Research News
FY2020 University Research RFP Closes
MnDOT and the Local Road Research Board have released need statements for the FY2020 research RFP. Proposals are now being considered for possible funding.
Implementation Funding Awards for FY19 Announced
Implementation projects for the next fiscal year have been selected by MnDOT's Transportation Research and Innovation Group (TRIG). View the list of selected projects. (Posted 4/6/2018)
Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Reports Available Now for MnDOT, LRRB Research Programs
Research At-A-Glances serve as quick-reference guides to our MnDOT and Local Road Research Board research programs and list projects active in the last fiscal year. They include project highlights, an overview of the research process and information about our Transportation Research Synthesis program. (Posted 1/30/2018)
Pervious Concrete Pavement Reduces Runoff Into Shoreview Lake
Typically used for parking lots and sidewalks, porous paving material allows stormwater to filter through the pavement and an aggregate base into the soil rather than run off the pavement and drain into storm sewers. Shoreview bucked convention by using pervious concrete in a traffic application — low-volume, low-speed roads in the Woodbridge neighborhood near Lake Owasso. (Posted 9/21/2018)
Alternative Designs Identified for Rural Intersection Warning Signs
Dynamic warning signs provide real-time traffic information to motorists at non-signalized intersections. However, a number of sign-related complaints have been received from local road users. Researchers identified an alternative sign design for future field tests that may demonstrate comparable safety benefits to the original sign with fewer potential risks. (Posted 9/21/2018)
New Performance Measures Identify Truck Delays and Bottlenecks
Researchers use detailed and specific data sets as tools to investigate freight truck mobility, reliability and extent of congestion delays on Twin Cities metropolitan area corridors. Precise locations and times of recurrent delays will help to mitigate future traffic bottlenecks. (Posted 9/21/2018)
Prioritizing Pavement Markings on Low-Volume Roads
Minnesota has many miles of low-volume roads, most marked with yellow centerline and white edge lines. Applying and maintaining these markings is a significant financial investment for local agencies, which typically work within very constrained budgets. Researchers developed a prioritization approach and a decision-making tool that incorporated both past research and the local state of the practice. (Posted 9/21/2018).