot designs that depart from the shape and functionality
constraints of the initial platform.\
Start date: 2007/5/15 End date: 2010/4/30 Status: Active\
See Also \[<http://rip.trb.org/browse/dproject.asp?n=18519>\]

### Guidelines and Performance Measures to Incorporate Transit and Other Multimodal Considerations into the FDOT DRI Review Process 

The National Center for Transit Research at the University of South
Florida has released a report that explores incorporating transit and
other multimodal strategies in the development of regional impact (DRI)
review process. This report supplements the instructions for performing
DRI reviews in the "Site Impact Handbook." More Online
\[<http://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/77703.pdf>\]