BACKGROUND: The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States has increased in recent years; state transportation rights-of-way (ROWs) are often some of the most accessible areas to set up temporary encampments. This growing trend of encampments on state ROWs has presented unprecedented challenges for state departments of transportation (DOTs) in the design, construction, and maintenance of pavements and bridges; there are no widely accepted guidelines relating to this trend. 

There is a need to develop a guide that presents rational practices for responding to, managing, and deterring encampments on the ROWs. These practices should consider issues such as social equity, environmental impacts, safety, legal issues, and coordination with other agencies. This guide will serve as a resource for state DOTs in implementing management practices for prevention, cleanup, and tolerance of encampments, thereby reducing the challenges associated with encampments.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to develop a guide of suggested practices for responding to, managing, and deterring encampments on the ROWs. The suggested practices shall address the challenges for state DOTs in the design, construction, and maintenance of pavements and consider social equity, environmental impacts, safety, legal issues, coordination with other agencies, and other relevant issues. However, the project was discontinued near completion of Phase I (background and planning for research to produce the guide).

STATUS: Project was discontinued; no work was conducted on Phase II. The contractor's uncorrected interim report on Phase I is available at: https://www.nationalacademies.org/webdocs/nchrpproject20-129interimreport/20-129%20Interim%20Report-For%20Posting.pdf?channelToken=b9515dcea9b44b1caeec286a25accf32&download=false&tStamp=1728504838753