The Office of Operations Research and Development 

(R&D) produces technology and tools to improve 

transportation system productivity, efficiency, and 

performance by proactively anticipating congestion 

and managing traffic. 

REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF CONGESTION

Advancing Speed Harmonization

Speed harmonization uses transportation network 

data to generate optimal speed recommendations 

for drivers. It has the potential to create smoother 

and safer traffic flow during recurring congestion 

periods, reduce travel time, and reduce fuel 

consumption. 

Using Intelligent Traffic Signals

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

Saxton Transportation Operations Lab’s Intelligent 

Intersection uses advanced signal controls to enable 

operations applications. To further advance the 

development of vehicle-to-infrastructure enabling 

technologies, signal phase and timing (SPaT) 

messages will be integrated with more accurate 

positioning solutions; wireless communications 

technologies; larger-scale, more detailed maps with 

attribute layers such as lane lines, pavement edges, 

and road signs; and more robust interoperable 

roadside equipment. 

Predicting Congestion in Work Zones

This research seeks to determine how drivers’ carfollowing behavior differs between freeways and 

work zones. An instrumented vehicle equipped with 

radar, a Global Positioning System, speed sensors, 

and cameras will measure the relative distance and 

speed under the two network conditions. 

IMPROVING SYSTEM MOBILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND 

RELIABILITY

Improving Environmental Performance Through 

Connected Vehicle Technology

Applications for the Environment: Real-Time 

Information Synthesis is a U.S. Department of 

Transportation intelligent transportation systems 

(ITS) initiative to identify transformative concepts 

that will substantially improve environmental 

performance of vehicles. The most promising 

applications were selected to undergo a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis. For example, the Eco 

Approach to Traffic Signals application will allow 

vehicles to use the most fuel-efficient and lowest 

emissions-producing speed when approaching and 

leaving an intersection. 

Using State-of-the-Art Laboratories

The Saxton Lab houses state-of-the-art modeling and 

simulation tools and cutting-edge communication 

technologies to support the development of applications for advanced operations. The lab allows multidisciplinary teams to work together to generate new 

ideas and advance the state of the practice. R&D 

capabilities at the Saxton Lab are organized into 

three testbeds: the Data Resources Testbed (DRT), 

the Concepts and Analysis Testbed (CoAT), and the 

Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Testbed (CVHT).

DRT supports the collection, processing, analysis, 

formatting, and storage of data from the Saxton 

Lab to support the development and advancement 

of applications. CoAT enables the development 

and evaluation of the potential benefits of largescale deployments of these applications through 

modeling and simulation. The Saxton Lab’s modeling 

capabilities provide opportunities for researchers to 

explore innovative solutions with no safety risks and 

minimal expenses. The results of these simulations 

provide a basis for testing the best outcomes on 

CVHT. CVHT provides testing facilities for collecting 

data on the performance impacts that new concepts 

and equipment will have.

Delivering Next Generation Cruise Control

The ITS Dynamic Mobility Applications program seeks 

to create applications that fully leverage frequently 

collected and rapidly disseminated multisource data 

gathered from connected travelers, vehicles, and 

infrastructure. The goal of this program is to improve 

transportation network efficiency and mobility while 

reducing negative environmental impacts and safety 

risks. Under this program, a high-priority mobility 

application, Intelligent Network Flow Optimization, 

builds on the results of a recent Exploratory 

Advanced Research (EAR) project that suggests 

that cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) can 

effectively double the practical capacity of an urban 

OPERATIONS

R&D Research and Development

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
freeway. With CACC, vehicles communicate with each 

other and with the infrastructure to safely follow each 

other at closer distances, eliminating gaps in traffic and 

improving traffic flow at congested intersections. 

ADVANCING OPERATIONS PROCESSES 

AND DECISIONS

Creating Living Laboratories and Forming Innovative 

Partnerships

With the advent of new and emerging transportation 

technologies (e.g., cooperative vehicle-highway 

systems) and research disciplines (e.g., cyber physical 

systems), there is an increasing need for researchers 

and owners/operators of testing facilities to forge 

partnerships and quickly share their knowledge and 

transfer technologies. To leverage the growing investment in living laboratories throughout the United 

States, FHWA is developing a knowledge resource 

that will identify transportation operations research 

resources to allow for more efficient and timely 

exchange of information and technology. 

Improving Transportation Analysis Tools 

The Office of Operations R&D is conducting research 

to advance the understanding of traveler choices 

and their impacts on the operations and safety of the 

transportation system. This project will encourage the 

transportation community to develop and use national 

and regional traveler choice data and adjustment factors 

to improve transportation models and forecasts.

Improving Transportation Planning and 

Operations Using New Data Hub Approach

Simulation models used in transportation analysis 

are not well integrated among different domains 

(e.g., operations, safety, and environment) and for 

different levels of analysis. A prototype data hub and 

data schema called Nexta was developed to input data 

and display simulation results in a common format in 

an open-source environment. Results from the tests 

showed that the data hub concept overcomes many of 

the previous shortcomings associated with integrated 

modeling applications and creates significant time 

savings when conducting analyses.

Managing Multisource Traffic Data

FHWA is investigating ways to take advantage of new 

types and sources of data, such as that obtained from 

wireless devices. Combined with traditional data, 

these new data sources can provide greater insight 

into the real-time status of transportation systems and 

can provide immediate feedback on the impacts of 

transportation management strategies. 

PROMOTING INTERMODAL FREIGHT 

Fostering Automated Freight Capabilities for Energy 

Conservation

Automation and truck platooning can improve safety by 

reducing driver errors and improving mobility by allowing higher traffic flows. Moreover, automation demonstrates energy conservation benefits to the trucking 

industry by preventing fuel-draining stops and starts 

during heavy congestion times and at intersections in 

addition to improving vehicle performance by reducing 

the drag coefficient in platoon formations that allow for 

shorter headways when they are following each other. 

FHWA’s EAR program is studying the automation of 

heavy trucks to improve the feasibility and operations 

of truck platooning. 

INCREASING HIGHWAY SAFETY AND RESILIENCY 

Improving Traveler Information Technologies to 

Enhance Safety and Mobility 

FHWA is conducting research to better manage driver 

behavior in the dilemma zone (i.e., the decisionmaking 

dilemma of whether to speed through or slow to a 

stop during a yellow light at a signalized intersection). 

Increasingly effective applications, such as the 

prototypes of dedicated short-range communication 

(DSRC), roadside equipment, onboard equipment, and 

SPaT, are being developed to alleviate this problem. 

Using Enabling Technologies, Navigation, and 

Communications 

Many of today’s operations technologies were initially 

developed for nontransportation purposes and must 

now be tailored to meet the needs of the transportation 

environment. For example, wireless communications 

technologies such as DSRC are being improved to 

meet the critical safety needs of a connected vehicle 

environment. More accurate and reliable positioning, 

navigation, and timing technologies are being 

developed to determine specific vehicle locations 

within fast-moving traffic. Advanced sensors are being 

developed to automatically detect pedestrians at 

crosswalks, better identify motorcycles and bicycles, 

and determine arterial travel times and origin/

destination pairs. Finally, assistive technologies are 

being adapted to address the unique needs of travelers 

with disabilities.

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