Conference participants sought to identify gaps in the data and analytic tools needed to support economic analysis as related to transportation investment and to develop research proposals designed to fill those gaps. The opening day of the conference featured presentations by economists, transportation analysts, and policy makers on the theory and practice of economic analysis and its usefulness to decision makers. The second and third days of the conference revolved around participatory workshops. Six separate working groups deliberated over three questions: (1) What is the appropriate level of investment in transportation to encourage economic health? (2) How should projects be prioritized within a multimodal transportation program? (3) How much revenue is likely to flow from user charges, tolls, and other sources? At the conclusion of its deliberations, each working group developed a list of research proposals, which it then presented to the conference as a whole.

This synthesis report will be of special interest to maintenance, construction, and traffic engineers and others interested in the use of impact attenuation devices or crash cushions for highway operations. Information is provided on the performance and operational experience of 13 crash cushion devices in current use in the United States and Canada, including physical characteristics, test results, and guidelines for use. Both permanent and temporary devices are included. Crash cushions can provide a cost-effective method for reducing or alleviating motor vehicle related injuries or fatalities, which constitute a major societal cost. This report of the Transportation Research Board presents information on the physical and impact performance characteristics of 13 crash cushions in current use in North America. Information on performance evaluation guidelines, physical characteristics, performance characteristics, selection considerations, and the operational experience of individual designs for crash cushions is provided. The synthesis concludes with possible future trends for crash cushions and appendices containing the crash test requirements of NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features, a crash cushion glossary, and a bibliography.

Issues for 1963- include section: Urban transportation research digest.

Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Reliability models for combinations of extreme events -- Chapter 3. Calibration of load factors for combinations of extreme events -- Chapter 4. Conclusions and future research -- References -- Glossary of notations -- Appendixes.