Midwest Regional University Transportation Center
Request for Proposals
3 Specific Topics (follow links for more information):
1. Impact of Increased Freight Traffic on Pavement Maintenance Costs
2. Development of a guide to Statistics for Maintenance Quality Assurance programs in Transportation
3. Meaningful use of collected local roads data and information
All Proposals Due by February 28, 2004
(Added 2/2/05: Please note that MRUTC proposals must have a Principal Investigator from an academic institution within USDOT Region 5.)
The Midwest Regional University Transportation Center (MRUTC) is soliciting the research community for proposals that reflect the focus and vision of the Transportation Asset Management Pooled Fund Research Program.
Proposals must combine the concepts of asset management and optimization analyses that may be directly applied toward transportation decision-making processes.
The MRUTC has an Open Call for Proposals as well as three specific requests for proposals. Researchers are requested to submit topics through either process.
Subject: Impact of Increased Freight Traffic on Pavement Maintenance Costs
Background: Twelve freight railroads in Wisconsin, 25 railroads in Michigan, and 11 shortline, 5 regional, and 4 Class 1 railroads in Minnesota offer key transportation services to customers in agriculture, manufacturing and other industries. These states recognize the importance of preserving short line rail. Without adequate investments in railroad infrastructure, a greater amount of freight moves by truck, taking a toll on pavements that were not designed to accommodate this traffic and weight.
Recent announcements concerning changes to
certain short line routes and terminals make the question even more pressing.
Additional freight loading requirements coupled with a decrease in the purported
carrying capacity could significantly impact the pavements in these relatively
rural settings. This study would identify the additional incremental pavement
maintenance costs that could be expected as a result of additional freight
traffic on the three state’s highways. This information is needed to
effectively evaluate the effectiveness of future funds spent on rail service
preservation.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation completed a Transportation Synthesis Report on this topic that identifies several useful methodologies for determining highway costs associated with short-line closure, as well as other resources related to the benefits of railroad freight transportation and to trucks and pavement wear. In addition, the book “Pavement Damage Analysis” includes study findings related to this topic. Researchers in Kansas measured the increase in road damage costs attributable to increased trucking of grain due to abandonment of Kansas shortlines. Although data for Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota rails and roads in particular is still needed, the methodology from this study may be useful in structuring the proposed project and calculating impacts.
Research Tasks: The researcher(s) will be asked to deliver the following items:
-conduct a case study of a representative short line rail segment(s) in Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Minnesota. The study would determine current freight volumes on the rail segment(s) and what the corresponding trucking volumes would be if this rail traffic were diverted to nearby roads.
- an examination of which roads would be impacted by the closure of the selected rail segment. By analyzing the condition and structure of these roads and comparing their future maintenance costs should the rail traffic be diverted from rail to trucking, the researcher will be able to determine an incremental pavement maintenance cost per ton-mile of additional freight moved over various classes of highway.
All of the information gathered in the listed tasks should be presented in a format that would be useful for practitioners as they confront this issue. In addition, the researcher or team must prepare an electronic presentation suitable for delivery to a state DOT management team. Any websites developed through this project should be web accessible and follow US Section 508 guidelines.
Partnering Arrangements: Given the breadth of the subject, proposals that include partnering arrangements between disciplines, for example, engineering and public policy, will be considered favorably. Joint proposals between institutions are also encouraged.
Budget: No more than $75,000 is available for this project. Matching funding is strongly encouraged.
Time: Final reports should be delivered no later than September 30, 2006. Projects can start as early as May 2005 but no later than October 1, 2005.
Criteria for Consideration
Partnerships are Encouraged - Priority will be given to research proposals submitted by universities in partnership with state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and/or private industry.
Matching Funds - Budget estimates must include identification of all matching fund sources. During this call for proposals, it is unlikely that projects that do not include significant matching funding will be approved. While matching funds are not required on a dollar for dollar basis, matching funds are strongly encouraged. Proposals including supporting funds will be given higher priority than proposals with only in-kind or soft match dollars. Hard match dollar sources may include partnerships with State transportation agencies, other public sector agencies, and/or private sector interests. Projects that exceed a dollar for dollar match will receive additional consideration.
Educational Focus - Proposals must reflect strong consideration for educational missions of academic institutions. Private research institutes will not be permitted to submit proposals except in partnerships with academic institutions.
Proposals will be submitted for review to peers at other University Transportation Centers and other State Departments of Transportation. At least two peer reviews on each project proposal will be conducted. Proposal review criteria are available here.
Deadline & Mailing Information: Proposals must be submitted by 5:00pm CDT Monday February 28th, 2005. Mailing Address: proposals and one electronic copy must be submitted to:
Greg Waidley
Research Manager
Midwest Regional University Transportation Center
Rm 2205 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Format: Researchers should use the following format for submitting proposals:
including narrative for the potential benefits of the research work
Equipment and/or Facilities
Time Requirements to Complete the Research
Budget Description
Provide a summary tabulation indicating staffing plans, and estimated person-hours specific to each operational phase. Budget estimates should include salaries, overhead and indirect costs, travel, equipment (purchase and/or rental), expendable materials and supplies, report printing, and special services (as applicable).
Matching Funding
Budget estimates must also include identification of all matching fund sources. Proposals submitted to the MRUTC that include hard match dollars will be given higher priority than proposals with soft match dollars. As a result, the MRUTC encourages researchers to partner with their State transportation agencies, other public sector agencies, and/or private sector interests.
Descriptions of Cooperative Features and/or Partnerships (if applicable)
Letters of support must be included from each team member, if multiple institutions and researchers are involved.
Appendices
Other Information
Proposals submitted should reflect a general understanding of Transportation Asset Management as defined through the FHWA and AASHTO. Visit the Transportation Asset Management Today website (http://assetmanagement.transportation.org) for background materials.
Researchers will be required to meet at least twice with the Advisory Committee sponsoring this research or MRUTC Staff. In practice, these meetings have been conducted by teleconference. A preliminary report on the status of the project will be due three months after the start of the project. Brief quarterly reports will also be required, electronic submittal is acceptable. An example of such a report is available here.
One hundred (100) paper copies (one unbound for duplication) of the final report should be submitted, in addition to an electronic version provided in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF format. Please budget accordingly for printing and shipping. A standard template for the cover page and other necessary disclaimer language will be provided to researchers to aid in their preparation of a final draft. In addition, researchers will have to prepare an electronic presentation of their materials suitable for delivery to a State DOT management team.
Researchers should be prepared for and open to editorial suggestions from the Advisory Committee selected to oversee the project and Center staff on final and interim reports. It is expected that researchers will thoroughly edit and revise reports as needed prior to submission. Researchers should aim to provide a final report useful to an audience of state, local, or federal transportation officials. Researchers are encouraged to prepare presentations and reports for conferences and other venues.
Researchers will also be asked to forward to Center staff a list of potential representatives for a project advisory committee within two weeks of formally awarding projects. This committee will be responsible for providing comments and guidance for the research project.
All research awarded through this Call for Proposals will also require a poster to be prepared (30”x40” maximum) for display during a MRUTC-sponsored reception at the TRB Annual Meetings in January 2006 and January 2007 (if applicable).