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.

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What's happening

Priorities for Sustainable and Responsible Development of Offshore Renewable Energy on the West Coast Outlined in New Report

News Release

The waters of the U.S. West Coast are well-suited for renewable energy projects but already support maritime activities central to regional economies, food systems, and public safety. A new National Academies report offers recommendations to help inform offshore renewable energy development while mitigating negative impacts on coastal communities and industries.

Mar 17, 2026

👁 coastal ocean waves

Video Recordings from TRB Annual Meeting Now Available

Announcement

The 2026 TRB Annual Meeting brought together thousands of transportation researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share current research and discuss pressing issues across all transportation modes. Watch sessions featuring high-profile speakers focused on the surface transportation funding reauthorization bill, megaprojects, road safety, and modernizing transportation systems.

URL: https://www.nationalacademies.org/topics/transportation

⇱ Transportation

Transportation

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Featured work

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Science and Technology for Resilience

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Study on Data, Metrics, and Analytic Tools for Transportation Investments that Support Family Quality of Life and Communities

Innovation by the Numbers Webinar Series

Review of Approaches for Managing Pollutant Loads in Highway Stormwater Runoff

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

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

Study on Data, Metrics, and Analytic Tools for Transportation Investments that Support Family Quality of Life and Communities

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

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

Transit Research Analysis Committee

Study on Data, Metrics, and Analytic Tools for Transportation Investments that Support Family Quality of Life and Communities

Review of Approaches for Managing Pollutant Loads in Highway Stormwater Runoff

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

Transitioning Evidence-based Road Safety Research into Practice

Critical Issues in Transportation

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

Powering the U.S. Army of the Future

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

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

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

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

Science and Technology for Resilience

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

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

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

Performance-Based Safety Regulation

Real-Time Monitoring of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations

Review of Department of Transportation Testing of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brakes

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

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

Evaluating Testing, Costs, and Benefits of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals

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