Online Directory

The TRB Online Directory provides access to points of contact and information on TRB’s standing committees, project-based committees and panels, and governing committees, as well as to lists of TRB sponsors, affiliates, and representatives. In addition, the directory provides password-controlled access to contact information on TRB’s more than 7,000 volunteers.

Back to Search

Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee (E1008)

The committee oversees management of the Transportation Safety Technology (TST) IDEA program including project selection, progress review and coordination with related research efforts. TST-IDEA provides funding for independent investigations that explore new engineering concepts and support initial development of innovative engineering methods and systems that have potential to enhance transportation safety. The technical focus includes, but is not limited to: application of insights into crash causation to mitigate risks; effectiveness and enforcement of safety regulations and standards; devices and methods to facilitate compliance with safety regulations; improved training and education for driving, maintenance, management, and enforcement personnel; car-truck proximity and roadway sharing safety; and collecting, maintaining, and mining safety data resources.

Chair

Mr. Conrad Ruppert Senior Reserch Engineer/Associate Director for Res University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign ruppertc@illinois.edu Committee Membership Standing Committee on Railway Maintenance AR060 Member Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Chair

TRB Staff Representative

Ms. Jo Allen Gause Senior Program Officer Transportation Research Board JAGause@nas.edu

Member

Mr. Thomas Bartlett Senior Manager Engineering Methods and Research Union Pacific Railroad Company Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member Mr. Melvin Clark Vice President Rail Operations Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member TCRP Project Panel on Improving Safety-Related Rule Compliance in the Public Transportation Industry TA34 Member TCRP Project Panel on Improving the Safety and Sustainability of Stray Current Control of DC-Powered Rail Transit Systems TD16 Member TCRP Project Panel on Detecting and Mitigating Low-Level DC Leakage and Fault Currents in Transit Systems TD17 Member TCRP Project Panel on Frontline Workforce Training: Moving from Past Practice to Best Practice TF24 Chair TCRP Project Panel on Contracting Commuter Rail Services TG14 Member Mr. Michael Franke Senior Director – State Government Contracts National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member Mr. Peter French Retired Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member Mr. Brad Kerchof Director, Research and Tests Norfolk Southern Corporation Committee Membership Standing Committee on Railway Maintenance AR060 Member Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member Ms. Martita Mullen Senior Manager, Engineering Canadian National Railway Company (CN) Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member Dr. Stephen Popkin Deputy Director for Research and Technology Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Committee Membership Technical Activities Council A0000 Member Rail Group AR000 Chair Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Member

TRB Liaison Rep

Mr. Scott Babcock Senior Program Officer, Rail and Freight Transportation Research Board Committee Membership NCHRP Project Panel on Methodology for Estimating the Value of Travel-Time Reliability for Truck Freight System Users--Phase 2 D0724 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Enhanced Truck Data Collection and Analysis for Emissions Modeling D08101 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Getting Innovations in Metropolitan Freight Implemented D08106 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Integrating Goods and Services Movement Commercial Vehicles in Smart Growth Environments D0896 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Guide for Identifying, Classifying, Evaluating, and Mitigating Truck Freight Bottlenecks D0898 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Methodology for Estimating the Value of Travel Time Reliability for Truck Freight System Users D0899 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Access Management and Design Guidelines for Truck Routes D1562 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Critical Next Steps for AC/CV Applications in Freight Operations D2010203 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Research Roadmap -- Freight Transportation D20114 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Prioritization Procedure for Proposed Road-Rail Grade Separation Projects along Specific Rail Corridor D2550 TRB Liaison Rep Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 TRB Liaison Rep NCHRP Project Panel on Assessing the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects SN4815 TRB Liaison Rep

Liaison Rep (Not TRB)

Mr. Robert Hall National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Liaison Rep (Not TRB) Mr. Stephen Klejst Railroad Accident Investigator National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Committee Membership Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Liaison Rep (Not TRB) Dr. Tarek Omar General Engineer/Program Manager Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Committee Membership Standing Committee on Highway/Rail Grade Crossings AHB60 Committee Research Coordinator Rail Safety IDEA Program Committee E1008 Liaison Rep (Not TRB)