TRC's research portfolio includes projects that cover a wide range of transportation issues.Ìý

CCRPC Bicycle Count Program Evaluation and Data Analysis

People ride Bicycle on a busy street with a green traffic light. A sign read "Bike Lane Ahead"

Project Team: Gregory Rowangould, Rose O'Brien, and Eliana Fox

Project Sponsor: Chittenden County Regional Planning CommissionÌý

This project: 1) determines the progress that has been made on the CCRPC’s Active Transportation Plan since its adoption in 2017 and updates the priority recommendation; and 2) develops a comprehensive bicycle count program for the CCRPC by reviewingÌýand identifying gaps inÌýexistingÌýdata and reviewing best practices in bicycle data collection.Ìý

Effect of E-bike Use on Route Choice and Bicycle Infrastructure Preference

Two people stand behind a red bicycle talking

Principal Investigator: Stephen Montaño

Project Sponsors: University of Vermont and Federal Highway Administration

This project aims to understand the differences in how Vermonters using conventional and e-bikes choose their bicycle routes, the types of trips they make on bicycles, how safe they feel while riding and their preferences for different types of bicycle facilities and street designs.

Cool and Sustainable Sidewalks

Principal Investigator: Gregory Rowangould

Co-Investigators: Brittany Antonczak, Claude Morelli, Mahmoud Taha, Moneeb Genedy, Stephen Montaño, Patience Raby

Project Sponsor: EPA

Our technical challenge is to design a sidewalk that can be built using recycled and less energy- and carbon-intensive materials with the thinnest possible thickness, to reduce material use and limit heat storage capacity. By revisiting the materials and techniques that cities and towns use to build sidewalks, we believe it is possible to identify more durable, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective approaches than are commonly used today.

Evaluating the Timeline of Particulate Matter Exposure from Urban Transportation and Land-Use Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Strategies Using a Novel Modeling Framework

Principal Investigator: Gregory Rowangould

Project Sponsor: EPA

The aim of the proposed research isÌýcreatingÌýa clearer picture of how changes in land-use patterns and transportation systems affect population exposure to particulate matter (PM) pollution from vehicle traffic. The research also aims to understand how the timing of land-use and transportation system changes, particularly those strategies intended to mitigate climate change, affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cumulative exposure to PM emissions.ÌýFinallyÌýthe research will consider how well changes in PM emission inventories, which are widely used to assess improvements in air quality, correspond to changes in PM exposure.Ìý

Modeling Electric Vehicle Charging Scenarios for New York and New England

Principal Investigator: Jonathon Dowds

Project Sponsor: National Center for Sustainable TransportationÌý

This project aims to utilize detailed travel behavior data to calculate time-specific regional demand for electric vehicle charging, specifically for the New York/New England region.

The 2021 Vermont Transportation Energy Profile

Principal Investigator: Jonathon Dowds

Project Sponsor: Vermont Agency of Transportation

The 2016ÌýÌýincluded three goals and nine supporting objectives related to reducing transportation sector energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The 2021 Vermont Transportation Energy Profile will be the fifth installment of a biennial reporting series that evaluates Vermont's progress toward achieving these transportation sector goals and objectives.Ìý

Measuring Adhesion Between Binders and Aggregates Using Particle Probe Scanning Force Microscopy at Low Temperatures

Principal Investigator: Ting Tan

Project Sponsor: Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

This project will measure adhesion between plain binders and aggregate minerals at low temperatures, and measure adhesion between modified binders and aggregate minerals at low temperatures.

I-89 2050 Study

Principal Investigator:ÌýJames Sullivan

Project Sponsor: VHB

This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the Interstate 89 corridor through Chittenden County out to a design horizon year of 2050 and develop a suite of policy, planning, and infrastructure recommendations that align with stakeholder-identified Vision, Goals, and Objectives for the corridor.

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The Vermont Travel Model: Year 14 (2021-2022)

Principal Investigator:ÌýJames Sullivan

Project Sponsor: Vermont Agency of Transportation

The statewide travel-demand model to addresses key traffic, regional travel, and policy questions for a variety of stakeholders. The work planned for Year 14 of this project includes efforts to continue the improvement of the Model functionality, accuracy, and effectiveness, building on its base-year of 2010.

A new method of determining payment for in-place concrete with double-bounded compressive strength pay factors

Principal Investigators: James Sullivan, David Novak, and Eric Hernandez

Project Sponsor: Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center


The goal of this project is to develop a new method of enforcing pay factors for payment of in-place CCS that does not rely on the Gaussian distribution and allows for the use of asymmetrical set of pay factors.

Synthesis of Technical Requirements and Considerations for Automated Snowplow Route Optimization

Principal Investigator: James Sullivan

This project’s goal was to expedite the process for states to procure an automated snowplow route optimization program vendor by providing a list of technical requirements and considerations that states can use to build their RFP.

Quantifying Correlations Between Winter Severity, Pavement Conditions, and Snow & Ice Control Cost

Principal Investigators: James Sullivan, Jonathon Dowds, Mitchell Robinson

Project Sponsor: Vermont Agency of Transportation

This Add-On project allowed an opportunity to quantify relationships among winter severity, SIC costs, and SIC performance to make data driven decisions about SIC budgeting, where SIC activities can be improved, and how SIC resources can best be utilized.