FHWA R&T Now

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Do Separated Bike Lanes Make Roads Safer for Bicyclists? 

Bicyclists using traditional bicycle lanes positioned flush against traffic often find themselves in 

precarious situations with motor vehicle traffic. Side-swipe crashes, in which the motor vehicle drifts 

slowly to one side (for example, toward the right preparing for a right turn), are common 

occurrences. 

The Development of Crash Modification Factors 

for Different Separated Bike Lane (SBL) 

Configurations study seeks to examine the 

safety effectiveness of SBLs. An SBL is an 

exclusive facility for bicyclists located within or 

directly adjacent to the roadway and is 

physically separated from motor vehicle traffic 

with a vertical element, such as a flexible plastic 

bollard or a concrete planter. 

The goal of this two-phase study, being 

conducted in several cities including New York 

City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Cambridge, MA, 

is to determine the influence SBLs have on the 

total number and severity level of crashes. It will 

also examine various challenges bicyclists face at 

midblock locations and at intersections. Phase I 

of the study evaluated the feasibility and 

requirements for developing crash modification 

factors (CMFs) for intersection-related crashes 

separately from crashes occurring at midblock 

locations. 

Phase II, currently underway, will focus on 

how to perform the analysis, collecting data 

through video recordings of crashes or 

recording the way bicyclists behave on the road 

with motor vehicles. Phase II will also focus on developing CMFs for midblock SBL locations.

State departments of transportation (DOTs) can use the data to determine if the widespread 

implementation of SBLs is feasible, and what roadways become a priority for SBL use.

For more information, contact Ann Do, 202–493–3319, Ann.Do@dot.gov. 

July/August 2019

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

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

FHWA R&T Now

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

Highway Administration (FHWA). 

A separated bike lane in Washington, DC. The 

lane is clearly identified as a bicycle lane and is 

separated from the traffic by plastic bollards.

Source: FHWA
 FHWA R&T Now

2 

INFRASTRUCTURE

Attendees Pore Over Ultra-High Performance 

Concrete (UHPC) at Symposium

The 2nd International Interactive Symposium on 

UHPC from June 2 through June 5 in Albany, NY, 

hosted more than 80 technical paper

presentations and 5 interactive expert panel 

sessions on the state of the art and knowledge of 

UHPC. 

The symposium attracted at least 300 attendees 

from 33 States and 21 foreign countries, and 

Benjamin Graybeal, FHWA’s Team Leader for 

Bridge Engineering Research, co-chaired the

symposium. Much of the technical content of the 

symposium focused on bridge construction, 

bridge rehabilitation, and other infrastructurebased uses of this new class of concrete because 

bridges are one of the largest applications of the 

technology in North America. 

As a partner of the symposium, the New York 

State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) 

organized symposium attendee visits to two live 

UHPC bridge construction sites and a set of 

already-constructed bridges. Other symposium 

attendees visited a precast concrete plant where 

they witnessed the mixing and placement of four 

different UHPC products.

Because NYSDOT used UHPC in the construction 

of 70 bridges over the past decade, their agency 

was able to share best practices with attendees. 

Source: FHWA 

Highway workers install a UHPC overlay on a 

deteriorated bridge deck.

Symposium attendees gained hands-on 

experience with the means and methods of 

infrastructure construction with UHPC. 

When combined with the formal technical 

content offered elsewhere in the symposium 

program, this event helped to demystify the use 

of this promising class of concrete. 

For more information, contact Benjamin 

Graybeal, 202–493–3122, 

Benjamin.Graybeal@dot.gov. 

FHWA Provides Congress with Study Results on 

Certifications for Bridge Contractors

Recently, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of 

Representatives Committees on Appropriations

requested that FHWA assess the impact and value 

of certification requirements for workers 

performing bridge corrosion prevention work. 

In response to the request of the U.S. Congress, 

FHWA submitted the results of a research study 

on corrosion prevention worker certifications. The 

Report on Industry-Recognized Corrosion 

Prevention Worker Certifications Effectiveness 

Evaluation was prepared by FHWA’s Office of 

Infrastructure Research and Development (R&D) 

and submitted on June 5, 2019. 

The report documents the research conducted on 

worker certifications for blasting and painting

bridges, and the information analyzed from 

specific bridge corrosion prevention projects. The 

report mostly focuses on contractor certification 

because that type of program has been 

implemented for many years. Worker 

certification––certification focused on the 

individual worker and not the contracting 

company––is newer and in the process of being 

implemented within the bridge painting industry. 

Findings suggest that little to no data were 

tracked or recorded that connected overall 

project quality to worker certifications. Consensus 

from various State DOT bridge owners, however, 

found that contractor certifications have been 

very successful in allowing owners to make 

informed choices for contractors, and that the 

program has improved overall quality. The 

expectation is that worker certifications will also 

be beneficial to contractors on an individual basis, 

just as certifications have been beneficial to 

contractors.

For more information, contact Donald Becker, 

202–493–3532, Donald.Becker@dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

3 

The Formation Factor: What Is It and How Can 

We Understand It?

Researchers at FHWA’s Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center (TFHRC) Office of Infrastructure 

R&D recently published Formation Factor 

Demystified and Its Relationship to Durability. 

Developed to help practitioners understand the 

utility of concrete electrical resistivity, this 

techbrief covers how to measure formation 

factor, its limitations, and its relationship with 

durability. 

The techbrief also explores the formation factor

as it relates to the concrete pore volume and pore 

connectivity. This document aims to demystify the 

formation factor by discussing how it is obtained, 

the options to determine the pore solution 

resistivity, and the “bucket test,” an alternative to 

simplify this process.

Formation factor will ultimately give an indication 

of how permeable the concrete is and how it will 

be affected by salt and moisture intrusion. In the 

long run, the formation factor will provide users

with a measure of concrete durability and 

longevity.

For more information, contact Ahmad Ardani, 

202–493–3422, Ahmad.Ardani@dot.gov. The 

document is available to download via 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research

/infrastructure/pavements/19030/index.cfm.

OPERATIONS

New CARMASM Fleet Vehicles Arrive at TFHRC

As part of the rollout of the latest version of the 

CARMA PlatformSM, FHWA purchased four 

automated passenger vehicles that joined the 

CARMASM fleet in June 2019. 

The CARMA Platform is an open-source software 

(OSS) platform introduced by FHWA that enables 

the testing and evaluation of cooperative 

automation concepts for improving safety and 

increasing infrastructure efficiency. The CARMA 

Platform facilitates the research and development 

of cooperative interactions by infrastructure 

owner–operators and the automotive industry. 

FHWA developed the innovative CARMA Platform 

to encourage collaboration with the goal of 

improving transportation efficiency and safety.

The new fleet vehicles include a minivan, a 

midsized sedan, and two Sport Utility Vehicles 

(SUVs). The vehicles will be used for safety and 

operations research, and one of the SUVs is 

equipped with an eye-tracking system for humanfactors research. All four vehicles were equipped 

in Illinois by AutonomouStuff (a company that 

provides research and development platforms, 

products, software, engineering services, and data 

intelligence to aid in the advancement of robotics 

and autonomy) and are capable of Society of 

Automotive Engineers (SAE) level-2 automation. 

The newest beta version of the CARMA 

PlatformSM, called CARMA3, was released on 

GitHub in July and is being migrated onto the new 

vehicles for implementation and testing.

The primary features of CARMA3 include:

• AutowareTM, which provides localization, 

motion planning, and obstacle detection and 

avoidance.

• Environment sensing with Light Detection and 

Ranging (LiDAR), radar, video, and the 

Mobileye® integrated roadway sensing device.

• SAE level-2 steering and speed control.

• Basic Safety Message broadcasting using data 

from the CARMA system.

CARMA enables Automated Driving Systems to 

navigate more safely and efficiently with other 

vehicles and roadway infrastructure though 

communication and cooperation, and as 

development of CARMA3 continues, community 

members are encouraged to download and make 

contributions to the OSS via GitHub. 

For more information, contact Taylor Lochrane, 

202–493–3293, Taylor.Lochrane@dot.gov, or visit 

https://highways.dot.gov/research/researchprograms/operations/CARMA.

Source: FHWA

The CARMASM fleet.
 FHWA R&T Now

4 

Free Equipment Loans and Technical Support for 

Connected and Automated Vehicle Deployment 

Testing

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and 

Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program 

Office (ITSJPO) maintain the Connected and 

Automated Vehicle (CAV) Support Services 

program, which provides equipment loans and 

no-cost technical support to infrastructure owneroperators (IOO) and other organizations 

interested in testing CAV technology. 

Source: FHWA

An analyst provides technical support for testers 

of connected and automated vehicles. 

CAV Support Services’ equipment loan program 

provides users the opportunity to become familiar 

with the types of equipment typically used in 

connected vehicle (CV) deployment. Available 

equipment includes:

• Roadside Units (RSUs) – CV radio equipment 

designed to be installed as part of the 

roadway infrastructure.

• Onboard Units (OBUs) – CV radio equipment 

designed to be installed inside a vehicle.

• Packet Sniffers – Hardware that monitors 

network traffic by examining data packets 

flowing through the radio equipment.

• Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) and Map 

Message Test Devices – Real-time provision 

of traffic SPaT information to vehicles 

approaching signalized intersections.

CAV Support Services also offers a Help Desk that 

provides users with technical assistance during 

CAV testing and deployments.

 Source: FHWA

A researcher equips a connected vehicle with an 

OBU.

Some of the services include:

• Device configuration support including output 

review of case logs, and interpretation of 

standards, content, and structure in J2735 

messages.

• Map/traveler information message tool 

application support and troubleshooting of 

lane and phase-to-lane mapping issues.

• Device testing support such as dedicated 

short-range wireless sniffer access, global 

positioning location support, and Internet 

protocol version 6 (IPv6) assistance.

• Infrastructure implementation support 

including IPv6 network design and physical 

installation guidance.

• Security support, network security guidance, 

and credential management.

Users can submit a support ticket from ITSJPO’s 

Resources for Practitioners page. IOOs that 

participate can make technology adoption more 

efficient by troubleshooting with expert technical 

support. CAV Support Services also provides the 

opportunity to test equipment from a variety of 

vendors in a no-cost environment. For more 

information, contact 

CAVSupportServices@dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

5 

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

FHWA Attends Annual AASHTO RAC Meeting 

FHWA staff attended the 2019 American 

Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials (AASHTO) National Research Advisory 

Committee (RAC) and TRB State Representatives 

Meeting in Santa Fe, NM, July 22–25, 2019.

Sessions at the meeting included a question-andanswer panel featuring Shana Baker, Director, 

Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and 

Innovation Management in FHWA’s Office of 

Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T). 

The session, “View from the TOP—Interactive 

Ideas Discussion,” examined several topics, 

including connected and automated vehicles and 

future visions for the Nation’s highway research 

programs. Jack Jernigan and David Pamplin of the 

FHWA Office of RD&T presented New FHWA 

Guidance for SP&R [State Planning and Research]

Program, which highlighted changes to the new 

guidance for the SP&R Program. The purpose of 

the revised guidance is to assist State DOTs and 

FHWA staff in implementing the regulations 

contained in 23 CFR Part 420, Subpart B RD&T

Transfer Program Management. 

Additional FHWA staff presented posters related 

to ongoing research and technology transfer 

activities being led by FHWA.

Each AASHTO State Member is represented on 

the RAC. RAC State members receive SP&R funds 

to conduct research to meet individual State 

needs. The RAC is a critical partner in carrying out 

FHWA’s Research, Technology, and Education 

programs.

For more information, contact Jack Jernigan, 

202–493–3363, Jack.Jernigan@dot.gov. 

RECENT RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Infrastructure

Automation in Highway Construction Part I: 

Implementation Challenges at State 

Transportation Departments and Success Stories

LTBP Newsletter – Summer 2019 

General

Public Roads Magazine – Summer 2019

FHWA R&T Now – May/June 2019

RECENT PERIODICALS

Innovator July/August 2019

Articles include: Taking Inspection to New 

Heights; Data-Driven Safety Analysis; 

Crowdsourcing for Operations; Innovation 

Through Collaboration and Communication; 

Accelerating Market Readiness; States Innovate!; 

Every Day Counts Success Stories

The issue is available online. 

Public Roads—Summer 2019

This issue includes: A New Home for Bridge Data; 

Transforming Transportation in Tampa; Partnering 

in a Crisis; From Farm to Table; A Pathway to 

Secure Connections

The issue is available online. 

For more information, contact Lisa Shuler, 

Lisa.A.Shuler@dot.gov. 

LINKS

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center:

https://highways.dot.gov/research/

Resource Center:

www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/

National Highway Institute: 

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

Please forward this newsletter to others you think 

might find it interesting and/or useful. 

Suggestions may be submitted to

FHWA_Now@fhwa.dot.gov. 
 FHWA R&T Now

6 

ABOUT FHWA R&T NOW

FHWA R&T Now is a newsletter containing 

information and updates about research, 

technology, and development from the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 

Administration. The newsletter is an electronic 

newsletter and is updated approximately every 

other month.

Send your comments, questions, and feedback to 

FHWA_Now@dot.gov. 

Online access: 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/rtnow/. 

Mail:

Federal Highway Administration

FHWA Office of Research, Development, and 

Technology

Attention: R&T Now Managing Editor

6300 Georgetown Pike

McLean, VA 22101

QUICK ACRONYM LOOKUP

AASHTO – American Association of State Highway 

and Transportation Officials 

CAV – Connected and Automated Vehicle

CMF – Crash Modification Factor

CV – Connected Vehicle

DOT – Department of Transportation

FHWA – Federal Highway Administration

IOO – Infrastructure Owner-Operators

IPv6 – Internet Protocol Version 6

ITSJPO – Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint 

Program Office 

LTBP – Long-Term Bridge Performance 

NYSDOT – New York State Department of 

Transportation

OBU – Onboard Unit

OSS – Open-source Software

R&D – Research and Development

RAC – Research Advisory Council

RD&T – Research, Development, and Technology

RSU – Roadside Units

SAE – Society for Automotive Engineers 

SBL – Separated Bike Lane

SES – Senior Executive Service

SP&R – State Planning and Research

SPaT – Signal Phase and Timing

SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle

TFHRC – Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center

TRB – Transportation Research Board

UHPC – Ultra-High Performance Concrete 

USDOT – United States Department of 

Transportation

Distribution—FHWA R&T Now is being distributed according to a standard distribution. Direct 

distribution is being made to the FHWA Divisions and Resource Center. 

Key Words—LTBP, bridges, safety, infrastructure, operations, bicycles, bicyclists, separated bike lanes, 

connected and automated vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, concrete, ultra-high performance 

concrete, research. 

Notice—This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation 

in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the 

information contained in this document. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or 

manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this document only because they are 

considered essential to the objective of the document.