RESEARCH NEWS
           the newsletter of the New England Transportation Consortium
Vol. 3, No. 1 - Fall 2004

In this Issue :

• Maine DOT Heads Up NETC's Policy and Advisory Committees
• NETC Awards $380,876 for Transportation Research Projects
• NETC To Test Bridge Rail Transitions for Crash Worthiness
• NETC Research - FY05
• State Transportation Agencies Appoint Chairpersons for Project Technical
  Committees for NETC FY 04 and FY05 Research Projects
• NETC's Current Research Projects
• NETC Advisory Committee to Review and Hone Operations
• Transportation Potpourri

PAGE 1 of 5

Article Title: Maine DOT Heads Up NETC's Policy and Advisory Committees

Article Text:
On July 1, 2004, David Cole, Commissioner, Maine Department of Transportation and Dale Peabody, Director of Transportation Research, Maine Department of Transportation assumed the chairmanships
of the NETC Policy and Advisory Committees respectively.

The primary responsibility of the Policy Committee, which is composed of the Chief Administrative Officers of the New England state transportation agencies, is to provide funding for the Consortium
and approve its annual research program.

The primary responsibility of the Advisory Committee, which is composed of the Managers/Directors of Research of the New England state transportation agencies, is to develop and recommend an annual research program to the Consortium's Policy Committee and provide oversight of the operation of the Consortium.

Article Title: NETC Awards $380,876 for Transportation Research Projects

Article Text:
NETC awarded $380,876 for transportation research projects at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Connecticut to address: FLOOD RISK EVALUATION FOR STEEP GRADIENT STREAMS; MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT MATERIALS; and the DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHWAY CRASH PREDICTION MODELS. Faculty researchers who have been awarded funding include
Dr. Jennifer Jacobs and Dr. Jo Sias Daniel at the University of New Hampshire, and Dr. John Ivan at
the University of Connecticut.

Article Title: NETC to Test Bridge Rail Transitions for Crash Worthiness

Article Text:
The New England Transportation Consortium has awarded $240,000 to the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A & M University for crash testing of four bridge rail transitions that were designed for use in New England by the Consortium's member agencies. The crash testing is a requirement for certification by FHWA to permit use of the transitions on federal aid highways.

PAGE 2 of 5

Article Title: NETC Research - FY05

Article Text:
At its April 2003 meeting, the NETC Policy Committee approved a recommendation from its Advisory Committee that the following research projects be funded and initiated in FY 2005:

Article Title: State Transportation Agencies Appoint Chairpersons for Project Technical Committees
for NETC FY04 and FY05 Research Projects

Article Text:
Project 04-1 Recycling Asphalt Pavements Containing Modified Binders
Allan Perkins, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project 04-2 Driver-Eye-Movement-Based Investigation for Improving Work Zone Safety
Robert Roccio, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Project 04-3 Estimating the Magnitude of Peak Flows for Steep Gradient Streams in New England
Charles Hebson, Maine Department of Transportation

Project 04-4 Effective PG Grade in RAP Mixes
Denis Boisvert, New Hampshire Department of Transportation

Project 04-5 Network Based Highway Crash Prediction Using GIS
Erika Smith, Connecticut Department of Transportation

Project 05-1 Develop Base Resistance Load Displacement Curves for the Design of Drilled Shaft Rock Sockets
Leo Fontaine, Connecticut Department of Transportation

Cont'd. on Page 3...

PAGE 3 of 5

Project Technical Committee Chairpersons - cont'd. from page 2

Project 05-2 Safety of Reflective Median Barriers
Michael Sock, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Project 05-3 Microscopic Simulation for Modeling Modern Roundabouts in New England: Accuracy, Sensitivity and Calibration
Rhaguram Dharmaraju, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Project 05-4 Characterization of the Rate Constant of Pozzolan Available Alkalis
Michael Foisey, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Project 05-5 Measurement of Work of Adhesion Between Paint and Metalized Galvanized Steel
John Brownell, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Project 05-6 Employing Graphic-Aided Dynamic Message Signs to Assist Elder Drivers’ Message Comprehension
Joseph Schall, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Project 05-7 Warrants for Exclusive Left Turn Lanes at Unsignalized Intersections and Driveways
Bernard Byrne, Vermont Agency of Transportation

Project 05-8 Evaluation of Alternative Traffic Simulation Models, Including CA4PRS, for Analysis of Traffic Impacts of Highway Construction, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Projects
Erika Smith, Connecticut Department of Transportation

Article Title: Traffic Simulation, Water Quality, Composite Materials and Monitoring Bearing Capacity
at Construction Sites are Among NETC's Current Research Projects

Article Text:
“Calibrating Traffic Simulation Models to Inclement Weather Conditions With Applications to
Arterial Coordinated Signal Systems”

Principal Investigator: Dr. Adel Sadek, University of Vermont
Email asadek@emba.uvm.edu

Objectives are to explore how to best callibrate simulation models to inclement weather conditions in New England, and to use the calibrated model to investigate the feasibility and benefits of tailoring signal timing
to adverse weather conditions along New England arterials.

PAGE 4 of 5

NETC's Current Research Projects - cont'd. from page 3

"Measuring Pollutant Removal Efficiencies of Stormwater Treatment Units"

Principal Investigator: Dr. Xiaoqi Zhang, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Email jacki_zhang@uml.edu

Objectives are to develop a “bacterial budget” to track influent and effluent bacteria concentrations as
well as measuring the growth or reduction of bacteria within the separator units, and to determine the extent of bacteria survivablility in hydrodynamic separator units.

"Basalt Fiber Reinforced Composites"

Principal Investigator: Dr. Richard parnas, University of Connecticut
Email rparnas@ims.uconn.edu

The objective of this research is to evaluate, through the application of a range of basic mechanical tests
and environmental exposure, the usage of basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites for civil infrastructure applications requiring excellent mechanical properties and long lifetime.

"Portable Falling Weight Deflectometer Study"

Principal Investigator: Dr. Dana Humphrey, University of Maine, orono
Email dana.humphrey@umit.maine.edu

Objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness of the portable falling weight deflectometer (PFWD) as a means of monitoring bearing capacity at construction sites and develop guidelines for their use that will include acceptance and testing protocols.

PAGE 5 of 5

Article Title: NETC Advisory Committee to Review and Hone Operations

Article Text:
The NETC Advisory Committe will meet at the University of Connecticut’s Nathan Hale Inn and Conference Center in late November to review the effectiveness of the Consortium’s operating procedures and formulate an action plan to enhance the achievement of its mission. Persons wishing
to submit a brief summary of an issue or issues relating to the Consortium’s operating procedures
should send an email to the Coordinator at the address shown below.

Article Title: Transportation Potpourri

Article Text:
The Plight of Reauthorization: Speaking at the Driving Reauthorization Home Seminar at the annual meeting of the American Highway Users Alliance in Washington, D.C., last week, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-AK) gave a frank assessment of the reauthorization impasse and how eventual passage of the legislation is instrumental to the nation's economic future.

"One thing we have today that produces revenue is transportation--an investment for the future economy," Young said. He also commented, "You [the transportation community] have to make transportation a national issue. If you don't do it now, we will fall further behind." Young noted that, while he had hoped for more funding, passage of a $299 billion conference report this year would be good for America. Without mentioning specific names, Young expressed frustration over the resistance mounted by senators to moving the bill forward. - Source: AASHTO Reauthorization Update, AASHTO.org, posted 10/15/2004.

http://rip.trb.org/: The Research in Progress (RIP) Database allows users to search approximately 7,600 records of recently completed transportation research projects including NETC projects.

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/fourthlevel/pro_res_road_nchrp350.htm: This website contains information on roadside hardware that are tested and evaluated using NCHRP Report 350 criteria. The 2-Bar and 4-Bar bridge rails designed and crash tested by NETC that meet the NCHRP Report 350 criteria can be found on this website.

Intelligent Transportation Systems: FHWA's Office of Operations and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Joint Program Office has recently released the latest report in a special series on the benefits and uses of ITS technologies. The report, "Work Zone Traffic and Incident Management System: Keeping Traffic Moving During Reconstruction of the Big I" (FHWA-OP-04-072) documents the design, selection, implementation, and operation of an ITS that was deployed to facilitate traffic flow and incident management during the 'Big I' reconstruction in Albuquerque, NM.

Visit the NETC website to review the status of research
projects, contact pricipal investigators or obtain copies of completed final reports.
www.netc.uconn.edu

RESEARCH NEWS
is published in electronic format by the
New England Transportation Consortium

Gerald McCarthy, NETC Coordinator

Deborah L. Barrett, Editor
Graphic designer and Website Manager
dbarrett@engr.uconn.edu

For more information, or to be placed on our mailing list, please contact:
Gerald McCarthy, Coordinator
New England Transportation Consortium
179 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT 06269-5202
Phone: (860) 486-5400
Fax: (860) 486-2399
mccarthy@engr.uconn.edu

End of "Research News," Vol. 3 No. 1, Fall 2004