NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2008NUMBER 259

TR NEWS

Plus

Repairing Bridges with Sense and Sensitivity

New Clues for Highway Safety

Transit’s Role inEvacuation

A WorldwideCar CultureCan It BeSustainable?

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National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of EngineeringInstitute of MedicineNational Research Council

The Transportation Research Board is oneof six major divisions of the NationalResearch Council, which serves as anindependent adviser to the federal gov-ernment and others on scientific andtechnical questions of national impor-tance, and which is jointly administeredby the National Academy of Sciences, theNational Academy of Engineering, andthe Institute of Medicine. The mission ofthe Transportation Research Board is toprovide leadership in transportationinnovation and progress throughresearch and information exchange, con-ducted within a setting that is objective,interdisciplinary, and multimodal. TheBoard’s varied activities annually engageabout 7,000 engineers, scientists, andother trans portation researchers andpractitioners from the public and privatesectors and academia, all of whom con-tribute their expertise in the public inter-est. The program is supported by statetransportation departments, federalagencies including the componentadministrations of the U.S. Departmentof Transportation, and other organiza-tions and individuals interested in thedevelopment of transportation.

The National Research Council was orga-nized by the National Academy of Sci-ences in 1916 to associate the broadcommunity of science and technologywith the Academy’s purposes of fur-thering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning inaccordance with general policies deter-mined by the Academy, the Council hasbecome the principal operating agencyof both the National Academy of Sci-ences and the National Academy ofEngineering in providing services to thegovernment, the public, and the scien-tific and engineering communities.

www.TRB.org

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD2008 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*

Chair: Debra L. Miller, Secretary, Kansas Department of Transportation, TopekaVice Chair: Adib K. Kanafani, Cahill Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, BerkeleyExecutive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board

J. Barry Barker, Executive Director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KentuckyAllen D. Biehler, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, HarrisburgJohn D. Bowe, President, Americas Region, APL Limited, Oakland, CaliforniaLarry L. Brown, Sr., Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Transportation, JacksonDeborah H. Butler, Executive Vice President, Planning, and CIO, Norfolk Southern Corporation,

Norfolk, VirginiaWilliam A. V. Clark, Professor, Department of Geography, University of California, Los AngelesDavid S. Ekern, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Transportation, RichmondNicholas J. Garber, Henry L. Kinnier Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Virginia,

CharlottesvilleJeffrey W. Hamiel, Executive Director, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis, MinnesotaEdward A. (Ned) Helme, President, Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington, D.C.Will Kempton, Director, California Department of Transportation, SacramentoSusan Martinovich, Director, Nevada Department of Transportation, Carson CityMichael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology,

Atlanta (Past Chair, 2006)Michael R. Morris, Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments, ArlingtonNeil J. Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration, BaltimorePete K. Rahn, Director, Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson CitySandra Rosenbloom, Professor of Planning, University of Arizona, TucsonTracy L. Rosser, Vice President, Corporate Traffic, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, ArkansasRosa Clausell Rountree, Consultant, Tyrone, GeorgiaHenry G. (Gerry) Schwartz, Jr., Chairman (retired), Jacobs/Sverdrup Civil, Inc., St. Louis, MissouriC. Michael Walton, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin (Past Chair,

1991)Linda S. Watson, CEO, LYNX–Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando (Past Chair, 2007)Steve Williams, Chairman and CEO, Maverick Transportation, Inc., Little Rock, Arkansas

Thad Allen (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)Rebecca M. Brewster, President and COO, American Transportation Research Institute, Smyrna, Georgia

(ex officio)Paul R. Brubaker, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of

Transportation (ex officio)George Bugliarello, President Emeritus and University Professor, Polytechnic Institute of New York University,

Brooklyn; Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)Clifford C. Eby, Acting Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

(ex officio)LeRoy Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior,

Washington, D.C. (ex officio)Edward R. Hamberger, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)John H. Hill, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

(ex officio)John C. Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials,

Washington, D.C. (ex officio)Carl T. Johnson, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of

Transportation, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)David Kelly, Acting Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of

Transportation (ex officio)Sherry E. Little, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

(ex officio)Thomas J. Madison, Jr., Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

(ex officio)William W. Millar, President, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)

(Past Chair, 1992)Robert A. Sturgell, Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

(ex officio)Robert L. Van Antwerp (Lt. General, U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C. (ex officio)

* Membership as of December 2008.

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TR NEWSNUMBER 259 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2008

COVER: With car ownership and useexpanding worldwide, research andinnovation are needed to findsustainable ways to address theenvironmental and geopoliticalimpacts of motor vehicles.

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3 Two Billion Cars: Transforming a CultureDaniel Sperling and Deborah GordonWhile providing untold benefits, today’s one billion motorized vehicles arecontributing to worldwide problems with energy resources, climate change, andcongestion. The number of vehicles is expected to reach two billion by 2020. Intracing out the complexity of problems and solutions, the authors call on thetransportation community to summon its ingenuity to improve vehicles and fuels,introduce new mobility, and develop ways to alter travel behaviors.

10 Context-Sensitive and Sustainable Solutions for Transportation:Oregon’s Bridge Delivery Program ModelThomas LauerOregon’s 10-year State Bridge Delivery Program is garnering awards for successfulinnovations to stimulate the state economy and develop a skilled workforce; employcost-effective practices; maintain freight and traffic mobility; build with sensitivity tothe needs of communities and the environment; and capitalize on fundingopportunities.

18 Creating a Culture of Traffic Safety:Learning from Four States with Improved Safety RecordsBetty J. MercerAlthough the rate of traffic-related fatalities is increasing nationwide, some states areachieving continual improvements in highway safety. Case studies show that thesestates share a key characteristic—the development of a statewide traffic safetyculture. The case studies yield practical pointers for other states seeking to makesimilar strides in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the roadways.

21 NEW TRB SPECIAL REPORTThe Role of Transit in Emergency EvacuationNancy HumphreyTransit can play a vital role in an emergency evacuation. A concerted local, state, andfederal effort is needed to realize this potential, however, according to a new studyrequested by Congress. Focusing on transit systems in the nation’s 38 largesturbanized areas, the report explores the roles that transit systems can play inaccommodating the evacuation, egress, and ingress of people to or from criticallocations during an evacuation of a central business district.

The Transportation Research Board’s 2008 Annual Report is included inthis issue as a special insert between pages 18 and 19.

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25 Research Pays OffFighting Fatigue in Steel Bridges:Kansas Bridge Design Engineers Guide Research Solutions into PracticeJohn Patrick Jones, Caroline Bennett, Adolfo Matamoros, Stan Rolfe, and Kim Roddis

27 Calendar

28 ProfilesAviation consultant James A. Wilding and traffic operations and managementexpert Robert B. (Tip) Franklin

30 News Briefs

31 TRB HighlightsCooperative Research Programs News, 31

32 Bookshelf

TR NEWSTR NEWSfeatures articles on innovative and timelyresearch and development activities in all modesof trans portation. Brief news items of interest tothe transportation community are also included,along with profiles of transportation profes -sionals, meeting an nouncements, summaries ofnew publications, and news of Trans portation Re search Board activities.

TR News is produced by the Transportation Research Board Publications OfficeJavy Awan, Editor and Publications DirectorChristopher R. D’Amore, Assistant EditorJennifer J. Weeks, Photo ResearcherJuanita Green, Production ManagerMichelle Wandres, Graphic Designer

TR News Editorial BoardNeil F. Hawks, ChairmanCharles FayEdward T. HarriganChristopher J. HedgesFrederick D. HejlThomas R. Menzies, Jr.Mark R. NormanBarbara L. Post

Transportation Research BoardRobert E. Skinner, Jr., Executive DirectorSuzanne B. Schneider, Associate Executive

DirectorMark R. Norman, Director,

Technical ActivitiesStephen R. Godwin, Director,

Studies and Special ProgramsMichael P. LaPlante, Director,

Administration and Finance Christopher W. Jenks, Director,

Cooperative Research ProgramsNeil F. Hawks, Director, SHRP 2

TR News (ISSN 0738-6826) is issued bimonthly by theTransportation Research Board, National ResearchCouncil, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.Internet address: www.TRB.org.

Editorial Correspondence: By mail to the PublicationsOffice, Transportation Research Board, 500 FifthStreet, NW, Washington, DC 20001, by telephone202-334-2972, by fax 202-334-3495, or by e-mail jawan@nas.edu.

Subscriptions: North America: 1 year $55; single issue $10. Overseas: 1 year $80; single issue $14.Inquiries or communications concerning new subscriptions, subscription problems, or single-copysales should be addressed to the Business Office at the address below, or telephone 202-334-3216, fax 202-334-2519. Periodicals postage paid atWashington, D.C.

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Notice: The opinions expressed in articles appearingin TR News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TransportationResearch Board. The Trans por tation Research Boardand TR News do not en dorse products or manufac-turers. Trade and manufacturers’ names appear in anarticle only because they are considered essential toits object.

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A L S O I N T H I S I S S U E :

C O M I N G N E X T I S S U E

An account of foundational developments for research in the capacity focus area ofthe Strategic Highway Research Program 2—establishing a collaborative decision-making framework—is the subject of a feature article in the January–February TR News. The issue also contains an overview of a policy study on the priorities,coordination, and quality of safety research in highway infrastructure and operations;summaries of reports about research needs and innovative applications at statedepartments of transportation—findings from the field visits by TRB TechnicalActivities Division senior staff; and more.

The January–FebruaryResearch Pays Off columndescribes improvedlighting for nighttimeconstruction, as appliedby the Illinois Departmentof Transportation.

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