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Transportation

We rely on working transportation and infrastructure to go about our daily lives: a reliable electrical grid, durable buildings, and safe roads for all. The National Academies provide insights on how to create and maintain these critical systems to build a strong foundation for America’s future.

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

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

Most Airplanes Could Accommodate People to Travel Seated in a Personal Wheelchair, But Follow-on Safety, Feasibility Assessments Needed

News Release

For people who use wheelchairs, air travel comes with many hardships. A new report assesses the feasibility of securing travelers’ personal motorized wheelchairs in the cabin of an airplane as well as the safety and other considerations that must be analyzed.

Sep 15, 2021

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Featured Publications

Featured work

Peer Review of Federal Aviation Administration Research on the Effect of Passenger Seat Pitch and Width on Aircraft Cabin Evacuation Efficiency

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Research Agenda for Reducing the Climate Impact of Aviation-Induced Cloudiness and Persistent Contrails from Commercial Aviation

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Science and Technology for Resilience

Initiative

In Progress

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Transit Research Analysis Committee

Other

In Progress

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

Supporting Activity

In Progress

Assessing Radiation Exposure, Health Outcomes, and Mitigation Strategies for Flight Crewmembers

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress

Happy flight attendant walking the aisle in an airplane closing overhead compartments

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Seminar/Webinar/Lecture

In Progress

Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress

Community of Experts on the Implementation of Improvements to the Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology

Meeting of Experts

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

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Transitioning Evidence-based Road Safety Research into Practice

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

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Transportation

Dropdown items

What's happening

Featured Publications

Featured work

Peer Review of Federal Aviation Administration Research on the Effect of Passenger Seat Pitch and Width on Aircraft Cabin Evacuation Efficiency

Research Agenda for Reducing the Climate Impact of Aviation-Induced Cloudiness and Persistent Contrails from Commercial Aviation

Science and Technology for Resilience

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

Assessing Radiation Exposure, Health Outcomes, and Mitigation Strategies for Flight Crewmembers

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures

Community of Experts on the Implementation of Improvements to the Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology

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

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

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

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

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

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

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

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

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

Performance-Based Safety Regulation

Innovative Urban Mobility Services: Issues and Opportunities

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

TRB Webinars

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

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

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

TRB Webinars

Transitioning Evidence-based Road Safety Research into Practice

Science and Technology for Resilience

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

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

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

Domestic Transportation of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Ethanol

Commercial Aviation Supply Chain Resilience: Meeting of Experts

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

TRB Webinars

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

TRB Webinars

Critical Issues in Transportation for 2024 and Beyond

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