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Chip seals are a common treatment for extending pavement service life and improving surface texture and friction.

State transportation agencies use a variety of methods to evaluate the quality of a chip seal application, including an estimation of percent embedment (PE). To explore the relationship between surface texture and PE, the Illinois Department of Transportation collected texture measurements on highway test sections and validated these against core samples pulled from the same pavements. Researchers also developed regression models that estimate the deterioration of the PE values and eliminate the need for coring.

Read the final report: Chip Seal Quality Assurance Using Percent Embedment, December 2023   

Image source: Illinois Department of Transportation

In response to the increased frequency and intensity of natural and human-made disasters in recent years, many states are making preparations now to mitigate any potential disruptions to the public transportation system.

To ensure its road and railway assets will be able to return to normal quickly after a hurricane or other disaster, the Florida Department of Transportation considered past and projected maintenance activities and other factors in its research effort to quantify and measure the vulnerability of its surface transportation system.

By predicting how well the state’s infrastructure can withstand wind- and water-related hazards, the agency will be better positioned to plan and prioritize its resilience investments for years to come.  

Read the research summary: Development of a Resilience Index for the Florida Surface Transportation System, October 2023.

Image source: Florida Department of Transportation

As storms become more frequent and severe, roadways are subjected to increased precipitation that can lead to washouts and shoulder erosion.

To identify a gravel mix that’s more likely to stay in place along a road’s shoulders, the Nebraska Department of Transportation initiated a study that developed a new testing device and evaluated a variety of aggregates and binding agents.

Researchers also developed a method for monitoring conditions and a simulation model for predicting the maintenance that shoulders will need over time.

Read the report: Erosion Resistant Rock Shoulder, October 2023.

Image source: Nebraska Department of Transportation

Truck-mounted attenuators are designed to alert drivers to the presence of maintenance crews in highway work zones, and to shield crews in the event of a crash. In Virginia, the number of drivers who crash into these attenuators has been increasing each year for nearly a decade.

To reduce these crashes, the Virginia Department of Transportation evaluated the effectiveness of strategies aimed at getting drivers’ attention: different marking patterns, color schemes, and panel configurations.

The findings will help the agency make better-informed decisions as it strives to keep all road users safe.

Read the final report: Strategies to Reduce Truck Mounted Attenuator Crashes, November 2023

Image source: Virginia Department of Transportation

Earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published an updated Lighting Handbook for that offers guidance for enhancing nighttime visibility and maintenance activities that should be considered before and after a lighting system has been installed.

To discuss the publication and updated guidance, The FHWA’s Center for Accelerating Innovation will host a webinar on December 12 from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Presenters will share the importance of involving maintenance staff early in planning discussions, and how long-term maintenance and operational costs should factor into an agency’s decision-making process.

View details and register.

Image source: Federal Highway Administration

The November/December 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.

To coordinate with the FHWA’s Every Day Counts round 7 (EDC-7) initiative to reduce greenhouse gases, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) requires metropolitan planning organizations to plan and invest in projects that make it easier and more convenient for community residents to choose public transit over driving their own cars.

Another outcome of EDC-7 was a showcase of innovations funded through the State Transportation Innovation Councils (STIC) program. Featured No Boundaries member state innovations include Caltrans’ BIM Execution Plan, which coordinates information related to the agency’s structures and data management, and a signals and lighting training facility created by the Missouri Department of Transportation to provide a safe environment for workers to gain hands-on education.

Image source: FHWA