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Transportation

Transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another, supported by physical and digital infrastructure systems that enable travel on foot, by vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. The National Academies provide insights that are fundamental to connecting communities and sustaining a strong, competitive economy.

Event

Join Us for the 2026 TRB Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for the 105th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, taking place Jan. 11-15 in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with thousands of colleagues at the world’s largest gathering of transportation professionals.

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What's happening

Are contrails harmful to the environment?

Based on Science

Some contrails can contribute to global warming. Contrails—pure ice clouds (“cirrus”) that form from aircraft exhaust under specific cold conditions—can trap heat in the atmosphere, sometimes creating as much warming as the carbon dioxide released by burning jet fuel.

Aug 22, 2025

Airplane flying through a blue sky leaving contrails

Helping the Grid Keep Pace with a Power-Hungry Economy

Feature Story

Demand for electricity in the U.S. is growing, which means that the nation’s grid will need to move more power. A recent public symposium during the NAS Annual Meeting explored this challenge and how new technologies can help.

May 12, 2025

Engineer at work in electricity substation

FAA Should Modernize its Safety Practices to Manage Emerging Hazards and Support Adoption of New Technologies

News Release

A new report explores how the Federal Aviation Administration can improve its safety risk management practices, foster a stronger safety culture in commercial aviation companies, and better position itself to oversee and regulate an industry facing transformative changes.

Aug 13, 2024

Featured work

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Other

In Progress

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Seminar/Webinar/Lecture

In Progress

Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response: Harnessing Lessons from the Efforts to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic

Initiative

In Progress

TRB Webinars

Seminar/Webinar/Lecture

In Formation

Perspectives on the Impact of Active Shooter Drills and Other School Security Measures: A Listening Session Series

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Formation

Critical Issues in Transportation for 2024 and Beyond

Other

My Academies

Transportation

Dropdown items

What's happening

Featured work

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response: Harnessing Lessons from the Efforts to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic

TRB Webinars

Perspectives on the Impact of Active Shooter Drills and Other School Security Measures: A Listening Session Series

Critical Issues in Transportation for 2024 and Beyond

Best Practices for the Efficient Supply of Chassis for Transporting Intermodal Containers

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet

Impacts of Alternative Compensation Methods on Truck Driver Retention and Safety Performance

Transitioning Evidence-based Road Safety Research into Practice

Study and Recommendations on the HIMS, FADAP, and Other Drug and Alcohol Programs within the USDOT

Criteria for Installing Automatic and Remote-Controlled Shutoff Valves on Existing Gas and Hazardous Liquid Transmission Pipelines

Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology

Addressing Issues of Vaccine Distribution and Supply Chains to Advance Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Preparedness and Response

Committee on Options for Improving the Safety of Amphibious Vessels (DUKW boats) When Used in Passenger Service

Security of America’s Medical Product Supply Chain

Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car

Transportation Resilience Metrics

Critical Issues in Transportation

Intercity Passenger Travel: Opportunities and Issues in Short-haul Markets

TRB Webinars

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet

Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car

Intercity Passenger Travel: Opportunities and Issues in Short-haul Markets

Review of the Federal Railroad Administration’s R&D Program

TRB Webinars

Lead Emissions from Piston-Powered General Aviation Aircraft

Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles–Phase 3

Review of the Research Program of the U.S. DRIVE Partnership, Phase 5

Propulsion and Energy Systems to Reduce Commercial Aviation Carbon Emissions

Determinants of Market Adoption of Advanced Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technologies

Assessment of Technologies and Approaches for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Phase 2

Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles – Phase 2

TRB Webinars

Best Practices for the Efficient Supply of Chassis for Transporting Intermodal Containers

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet

Impacts of Alternative Compensation Methods on Truck Driver Retention and Safety Performance

Criteria for Installing Automatic and Remote-Controlled Shutoff Valves on Existing Gas and Hazardous Liquid Transmission Pipelines

Committee on Options for Improving the Safety of Amphibious Vessels (DUKW boats) When Used in Passenger Service

Transportation Resilience Metrics

Committee for a Study on the Feasibility of Wheelchair Restraint Systems in Passenger Aircraft

Real-Time Monitoring of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations

Review of Department of Transportation Testing of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brakes

TRB Webinars

Transit Research Analysis Committee

TRB Webinars

Review of Federal Highway Administration Infrastructure R&D

Future Interstate Highway System Study

Review of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Review of Federal Highway Administration Infrastructure R&D - Expert Task Group on Pavements

TRB Webinars

Transitioning Evidence-based Road Safety Research into Practice

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response: Harnessing Lessons from the Efforts to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic

Addressing Issues of Vaccine Distribution and Supply Chains to Advance Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Preparedness and Response

Security of America’s Medical Product Supply Chain

Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car

Building Adaptable and Resilient Supply Chains after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria

Truck Size and Weight Limits Research Plan

Review of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Research Methodologies and Statistical Approaches to Understanding Driver Fatigue Factors in Motor Carrier Safety and Driver Health

Commercial Aviation Supply Chain Resilience: Meeting of Experts

TRB Webinars

Transit Research Analysis Committee

TRB Webinars

Critical Issues in Transportation for 2024 and Beyond

Intercity Passenger Travel: Opportunities and Issues in Short-haul Markets

The Role of Public Transportation and Mobility Management in an Era of New and Expanding Shared Mobility Options

Evidentiary Protection for Public Transportation Safety Program Information

TRB Webinars

Revise and Update U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Stability Regulations

Evaluating Testing, Costs, and Benefits of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals

TRB Webinars

Perspectives on the Impact of Active Shooter Drills and Other School Security Measures: A Listening Session Series

Study and Recommendations on the HIMS, FADAP, and Other Drug and Alcohol Programs within the USDOT