The T-SCORE Center will equip local planners with the tools needed to translate a strategic vision for sustainable and resilient future transit into their own community. The entire senior leadership team is experienced working in collaboration with or as practitioners in transit agencies, state DOTs and other agencies, and technology transfer and collaboration are central to the T-SCORE ethos as a center.
Planned Activities
In a study of technology transfer in travel forecasting (NCHRP Synthesis 406), we found that the presence of a local “champion” was the biggest factor in whether an agency became an early adopter of research methods in practice, and that a small number of respected early adopters can be very influential in other agencies following. We learned several lessons: different audiences require different communication styles, there is value in making our research about the world rather than literature, and a well-placed champion can have a tremendous impact. Our technology transfer strategy focuses on identifying and engaging potential champions within our advisory committee and collaborations.
Partnerships and Technical Assistance
- Transferability is designed into our research from the start. In the Multi-Modal Optimization and Simulation track, we will implement the models in two cities and in doing so design them such that they can be readily transferred to a third, and we will build upon existing tools and data as much as possible. Our partners in San Francisco are early adopters of analytical tools in transportation, having previously initiated multi-agency research and development projects across the West Coast. They will spend staff time contributing to this project, and ensuring that they can use the MMOS themselves after the project is over.
- The research in the Community Track will be conducted in partnership with the Advisory Committee and additional transit agencies and industry partners. The work involves multiple surveys and outreach efforts to hear directly from the agencies themselves about the challenges they face to ensure that results are applicable and responsive to their real-world conditions.
- Several organizations have already expressed an interest in adopting the results of our research, including those represented on our Advisory Committee and transportation agencies in Portland, Oregon and the State of Georgia.
- In the final report for each research project, we will include a section addressing the transferability of results and documenting where to obtain data and code.
Dissemination
- At least four webinars, including two from each track of the T-SCORE Center, will be conducted, with the goal for all 10 projects to conduct a webinar.
- We will publish our results in peer-reviewed academic journals, and present them at the TRB Annual Meeting and other relevant conferences.
- For each project, we will produce a 1-2 page policy-oriented summary. The final scenario evaluation will include a policy-level summary report and an associated slide deck. We will provide materials for our Advisory Committee to present results to the executive team and other stakeholders in their regions.
- Computer code implementing the proposed technical models will be published in an open repository with documentation.
- Short (~5 minute) videos will be developed for post on a T-SCORE center YouTube channel to highlight the center efforts for a non-technical audience.
None of the T-SCORE institutions are located directly in a Qualified Opportunity Zone, but all are located adjacent to and work with communities and agencies that serve them.