The increased use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology in public transit has two major impacts on travel forecasting. First, the technology will often result in an improved volume and quality of data that may be used for planning. Second, the technology may improve the performance of the transit system in a way that is visible to the traveler, thus traveler behavior will change.

The conventional approach to signal timing optimization and field deployment requires current traffic flow data, experience with optimization models, familiarity with the signal controller hardware, and knowledge of field operations including signal timing fine-tuning. Developing new signal timing parameters for efficient traffic flow is a time-consuming and expensive undertaking.

This report presents the results of two studies that examined the effect of enhanced hexapod-simulator motion on recurrent evaluation in the simulator, on the course of recurrent training in the simulator, and on "quasi-transfer" of this recurrent training to the simulator with motion as a stand-in for the airplane. These studies were conducted in the framework of the Volpe Center's Flight Simulator Fidelity Requirements Research Program and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Two types of slab tracks were installed on the High Tonnage Loop at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing. Direct fixation slab track (DFST) and independent dual block track (IDBT) were installed into a 5-degree curve with 4-inch superelevation. The total slab track test section was 500 feet (ft) long, which consisted of 250 ft of IDBT and 250 ft of DFST. This program was conductedto demonstrate the durability of the slab track for 39-ton axle loadswhile maintaining the track geometry conditions of a Class9 track. More specifically, the program was carried out to characterize slab...

The Joint Task Force on Safety and Security Certification, established between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), prepared this Handbook to support the efforts of the transit industry to achieve continuous improvement in safety and security performance. This Handbook provides a guide for establishing a certification program to address safety and security that identifies the key activities; incorporates safety and security more fully into transit projects; highlights resources necessary to develop and implement a certification...

The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) State Safety Oversight Rule (49 CFR Part 659) requires oversight for all rail transit agencies in revenue operation after January 1, 1997. This report summarizes activities performed to implement the State Safety Oversight Program during Calendar Year 1999. Information provided by State Oversight Agencies documenting the safety and security performance of the rail transit industry in 1999 is presented, including a discussion of the probable causes of accidents and unacceptable hazardous conditions. This report also highlights procedures and policies,...

In October 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order (EO) 13514 that sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in environmental, energy and economic performance. The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target; increase energy efficiency; reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage Federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.

This report describes research conducted to examine the application of sandwich structure technology to provide protection against the threat of an indenter striking the side or shell of a tank car in the event of an accident. This research was conducted in two phases over a 3-year period. Testing and analysis of flat, welded steel sandwich panels was conducted in the initial phase of the research. Based on the observations and results from that initial phase, a curved, welded steel sandwich panel was designed and built to protect the side or shell of a decommissioned liquid chlorine tank car...

Blue flag protection in the railroad industry provides safety to workers from the inadvertent movement of equipment on which they are working. Current Federal regulations provide minimum specifications for the devices that can be used as blue flags, allowing many devices to be used as long as they are blue. Safety standards developed by national and international committees that have been adopted throughout a wide variety of high hazard industries, however, require greater specificity in the design of safety signs and signals. An analysis of 11 commercially available blue safety flag products...

This report presents the results of a cognitive task analysis (CTA) that examined the cognitive and collaborative demands placed on conductors, as well as the knowledge and skills that experienced conductors have developed that enable them to operate trains safely and efficiently. A secondary aim of the CTA was to understand the implications of the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 2008 regarding the role of the freight conductor, specifically the mandate for conductor certification and implementation of positive train control (PTC). Data was collected through a combination of field...