BACKGROUND
NCHRP Research Report 1036: Roadway Cross-Section Reallocation: A Guide describes a decision-making framework for identifying, comparing, evaluating, and justifying context-based cross-sectional reallocations of existing urban and suburban roadway space for multimodal safety, access, and mobility. This framework integrates transparency into the decision-making process, helping practitioners compare tradeoffs and facilitate productive community conversations regarding who gets to use roadway space and how they can use it. NCHRP Research Report 1036 is supplemented by two decision-making spreadsheet tools, one on reconstruction and another on repaving, to help users implement the guidelines developed through the research.
The audience for these materials includes transportation professionals involved in transportation decisions for roadway cross-section reallocation, such as equity task forces, transportation professionals involved in state project development, external advocates, transportation planners, designers, transit agencies, and other agency partners. NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools are intended to be used during the scoping phase and in support of internal and public communications. These products can help streamline the documentation of design exceptions (e.g., documenting why a narrower lane may be used), explain the tradeoffs when insufficient space is available, and bolster design guidance.
Transportation professionals need support in implementing the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to enhance the usability of the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools by providing hands-on practice.
Accomplishment of the project objective will require at least the following tasks.
TASKS
Task 1: Evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools. As part of the evaluation, explore how the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools can be integrated into an off-the-shelf roadway visualization tool that is already used by transportation professionals, such as StreetMix.
Task 2: Based on the results of Task 1, develop implementation strategies for the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools.
Task 3: Propose at least six states to pilot the implementation strategies identified in Task 2. Four state departments of transportation (DOTs)—Washington State, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Illinois—have already committed. As part of the pilot program, conduct workshops to refine cross-section concepts, explore alternatives, and evaluate tradeoffs for a single project in each state. NCHRP must give approval of the state selection.
Task 4: Prepare Interim Report No. 1 that documents Tasks 1 through 3 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research.
Task 5: Execute Task 3 according to approved Interim Report No. 1.
Task 6: Prepare Interim Report No. 2 that documents the results of Task 5 and provide an updated work plan for the remainder of the project.
Task 7: Three to four months after holding the workshops, meet individually with each state DOT that participated in a pilot to review progress to date and capture successes, failures, roadblocks, and lessons learned.
Task 8: Conduct a virtual workshop that is open to the public to demonstrate the implementation strategies for the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools. As part of the workshop, agencies that participated in the pilots will be invited to share their experiences and lessons learned.
Task 9: Create a Practitioner’s Toolkit of materials to help states use the implementation strategies developed in this project. The Practitioner’s Toolkit may include educational materials on the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools, documented procedures for agencies to conduct before and after studies of roadway reallocations, lessons learned from pilots, infographics, slideshow materials, tutorial videos, and other materials created during pilots.
Task 10: Develop materials for in-person presentations and webinars with a national audience about this research project and the NCHRP Research Report 1036 decision-making framework and tools. Possible outlets for webinars include TRB, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), and FHWA Center for Local Aid Support (LTAP).
Task 11: Prepare final deliverables including: (a) a final report that documents the entire research effort, (b) a Practitioner’s Toolkit, and (c) materials for in-person presentations and webinars.
STATUS: A response has been received for this RFP. The project panel will meet to determine next steps.
