Research Notes

Research Notes provide an overview of research in progress to a general audience. Released at the beginning of a research task, the notes describe the research need, methodology, goal, benefits, milestones, and next steps.

Advanced Research

• Task 3287 - Connected Vehicle Application Development (CVAD) (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3605 - Caltrans Autonomous Vehicles Industry Survey of Transportation Infrastructure Needs (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3687 - Support Deployment Of RTCM Broadcasts (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3688 - Utilizing Connected And Automated Vehicles (CAVs) As Floating Sensors For Cooperative Traffic Control And Road Condition Monitoring (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3717 - Collect Data Using Connected Vehicles (CV) For Real-Time Or Future Use (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3746 - Network Differential GNSS Corrections for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3747 - MMITSS Phase III Extension for Additional Enhancements (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3329 - Research Synthesis and Engagement of the National Center for Sustainable Transportation Caltrans Research Program (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3309 - Red Light Violation Warning (RLVW) over Cellular Network: A comparative Study Between Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) and Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G/LTE) Technologies for RLVW (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3614 - Connected Vehicle - Pooled Fund Study- TPF-5(389) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3725 - Statewide Risk Scale Across Multiple Assets/Vulnerabilities (PDF) - June 2020
• Task 3500 - Advanced Road Charge Modeling (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3622 - Yellow Pavement Markings at a Railroad At-Grade Crossing (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3720 - The Transformation of Transportation: The Potential of Distributed Ledger Technologies in Transportation Applications (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 2061 - Support For Research And Deployment Of System Ops Applications Of VII; TPF-5(206) (PDF) - March 2020
• Task 3709 - Application Development For Connected Fleet (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 2620 - Western Road Usage Charging (RUC) Consortium - RUC West, TPF-5(288) (PDF) - October 2019
• Task 3391 - Local Finance And Planning Mechanisms For Transit-Oriented Development, Transit, And Active Transport (PDF) - October 2019
• Task 3631 - Cross-Asset Optimization Model Development Services (PDF) - September 2019   

Design/Construction

• Task 2896 - Safety of Earthen Stormwater Infiltration Best Management Practices (BMP) Adjacent to Highways (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3141 - After Study for the Richmond – San Rafael Bridge (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3286 - Gravel-Bed River Assessment Tool for Improved Resiliency of Engineering Design (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3302 - Evaluate Zero-Emission Vehicle Charging Stations at Caltrans Facilities (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3839 - Richmond San-Rafael Bridge and Sir Francis Drake Pilot (Phase II) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3289 - Research to Develop Performance Measures for Maintenance of Roadside Features (PDF) - August 2020

Environmental

• Task 2666 - Develop Roadway Crossings for Sensitive Amphibians (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 2700 - Develop Roadway Crossings for Reptiles (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3185 - Landscape Genomics Study for California Tiger Salamander (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3232 - Brake Wear in Particulate Matter Emissions Modeling (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3233 - Fish Passage Engineering Research (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3237 - Soil Amendment Guidance for Infiltration and Stormwater Treatment (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3263 - Quantify the Effect of Roadside Barrier on Near Road Air Pollutant Dispersion and Concentration (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3696 - Effects of LED Lighting on Terrestrial Wildlife (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3697 - Standardizing Environmental DNA Methodologies for Coho Salmon (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3784 - Evaluating Roadway Trash and Migration to Receiving Water (PDF) - March 2021

Equipment

• Task 3300 - Comparison Of New And Existing Caltrans Hopper Body And Tailgate Sanders (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3656 - Evaluation Of New Brine Application Methods And Equipment (PDF) - November 2020
• Task 3254 - Integrating Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) into the Caltrans Fleet (PDF) - June 2020
• Task 3273 - Evaluation Of The AutoCone 130 Cone Trailer (PDF) - June 2020
• Task 3685 - Review Of Equipment And Accessories For Truck-Mounted Attenuator Trucks (TMA) (PDF) - June 2020

Executive

• Task 3606 - Applications of Enterprise GIS for Transportation, Guidance for a National Transportation Framework (AEGIST) – TPF-5(431) (PDF) - August 2020

Geotechnical/Structures

• Task 3030 - Type 15-FBS Breakaway Pole Replacement Development and Testing (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3031 - Development and Crash Testing of a Type 85 Concrete Post-and-beam Bridge Railing in Compliance with MASH 2016 (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3169 - Development of a Replacement for Breakaway Supports for Large Roadside Signs and Crash Testing to MASH 2016 Test Level 3 (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3170 - Develop MASH Bridge Railing that Satisfies State and Federal Historical Preservation Requirements (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 2865 - Reliable Post Grouting Techniques to Improve Shaft End-Bearing (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3668 - Refined Bridge Deck Design and Analysis (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3671 - Impact of Installation Method on Side Resistance of Permanent Steel Casings (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3677 - Statistical Variation of Seismic Damage Index (DI) of California Bridges (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3699 - UCLA Geohazards Program (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3703 - Bridge Rapid Assessment Center for Extreme Events (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3745 - PEER - Bridge Program (Pacific Earthquake Research Center) (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 1780 - Generation-2 Bridge Fragility Relationships, Production Analytical Components (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2859 - Enhancement to the Intelligent Construction Data Management System and Implementation, TPF-5(334) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3242 - Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Bridges and Structures, TPF-5(372) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3261 - Development of Structural Design Guide for Ultra High Performance Concrete Transportation Pooled Fund Program, TPF-5(366) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3603 - Evaluation of Lateral Pile Resistance near Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls at a Dedicated Wall Site (Phase 2), TPF-5(381) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2473 - Clear Roads Winter Highway Operations, TPF-5(218) (PDF) - March 2020
• Task 3032 - Development And Testing Of A MASH Compliant Guardrail Transition And Standardized Buttress (PDF) - February 2020    

Maintenance

• Task 3157 - Clear Roads Phase II TPF-5(353) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3229 - Avalanche Research Pooled Fund TPF-5(337) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3255 - Mountain Pass Road Opening (MPRO) Implementation and Training (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3258 - Autonomous Maintenance Technology Pooled Fund TPF-5(380) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3265 - Evaluation Of Autonomous TMA Trucks For Use In Caltrans' Operations (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3875 - Pilot Testing of Work Zone Intrusion Alarms (PDF) - March 2021  
• Task 2842 - Western Maintenance Partnership Pooled Fund (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3625 - Western Maintenance Partnership - Phase 3 TPF-5(394) (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3183 - Development of Data Collection Systems for Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3611 - Traffic Disruption-Free Bridge Inspection Initiative with Robotic Systems (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 2949 - ShakeCast, Connecting the DOTs (PDF) - December 2020  
• Task 3038 - Evaluation Of Work Zome Intrusion Alarms (PDF) - September 2020
• Task 3704 - Improved Maintenance Methods for Bridge Drains and Expansion Joints (PDF) - September 2020
• Task 3130 - Evaluation of Hybrid Electric Street Sweepers (PDF) - June 2020
• Task 3176 - Research to Support Crack Cleaning Operations in Moving Lane Closures (PDF) - March 2020   
• Task 3148 - Evaluation of Roadway Striping Management Services (PDF) - August 2019

Modal

• Task 3434 - Innovations in Transit: Case Study of the City of Monrovia using Lyft to Increase Transit Ridership (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3435 - Public Transportation, Transportation Network Companies (TNC) and Active Modes (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3438 - Large-scale and Long-term Forecasting of Performance Measurement of Public Transportation Systems (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3507 - Curbside Management: Understanding Impacts of On-Demand Mobility on Public Transit Use and Vulnerable Road Users (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3509 - City Best Practices to Improve Transit Operations and Safety (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3510 - Steps to Supplement Park-and-Ride Transit Access (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3514 - Measurement and Prediction of Transit System Performance Using Probe Data Generated through DSRC and non-DSRC Technologies (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3515 - Advancing Adoption of General Specification Feed (GTFS) Programs in California (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3413 - Davis Amtrak Station Pilot Project Evaluation (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3333 - Quantifying the Effects of Vehicle Electrification Program on Traffic Loads (PDF) - November 2020
• Task 3418 - Increasing Access, Mobility, And Shelter Opportunities For Disadvantaged Populations: Affordable Housing In Transit-Oriented Developments (PDF) - November 2020
• Task 3152 - Development of a Deployable Integrated Transit Operation System (IDTO) for Revolutionizing Suburb Transit Operation in California (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3433 - Analysis of Activity-Travel Patterns and Tour Formation of Transit Users (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3657 - Developing segment and intersection-level BLOS measures for the SHS (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3757 - Development of Integrated Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Validation Center (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3788 - Further Development of a Deployable Integrated Transit Operations System (IDTO), Phase 2.5 (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3299 - Fuel Cell Electric Bus, Battery Electric Bus, and Battery Electric Train Infrastructure (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3426 - Non-Myopic Path-Finding for Shared-Ride Vehicles: A Bi-Criterion Best-Path Approach Considering Travel Time and Proximity to Demand (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3513 - Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Benefits, Savings Forecast, and Methodology (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3694 - Caltrans Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Safety Management System (PDF) - March 2020
• Task 3298 - Public Transit and Bikesharing/Scooter Sharing Interactions (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3410 - Public Transportation Safety Among University Students (PDF) - November 2019

Pavement

• Task 3811 - Updated Caltrans Rigid Pavement Design Catalog Using Pavement ME (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3812 - Monitoring Performance of Concrete Overlay Projects (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 2650 - Improving the Quality of Pavement Surface Distress and Transverse Profile Data Collection and Analysis (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2746 - Technology Transfer Concrete Consortium (TTCC) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2789 - DRISI Support for the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program - TPF-5(332) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3028 - National Road Research Alliance – NRRA TPF-5 (341) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3190 - Assessment of the PG+5 Initiative (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3194 - Microcracking Of Cement Stabilized Layers (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3198 - Development Of Bonded Concrete Overlay On Asphalt Design Method (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3199 - Implement Concrete Mechanistic-Empirical Design Tool (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3201 - Bonded Concrete Overlay on Asphalt (BCOA) Pilot Project (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3186 - Asphalt Rubber Binder(PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3187 - Performance Related Testing in Superpave (PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3188 - Performance Related Specifications for AC Long Life Projects (PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3189 - Determining Binder Replacement in High RAP/RAS Mixes (PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3197 - MED-A: Standard Materials (PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3200 - MED-E: ME Algorithms and Field Characterization (PDF) - July 2020
• Task 3195 - Improved Guidance And Specifications For Full-Depth Reclamation (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 3196 - Cold In-Place Recycling Guidance (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 3327 - Tools To Increase Material Efficiency Of Cement (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 3193 - Quieter Pavement Long-term Monitoring (PDF) - September 2019
• Task 3205 - New Smoothness Spec Evaluation (PDF) - September 2019
• Task 3206 - PPRC 17 PRE-A: Complete Early Age and Premature Cracking Evaluation (PDF) - September 2019   

Planning/Policy/Programming

• Task 3087 - Traffic Analysis and Simulation, TPF-5 (176) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3335 - Projecting Risk Of Highway Flooding Due To Sea Level Rise (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3339 - Improving Our Understanding Of Fire Displacement Effects (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3351 - Assessment Of Requirements, Costs, And Benefits Of Providing Battery Charging For Battery Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks At Safety Roadside Rest Areas Facilities (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3420 - Modeling E-Hailing And Car-Pooling Services In A Coupled Morning-Evening Commute Framework (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3421 - Assessing the Impact of Equity Work in Active and Sustainable Transportation (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3894 - Transportation Library Connectivity, TPF-5(442) (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 2900 - Develop and Support Transportation Performance Management Capacity Development Needs for State DOTs, TPF-5(326) (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 2960 - 2016 through 2020 Biennial Asset Management Conference and Training on Implementation Strategies, TPF-5(335) (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3294 - Development of Operations Planning Toolbox (OPT) Software (PDF) - February 2021
• Task 3332 - Cost of Plug-in Electric Vehicle Ownership: Understanding Vehicle Choice and Cost of Ownership Using Behavioral Data (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3334 - A Before and After Evaluation of Volunteer Ride-hailing and a Mobility as a Service Platform in the San Joaquin Valley (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3342 - Changes in Mode Share in California (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3431 - Mobility, Accessibility and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: Assessing Diversity in Transportation-Related Needs and Opportunities (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3324 - North American Micromobility Panel (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3330 - Case studies on Local Finance and Planning Mechanisms for TOD, Transit, and Active Transport (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3348 - Monitoring VMT Traveled Reduction Claims in Local Development Review (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3352 - Exploring the Consumer Market and Environmental Impacts of Microtransit Services in Sacramento and Citrus Heights, California (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3395 - Analysis of Emerging Transportation Trends in California Using Panel Data, (Phase Two) (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3419 - Local Policy for Better Micromobility (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3425 - Ridesharing, Ride-Hailing and Transit Ridership (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3430 - The Effectiveness of Alternative Policy Designs on Electric Vehicle Adoption: Purchase Rebates, Guaranteed Financing and Per-eVMT (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3437 - Displacement and Commuting in the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond: An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Housing Crises, Displacement, and Long Commutes (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3511 - A Model for Integrating Rail Service with Other Transportation Modalities (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3512 - Assessing Public Health Benefits of Replacing Freight Trucks with Cargo Cycles in Last Leg Delivery Trips in Urban Centers (PDF) - December 2020
  
• Task 3321 - Failing Malls (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3291 - Parking Utilization And Site Level Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Database (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3343 - Congestion Reduction via Personalized Incentives (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3397 - Fighting For Curb Space: Parking, Bike Sharing, Urban Freight Deliveries, Ride-Hailing, And Other Users (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3414 - A National Study of Dockless Transportation: Land Use and Demographic Correlates of Trip Hotspots and Mode Shift (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3323 - Dock-based and Dockless Bikesharing Systems: Analysis of Equitable Access for Disadvantaged Communities (PDF) - April 2020
• Task 3503 - A Smart Growth Calculator (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 3402 - Measuring Accessibility Changes For Households Moving Away From Rail Transit Areas (PDF) - October 2019
• Task 3408 - Implementation of Action 6 of the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan (CSFAP) Phase 3: Tracking Economic Competitiveness (PDF) - June 2019        
• Task 3313 - Outcomes of On-Demand Ridehailing (PDF) - April 2019
• Task 3403 - Socioeconomic Dimensions Of Resilience To Seaport And Highway Transportation Network Disruptions (PDF) - January 2019
• Task 3409 - Accessing the challenges and opportunities for the introduction of automation in last mile/last feet delivery operations (PDF) - January 2019

Right Of Way And Land Surveys 

• Task 3039 - Specifications for Using Small Unmanned Aerial Systems to Generate High Accuracy Mapping (PDF) - September 2020
• Task 3179 - Support for Caltrans Statewide Mobile Terrestrial Laser Scanning (MTLS) System Usage (PDF) - September 2020 

Rural

• Task 3756 - Responder Study – Interim Phase - Continued Support for Responder Transition (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 1749 - Professional Capacity Building for Communication Systems Phase V: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 2649 - Aurora Program - Aurora Road Weather Information (ARWI) Systems, TPF-5 (290) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 1755 - Demonstrating And Evaluating Intelligent Transportation Systems In Rural Environments (PDF) - October 2019
• Task 3266 - WeatherShare – Phase V: Caltrans Enterprise Implementation (PDF) - June 2019
• Task 3613 - Responder - Reproduction and Deployment Phase (PDF) - May 2019

Transportation Safety And Mobility (TS&M)

• Task 3353 - Analysis of Intelligent Vehicle Technologies to Improve Vulnerable Road Users Safety at Signalized Intersections (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3896 - Developing A Safe System Approach to Setting Speed Limits (PDF) - March 2021
• Task 3427 - Software and Hardware Systems for Autonomous Smart Parking Accommodating both Traditional and Autonomous Vehicles (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3712 - System Impact Of Connected And Automated Vehicles: An Application To The I-210 Connected Corridors Pilot (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3713 - Modernization of Center-to-Center (C2C) Data Communication Standards (PDF) - January 2021
• Task 3246 - Graphical User Interface Development for Coordinated Ramp Metering (CRM) System (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3322 - Robust Design, Analysis and Evaluation of Variable Speed Limit Control in a Connected Environment with Uncertainties (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3619 - Combined Variable Speed Limit and Coordinated Ramp Metering Along SR 99 Corridor (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 3781 - Identification of ROR, CCL, MCMC and Wrong-way Collision Locations (PDF) - December 2020
• Task 1546 - C1 Loop Detector Reader/Analyzer (C1 Reader) (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2318 - Highway Safety Manual Implementation (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2451 - Strategies For Reducing Pedestrian And Bicyclist Injury At The Corridor Level: Phase 3 (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2453 - Phase 3: Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2926 - Evaluating The Performance Of Traffic Detection Devices (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3057 - Phase 2: Implementation Of Safety Performance Functions For California (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3236 - Work Zone Safety Improvements Using Automated Injury Data Collection (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3245 - Evaluation of Different Coordinated Ramp Metering Systems in Caltrans (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3290 - Development Of Active Transportation Safety Performance Functions In California (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3311 - TPF-5(384) - Exploring Non-Traditional Methods to Obtain Vehicle Volume and Class Data (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3428 - Impacts of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles on the Performance of Signalized Networks: A Network Fundamental Diagram Approach (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3643 - Hybrid Data Implementation (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3648 - Wet And Nighttime SPFs Development (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3706 - Management of Multiple Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Corridors (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 3710 - Potential Erroneous Degradation of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Facilities (PDF) - August 2020
• Task 2913 - Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvement TPF-5(317) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 2951 - Traffic Management Center (TMC) Consortium - Pooled Fund Study - TPF-5(319) (PDF) - March 2020
• Task 3230 - Fostering Innovation in Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(370) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3272 - Enhanced Traffic Signal Performance Measures - Pooled Fund Study - TPF-5(377) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3423 - Dynamic Routing of Trucks and Truck Platoons Using Real-Time Traffic Simulators (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 0373 - High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ Managed Use Lane (MUL) -TPF-5(029) now TPF-5(322) (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3181 - Improved Analysis Methodologies and Strategies for Complete Streets (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3253 - Alternative High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Operational Strategies for Congestion Mitigation in California (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3412 - Promises And Projects: Examining Accountability And Flexibility In LOST Expenditure Plans (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3506 - Evaluation of Different Coordinated Ramp Metering (CRM) Systems (PDF) - May 2020
• Task 3406 - Evaluation Of Autonomous Vehicles And Smart Technologies For Their Impact On Traffic Safety And Traffic Congestion (PDF) - March 2020
• Task 3501 - Traffic Monitoring For Pedestrian And Cyclist Safety Using Deep Learning And Artificial Intelligence (PDF) - February 2020
• Task 3192 - Safety Effects of Yellow Alert Changeable Message Signs (PDF) - November 2019
• Task 3705 - Developing engineering countermeasures for severely intoxicated drivers (PDF) - November 2019