The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

New ICT-IDOT projects

10/11/2024 McCall Macomber

Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to announce the start of new Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored projects, from most recent start date.

R27-276: Investigation of Alternative Solvents for Asphalt Extraction and Recovery
Ramez Hajj and Imad Al-Qadi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
B.K. Sharma, United States Department of Agriculture
Kelly Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation

Asphalt binder is the “glue” that holds pavement together — similar to how corn syrup or sugar keeps granola together in a granola bar.
Asphalt binder is the “glue” that holds pavement together — similar to how corn syrup or sugar keeps granola together in a granola bar.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes banning trichloroethylene and methylene chloride — two solvents used to extract binder from asphalt and to perform solubility tests. Failure to determine the asphalt binder content of hot-mix asphalt could affect pavement performance.

The goal of this project is to identify potential alternative solvents that are better performing and safer to use. Researchers will assess current practices within several state transportation agencies as well as identify and test alternative solvents.

Identifying alternative solvents would allow IDOT to reduce the volume of trichloroethylene and methylene chloride used while maintaining long-lasting, high-performing roadways.

The project will conclude September 2026.

R27-SP70: Understanding Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Illinois
Kirk Stodola and Peg Gronemeyer, Illinois Natural History Survey
Melony Barrett, Illinois State Geological Survey
Bradley Daugherty, Illinois Department of Transportation

In 2020, there were approximately 14,500 crashes involving deer in Illinois, with 96% resulting in damage to property or vehicles, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
In 2020, there were approximately 14,500 crashes involving deer in Illinois, with 96% resulting in damage to property or vehicles, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a common and costly occurrence on U.S. roadways, the most significant of which occur with deer.

This research aims to better understand wildlife-vehicle collisions in Illinois and to identify mitigation strategies. Researchers will review data on wildlife-vehicle collisions in Illinois, identify areas where those collisions are most common as well as influencing factors, and identify mitigation strategies to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions.

Reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions is expected to decrease injuries and fatal injuries from wildlife-vehicle collisions as well as reduce the amount spent on damages.

The project will conclude June 2025.

R27-SP69: IDOT Development of Special Management Areas
David Zaya, Eric Janssen, Paul Marcum, Wendy Schelsky and Jack Zinnen, Prairie Research Institute
Jake Vancil, Illinois Department of Transportation

Illinois Department of Transportation is the largest land manager in the state of Illinois.
Illinois Department of Transportation is the largest land manager in the state of Illinois.

Illinois roadside right-of-way provides important habitats that support biodiversity, including flora and fauna native to the state. Some of these species are considered threatened or endangered and legally protected.

The goal of this project is to develop management strategies to protect these species and enhance resource-rich sites within and along IDOT right-of-way. Researchers will develop a reporting strategy of management activities conducted within IDOT right-of-way, develop species action plans and standardize conservation measures to help IDOT address regulatory compliance.

The project will conclude June 2025.

R27-SP68: Development of Recommended Best Management Practices for IDOT Related to the Rusty Patched Bumblebee
Jason Robinson, Illinois Natural History Survey
Kimberly Burkwald, Illinois Department of Transportation

The rusty patched bumblebee has been listed as federally endangered since 2017.
The rusty patched bumblebee has been listed as federally endangered since 2017.

This project will examine avoidance and mitigation measures for the rusty patched bumblebee in IDOT roadway maintenance and construction projects. Researchers will provide recommended best management practices as well as avoidance or mitigation measures for IDOT to adopt.

Taking proactive steps related to best management practices for the rusty patched bumblebee will streamline project coordination with resource agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources as well as environmental compliance needs.

The project will end May 2025.

R27-263: Advancements in Profiler Certification
Steve Karamihas and Kelly Smith, Applied Pavement Technology
John Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation

Provided by John Senger. A pavement test section at the Illinois Certification and Research Track in Clinton County, Illinois.
Provided by John Senger. A pavement test section at the Illinois Certification and Research Track in Clinton County, Illinois.

Building smooth roads extends the life of pavements as well as decreases fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs.

This project’s aim is to help IDOT implement the latest technology in collecting ride-quality data or measuring road smoothness. Researchers will validate proposed tests for inertial profilers, a device that measures pavement’s smoothness, and investigate improvements to IDOT’s Illinois Certification and Research Track.

Successfully implementing the latest technology will allow IDOT to make better decisions on what roads need to be addressed as well as provide data for underserved areas.

The project will conclude July 2026.

R27-268: Quarry By-product Fines for Otta Seal Surfacing of Local Roads
Erol Tutumluer and Ramez Hajj, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tim Peters and John Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation

Excess quarry by-products generated each year in Illinois exceeds 950,000 tons according to an ICT-IDOT research study, R27-125: Sustainable Aggregates Production — Green Applications for Aggregate By-Products.
Excess quarry by-products generated each year in Illinois exceeds 950,000 tons according to an ICT-IDOT research study, R27-125: Sustainable Aggregates Production — Green Applications for Aggregate By-Products.

An Otta seal is a cost-effective surface treatment that is formed by adding graded aggregate to a thick application of soft binder. It is worked into the aggregate as traffic rolls over it.

This project will examine the use of quarry by-product fines, a leftover material from crushed rock extraction found in abundance in Illinois, as aggregates in Otta seals. Researchers will review design parameters as well as conduct lab testing to prepare mechanistic-based design and construction guidelines for Otta seals with quarry by-product aggregates.

Effectively using Otta seals with quarry by-product aggregates will reduce operational costs and maintenance needs as well as minimize aggregate segregation and provide environmental benefits.

The project will conclude August 2026.

R27-269: Estimation of the Load Rating of Existing Highway Bridges Based on Bridge Weigh-in-Motion Data
Alipour Mohamad and Larry Fahnestock, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation

Load capacity estimation is an essential tool to help agencies evaluate when to repair, rehabilitate, close or replace a bridge.
Load capacity estimation is an essential tool to help agencies evaluate when to repair, rehabilitate, close or replace a bridge.

Bridge weigh-in-motion technology allows agencies to characterize traffic loads by monitoring data collected from bridges equipped with sensors to obtain vehicle loading, speed, and type as well as axle weights and spacings.

This project will develop methods and processes for establishing a bridge weigh-in-motion program for Illinois and use its data for IDOT load capacity ratings. Researchers will provide IDOT with a method to design and deploy bridge weigh-in-motion systems as well as a data-driven load rating procedure for IDOT bridges.

Effectively establishing a bridge weigh-in-motion program for Illinois will provide actual site-specific loads, resulting in more accurate load ratings and sizeable cost savings for IDOT and Illinois taxpayers.

The project will conclude August 2027.

R27-270: Field Assessment of Traffic Control Devices
Khaled El-Rayes and Ernest-John Ignacio, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Douglas Dirks, Illinois Department of Transportation

Traffic control devices use visual indicators to guide and inform drivers. Traffic control devices may be permanent, such as traffic signals or pedestrian crossing beacons, or temporary, such as traffic drums or barricades.
Traffic control devices use visual indicators to guide and inform drivers. Traffic control devices may be permanent, such as traffic signals or pedestrian crossing beacons, or temporary, such as traffic drums or barricades.

The aim of this project is to develop a contractor certification program that ensures traffic control devices are field ready each construction season. Researchers will develop an inspection framework for roadway contractors as well as develop field-inspection methods and equipment for IDOT personnel.

Establishing a contractor certification program will improve traffic control devices’ retroreflectivity, appearance, legibility and structural integrity.

The project will conclude August 2026.

R27-271: Development of a Project-Scale Air Quality Screening Tool
Jane Lin, University of Illinois Chicago
Ben Sperry, Illinois Department of Transportation

The transportation sector contributes 28% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The transportation sector contributes 28% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This project’s goal is to estimate air pollution levels associated with transportation projects through various pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Researchers will develop an analysis tool for IDOT to estimate project-specific air pollution levels.

Development of the analysis tool will allow IDOT and its partners to better estimate and improve transportation-related emissions.

The project will conclude February 2027.

R27-272: Identifying and Minimizing Illinois’ Transit Deserts and Gray Areas
Bumsoo Lee and Lindsay Braun, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Hannah Martin and Charles Abraham, Illinois Department of Transportation

Transit deserts or grey areas are regions in which the distribution of transit access is uneven.
Transit deserts or grey areas are regions in which the distribution of transit access is uneven.

This project will examine the availability of effective transit services in time and space throughout Illinois, focusing on where demand currently exceeds capacity. Researchers will examine causes of unmet transit demands as well as focus on state-level solutions.

Effectively understanding transit desert or grey areas can help IDOT to address unmet demands as well as help to provide actionable recommendations to solve the issue.

The project will conclude August 2027.

R27-273: ITAG (Illinois TrAnsit GHG): A User-Friendly Tool to Estimate and Compare Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transit Operations in Illinois
Sybil Derrible, University of Illinois Chicago
Christopher Schmidt, Illinois Department of Transportation

In 2022, the transportation sector was responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2022, the transportation sector was responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The State of Illinois aims to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 in accordance with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. One way to reduce these emissions is to focus on public transit vehicles, which primarily run on fossil fuels.

Researchers will develop a user-friendly tool to help Illinois transit agencies estimate current GHG emissions from transit operations as well as potential savings of transitioning to alternative fuel fleets. The tool will also examine the carbon footprint from transit operations and compare them across Illinois agencies.

The project will end August 2027.

R27-274: Mobility and Funding Assessment for the Expansion of Free and Reduced Fares
Abolfazl Mohammadian and Farid Peiravian, University of Illinois Chicago
Hannah Martin, Illinois Department of Transportation

A Chicago Transit Authority train. Transit ridership has experienced a decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Chicago Transit Authority train. Transit ridership has experienced a decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of this project is to conduct an assessment for the expansion of free and reduced fares in Illinois’ public transit systems to increase transit ridership. Researchers will investigate the impact of existing free and reduced fare programs, assess potential expansion strategies and provide recommendations for improved equity and service efficiency.

Effectively developing programs for the expansion of free and reduced transit fares will allow transit agencies to enhance their revenue streams as well as provide affordable fares.

The project will conclude May 2026.

R27-SP67: Avoiding and Minimizing Impacts to Aquatic Resources through Construction Design Standards
Dusty Swedberg and Wendy Schelsky, Prairie Research Institute
Vincent Hamer, Illinois Department of Transportation

Photograph by Rachel Vinsel. A bridge over the LaMoine River in Hancock County, Illinois.
Photograph by Rachel Vinsel. A bridge over the LaMoine River in Hancock County, Illinois.

Federal and state policies require construction projects to minimize, avoid or mitigate effects to threatened and endangered species.

This project will identify designs and standards for bridge construction that will avoid or minimize impact to aquatic species. Researchers will identify crossing designs that support aquatic life and allow passage while achieving the desired structural integrity.

Acceptable designs would increase permit turnaround time, provide safe crossings for the traveling public and ensure aquatic resources are allowed to move and flourish.

The project will end May 2025.