The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

New ICT-IDOT projects

4/16/2023 McCall Macomber

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Center for Transportation Executive Committee considered requests for new research funding and approved the following projects on March 23, 2023:

  • State Department of Transportation Support for Operationalizing Transit Signal Priority
    Abolfazl Mohammadian, University of Illinois Chicago
    Mohammad Miralinaghi, Illinois Institute of Technology
    Alireza Talebpour, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Charles Abraham, Illinois Department of Transportation
    Taqhi Mohammed, PACE
  • Characterization of the Long-term Behavior of Textured Epoxy Coated Rebars in Bridge Decks
    Bassem Andrawes and John Popovics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Dan Tobias and Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation

ICT will solicit proposals for the following research projects, starting May 1:

  • Developing a Framework for Establishing a Risk-Based Geotechnical Asset Management Program in Illinois
  • Development of a Pavement Friction Management Program

ICT is pleased to announce the start of new IDOT-sponsored projects, from most recent start date.

R27-SP58: Investigating Statewide Transit Maintenance Needs
Yanfeng Ouyang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jack Cruikshank, Illinois Department of Transportation

Illinois Department of Transportation provides capital and operating funding to more than 50 public transit agencies statewide. Maintenance costs are the second-highest expense category for those transit agencies after vehicle-operating costs.
Illinois Department of Transportation provides capital and operating funding to more than 50 public transit agencies statewide. Maintenance costs are the second-highest expense category for those transit agencies after vehicle-operating costs.

Fleet maintenance — one of the most important aspects of transit systems — is the second-highest expense category for public transit agencies.

IDOT currently has two regional maintenance centers, where transit agencies can outsource vehicle maintenance that they may not be able to perform locally. Here researchers will document how transit providers across Illinois currently use those facilities and recommend improvements to that network.

Expanding regional maintenance centers to increase operational efficiency will allow both urban and rural transit agencies to reduce maintenance costs while hopefully increasing transit services.

The project will conclude December 2023.

R27-SP59: Field Performance of Unacceptable Hot-Mix Asphalt Test Parameters
Ramez Hajj, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Douglas Dirks, Illinois Department of Transportation

A contractor drills into an asphalt sample to measure its density. IDOT uses three tests to measure the acceptability of hot-mix asphalt: pay for performance, quality control for performance, and quality control and quality assurance.
A contractor drills into an asphalt sample to measure its density. IDOT uses three tests to measure the acceptability of hot-mix asphalt: pay for performance, quality control for performance, and quality control and quality assurance.

IDOT uses mixture volumetric and in-place density test parameters in the hot-mix asphalt quality management programs for acceptance. In the acceptance process, IDOT has acceptable limits associated with four test parameters: air voids, field voids in the mineral aggregate, in-place density and dust to asphalt binder ratio.

The goal of this project is to evaluate the relationship between field performance and mixture volumetric and in-place density test parameters (including the acceptable limits parameters) used in the IDOT acceptance process. Additionally, researchers will develop a framework to monitor hot-mix asphalt field performance in the future.

The project will conclude January 2024.

R27-SP63: Data Analysis and Review of Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery versus Performance-Graded High-Temperature Test Results, Including Binder Elastic Behavior/Response
Ramez Hajj, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kelly Morse, Illinois Department of Transportation

Properly designing and selecting asphalt binder allows pavements to better withstand rutting — a common deterioration in pavement. The multiple stress creep and recovery test is used to detect asphalt binder’s potential for rutting and can better capture of the effect of polymer modification on asphalt binder.
Properly designing and selecting asphalt binder allows pavements to better withstand rutting — a common deterioration in pavement. The multiple stress creep and recovery test is used to detect asphalt binder’s potential for rutting and can better capture of the effect of polymer modification on asphalt binder.

Rutting, or permanent deformation, is one of the most critical distresses in flexible pavements which causes a safety hazard due to potential for hydroplaning of vehicles. Asphalt binder — an adhesive that holds aggregates in pavement together — can lead to rutting if it is not sufficiently stiff and resilient.

Researchers will examine the performance of asphalt binder using historic multiple stress creep and recovery test data from IDOT in relation to high-temperature performance grading. The aim of this project is to develop an updated binder specification for IDOT that captures high-temperature performance grading.

Better understanding of how to specify asphalt binder will improve asphalt mixtures and pavements, leading to safer roadways that require less maintenance.

The project will end December 2023.

R27-258: Evaluation of Digital Alert Systems Associated to Emergency Response Vehicles and Compliance with Move Over Law
Alireza Talebpour, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Juan Pava, Illinois Department of Transportation

In 2021, 42,915 people were fatally injured in vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 10.5% increase from 2020.
In 2021, 42,915 people were fatally injured in vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 10.5% increase from 2020.

Digital alert systems broadcast the real-time presence of roadside hazards such as stopped emergency vehicles or roadway maintenance.

This project will evaluate drivers’ responses to visual and auditory digital alert systems through a driving simulator and real-world experiments. Researchers will measure the effects of digital alert systems on compliance with the Move Over Law as well as mobility and safety.

Measuring the benefits of digital alert systems will allow stakeholders to increase the use of the technology, increasing safety and improving mobility.

The project will conclude February 2026.