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    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
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    <item>
      <title>Demonstration of Buckle Up Phone Down in Jackson, Mississippi, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2685590</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) program was created in 2017 by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) in response to an increase in crash fatalities. MoDOT recognized that unrestrained motorists and cell phone use while driving were contributing to the problem, and existing seat belt and distracted driving laws in the State provided little support for enforcement-centered countermeasures. These factors influenced BUPD’s design which features grassroots efforts to spread the program and messaging focused on personal responsibility. The statewide program has garnered much support from public and private sectors since its inception. Due to the growing interest in the program and lack of a formal evaluation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requested to learn more about the program, its essential elements, and the feasibility of implementing the program. The Missouri BUPD program was studied to assist with the demonstration of similar programs in two locations (Jackson, Mississippi, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota). It is important to note that this was not a replication of Missouri's Buckle Up Phone Down program. Instead, demonstration programs integrated key elements of the Missouri model program to design the leadership structure, program material, and publicity and outreach efforts. Implementation Teams designed BUPD programs within 3 months and implemented programs over 6 months (October 2022 – March 2023). Descriptions of both demonstration programs along with qualitative insights, lessons learned, and suggested steps to implement a BUPD program are provided in this report. A separate evaluator conducted a formal evaluation of this demonstration program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2685590</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Buckle Up Phone Down in Jackson, Mississippi, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2685591</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) program offers a potential non-enforcement approach to changing driver seat belt and cellphone use behavior. This report presents the results from process and outcome evaluations examining the implementation and effectiveness of an adaption of BUPD in two demonstration cities, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jackson, Mississippi, where it was carried out with support from a separate demonstration contractor. The Process Evaluation outlines how implementation teams executed BUPD in each demonstration city and includes lessons learned through its implementation. The Outcome Evaluation observed real-world seat belt and cellphone use behaviors of drivers in the two demonstration cities and two matched control cities to assess the overall effectiveness of these adaptations of the BUPD initiative as implemented in Jackson and Sioux Falls. BUPD was implemented in the demonstration cities with as much fidelity as possible given resource and time constraints. However, no significant increase in seat belt use or decrease in cellphone use was found. It remains possible that other BUPD implementations could successfully influence driver behavior.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:47:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2685591</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Base Grouted Drilled Shafts at the Audubon Bridge</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2192102</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The load test program for the Audubon Bridge project provides a comparison of the performance of base grouted and ungrouted shafts on large diameter foundations in sand. Comparison of several field load tests at the two pylon foundations indicate that the base grouting operations more than doubled the available base resistance, and provided for consistent load-deflection behavior in sand with varying properties. Base grouting of all the production shafts also provided a verification of axial resistance. The Audubon Bridge will be a new Mississippi River crossing near St. Francisville, Louisiana, and the two main pylons of the cable-stayed span are each supported by a 3 x 7 group of 2.29m (7.5ft) diameter drilled shafts. The drilled shafts bear in an alluvial sand and gravel formation at an elevation about 61m (200ft) below the surface. Underlying this formation was a clay with less potential base resistance for deep foundations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:24:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2192102</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Container-on-Barge Market Demand </title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2673252</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will assess the market demand and policy levers that could expand container-on-barge (COB) services along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The study will identify key shippers, high-potential commodities, infrastructure needs, and incentive mechanisms to make COB competitive with trucking and rail. This work directly supports the Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT’s) freight, sustainability, and economic development goals, and aligns with the Missouri State Freight Plan and the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MARAD’s) America’s Marine Highway Program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:27:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2673252</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Regional supply-chain impacts of Mississippi River fertilizer shipments disrupted by climate change</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2608498</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Mississippi River commercial navigation system faced unprecedented challenges in 2022–2023 due to severe heat and drought disrupting barge traffic. This caused a 400% surge in barge rates, disproportionately affecting the delivered price of key commodities. The study analyzes the compound impact of low water levels and two potential additional sources of supply-chain disturbance—lock damage and import disruptions—both of which can also emanate from climate change. The authors combined an empirical analysis of the effect of low water levels on barge rates and productivity with a computable general equilibrium model to estimate their effects on the US economy and Upper Mississippi regional economy. These disruptions notably decreased GDP and increased inflation, especially affecting the five Upper Mississippi River states. This research underscores the river's vulnerability to compound disruptions and highlights its crucial role in regional and national economies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:59:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2608498</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Marine Investigation Report: Flooding and Sinking of Towing Vessel Cajole, June 12, 2024</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2657029</link>
      <description><![CDATA[​On June 12, 2024, about 1530 local time, the towing vessel Cajole was upbound the Lower Mississippi River near Waggaman, Louisiana, when the vessel began flooding. The two crewmembers aboard attempted to pump out the vessel but were unsuccessful. They tied off to a nearby barge and evacuated to a Good Samaritan vessel. The Cajole later sank. There were no injuries, and a sheen was reported. Damage was estimated at $2 million. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the flooding and sinking of the towing vessel Cajole was likely a compromised flush-mounted access hatch, which allowed water to flood into a forward void space, and unsealed penetrations in a transverse bulkhead, which allowed for progressive flooding aft into the engine room.​]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:03:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2657029</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Marine Investigation Report: Sinking of Barge PTC 706 and Subsequent Breakup of Chad Pregracke Tow, March 16, 2024</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2657027</link>
      <description><![CDATA[​On March 16, 2024, about 0008 local time, the towing vessel Chad Pregracke was transiting southbound on the Lower Mississippi River pushing 34 loaded barges, near mile 260.6, about 5 miles east of New Roads, Louisiana, when a barge, the PTC 706, at the head of the tow rapidly sank, causing the tow to break apart. Five barges in the tow were damaged. Damages were estimated at $2 million. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of barge PTC 706 and subsequent breakup of the Chad Pregracke tow was the barge PTC 706, which was located at the head of the tow, being down by the bow due to an undetermined reason and subsequently being driven under water by the forward momentum of the tow.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:03:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2657027</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Deep Learning Based Automated Data Collection Technology for Coastal Highway Pavements</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2640703</link>
      <description><![CDATA[With the recent federal legislation approval of the funding of the United States’ infrastructure, investment into transportation research has prompted the implementation of new technologies to advance the data collection and evaluation methods for transportation asset management. As departments of transportation (DOTs) upgrade their equipment to utilize these technologies, a higher standard for the quality of highway infrastructure across the states has raised concerns for an improvement in traffic safety and efficient maintenance and rehabilitation of the roadways. This is essential for pavements in locations where surface distresses are developed at a higher rate, such as coastal regions due to rapid development and extreme weather phenomena being more frequent and intensive. State DOTs have adopted the use of automated pavement data collection and condition evaluation. However, the inadequate accuracy of the existing automated technology has led to erroneous distress measurements and inconsistent manual intervention approaches for pavement engineers to assess the surface damage of the pavements after data collection to establish more reliable analyses of the performances. With the recent advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, progress towards more accurate and efficient detection algorithms has provided possibilities of better data quality to monitor the surface condition of the pavements. Due to these new technologies, 2D/3D pavement images can be analyzed with improved accuracy for more efficient detection of pavement distresses such as cracks caused by various factors like environment, weather, age, and traffic loading. In this study, 2D/3D images were collected from pavements in the coastal regions in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The proximity of these states to the Gulf of Mexico and the presence of rapid population growth and economic development in this region, unique distress image data were acquired to train and evaluate models such as convolution neural networks (CNN) and a visual transformer after manual annotations were made. This research makes two contributions: the establishment of a novel multi-modal pavement distress dataset utilizing the combination of high-resolution 2D/3D imagery across inland and coastal regions and a systematic evaluation of state-of-the-art detection models. The images consisted of high quality 4096x2048 pixel resolution scans that were 47 feet in the longitudinal direction and 14 feet in the transverse direction on both asphalt and concrete surfaces. Deep learning models such as the You Only Look Once (YOLO) line of detection models and Real-Time Detection Transformer (RT-DETR) were developed by training, validation, and testing on the pavement image data collected in this study to more efficiently evaluate the pavement surface condition of the coastal regions. Rigorous labelling and revisions within the dataset were conducted to further optimize the detection accuracy of models as selection continued. Comparisons between the inland and coastal data in asphalt pavements were conducted to determine model capabilities for expansion as the sections near the Gulf coast had lacked sufficient instances of a few classes. Detection capabilities of the selected model faced many issues that would be reflected in real-world conditions, such as noise, distress severity, distress density, and abnormal distress appearances. These factors would heavily affect the accuracy for each distress, with joints on asphalt surfaces reaching a peak mAP50 of 0.928 while asphalt patches would reach a peak mAP50 of 0.981. Despite retaining lower scores on some classes, this study displays the effectiveness of deep learning detection models on pavement datasets with distresses. containing a large variety of distresses and common objects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:58:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2640703</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Data for: Deep Learning Based Automated Data Collection Technology for Coastal Highway Pavements
[supporting dataset]</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2640704</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Tables and graphs for deep learning model performance not used in the Coastal REsearch And Transportation Education (CREATE) Report for Deep Learning Based Automated Data Collection Technology for Coastal Highway Pavements. These include performance metrics such as precision, recall, and mean average precision at 50% overlap (mAP50) for each model used in the study along with detection rates for each item on the class list.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:58:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2640704</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Marine Investigation Report: Contact of Towing Vessel William E Strait with Moored Barges at Shell Norco Refinery Dock, December 10, 2023</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2645459</link>
      <description><![CDATA[​On Dec. 10, 2023, about 0139 local time, the William E Strait tow was pushed in to the bank on the Lower Mississippi River near Norco, Louisiana, when the towing vessel Steel Skipper, which was reconfiguring the tow, pushed the tow astern, and the William E Strait contacted two moored barges upstream at the Shell Norco Refinery dock, damaging the barges and dock. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported. Damage to the moored barges and facility was estimated at $501,000. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the contact of the towing vessel William E Strait with moored barges at the Shell Norco Refinery dock was the William E Strait mate not recognizing the proximity of the unlit barges astern of his towboat as the vessel was pushed astern by an assisting fleeting tug while repositioning barges. Contributing was the dense fog and rain, which obscured visibility during the operation.​]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:10:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2645459</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Economic Impact Analysis of Artificial Draft Restriction on the Lower Mississippi River Port Complex</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2643076</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Lower Mississippi River Port Complex is a critical hub for U.S. and global trade, handling over 500 million tons of cargo annually, including grain, petroleum, and chemicals. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida severely disrupted maritime operations, knocking out electronic aids to navigation (eATON) at the Southwest Pass, a vital shipping corridor. This study examines the potential economic impact of eATON failure, focusing on vessel delays, draft restrictions, and supply chain disruptions. A model-based economic impact analysis was conducted, utilizing industry estimates, historical disruptions, and expert assumptions to quantify financial losses. The findings reveal that the loss of eATON resulted in a conservative estimate of $46.4 million in economic losses for a specific number of vessels over a given period, with draft restrictions accounting for 94% of the total impact. Vessel delays led to port congestion and increased operational costs, while reduced draft capacity forced vessels to carry an estimated 72,800 tons less cargo, significantly impacting U.S. grain, oil, and chemical exports. Additionally, supply chain disruptions required cargo to be rerouted via rail and trucking, further increasing transportation time and costs and reducing U.S. trade competitiveness. The study highlights the vulnerability of inland waterway navigation to weather events, emphasizes the urgent need for resilient aid to navigation systems infrastructure, and offers some next steps for securing and maintaining up-to-date and resilient systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:52:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2643076</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Marine Investigation Report: Grounding of the Towing Vessel John M Donnelly, October 30, 2023</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2617188</link>
      <description><![CDATA[On October 30, 2023, at 1610 local time, the towing vessel John M Donnelly was push​ing 25 empty dry cargo barges upbound at mile 246.5 on the Lower Mississippi River, near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when it grounded on a submerged obstruction. One crew member sustained a minor injury. No pollution was reported. The cost of damage to the vessel was $505,834. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the grounding of the towing vessel John M Donnelly​ on a submerged obstruction in the Mississippi River was the pilot not identifying the hazard posed by the charted obstruction during low water conditions while maneuvering his tow to avoid other tows.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:43:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2617188</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigating implementation practices and initiatives for using blue light to enhance work zone safety in the United States</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2608514</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Using appropriate warning lights in roadway work zones is crucial for the safety of workers and road users. Several state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the United States have conducted projects exploring the use of blue lights for work zone safety. In 2019, Mississippi’s “Blue Light Law” was officially signed into effect, permitting the use of blue lights by police departments in road construction areas. However, a comprehensive understanding of the practices for implementing blue lights remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to identify and investigate blue light implementation practices and initiatives to enable state DOTs, particularly the Mississippi DOT, and other partners to implement blue lights more effectively. This study used a two-fold method. First, a systematic literature review was conducted to examine current warning/blue light practices in work zones, including light specification, installation platform, light location, and driver behavior. Based on these results, a survey was designed and distributed across the U.S in collaboration with the Mississippi DOT. The survey addressed six categories related to blue light implementation: demographics, organizational progress, respondent reaction, light deployment, light effectiveness, and light configuration. Based on the survey responses, 83 % of respondents believed blue lights help reduce vehicle speeds, 87 % reported increased alertness near flashing blue lights, and 68 % preferred placing blue lights at the start of work zones. This study identifies operational challenges such as limited organizational policies, a lack of regulations, and communication gaps between law enforcement and construction teams regarding the implementation of blue lights for work zone safety. The implications of these findings offer important insights for DOTs to standardize deployment practices, prioritize enforcement coordination, and enhance public safety through improved implementation strategies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:31:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2608514</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Connecting Communities: Options and Considerations for Enhancing Rural Transit</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2582575</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This report, by the Eno Center for Transportation in partnership with the German Embassy in Washington D.C., examines rural transit in the United States. It begins with a look at rural transit options including operating costs, service flexibility, level of accessibility, cost to users, and capital and infrastructure requirements. The challenge of funding rural transit is discussed with a look at  Federal Transit Administration grants. Next, a series of case studies highlight best practices in the provision of rural transit. Case studies include: a fixed-route service in Vicksburg, Mississippi; (2) a fixed-route hybrid service and on-demand microtransit in Virginia; (3) a partnership with Uber rideshare in Kyle, Texas; and (4) a partnership with Lyft rideshare and bikeshare in Monrovia, California. In addition to the case studies, transit needs, challenges, and opportunities in Meridian, Mississippi are examined. The report concludes with general recommendations for rural transit provision and recommendations specifically for rural transit in Meridian, Mississippi.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:54:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2582575</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Fragility Curves for Highway Embankment Slope Stability under Extreme Rainfall</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/2592033</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway embankment slopes are subject to potential failure due to extreme rainfall patterns. This study uses a fragility framework to examine the failure probability of a highway slope consisting of Yazoo clay in the northern part of Jackson, Mississippi, USA. A finite-element model of the slope is calibrated with available site data. Total rainfall depths between 47 mm and 630 mm are considered in the application of the model under different high-to-low intensity and short-to-long duration categories for return periods up to 1,000 years. Uncertainties in the rainfall patterns are incorporated through Monte Carlo simulation. The effects of extreme rainfall are integrated by applying the intensity and frequency of rainfall events that are greater than those of typical design considerations. Fragility curves, the continuous failure probability functions corresponding to a wide range of rainfall depths, are constructed using simulation outputs for different limit states. Rainfall duration is identified as the key factor affecting the embankment’s fragility. Low-intensity and long-duration rainfalls are found to be more detrimental to the slope compared to high-intensity and short-duration rainfalls. This study revealed that the major limit state is only exceeded by post-200-mm rainfall depths, with an increasing exceedance likelihood at greater rainfall depths. Limit states showed higher exceedance probability from higher frequency rainfalls due to the long rebound period of Yazoo clay. The findings from this study may be utilized in the design of new embankments within the same region and in safety assessments of existing embankment slopes under a range of rainfall conditions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:34:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/2592033</guid>
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