Three bat species in Minnesota have been decimated due to white-nose syndrome. The northern long-eared bat is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the tricolored bat listing is imminent, and the little brown bat listing is under consideration.
Continue reading New Project: Species from Feces: A New Tool to Identify Bats in Culverts and on BridgesTag Archives: research
General research posts.
PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Can be Reduced in Highway Construction and Maintenance Projects
Taken from TRB Weekly – June 25, 2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 contaminants of emerging concern that can harm both ecosystems and human health. These anthropogenic compounds contain carbon–fluorine bonds that make them stable and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”
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Evaluating the Traffic Safety Benefits of J-Turns in Minnesota
MnDOT traffic engineers are increasingly installing J-turn intersections on high-speed, multilane expressways to limit potential crash points. An analysis of crash data from intersections before and after the installation of J-turns demonstrated significant safety benefits from this alternative design. MnDOT researchers also explored crash history differences among J-turn intersections with varying characteristics. Consistent with the results from a previous study, this analysis found a clear decrease in fatal and other serious crashes after a J-turn was installed.
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Understanding Factors That Influence Driver Yielding to Pedestrians
Vehicle speeds, type of pedestrian, road characteristics and other variables can impact whether drivers yield to pedestrians attempting to cross a road at an unsignalized intersection. An analysis of data collected from 18 intersections identified human and site attributes that correlate to higher rates of driver yielding. Knowledge of these potentially influential factors will help local engineers build safer crossings at intersections.
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Enhancing Public Transit with Autonomous Mobility Service to Cover the “Last Mile”
The benefits of public transportation, including reducing individual vehicle use and traffic congestion, aren’t always optimized beyond densely populated urban settings. While transit may extend to more suburban or rural areas, land development patterns can make it challenging for people to reach their destinations by transit alone. Pairing transit with an autonomous mobility service is a potential solution. Researchers assessed transportation needs in a suburban shopping area and developed a system designed to deliver passengers from the end of a transit line to their ultimate destination. Simulations of the autonomous mobility service revealed its potential to increase transit efficiency and reduce individual vehicle use.
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Finding High-Performing Aggregate Bases for Long-Lasting Pavement
Two county roads provided a testing ground for three combinations of aggregate bases and asphalt binders. Results from more than two decades of research and monitoring of pavement test sections validated previous conclusions. A larger gradation aggregate base showed superior performance over the pavement life cycle when compared with the standard aggregate base. Additionally, sections constructed without transverse joints to allow natural thermal cracking outperformed sections with sawn and sealed joints.
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Will Hydrogen Be a Carbon-Neutral Fuel Alternative for Freight?
Reprinted from CTS News, March 19, 2024
—Sophie Koch, contributing writer
Hydrogen is getting a lot of attention in recent years as a potential fuel source in the transportation sector. However, it is important to consider the pros, cons, and limitations of this molecule when deciding how to use it.
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Rural Needs, Statewide Answers: Demographics, Health Care Access, and Community Engagement
Monday, May 13, 2024, 9:00–11:30 am, In Person
Join CTS for their annual all councils meeting to explore topics related to CTS’s 2024 theme of Rural Needs, Statewide Answers: Improving Transportation for All Communities.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Please register by Friday, April 26.
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2024 CTS Transportation Research Conference
Mark your calendar for our annual conference! The event convenes researchers and practitioners from Minnesota and the Upper Midwest to highlight new learning, emerging ideas, and the latest innovations in transportation. Attendees learn about research findings, implementation efforts, and engagement activities related to a variety of transportation topics.
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Clear Roads Annual Survey of State Winter Maintenance Data
Clear Roads has published the results of their ninth Annual Survey of State Winter Maintenance Data, which compiles winter resources, material and cost data from 41 states for the 2022-2023 winter season. The spreadsheet includes all submitted data, as well as calculated statistics, winter severity index data, and a United States map that displays many of these metrics. The spreadsheet also includes data from the previous seven surveys (winters 2014-2015 through 2021-2022) and displays averages and changes across winter periods.
Crossroads 