Specialized transportation services such as paratransit, community volunteer drivers, and transportation voucher programs provide much needed mobility options for seniors, people with disabilities, individuals with low incomes, and veterans. This report, which is published as a two-volume set, provides information and a toolkit on designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating linkages that connect customers with specialized transportation services and programs that address their travel needs. The report also provides seven steps to planning a new linkage service. Volume 1: Research Report discusses the main components of connecting specialized transportation users and rides and describes the concepts, planning considerations, key issues, the development process, and general planning principles associated with making that linkage. In addition, Volume 1 includes findings from a literature review; interviews with employees overseeing existing linkage programs; as well as research into the coordination, marketing, and evaluation of current programs. Volume 1 also contains an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities presented by each type of linkage program and provides best practices for connecting specialized transportation users with the rides they need to access daily services.
Specialized transportation services such as paratransit, community volunteer drivers, and transportation voucher programs provide much needed mobility options for seniors, people with disabilities, individuals with low incomes, and veterans. This report, which is published as a two-volume set, provides information and a toolkit on designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating linkages that connect customers with specialized transportation services and programs that address their travel needs. Volume 2: Toolkit for State DOTs and Others provides a seven-step toolkit for planning and implementing a range of linkage services, from identifying target geographies, users, and modes to determining effective evaluation and marketing strategies.
In addition to covering basic and advanced signal timing concepts, this second edition of the Signal Timing Manual addresses establishment of a signal timing program including setting multimodal operational performance measures and outcomes, determining staffing needs, and monitoring and maintaining the system. Some of the advanced concepts addressed include the systems engineering process; adaptive signal control; preferential treatment (e.g., rail, transit, and emergency vehicles); and timing strategies for oversaturated conditions, special events, and inclement weather. The manual will be useful to traffic engineers and signal technicians at any agency operating traffic signals.
Mobile light detection and ranging (LIDAR) uses laser scanning equipment mounted on vehicles in combination with global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial measurement units (IMU) to rapidly and safely capture large datasets necessary to create highly accurate, high resolution digital representations of roadways and their surroundings. These virtual survey datasets can then be used in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of highways and structures as well as for numerous other functions as varied as emergency response and asset management. This report presents guidelines for the use of mobile LIDAR technology in transportation applications. The guidelines (1) are based on an analysis of current and emerging applications in areas such as project planning, project development, construction, operations, maintenance, safety, research, and asset management; (2) address data collection methods, formatting and management, storage requirements, quality assurance, and the translation and formatting of derived products; and (3) are based on and organized around performance criteria such as data precision, local (relative) accuracy, network (absolute) accuracy, and point density. The development of the guidelines comprised several major tasks. The research team first conducted an extensive review of the worldwide literature on the use of mobile LIDAR. Emphasis was placed on exploring current mobile LIDAR trends, including systems components and software, and identifying current and emerging applications of mobile LIDAR for transportation agencies. Of particular interest was an analysis of quality control procedures used to verify the accuracy of the data collected with mobile LIDAR. The literature review was supported by a questionnaire administered to the state departments of transportation, other transportation agencies, and industry. Finally, projects piloting mobile LIDAR technology on network and local levels were identified and evaluated in depth. This information provided a solid foundation for developing the actual guidelines. The guidelines are organized into two parts. Part 1: Management and Decision Making provides guidance on the use and integration of mobile LIDAR data for a wide range of transportation applications without requiring in-depth knowledge of the technology; Part 2: Technical Considerations provides the details needed to completely specify the project requirements and appropriate deliverables.
