The University of Wisconsin-Madison has formed a consortium with other leading universities in the region to focus on the Optimization of Transportation Investment and Operations. The Midwest Regional University Transportation Center (MRUTC) focuses on research, outreach, and education in asset optimization and management techniques for transportation facilities.

Recent Submissions

  • Maintenance quality assurance peer exchange 2 

    Adams, Teresa M.; Janowiak, Scott; Sierzchula, Will; Bittner, Jason (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2009-04)
    This report documents a comprehensive study of twenty three maintenance quality assurance (MQA) programs throughout the United States and Canada. The policies and standards of each program were synthesized to create a ...
  • Traffic operations asset management systems (TOAMS) 

    Hidayat, Dadit G.; Adams, Teresa M.; Bittner, Jason (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-08)
    The efforts in promoting traffic operations asset management systems (TOAMS) face significant difficulties. Two fundamental reasons explain this situation. First, asset management principles have been continuously developed ...
  • Rethinking bridge deck longevity and maintenance with Portland cement polymer concrete 

    Cramer, Steven; Agosto, Andrew (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-08)
    Bridge deck deterioration in the northern Midwest creates significant costs to state Departments of Transportation (DOT?s) in the region. The fundamental cause of the problem is low tensile strength and water permeable ...
  • Library connectivity pooled fund administrative and marketing services 

    Bittner, Jason (National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE), 2011-08)
    This report details the activities of a small portion of the Library Connectivity Pooled Fund. It builds upon the 2007 Interim report and that served as a record of the formation, major activities and accomplishments of ...
  • Improving service restoration using automatic vehicle location 

    Peng, Zhong-Ren; Lynde, Eric; Chen, Wei-Ya (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-07)
    This study investigates important issues in transit service reliability, namely large service gaps and bus bunching. Using automatic vehicle location (AVL) data from the Route 20 ? Madison bus route of the Chicago Transit ...
  • Materials characterization and analysis of the Marquette Interchange HMA perpetual pavement 

    Crovetti, James A.; Titi, Hani; Coenen, Aaron; Elias, Mohammed B.; Williams, R. Christopher; Li, Xinjun (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-08)
    This project focused on the characterization of materials used to construct the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) perpetual pavement within the Marquette Interchange and on the analysis of collected pavement response data to investigate ...
  • Sensitivity of bridge health index to element failure costs and conditions 

    Kang, Myungook; Adams, Teresa M. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2009-11)
    The Bridge Health Index (BHI) is a bridge performance measure based on the condition of the bridge elements. It is computed as the ratio of remaining value of the bridge structure to the initial value of the structure. ...
  • A methodology for integrating roadway safety hardware management into the overall highway asset management program 

    Madanu, Sunil; Li, Zongzhi (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-06)
    Over the past two decades, state transportation agencies have developed management systems as analytical tools to support investment decision-making in Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs (STIP) and long-range ...
  • Effective implementation of the design-build delivery system on transportation projects 

    El Asmar, Mounir; Hanna, Awad; Lynch, John C. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-08)
    The use of design-build project delivery systems today is popular for delivering commercial, industrial, and institutional construction projects and is increasingly used on transportation projects. While some states have ...
  • Risk misallocation on highway transportation projects 

    Hanna, Awad; Blasier, Kelly (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-09)
    Unfortunately, on the most common ways to avoid risk in the highway construction industry today is by allocating it elsewhere. Risk is constantly passed around and usually to parties who are not in the best position to ...
  • Benefit-cost analysis framework for evaluating inter-city transit investment 

    Guo, Jessica Y.; White, Kevin; Gong, Qi; Zheng, Jie (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-10)
    This report describes the development and application of a benefit/cost analysis (BCA) model to support the evaluation of investment decisions for intercity bus services. The model recognizes two principle types of intercity ...
  • Feasibility of rehabilitating timber bridges with mechanically fastened FRP strips 

    Oliva, Michael; Schorer, Alyssa E.; Bank, Lawrence C.; Rammer, Douglas R.; Wacker, James P. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-06)
    Many timber trestle railroad bridges in Wisconsin have experienced deterioration and are in need of rehabilitation. In addition, the railroad industry is increasing the weights of cars. The combined effect of heavier loads ...
  • Compass 2006 data analysis and reporting 

    Adams, Teresa M.; Juni, Emil (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2007-07)
    The Compass Operational Report is issued annually to identify the condition of Wisconsin?s state highway network. The primary audience for this report includes Operations Supervisors and Operations Managers at the Wisconsin ...
  • Use of trenchless technologies for a comprehensive asset management of culverts and drainage structures 

    Salem, Sam; Najafi, Mohammad; Salman, Baris; Calderon, Diego; Patil, Rahul; Bhattachar, Deepak (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-08)
    Due to an aging and rapidly deteriorating transportation infrastructure, agencies are facing the challenge of making quick and reliable decisions regarding the repair and renewal of their assets. While comprehensive asset ...
  • A systematic process for using federal aid to support bridge preventive maintenance 

    Adams, Teresa M.; Pincheira, Jose A.; Kang, Myungook (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-11)
    Preventive maintenance (PM) is recognized as a cost?effective way to preserve the investment in and service life of highway bridges. State agencies, including Wisconsin, are performing bridge PM projects. SAFETEA-LU 23 ...
  • Development and layout of a protocol for the field performance of concrete deck and crack sealants 

    Pincheira, Jose A. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2009-08)
    The main objective of this project was to develop and layout a protocol for the long-term monitoring and assessment of the performance of concrete deck and crack sealants in the field. To accomplish this goal, a total of ...
  • Estimating cost per lane mile for routine highway operations and maintenance 

    Adams, Teresa M. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2011-01)
    The disparity between maintenance budgets and maintenance requirements causes agencies to make difficult choices about maintenance priorities. There is a growing need to effectively link maintenance costs and condition to ...
  • Database development for an HMA pavement performance analysis system 

    Schmitt, Robert; Owusu-Ababio, Samuel; Denn, Kevin D. (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2008-04)
    The primary purpose of this report was to develop a database template, using the existing Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) pavement management system, from which to perform pavement performance analysis using ...
  • Optimal investment decision-making for highway transportation asset management under risk and certainty 

    Kaini, Praveen; Li, Zongzhi (Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, 2007-09)
    Efficient highway investment decision-making becomes increasingly important in transportation. In order to facilitate such a decision process, first issue is to estimate benefits of highway projects and utilize those values ...
  • Corrosion protection performance of epoxy-coated reinforcing bars 

    Pincheira, Jose A.; Aramayo, Anton A.; Kim, Kyu-Sun; Fratta, Dante (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2008-10)
    The main purpose of this investigation was to conduct an in-depth study to determine the level of corrosion protection offered by epoxy-coated bars in four bridge decks in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN metropolitan area. ...

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