FHWA R&T Now

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POLICY & PARTNERSHIPS

FHWA Awards $15.5 Million to Six States

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced it will award $15.5 million in 

Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) grants to six States that are exploring 

new ways to fund highway and bridge projects.

STSFA was established under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which was 

signed into law in December 2015 and authorized 5 years of critically needed funding and key 

programs to improve the Nation’s freight transportation system and U.S. economic 

competitiveness. 

According to FHWA officials, alternatives to conventional financing are seen as imperative due to 

the Highway Trust Fund’s gradual inability to keep pace with increasing construction and repair 

costs nationwide. “To ensure the U.S. road system is the best in the world, we can no longer rely 

solely on the Federal gas tax and the Highway Trust Fund,” said Acting FHWA Administrator 

Brandye L. Hendrickson. “New sources of funding for the design, construction, and repair of our 

Nation’s roadways have never been more necessary, and these grants will help open the door to 

new financial innovations.”

The STSFA grants fund projects to test the design, implementation, and acceptance of user-based 

alternative revenue tools. FHWA officials selected seven proposals from six States, including 

California, Colorado, Delaware, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington. The departments of 

transportation in these States will carry out the projects. Some of the States will work with 

partners, which include the I-95 Corridor Coalition, the Western Road User Charge Consortium, and 

the Washington State Transportation Commission.

The seven projects will investigate and evaluate various user-based approaches to raising revenue, 

including onboard vehicle technologies to charge drivers based on miles traveled and multistate or 

regional approaches to road user charges. They will address common challenges involved with 

implementing user-based fees such as public acceptance, privacy protection, equity, and 

geographic diversity. The projects will also evaluate the reliability and security of the technologies 

available to implement mileage-based fees.

For more information, contact Nancy Singer, 202-366-0660, nancy.singer@dot.gov. 

A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

November/December 2017

FHWA R&T Now
 FHWA R&T Now

Report Examines National Household Travel 

Survey Outcomes

FHWA recently published the report, “Federal 

Highway Administration Research and 

Technology Evaluation: National Household 

Travel Survey Program Final Report” (FHWAHRT-16-082). This publication examines 

outcomes associated with the National 

Household Travel Survey (NHTS) program, 

namely the extent of NHTS survey usage, the 

impact of the NHTS Program on policy, project, 

and regulatory decisionmaking, and the 

responsiveness of the NHTS Program to its user 

community.

Although it is difficult to trace the specific 

impacts of the NHTS data, researchers found 

many examples demonstrating that NHTS data 

inform a range of policy and legislative 

decisions, both within transportation and in 

other fields (e.g., health, energy). In some cases, 

NHTS provides context and understanding for 

how, when, and why Americans travel, as well 

as trends in travel. This context helps make the 

case for particular policy or legislative initiatives. 

In other cases, NHTS is an important data input 

to a model or statistical analysis, which is used, 

in turn, to influence policy or legislation. At the 

State and local levels, NHTS has its greatest 

impact in developing, calibrating, or validating 

travel demand models that are used to inform 

transportation planning and project selection. 

The report identifies challenges and lessons 

learned regarding survey planning, survey 

administration, and outreach. 

Recommendations to improve program 

effectiveness are also included. It is available to 

download via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/randt

/evaluations/16082/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact John Moulden, 

202-493-3470, john.moulden@dot.gov. 

EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH

Research to Advance Mechanisms for Exploring 

Novel Transportation Solutions

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for 

Transportation has published summary reports 

of a workshop aimed at assessing the state of 

technology for new modal systems. FHWA’s 

Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program 

convened the workshop with support from the 

John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems 

Center (Volpe Center). 

As detailed in the report, “Novel Modes 

Workshop,” participants addressed potential 

technological trends and government policy and 

research roles that could affect the current 

highway, transit, and rail systems. They also 

addressed an opportunity to provide fair and 

open access to innovators in the business and 

academic sectors. 

Another report, “Novel Surface Transportation 

Modes,” is aimed at advancing an understanding 

of novel surface transportation concepts and 

facilitating interaction and information sharing 

among the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

State and local governments, and private sector 

innovators. The report also explores the public 

sector’s role in enhancing transportation 

innovation. 

“Novel Modes Workshop” is available at 

www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/do

cs/subdoc/66/novelmodeswkshop-web.pdf. 

“Novel Surface Transportation Modes,” is 

available to download at 

www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/doc

s/research-andtechnology/283896/novelsurfacetransportation

modes-web.pdf. 

For more information, contact David Kuehn, 

202-493-3414, david.kuehn@dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

INFRASTRUCTURE 

Report Discusses Methodology to Assess 

Riprap at Bridge Abutments and Piers

FHWA recently published the report, “Advanced 

Methodology to Assess Riprap Rock Stability at 

Bridge Piers and Abutments” (FHWA-HRT-17-

054), which describes an advanced, numerical 

modeling procedure for analyzing the stability of 

riprap at bridge abutments and piers.

Riprap is one of the most common materials 

used to protect bridge abutment and pier 

foundations from scour. A key element of the 

design of riprap countermeasures is rock sizing, 

which is based on equations generally derived 

from simplified laboratory experiments. The 

report details a study in which an advanced 

modeling approach is developed and applied to 

evaluate rock stability. The advantage of this 

approach is that it can incorporate site-specific 

conditions that complicate riprap design. 

The research described in this report was 

conducted at FHWA’s Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center (TFHRC) J. Sterling Jones 

Hydraulics Laboratory. It will be useful for 

designers and engineers responsible for 

protecting bridge foundations.

The publication is available to download via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infras

tructure/structures/bridge/17054/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact Kornel Kerenyi, 

202-493-3142, kornel.kerenyi@dot.gov. 

Case Study Highlights Benefits of eConstruction 

FHWA’s recent TechBrief, “Addressing 

Challenges and Return on Investment (ROI) for 

Paperless Project Delivery (e-Construction)” 

(FHWA-HRT-16-068), summarizes a program 

case study that highlights the transformation 

and automation of the Pennsylvania 

Department of Transportation (PennDOT) 

construction process through the development 

of advanced mobile applications, automated 

workflows, and their integration with 

collaboration tools and payment systems to 

improve overall efficiency. 

PennDOT projects significant monetary benefits 

due to operational and time-saving efficiencies 

achieved through implementation of eConstruction practices. This TechBrief provides 

an overview of e-Construction as a national 

practice, summarizes PennDOT’s history and 

approach to technology implementation, and 

describes the investment and benefits realized 

during a 3-year period. It also aligns with 

FHWA’s research project, Addressing Challenges 

and ROI for Paperless Project Delivery, which 

assesses how transportation agencies are 

transitioning to a more electronic/paperless 

project delivery system (e-Construction) and 

documents the costs, benefits, and challenges 

during the transition. This publication is offered 

as a general aid for those organizations 

considering starting similar programs or 

enhancing existing ones and provides a case 

study of how State transportation departments 

may expand their use of e-Construction 

practices. 

e-Construction is 1 of 12 innovations in FHWA’s 

third round of the Every Day Counts (EDC-3) 

initiative. As part of the EDC-3 initiative, FHWA 

has initiated a research project to document the 

costs, benefits, and challenges of implementing 

e-Construction. This case study describes 

PennDOT’s e-Construction practices and is part 

of the overall research project to develop 

implementation guidance. This guidance will 

include an approach to calculating an ROI that 

agencies will then be able to tailor to their own 

construction program based on their specific 

processes. 

The document is available to download via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infras

tructure/pavements/16068/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact Richard Duval, 

202-493-3365, richard.duval@dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

New Research Evaluates Transportation System 

Resilience 

FHWA’s report, “Post Hurricane Sandy 

Transportation Resilience Study in NY, NJ, and 

CT” (FHWA-HEP-17-097), provides an 

assessment of the metropolitan region 

transportation system’s resilience to climate, 

sea level rise, and extreme weather. The report 

includes a discussion of a study that leverages 

lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy and other 

recent events, as well as future climate 

projections to identify strategies to reduce and 

manage extreme weather vulnerabilities amid 

the uncertainties of a changing climate. It also 

includes information on damage and disruption 

from Hurricane Sandy on the region’s 

transportation systems, along with that of 

Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and 

Halloween Nor’easter Alfred. 

The report also contains a compilation of 

climate projections that were used to inform the 

study and assessments of the vulnerability and 

risk to the transportation system at three scales:

• An assessment of the exposure of the 

transportation system to climate stressors at 

a regional scale, with information that can be 

used by transportation agencies in the region 

to advance more detailed vulnerability and

risk assessments.

• A vulnerability and risk assessment in three 

subareas: two multimodal corridors (one in 

Connecticut and one in New Jersey) and a 

coastal network of critical transportation 

facilities (in New York).

• Engineering-informed assessments of

climate vulnerabilities and risks and 

evaluation of potential adaptation strategies 

for a selection of transportation facilities—

roads, bridges, tunnels, rail, and ports—that 

can be considered for these and similar 

facilities.

This report is intended to inform transportation 

agency efforts to address changing climate 

conditions and extreme weather events from a 

regional planning level to facility level 

assessments.

It is available to download via 

www.trb.org/main/blurbs/176828.aspx. 

For more information, contact Heather 

Holsinger, 202-366-6263, 

heather.holsinger@dot.gov. 

OPERATIONS

Researchers Complete Early Cooperative 

Automation Testing at Aberdeen Test Center

FHWA’s Enabling Technology Team in its Office 

of Operations Research and Development 

recently completed 4 days of testing 

cooperation automated driving technology at 

the Aberdeen Test Center at the U.S. Army’s 

Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, 

Maryland.

Working closely with engineers and researchers 

from the Saxton Transportation Operations 

Laboratory, Volpe National Transportation 

Systems Center, and the U.S. Army, the team 

conducted tests that were focused on evaluating 

redesigned capabilities built into Cadillac® SRXs 

equipped with a new FHWA Cooperative 

Automated Research for Modeling and Analysis 

(CARMA) platform build-on Robot Operating 

System.

These first tests were focused on the CARMAs 

ability to command the vehicles’ brake and 

throttle, which are critical for testing any 

cooperative dynamic driving task. Activities 

included a driver-training course on safety and 

operational procedures, the installation and use 

of the Army’s data acquisition system, test 

preparations and execution, discussions of 

findings, and documenting issues and what will 

be needed to improve the CARMA platform and 

tablet interface following agile systems 

engineering. 

In future weeks, comprehensive data from the 

tests will be available for analysis. The next 

iteration of testing will occur on a monthly basis 

until July 2018. 
 FHWA R&T Now

For more information, contact Taylor Lochrane, 

202-493-3293, taylor.lochrane@dot.gov. 

HIL Tools Enable Real Test Vehicles to Interact 

with Virtual Ones 

FHWA has led the research and development of 

innovative applications of connected 

automation which offer the potential of 

significant mobility, safety, and environmental 

benefits. One of the major challenges in testing 

and demonstrating the benefits of these 

innovative technologies is the small number of 

test vehicles available for experiments. This 

leads to a lack of connected and automated 

vehicle (CAV) field data for the development of 

valid CAV modeling tools for State and local 

transportation agencies. 

One approach to overcoming these challenges is 

to use emerging hardware in the loop (HIL) tools 

that allow real test vehicles to interact with 

virtual vehicles from traffic simulation models, 

providing an evaluation environment that can 

replicate actual deployment conditions at early 

stages of CAV development.

In late 2016, FHWA kicked off an effort to 

conduct HIL testing of eco-approach and 

departure (EAD) and cooperative adaptive cruise 

control (CACC). This effort will:

•Continue to assess the potential impacts of 

CAV applications—specifically EAD and 

CACC—using emerging HIL tools.

•Conduct closed field tests at TFHRC and 

outside facilities (potentially the Federal Law 

Enforcement Testing Center, etc.).

•Develop microsimulation models and model 

logic to accurately emulate CAV hardware 

and performance based on the HIL tests and 

analysis. Calibrated network(s) and 

specialized interface software needed to 

simulate CACC and EAD applications will be 

combined with an HIL platform. This will 

allow CACC- and EAD-equipped test vehicles 

to operate through interaction with virtual 

traffic and traffic control signals.

Additional information on the results of the HIL 

field tests and model development will be 

periodically available as the project progresses. 

Final research results will become available in 

early 2019. 

For more information, contact Christopher 

Melson, 202-493-3271, 

christopher.melson@dot.gov. 

Report Offers Overview of Practices and 

Considerations on Shared Streets

FHWA’s report, “Accessible Shared Streets: 

Notable Practices and Considerations for 

Accommodating Pedestrians with Vision 

Disabilities” (FHWA-HEP-17-096), offers a review 

of notable practices and considerations for 

accommodating pedestrians with vision 

disabilities on shared streets. It focuses on 

streets where pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor 

vehicles are intended to mix in the same space.

The publication includes a description of shared 

streets, an overview of vision disabilities, and 

the strategies people with vision disabilities use 

to navigate in the public right-of-way. It details 

the specific challenges pedestrians with vision 

disabilities face when navigating shared streets. 

It also provides an overview of relevant U.S. 

guidance, a toolbox of strategies for designing 

shared streets that improve accessibility for 

pedestrians with vision disabilities, and ideas on 

how accessibility for pedestrians with vision 

disabilities can be addressed in the planning and 

design process.

In addition, the report includes information 

from case studies of completed shared streets in 

the United States that highlight accessibility 

features and lessons learned, as well as a 

bibliography that includes sources specifically 

referenced in the body of the document and 

other sources that inspired the content and may 

be useful for shared street designers.

This publication can be downloaded via 

www.trb.org/main/blurbs/176827.aspx. 
 FHWA R&T Now

For more information, contact Mohammed 

Yousuf, 202-493-3199, 

mohammed.yousuf@dot.gov. 

Researchers Recognize Progress, Success, and 

Vision of FHWA’s RWMP

In the report, “2017 Road Weather 

Management Performance Measures Update” 

(FHWA-HOP-17-048), researchers discuss the 

progress, success, and overall vision of FHWA’s 

Road Weather Management Program (RWMP), 

which serves as a potential resource and 

communication product to further advance the 

importance and widespread implementation of 

road weather technologies.

More than a decade ago, the RWMP established 

a set of performance measures to assess its 

program effectiveness in improving the 

performance of the transportation system 

during adverse weather conditions. Since then, 

assessments of the performance measures have 

been completed and documented in 2009, 2012, 

and 2015. Over the years, the program has 

aimed to maintain overall consistency in the 

types of performance measures to allow for a 

more complete, long-term assessment of a 

program. However, additional performance 

measures were added in 2015 to address some 

gaps due to changes in program objectives and 

recent advances in road weather management 

capability and technology. As a result, 27 

performance measures were evaluated in 2015. 

While previous updates reported each 

performance measure individually, researchers 

used an alternative approach to present the 

results in this report to convey a general and 

more concise evaluation of the RWMP’s 

progress and success by mapping performance 

measures to at least one of the following 

categories: (1) road weather management 

impacts; (2) application of road weather 

management tools and technologies; (3) road 

weather management capacity building; and (4) 

partnerships and stakeholder collaboration. 

Overall, this 2017 report presents the latest 

results update and lists recommendations on 

future focus areas for the RWMP. The report 

also serves as a resource and outreach product 

to further advance the importance and 

widespread implementation of road weather 

technologies.

This publication is available to download via

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop

17048/fhwahop17048.pdf. 

For more information, contact Barry Zimmer, 

202-366-4082, barry.zimmer@dot.gov. 

SAFETY

New Database Compiles Key Data from Each 

State’s SHSP

FHWA recently launched the Strategic Highway 

Safety Plan (SHSP) Database, which provides an 

abundance of information about data-driven 

approaches States are using to decrease 

roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The 

database compiles key data from each State’s 

SHSP in one easy-to-use database. 

This new resource, which can be used as a quick 

reference guide to inform safety programs, 

includes information about emphasis area 

strategies and action plans; safety partners 

within the 4E's (engineering, education, 

enforcement, and emergency medical services); 

approaches States are using to update, 

implement, and evaluate plans; and much more. 

Users can search the database by Key 

Components (e.g., vision and mission statement, 

emphasis area, and lead agency); Special Topics 

(e.g., emphasis area action plans and local and 

rural roads); Emphasis Area Categories (e.g., 

infrastructure and behavioral); or by using a 

Keyword Search.

To access the database, visit 

https://rspcb.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/shspsearch/st

atesearch.aspx. 

For more information, contact Tara McLoughlin, 

202-366-2176, tara.mcloughlin@dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

RECENT PERIODICALS

Public Roads—Autumn 2017

This issue includes: Roundabouts Coming Full 

Circle; America's Glory Road; Delivering the 

Goods; Getting Around Town; and Rivers, 

Rainfall, and Resilient Roads. 

It is available online via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/18

autumn/index.cfm. 

For more information, contact Lisa Shuler, 

lisa.a.shuler@dot.gov. 

Innovator: Accelerating Innovation for the 

American Driving Experience—

November/December 2017

This issue includes: Collaborative Hydraulics; 10 

Ways to Take Your STIC to the Next Level; State 

Transportation Innovation Councils Recognized 

for Excellence; Combining e-Construction and 

Partnering for Project Success; Innovation 

Impact; FHWA Awards Support Demonstration 

Projects; and States Innovate

The issue is available online via 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/innovator/issue6

3/3dIssue/. 

. 

LINKS

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/ 

Resource Center: 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/ 

National Highway Institute: 

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx 

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