NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Research Project Description

Center Identification Number: 21-17-LO-350-10

Project Title: The National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse

Principal Investigators: 

Philip L. Winters, TDM Program Director
813-974-9811
E-mail: winters@cutr.eng.usf.edu

Institution: 

Center for Urban Transportation Research
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida

I. Project Objective

To provide a national one-stop shop for information and technical assistance on transportation demand management (TDM) techniques, including telework.

II. Project Abstract

The need for a Clearinghouse for transportation demand management (TDM) and technology applications such as telecommuting was identified at an invitation-only Congestion Management Conference held in Irvine, California in June 1997 hosted by the Transportation Research Board and U.S. Department of Transportation. Numerous breakout groups recommended the development and dissemination of information, data, standard but user-friendly methodologies, and technical assistance of multimodal approaches to congestion problems. In November 1997, the attendees to the USDOT/TRB International Workshop on Planning Regional Telecommuting Programs voiced similar needs. Most of the breakout groups asked for case studies on successful telecommuting programs, a national database on existing telecommuting programs, and "on demand" experts and peer-to-peer networks. This project will focus on developing and disseminating information in a variety of formats to the transportation community on the issues of TDM and telework. It will also include efforts to help train transportation professionals to generate new ideas and evaluate these alternatives in parallel.

III. Task Descriptions

Task 1 Develop and Maintain Resource Center

• Employ intelligent agents to regularly search resources such as TRIS, WEB-LUIS, etc. for potential articles, external documents, legislation, and/or web sites for all topic areas of interest
• Locate and collect materials and professional indexing and cataloging of these materials
  Produce and update subject area bibliographies
• Develop a depository of "raw" data from TDM and telework programs to share results, provide a means for comparison, and allow students and other researchers to develop/validate new models

Task 2 Technology Transfer

• Develop an maintain listservs for key customer groups (Transp-tdm (existing)) for the TDM community and Telework (to be developed) for public sector issues regarding telework programs
• Develop and maintain a website with links to:
  People – Places - Events regarding TDM and teleworking
  Bibliographies
  Relevant legislation and federal research programs
  Relevant journals and papers; other full-text documents
  Relevant research needs and projects in progress
  Virtual Book Shelf of select publication and other materials in the Clearinghouse
  Searchable Databases
• Promote the Clearinghouse to customers at regional and national conferences, especially with formal partners
• Conduct TDM and telework workshop in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board and other sponsors/partners

Task 3 Technical Assistance

• Provide "on demand" access to experts and resources for current and future transportation professionals and employers on TDM and telework
• Provide research assistance to graduate students
• Provide bulletins or updates (with the assistance of key partners) on funding opportunities, training programs, conferences, and relevant legislation at the national, state, and local levels regarding TDM and telework
• Provide creative thinking and parallel thinking training and assistance to help agencies solve own problems
  

IV. Project Schedule, Milestones

Project Start Date: November 1, 1999

Notes: This budget does not reflect any state participation.  The project team will include faculty, students, and secretarial and other support staff who will work directly on the project and whose costs are reflected in the direct costs of the project as listed above. 

VI. Student Involvement