There has been increased awareness about safety of highway bridges from intentional/unintentional blast loads. This report focuses on the investigation of behavior of various bridge components during blast loads through a high fidelity finite element model of a typical highway bridge. Computer programs, such as LS-DYNA offer detonation simulation capabilities to propagate blast loads through air medium. However, blast pressures generated by such programs are significantly different than those by ConWep, a computer program based on semi-empirical equations.

This study was a natural experiment of the effects of a major improvement to the infrastructure of a commuter rail line on commuter stress. The study used a multimethod approach and both cross-sectional and longitudinal data were collection by using a pre-test/post-test design including both within and between group comparisons. On psychophysiological, self-report, well being, and job strain measures those using the new service show reduced stress in the post-change period, while those staying with the previous service did not. Predictability and trip effort did not mediate these effects.

The research team worked with staff across all MTA operating agencies to analyze the impacts of deferring or canceling six projects in MTA’s propose 2005-09 core capital program. The objective was to come up with a clear methodology and means for communicating the fiscal prudence of these projects to policymakers and the public.

Rising light rail capital costs are a significant concern for the Federal Transit Administration and for its partner agencies at the local level. The report discusses three distinct types of cost growth: cost overruns, unit cost escalation, and project escalation. Specific factors that push costs higher include lack of in-house expertise, regulatory mandates, poor or non-existent competition among vendors, and the use of custom designs.

A detailed investigation was performed on developing highly sensitive and portable hydrocarbon sensors using tailored quantum dot materials. These studies focused on using an Ocean Optics fiber optics based spectrometer for monitoring quantum dot arrays to detect the hydrocarbon targets. Studies were performed to determine the viability of using arrays for these studies, tailoring the quantum dot materials for higher sensitivity through energy transfer mechanisms, and tailoring the materials for enhanced stability.

This report documents the economic impacts of the RiverLINE, a light rail line connecting Trenton and Camden, New Jersey. The study examined whether and how the line impacted local land use, residential property values, travel behaviors and firm performance. Data included structured interviews, evaluations of local zoning ordinance and land use change, surveys of households and firms within a four-county area with an oversample of those located within a half-mile of the 20 stations, and real estate data.

There is a large body of literature that studies the impact of transportation investment on the economy, mainly in the mid to long term. However, there is a potential to track the performance of the economy, to increase understanding of the short-term relationships among different sectors of the economy, and to forecast the performance of the economy-- particularly its business cycles--through the effective use of monthly transportation-related indicators in addition to other traditionally used economic indicators.

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Parking Division is responsible for the largest parking meter network in the United States. The efficient operation and maintenance of this system provides an important and sizable source of revenue for New York City. This study addressed the need of the NYCDOT Parking Division to review its current operations and evaluate operability measures. The study was undertaken in coordination with the research unit, the maintenance and revenue collection units, and the computer services unit.

This Phase 1 and 2 report documents the development of nanoparticle based chemical sensors for the sensitive, selective and field portable analyses of soil samples for petroleum spill indicating hydrocarbons (such as benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzenes, xylenes, PCBs, trichloroethylene). The broader impacts of the hydrocarbon sensor research program lies in the future target applications of nanoparticle based chemical sensors.