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FHWA R&T Now - May 2012
A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
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GENERAL/ADMINISTRATIVE
European Visit Highlights FHWA Adaptation Research for Climate Change
Twelve members from the Forum
of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL), an international
association engaged in road engineering research and related topics, visited
the United States for a series of meetings focused on highways and climate
change. Based in Based in Brussels, FEHRL provides a coordinated structure for
the interests of more than 30 European national research technical centers, and
other associated institutes from around the world. On March 26, 2012,
representatives of FEHRL visited FHWA's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
(TFHRC) to hear about current research, adaptation issues, policy activities,
sustainability evaluation and planning, and infrastructure performance.
Visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/resources/fehrl7.cfm to read more about this event.
For more information about international research
coordination and collaboration efforts, contact Debra Elston, (202) 493-3181, debra.elston@dot.gov.
ADVANCED RESEARCH
EAR Program Explores Dynamic Ridesharing in Three Cities
Despite the success of
dynamic ridesharing, sometimes called "slugging" or "casual carpooling," in
several U.S. cities, it has been understudied by academics and transportation
professionals. FHWA's Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program is exploring
how slugging works. The EAR Program is supporting qualitative research by
assembling focus group participants from those who slug or casual carpool to
work in three cities-Washington, DC, Houston, TX, and San Francisco, CA-to gain
first-hand knowledge from both the drivers and riders about their experiences,
practices, satisfaction, suggestions, and decisions to participate in slugging.
The researchers will be developing a report summarizing the results of each of
the focus groups as well as the lessons learned. In November and December
2010, the EAR Program supported a team consisting of transportation
professionals, academic faculty, and business entrepreneurs who visited
informal carpool lines (also called slug-lines or casual carpool lines) in the
three cities to observe "sluggers" and compare practices. The team also met
with private ride-match providers, regional planners, carpool participants, and
transportation planners and engineers. The report from the scan team and focus
groups will be available upon completion on the EAR Web page at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/.
For more information about the
EAR Program, contact David Kuehn, 202-493-3414, david.kuehn@dot.gov.
For more information about dynamic ridesharing, contact Allen Greenberg,
202-366-2425, allen.greenberg@dot.gov.
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