December 1998 EnvRIP compiled by TERIS Transportation and Environmental Research and Information Services a sponsored activity of The Center for Transportation and the Environment North Carolina State University The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a university research institute funded by the US Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and located at The Institute for Transportation Research and Education, North Carolina State University. CTE’s mission is to conduct programs of research, education, and technology transfer which seek to mitigate the impacts of surface transportation on the environment. Preface to Volume 2, Issue 1 The core emphasis of EnvRIP, Environmental Research in Progress, continues to be environmental research conducted or funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, state departments of transportation (DOTs), and university transportation centers. However, we also review the environmental research of a wide range of resource agencies and organizations in order to include selected environmental research of interest to transportation professionals. The index, which is organized by sponsoring/funding agencies, will provide a quick reference to the wide range of agencies included in this issue of EnvRIP. As a result of the diligent and persistent efforts of the TERIS staff*, eight additional state DOTs are represented in this issue. Four other state DOTs have advised that they have no environmental research in progress at this time. Therefore, a total of 44 states DOTs have provided research records in this issue, four states acknowledge no environmental research at this time and just two states have not confirmed the status of their environmental research. A similarly high response rate was achieved with the university transportation centers. We thank everyone for their contributions and their willingness to share this information. The 83 research projects identified as completed since the last issue of EnvRIP are listed in Appendix A and include citations to final reports. Completed projects appear in one issue only, since this information is or soon will be available in bibliographic databases such as the Transportation Research Board’s TRIS database or the National Technical Information Services’ (NTIS) database. A new feature in this issue is the inclusion of any interim reports or other publications for research still in progress. As in the previous issue, we continue to track and identify the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) funded projects that meet the criteria of the Transportation Research Board’s Circular 469, Environmental Research Needs in Transportation. As part of the update process this time, the TERIS staff asked research sponsors and funders about their research selection and funding cycle in order to determine the frequency with which EnvRIP should be updated. Based on this information, the update schedule for EnvRIP will change from semiannual to annual. *Special thanks to Lisa Rockwell, Information Specialist with CTE, and Corrie Lisk-Hurst, Research Assistant with CTE/ITRE, for the many hours they dedicated to updating records and identifying new research for this issue. Lois J. Widmer, M.S.L.S., Editor Director, TERIS Center for Transportation and the Environment Phone: 919.515.8581; Fax: 919-515-8898 Email: Introduction The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a university research institute located at North Carolina State University. CTE's mission is to conduct programs of research, education, and technology transfer which mitigate the impacts of surface transportation on the environment. In keeping with this mission, CTE emphasizes the dissemination and sharing of information. As an outgrowth of the November 1996 Environmental Research Needs in Transportation Conference hosted by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the Center for Transportation and the Environment has created a specialized database of environmental research in progress, EnvRIP. CTE has initiated this project to achieve two major objectives: track research that meets the research needs identified at the conference and inform the transportation community about environmental research in progress to encourage collaboration. This report is intended to provide a systematic index to environmental research in progress of interest to the transportation community. The contents include records of environmental research in progress from the Transportation Research Board's TRIS database. CTE has supplemented these records with records gathered directly from state DOTs, university transportation centers, and other agencies and organizations. In addition to distributing this information on diskette as a searchable database and in portable document format (PDF) ready for printing, we are developing a searchable database at CTE's Web site. The Web version will offer greater flexibility for accessing and updating the information. The PDF version is organized by the thirteen broad subject categories used in TRB's Circular 469, Environmental Research Needs in Transportation. Where appropriate, some projects have been listed in more than one category. In addition, we have included an index of project titles organized by sponsoring or funding agency as a ready reference to the activities of each organization. Records of active research will be maintained in future editions; however, once research is completed and reports are available, the record will appear one time in an appendix of completed research, then will be removed from EnvRIP. CTE especially thanks the Transportation Research Board for permission to include records from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and from the TRIS database. We trust that you will find EnvRIP useful in your work and we encourage your contributions to the database. You may wish to consult the agency index to determine how accurately your organization or agency is represented. In collaboration with Jerry Maddock, Manager of the TRB Information Services, CTE contributes all newly identified research for possible inclusion in the TRIS database. Lois J. Widmer, M.S.L.S. Director, TERIS Transportation and Environmental Research and Information Services The Center for Transportation and the Environment Phone: 919.515.8581 Email: Table of Contents Aesthetics and Visual Quality ......................................................................................................1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................5 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................34 Energy Conservation, Alternative Fuels, and Climate Change ...................................................39 Environmental Review Process..................................................................................................48 Hazardous Materials Transportation ..........................................................................................54 Hazardous Waste ......................................................................................................................59 Noise .......................................................................................................................................67 Operations and Maintenance.....................................................................................................73 General .................................................................................................................73 Snow and Ice Control .............................................................................................83 Vegetation Control .................................................................................................87 Waste Products ...................................................................................................104 Social and Economic Impacts ..................................................................................................127 Water Quality and Hydrology ...................................................................................................140 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................178 Wildlife and Ecosystems..........................................................................................................202 Appendix A – Completed Research .........................................................................................217 Index of Project Titles Arranged by Sponsoring or Funding Agency..........................................239 All National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) records: Copyright  1998 by National Academy of Sciences. Records used with permission of the National Academy of Sciences. All Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) records Copyright  1998 by National Academy of Sciences. Records used with permission of the National Academy of Sciences. Aesthetics and Visual Quality Aesthetics and Visual Quality AESTHETIC DESIGN OF PROTOTYPE NOISE BARRIER. (ENV1034) Sponsored by: New Jersey Department of Transportation. Bureau of Environmental Services. Trenton. NJ. Project Monitor: Marsella, Mark. Performed by: New Jersey Institute of Technology. National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity. Newark, NJ. Investigator(s): Golub, Eugene. Status: Active, Contract No.: Project No. NC-19 . Start date: 1 Jul 1997; Estimated completion date: 31 Dec 1999. Notes: Design details for this project have been finalized, and the construction and evaluation phases are beginning. The purpose of this project is to design and construct a prototype noise barrier that will be more aesthetically acceptable than existing barriers and, if possible, utilize recycled plastics or other recyclable material. Various materials will be examined for suitability to prefabricate add-on “fins” to produce changing shadow patterns under varying light conditions. New panel-to-post attachment systems will also be studied. Ease and cost of construction and retrofit, durability, cost of materials, and other factors will be studied. Barrier design itself will proceed through computer modeling, construction of 1/3 scale model, and finally a full-scale prototype. Accomplishments to date include (1) Construction of the 1/3 scale model; (2) Finalization of the panel attachment system; (3) Finalization of the “fin” material, shape, and color; (4) Finalization of the “fin” attachment method; (5) Arranging for the prefabrication of full-size panels and construction of a prototype barriers. Construction will take place early in 1998 at the prefabricator's plant. All activities will be videotaped and notes will be taken for later analysis. DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-COST SOUND BARRIERS AND LAND USE ORDINANCES TO MINIMIZE FUTURE ROAD NOISE IMPACTS. (ENV1062) Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation. Project Monitor: Byers, James. Performed by: West Virginia University. Investigator(s): Martinelli, D. Status: Active. Start date: 11 Apr 1996; Estimated completion date: 18 Dec 1998. Traffic noise has long been regarded as one of the most significant environmental effects associated with both existing and new freeways. Communities located near freeways are most affected negatively by traffic noise. These communities seek relief through the construction of noise abatement devices such as barrier walls. These noise barriers are generally expensive to produce and erect, and the cost of construction often falls on the authorized transportation agency. What is needed is an approach to the problem that simultaneously addresses both the noise problems facing existing communities and the reduction of future problems through proactive prevention methods. MAUTC researchers at West Virginia University have worked with Pennsylvania DOT to investigate and develop low-cost noise abatement systems emphasizing recycled materials. Land use ordinances that minimize exposure to freeway noise while considering ancillary attributes such as aesthetics and constructibility will also be developed. EnvRIP page 1 December 1998 Aesthetics and Visual Quality DEVELOPMENT OF SEED STOCKS. (00722890) Sponsored by: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Juneau. AK. Project Monitor: Reckard, M. Performed by: Alaska Plant Materials Center. Division of Agriculture. Palmer. AK. Investigator(s): Wright, S. Status: Active. Start date: Mar 1995; Estimated completion date: Sep 1996. The state of Alaska lacks a sufficient number of native seed species in commercial production for proper seeding of roadsides to permit specifying seed types that will have the best survival chances. This is especially true for wildflowers and for RS and for D-adapted species. The national trend is indicated by a federal requirement for using native species for seed types where federal funds are involved. Seed collection and species success evaluation studies under this project will be done at or near the Alaska, Steese, Glenn and Nome-Taylor Highways. More than forty species will be evaluated and considered for seed production and potential use in revegetation. The timing of seed collection will be species specific. Following collection the seeds must be cleaned and sorted, followed by germination tests. Seeds will be given to potential commercial growers in the second year of this study in order to have more seeds produced and their production efforts will be monitored. Those species proving suitable for expanded seed production will be identified, and seeding requirements will be prepared as possible specifications. The investigation of native species of vegetation and seed collection from species favorable for commercial production will be implemented. The benefits of this study will be: improved roadside vegetation survival, prevention of slope erosion problems, and roadsides and highway facilities beautified with wildflowers. Until seed stocks are made available in quantities suitable for wide use, their potential benefits cannot be realized and they cannot even be specified for use in construction revegetation work. EVALUATION OF SERVICE LIFE OF NOISE BARRIER WALLS. (ENV1004) Sponsored by: Illinois Department of Transportation. Project Monitor: Bruns, Mike. Performed by: Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Investigator(s): Kay, Diane. Status: Active, Contract No.: ITRC Project IIB-H1, FY 97. Start date: 26 Sep 1997; Estimated completion date : 25 Dec 1998. Noise barrier walls are a costly addition to many highway projects in Illinois. Current cost can approach $1 million per mile for walls installed on one side of the roadway. Several types of materials are currently used in the construction of noise barrier walls, including wood, concrete, and several proprietary products. Designers attempting to make a rational choice between these products, however, are hampered by a current lack of information on possible differences in service lives of these materials. Research is needed to determine whether the service lives of the available materials are measurably different, how such differences can be quantified, and whether life-cycle cost of barrier walls should be a determining factor in the decision to use a given material. The trade-off between lower life-cycle of a material and the degradation of its aesthetic and acoustical properties must also be addressed. Finally, the list of currently approved materials and the construction/installation methods currently specified by the Department need to be evaluated for potential improvements which could yield benefits for the Department. The objectives of this study are to: 1. develop methods to evaluate service life of materials used for noise barrier walls in Illinois, page 2 EnvRIP December 1998 Aesthetics and Visual Quality 2. develop a means of evaluating life-cycle costs with consideration given to service life, aesthetics and acoustics, 3. make recommendations regarding the use of life-cycle costing as a determining factor in material choice, and 4. make recommendations regarding the Special Provisions used by the Department to specify materials and construction/installation methods. Accomplishment of these objectives will permit more rational choices among competing materials and may result in significant cost savings. INPUTS AND MAINTENANCE FOR REVEGETATION WITH NATIVE AND HERBACEOUS SPECIES. (00735165) Sponsored by: California Department of Transportation. Office of Structural Foundations. Sacramento. CA; Federal Highway Administration. Washington. DC. Project Monitor: Haynes, J. Performed by: California Department of Transportation. Office of Structural Foundations. Sacramento. CA. Investigator(s): Haynes, J. Status: Active. Start date: 1 Jun 1996; Estimated completion date: 30 Jun 1999. The research objective is to investigate the following: 1) differential responses of individual species, 2) mixture dynamics in response to fertilizer, mulch and management treatments, 3) management practices for cost-effective long-term maintenance of established native herbaceous plant communities, 4) the effects of amount and type of fertilizer and mulch of herbaceous species establishment, and 5) compare seedings methods. Our goal is to include district 3 environmental, design, and maintenance personnel in the planning and execution of the experiment to develop long term monitoring and maintenance program for native vegetation on CalTrans rights-of-ways. LOS CAMINOS ANTIGUOS SCENIC AND HISTORIC BYWAYS. (CRIS 0177300) Sponsored by: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cooperative State Research Service. Arizona Forestry Station. Performed by: Northern Arizona University. School of Forestry. Flagstaff. AZ. Investigator(s): Lee, M. E. Status: Active, Contract No.: ARZZ-NAU-FOR394Q. Start date: 24 Oct 1997; Estimated completion date: 24 Oct 1999. Notes: Abstract provided by permission of the U.S. Geological Survey (http://cristel.nal.usda.gov:8080/star/brd.html). The purpose of this project is to determine the individual, household, community, and environmental benefits and disbenefits provided by the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway as perceived by five groups: residents, members of local governments, private- sector recreation and tourism service providers, public land managers, and non-local recreation users of the byway. This information will be gathered using focus groups and surveys administered on site and via mail. Questionnaires are being designed during winter-spring 1998 to be administered in the summer and fall 1998. EnvRIP page 3 December 1998 Aesthetics and Visual Quality METHODS OF CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY DESIGN AT ZUNI AND ACOMA PUEBLOS BASED ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. (CRIS 0175818) Sponsored by: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cooperative State Research Service. Performed by: Cornell University. Landscape Architecture Department. Ithaca. NY. Investigator(s): Gleason, K. L. Status: Active, Contract No.: NYC-146402. Start date: 1 Oct 1997; Estimated completion date: 1 Jun 2001. Notes: Abstract provided by permission of the U.S. Geological Survey (http://cristel.nal.usda.gov:8080/star/brd.html). This project will adapt traditional agriculture and building technologies to address contemporary development issues in rural Native American communities. In evaluating the contemporary design of parks, roads and housing, the Principal Investigator will focus on traditional methods of cultivation, erosion control, and water management and how these may be reintroduced into village life to reinforce the cultural ways of the pueblo communities. The project seeks to establish a partnership approach between the pueblos and Cornell. The Principal Investigator brings a combined knowledge of landscape architectural design, arid- climate agriculture and archaeology. She will work with the pueblos and Cornerstones Community Partnership to explore the objectives described above. Groups and Cornell students will work with students from Zuni and Acoma to actually build and test ideas produced through discussion and research at Cornell and in the South West. The results will be disseminated in a product developed in collaboration with the pueblo groups. THE VIEW FROM THE ROAD: COSTS AND BENEFITS OF URBAN FORESTS FOR BUSINESS DISTRICTS. (CRIS 0177499) Sponsored by: OCI WN.Z (Other Cooperating Institutions, which report research to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture). Performed by: University of Washington. Ecosystems, Horticulture, and Conservation Department. Seattle. WA. Investigator(s): Wolf, K. L. Status: Active, Contract No.: WNZ-EHC-776. Start date: 1 Aug 1997; Estimated completion date: 30 Jul 1999. Notes: Abstract provided by permission of the U.S. Geological Survey (http://cristel.nal.usda.gov:8080/star/brd.html). Objectives of this project are to gain information about public preferences and perceptions regarding the benefits and costs of trees on urban roadsides. By means of surveys, elicit response from business owners and highways regarding the benefits and values of urban forests for roadside business districts. Conduct project initially in the Pacific Northwest, then expand nationally. Research results will be reported to business and commerce organizations, as well as to urban forestry professionals and managers. page 4 EnvRIP December 1998 Air Quality Air Quality ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DATA FOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND LONG-RANGE PLANNING. (SWUTC 407510-00003) Sponsored by: Texas Department of Transportation. Project Monitor: Olavson, Chris. Performed by: Texas A&M University. Investigator(s): Benz, Robert J. Status: Active, Contract No.: 128XXA1001, Task C. Start date: 1 Sep 1997; Estimated completion date: 31 Aug 1999. The key objectives for this project, Task C of Project 407510, include: vehicle emissions/air quality analysis, congestion management, and the development of an automated infrastructure information and analysis system. The main objective of vehicle emissions/air quality analysis is to find cost-effective methods to measure and monitor air quality. Congestion management is a tool that non-attainment areas can use to improve air quality. Congestion management actively monitors and evaluates traffic conditions through the use of several data collection methods. These methods include: travel time and speed surveys, traffic and vehicle classification counts, as well as a physical inventory of roadway conditions and characteristics. In addition, the data is used in regular updates produced by TxDOT for the Houston-Galveston Regional Transportation Study, and is extremely valuable for TxDOT's long range planning efforts and activities. The last key objective, the development of an automated infrastructure information and analysis system, is vital to enable the department to meet the demand for transportation information by allowing transportation professionals to make specific queries regarding operational and physical roadway characteristics and present “hot spot” areas that meet user-specified threshold levels on the system's graphical display interface. This system could also help the department with a wide range of transportation planning analysis functions. AIR QUALITY/CONFORMITY. (SWUTC 407370) Sponsored by: Texas Department of Transportation. Performed by: Texas A&M University. Investigator(s): Dresser, George B. Status: Active, Contract No.: 507XXA3013 SPR-0420(098). Start date: 1 Sep 1997; Estimated completion date: 31 Aug 1999. The primary purpose of this interagency contract is to provide for TTI technical support to TxDOT and selected MPOs in the area of transportation/air quality planning and analysis. Due to proposed changes in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), significant changes in the number of urban areas impacted by the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) are expected. The effect of these changes will not be known for several months. Consequently, this IAC is written with considerable flexibility. The specific tasks to be worked on will be selected by the project director quarterly. TxDOT will notify TTI as to the tasks to be accomplished each quarter of each year. In general, TTI shall provide professional and technical staff services to assist TxDOT and selected MPOs in performing data collection, data analysis, travel modeling, and other transportation/air quality related tasks as required to comply with state and federal requirements and to meet the needs of federal and state transportation and environmental agencies. EnvRIP page 5 December 1998 Air Quality AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND SCHEDULING. (SWUTC 417458) Sponsored by: Texas Department of Transportation. Project Monitor: Neeley, Melissa. Performed by: Texas A&M University. Investigator(s): Dresser, George B. Status: Active. Start date: 1 Sep 1996; Estimated completion date: 30 May 1998. This study will assess the impact of traffic congestion, operation of construction equipment, and use of construction materials on urban air quality. Researchers will evaluate benefits of construction abatement, especially on ozone alert days, and identify alternative construction practices to minimize negative impacts on air quality. In addition, researchers will evaluate the emission reduction benefits and ensuing costs of alternative construction scheduling, including lengthening contract time, construction during non-summer months, night construction, etc. Results of this work will provide TxDOT with information on the contributions to regional emissions from highway construction projects and the additional costs incurred when highway construction contractors must participate in ozone alert programs. The study will also provide information that the department can use to develop policy guidance concerning the participation in ozone alert programs. AIR QUALITY MONITORING COMPUTER SYSTEM. (ENV1035) Sponsored by: New Jersey Department of Transportation. Bureau of Project Support and Engineering. Trenton, NJ. Project Monitor: Sasor, S. Robert. Performed by: New Jersey Institute of Technology. National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity. Newark, NJ. Investigator(s): Wen, H. Joseph. Status: Active, Contract No.: Project No. NC-20. Start date: 1 Aug 1997; Estimated completion date: 31 Mar 1999. NJDOT is currently using a DOS-based air monitoring program that requires manual data entry. This system is inefficient and subject to error. The system needs to be redesigned for Windows- based operation, so that data collection and data entry can be automated. Data entry will also be tied to a statistical analysis program which will produce statistical reports to be used in the design process. The current system is presently being analyzed, and the user's needs are being determined. AIRBORNE PARTICULATE SOURCES IN ANCHORAGE. (00726676) Sponsored by: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Juneau. AK; Federal Highway Administration. Washington. DC. Project Monitor: Reckard, M. Performed by: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Juneau. AK. Investigator(s): Morris, S. Status: Active. Start date: 1 Jan 1996; Estimated completion date: 30 Sep 1996. The municipality of Anchorage and the Alaskan Department of Environmental Conservation are required to prepare a draft PM-10 control plan by February 28, 1997. The Anchorage Air Pollution Control Agency is coordinating the planning process. The major source of PM-10 must be identified and their relative contributions quantified before appropriate control strategies can be evaluated and selected for inclusion on the PM-10 control plan. A number of studies have been page 6 EnvRIP December 1998