Special Studies

As the transportation infrastructure matures, there are few new routes under development. Today, new construction projects typically focus on improving and optimizing the existing transportation network. The problems facing transportation officials today are more in the areas of infrastructure maintenance and system management. Special studies seeks solutions to these problems by fostering cooperative research efforts among transportation professionals from academia, the private sector, metropolitan planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government.

LTRC's special studies and planning group conducts in-house studies and coordinates contract research projects in traffic engineering, transportation planning, ITS, road safety, and environmental engineering. In addition, LTRC coordinates research projects dealing with subjects such as ports and waterways, economic development, environmental impact, and management. Special studies research also routinely includes in-house technical assistance studies to address problems identified by DOTD administrators.