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Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Research & Innovation

Transportation Research & Innovation newsletter

Transportation Research Update is a monthly email newsletter sharing MnDOT’s new and completed research projects.

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Current Transportation Research Update (April 2025)

Newsletter archive

  • March 2025
    Repairing In-Water Bridge Supports Using Innovative Methods and Materials, Assessing Reliability and Resilience on Freeway Corridors, Examining Driver Preferences for Lane Line Patterns and Widths, An Innovative Practical Approach to Assessing Bitumen Compatibility as an End Means of Material Specification, Increasing Service Reliability by Adding a Dedicated Right of Way for Buses, Modeling and Predicting the Deterioration of Pedestrian Assets
  • February 2025
    Developing technology to prevent vehicles from running red light; designing channelized right-turn lanes to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety; safety considerations associated with driverless shuttles; Understanding and improving pavement milling operations; Research & Innovation Annual Report

  • December 2024
    Refining max-pressure traffic signal control to improve traffic flow; improving pedestrian safety on reservations in Minnesota; an evaluation of vehicle identification technology; reusing local by-products to create sustainable roadside soil; dowel-concrete interface performance
  • November 2024
    Grand Rapids GoMARTI self-driving shuttle pilot program; assessing pavement markings for automated vehicle readiness; development of a smart phone app to warn the driver of unintentional lane departure using GPS technology; revised stormwater maintenance guide; developing pavement-specific structural synthetic fibers; MnDOT celebrates Sheila Hatchell's 17 years of service
  • September 2024
    Social outcomes improve by incorporating arts and culture into transportation planning, using mobile device data to estimate bicyclist and pedestrian traffic, identifying risk factors for deer-vehicle collisions, comparing the effectiveness of no-right-turn-on-red sign types at traffic signals, understanding the performance of road base stabilization additives, cold asphalt recycling technologies using rejuvenating asphalt emulsion
  • August 2024
    Using alternative technologies to detect vehicles at signalized intersections, measuring the effects of road features on driving speeds, safety of commercial vehicles navigating at roundabouts, mini-roundabout FAQs, ensuring resilient pavements in the face of increasing heavy rains, pavement design around utilities – best practice, awards to MnDOT library, CTS, LRRB and MnDOT
  • May 2024
    Understanding factors that influence driver yielding to pedestrians; evaluation of: pedestrians and bicyclists at rectangular rapid flashing beacons and pedestrian hybrid beacons, traffic safety for heavy commercial vehicles at roundabouts, traffic safety benefits of j-turns in Minnesota; enhancing public transit with autonomous mobility service to cover the “last mile”; finding high-performing aggregate bases for long-lasting pavement; solutions to mitigate dowel/tie-bar propagated cracking; development of mix designs and matrix of materials for MnROAD low carbon concrete test site; paying for roads; administrative rules and structures of speed safety camera systems
  • April 2024
    Traffic safety of lane constrictor intersections, J-turns, and retroreflective signal backplates; using GPS to track snowplows, alerting the public about local road closures, measuring liveability
  • February 2024
    The benefits of transportation research, smart signs for work zones, flashing yellow arrows for left turns, making tougher rural roads, new guidebook on ride quality of asphalt pavements
  • January 2024
    Transportation equity, evaluation of speed limit changes, managing drainage issues, making sustainable centerline joints

  • November 2023
    Increasing support for innovative traffic solutions, improving driver yielding to pedestrians at intersections, impact of speed limit changes on driving speeds, impacts of highway improvements on adjacent businesses
  • September 2023
    Optimizing charging infrastructure for electric trucks, strengthening communities with innovative right of way projects, evaluating new slurry and plow equipment
  • August 2023
    Reducing snowplow fuel consumption, enhancing managed lane equity analysis, urban stormwater infrastructure for climate change, influence of autonomous vehicles on Minnesota roads, assessing stormwater ponds for phosphorus retention
  • June 2023
    Improving queue warning system, GFRP-reinforced bridge decks, pedestrian safety systems and winter maintenance, evaluating Minnesota turfgrass list
  • May 2023
    Studies on equity and shared mobility in transportation, possible solar partnership with Red Lake Nation
  • April 2023
    Rural transportation issues, signal timing to save fuel, road diets and pavement rehabilitation 
  • March 2023
    Pedestrian experience at roundabouts, roadside turfgrass mixtures, placement of cable median barriers 

  • December 2022
    Estimating corrosion in concrete bridges, improving pollinator habitats, and economic effects of Complete Streets projects
  • October 2022
    Improving asphalt performance, reality modeling, and road salt alternatives
  • August 2022
    Pandemic impacts on transportation: relieving traffic congestion and the future of WFH 
  • May 2022
    New technology and existing equipment improves statewide vehicle classification counting process, assessing culvert designs, more.
  • February 2022
    MnDOT Announces 2022 Research Projects

  • December 2021
    Using solar panels on noise barriers and snow fencing to capture solar energy, effects of COVID-19 on driver safety, bioslope monitoring, more 
  • July 2021
    Drones for bridge inspection, designing for bikes, evaluating pavement with ground-penetrating radar, more
  • April 2021
    Future vehicle-to-vehicle data streams, improving winter weather road alerts, test for asphalt-mix quality, effect of rapid transit on nearby roads
  • March 2021
    Assessing bridge barriers, rural pedestrian behavior, stormwater treatment for low-volume roads, local guide for bike facility design, more
  • January 2021
    MnDOT Awards Funding to Innovative Research, academic solicitation process 

  • November 2020
    "Sweet streets", stormwater filtration, permeable pavements, hybrid electric utility vehicles for municipal fleets, impacts of teen driver support system, more
  • September 2020
    Pedestrian cross walk treatments, pedestrian-activated crossings, effect of wind on roadside warning sides, whitetopping repair practices, local funding in regional projects
  • March 2020
    Guidance for potential acid-generating materials & the next phase in e-construction 
  • February 2020
    Improving pollinator roadside habitat & reusing water at Minnesota truck stations
  • January - March 2020 (Accelerator)
    New projects announced, asphalt and aggregate, cleaning stormwater and wastewater  

  • November 2019
    Harnessing renewable energy along Minnesota highways
  • October - December 2019 (Accelerator)
    Solar panels on snow fences and noise walls, improving sight lines at intersections, e‑Design for roads by local agencies
  • August - September 2019 (Accelerator)
    Katie Walker is new director of Research & Innovation, preparing for autonomous vehicles, signal control information, gravel roads
  • August 2019
    The Research Services & Library section consisting of research administration and the state transportation library—is now The Office of Research & Innovation.
  • April - June 2019 (Accelerator)
    A-line a success, protecting rebar from corrosion, turfgrass blends for Minnesota
  • January - March 2019 (Accelerator)
    New projects announced, pavement performance, geogrid, asphalt recycling