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Completed projects | Research in progress

Completed projects

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Title: The Socioeconomic Benefits of Transit in Wisconsin, Phase II: Benefit Cost Analysis
Project ID: 0092-05-14
Publication Date: May 2006
WisDOT Contact: Robert Russell   
Final report (641 KB)
Research Brief (294 KB)
A 2002 WisDOT study of the socioeconomic benefits of transit found that public transit saves the state's riders and taxpayers an estimated $730.2 million annually. This Phase II study went a step further to determine the cost-benefit of investing in transit in Wisconsin. The researchers determined that under three different state funding scenarios transit benefits outweigh transit costs.

Title: Examining Stress Levels Of DSP Enforcement Personnel and Intervention Techniques - Phase II
Project ID: 0092-03-01
WisDOT contact: Deanne Boss
Final report (171 KB)
Research Brief (491 KB)
Phase I of this study surveyed sworn officers of WisDOT Division of State Patrol to determine their stress levels and sources of stress. Researchers found that 51 percent of sworn personnel experienced high levels of stress. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of several training approaches in reducing stress in sworn officers. Officers were very pleased with the stress management training program, but the research results indicated that a one-time training does not adequately address officers' stress management needs. WisDOT managers have proposed Phase III of this study, which would provide a family training program at district offices.

Title: WisDOT Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
Project ID: 0092-04-01
Investigator: Teri Fulton, Chamberlain Research Consultants, Inc.
WisDOT Contact: Janet Nodorft
Final report (2.7 MB)
Research Brief (220 KB)
This study is Phase II of customer satisfaction research project designed to determine the level of satisfaction and priorities of WisDOT customers. Phase I, completed in 2002, resulted in the development and testing of a new telephone survey for use with the general public. This Phase II project implemented the customer satisfaction survey across six target customer groups, analyzing the responses of 2,030 Wisconsin residents. The study found that all areas of WisDOT are performing at fairly high levels and customer satisfaction is strong. The report highlights opportunities for improvement and provides a satisfaction benchmark for use in future surveys.

Title: Economic and Land-Use Impacts of Wisconsin State Trunk Highway 29 
Project ID: 0092-02-17 and 0092-03-06
Publication Date: September 2004
WisDOT contact: Dennis Leong
Final report (6.9 MB)
Research Brief (482 KB)
Video brief (3 min 17 sec) (These are large files that may take several minutes to download.)

• High bandwidth (11.8 MB, WMV file)
• Low bandwith (5.1 MB, WMV file)
• Transcript of video

The purpose of this study was to identify the economic impacts of the recently constructed four-lane highway facility in Wisconsin.  Through surveys and interviews with local officials and business leaders in communities along Highway 29, many indicated economic and safety benefits.  

Title: Local Roads Communication Analysis
Project ID: 0092-03-08
Investigator: Larry Shiman, Opinion Dynamics Corporation
WisDOT contact: Scott Bush
Final report, September 2003 (223 KB)
Research Brief (387 KB)
This project assessed the effectiveness of various outreach strategies used by WisDOT in 2001 to communicate to local units of government about new pavement rating requirements. The investigators also offer communication strategies for future campaigns aimed at local government.  

Title: Transit Benefit Sector Analysis
Project ID: 0092-03-07
Investigator: Khalid Bekka, HLB Decision Economics         
WisDOT contact: Robert Russell
Final report, December 2003 (1.4 MB)
Research Brief (559 KB)
The benefits of Wisconsin's 69 public transit systems to specific economic sectors (e.g., employment, education, health care, retail) were largely unknown and unquantified before this research. This detailed sector analysis found that public transit use saves Wisconsin riders and taxpayers an estimated $730 million annually.

Title: Wisconsin's Off-Road Fuel-Tax Collection Process Analysis: A Midwestern Comparative Analysis and Assessment
Project ID: 0092-02-08
Investigator: Robert Eger III, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
WisDOT contact: Allyn Lepeska
Final report, October 2002 (223 KB)
Research Brief (223 KB)
This study reviews current off-road user assessment, collection, audit and enforcement procedures in Wisconsin and its bordering states, and makes recommendations to improve the Wisconsin system.

Title: Develop a Mechanism to Measure Customer Satisfaction With Products and Services of the Department
Project ID: 0092-02-07
Investigator: Stacy Anderson, Virchow, Krause & Company
WisDOT contact: Janet Nodorft
Final report, October 2002 (1240 KB)
Research Brief (250 KB)
This multi-divisional research effort analyzed existing customer satisfaction measures in the department, identified three key customer segments and developed a telephone survey instrument and an analysis framework. The long-term goal is to better understand customer satisfaction trends across demographic groups and to provide WisDOT decision makers with a consistent, reliable source of information to make informed decisions, including recommendations to the Legislature.

Title: Transportation Investments, Economic and Land Use Goals
Project ID: 0092-45-97
WisDOT contact: Dennis Leong
Final report, June 2002 (2.2 MB) This file may require a lengthy download time.
Research Brief (233 KB) 
Implementation plan (27 KB)
Data from this project will be used in formulating future state highway plans. Objectives include establishing a database of available county and local land use plans, evaluating influences of land use patterns from bordering states, developing economic profiles, coordinating WisDOT and local planning efforts, and identifying data issues related to land use planning.

Title: Examining Stress Levels of State Patrol Enforcement Personnel and Intervention Techniques
Project ID: 0092-01-07
Investigator: Laura Cleary, Dieringer Research Agency, Inc.
WisDOT contact: Sue Hunter
Final report, April 2002 (483 KB)
Research Brief (577 KB)
This project documents and quantifies Division of State Patrol worker's compensation claims, sick leave usage, turnover and early retirements that may be related to job stress. Potential intervention techniques will be investigated.

Title: Public Perceptions of the Midwest's Pavements
Project ID: 0092-45-59
WisDOT contact: Deb Bischoff
Final report, January 2001 (162 KB)
With the support of the Federal Highway Administration and the participation of Minnesota and Iowa, WisDOT launched a five-year study to systematically obtain customer input on how and when the DOTs should carry out pavement improvement activities. Through the use of focus groups, phone interviews and post-drive interviews, this study explores the public’s perception of rural two-lane highways.

Asset Management Projects through the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center at UW-Madison

WisDOT contact: Nina McLawhorn
Details regarding the following projects are on the Web site of the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center

Title: Evaluation of Transportation Organization Outsourcing: Decision Making Criteria for Outsourcing Opportunities
Project ID: 0092-01-10
See project description and final report. 

Title: Evaluation of Near Transportation Private Sector Asset Management Practices
Project ID: 0092-01-10
See project description and final report. 

Title: Synthesis of National Transportation Asset Management Practices
Project ID: 0092-01-10
See project description and final report. 

Title: Transportation Asset Management Web site
Project ID: 0092-01-10
See final report.

 

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Research in progress

Files are in Adobe PDF format .

Title: Evaluate DBE Strategies Used for Marquette Interchange Project
Project ID: 0092-08-21
WisDOT contact: Ralph Sanders
The purpose of this study is to identify and measure the effectiveness of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program strategies and components, utilizing experiences from the Marquette Interchange Project as a baseline for the evaluation.
Quarterly reports (58 KB)

Title: Deer-Vehicle Crash Clearinghouse
Project ID: 0092-01-11
Investigator: Keith Knapp, University of Wisconsin-Madison
WisDOT contact: John Kinar
Through cooperative efforts with Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, investigators are evaluating and distributing existing research on reducing deer-vehicle crashes. DVC data collection methods in the region will be compared and countermeasure research will be synthesized on the Web site. www.deercrash.com.
Quarterly reports (15 KB)

Asset management projects through the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center at UW-Madison

Files are in Adobe PDF format .

WisDOT contact: James McDonnell
Details regarding the following projects are on the Web site of the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center

Title: Best Practices for Linking Strategic Planning to Resource Allocation and Implementation Decisions Using Elements of a Transportation Asset Management Program
Project ID: 0092-02-15
See project description.

Title: Capital Preventive Maintenance
Project ID: 0092-01-20/TPF-5(036) 
See project description.

Title: Management of Transportation Asset Management Research 
Program Pooled Fund 
Project ID: 0092-02-18/TPF-5(036)
See project description.

Title: Development and Piloting of Short Course
Project ID: 0092-03-18/TPF-5(036) 
See project description.

Title: Synthesis of Best Practices for the Development of an  Integrated Data and Information Management Approach
Project ID: 0092-02-21 TPF5 (036)
See project description.

Title: Incorporating Road Safety in Pavement Management
Project ID: 0092-03-20
See project description.

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Last modified: February 12, 2008