Evaluating and Communicating the Value of Research

(c) 1049673In FY2022, the MnDOT Office of Research and Innovation managed a total of 215 active and completed projects, of which 75 received partial or full funding from the Local Road Research Board (LRRB). Evaluating the benefits of this research and effectively communicating the benefits to diverse audiences serves several important purposes. It helps both MnDOT and LRRB gain insights into the outcomes of their investments in research and innovation. It also promotes continued exploration and implementation of new knowledge and technology within the field of transportation and aids in prioritizing future research implementation projects. This project involved a comprehensive review of the existing tools and processes used by MnDOT and LRRB for research benefit evaluation and communication and proposed a versatile multi-stage framework that can be adapted for various project types. This framework not only allows for long-term tracking of benefits but can also be integrated into the current research cycle. Furthermore, it incorporates and builds on existing tools, making it a valuable addition to the research and innovation process

Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes

NCRRP Report 3: Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes provides a comprehensive model that allows the user to compare the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of intercity and commuter passenger rail with those of competing travel modes along a designated travel corridor. This report summarizes the research used to develop the model and presents a set of case study applications. A Technical Document and User Guide for the Multi-Modal Passenger Simulation Model (MMPASSIM) and the spreadsheet tool for using and customizing the model are provided as a CD attached to this report. The Technical Document and User Guide also are available online as NCRRP Web Only Document 1

Document and User Guide for the Multi-Modal Passenger Simulation Model for Comparing Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes

The objective of NCRRP Project 02-01, “Comparison of Passenger Rail Energy Consumption with Competing Modes,” is to provide like-for-like comparisons of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of commuter and intercity passenger rail operations with competing modes of travel. In the context of this research, “passenger rail” includes higher speed, high speed, intercity, and commuter rail operations - those rail systems that are operated under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). “Competing modes of travel” include passenger automobiles, light-duty trucks used for personal transportation, suburban commuter bus services, intercity bus services, and air transportation