Dear Colleagues –
Scott Brotemarkle, Patti Lockhart, and I have been working on information sharing platform regarding practice and research for pandemics. We are looking for some content to upload before we publically launch it. If you have materials to
share, please send them to me ASAP. Read further for more specifics.
TRB has already posted a curated resource titled
Transportation in The Face Of Communicable Disease, which highlights completed products and in progress work from TRB’s Cooperative Research Programs and Consensus and Advisory Studies. The Technical Activities Division of TRB, in partnership with
Sage Publications, have also leveraged the existing published work of the Transportation Research Record (TRR), creating a thematic journal collection titled
Transportation and Pandemics. Review these resources because some of your articles or reports are already included.
In addition to existing TRB publications and library resources, individuals from our communities of research and practice, many of whom are involved with TRB standing committees, are working in these areas on a continual basis. In order
to leverage the expertise, understanding, experience and research in progress of our communities, TRB’s Technical Activities Division and Sage have created the
TRB Practical Pipeline: Transportation and Pandemics: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This platform is designed to receive, organize, and disseminate the following information types focused on the disciplines and issues associated with, and
transferable to pandemic response, recovery and mitigation within transportation:
·
unpublished research / case studies
·
research in progress
·
best practice guidance / tools of the trade
·
abstracts with links to data sets
·
relevant links to information/resources/news items from authoritative sources
TRB invites its research and practitioner communities to share information via this platform. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
I. Transportation and health interfaces in all modes
a.
Impacts on system users / vulnerable users / disadvantaged users
b.
Workforce impacts / staffing issues /quarantine thresholds
c.
Systemic disruption / cascading impacts
d.
Public health strategies to minimize transmission specific to transportation systems
e.
Promoting social distancing and heightened hygiene (i.e.: hand sanitizing) in transportation systems
f.
Disinfecting measures for facilities and vehicles
g.
Crisis communications best practices
h.
Safe collaboration methods with other agencies and companies
i.
Testing essential systems and practices
j.
Alternate operations best practices (teleworking, shift adjustments, operating with reduced staff)
II. Domestic and international supply chain effects, stressors and issues related to international border restrictions (land-based and seaports)
a.
Manufacturing dynamics and effects on transportation capacity
b.
Supply chain effects for manufacturing segments dependent on just in time delivery (automotive)
III. Impediments to freight goods movement
a.
Regulatory (e.g. size and weight permits, seaport/intermodal terminal/rail restrictions, trucking hours of service, interstate rest area availability)
IV. Transferable all-hazards emergency management, system resilience, and continuity of operations planning (COOP) best practices and lessons learned
V. Leadership and Administration during crisis
a.
Mitigation and adaptation for continuity of operations
b.
Defining essential personnel and functions
c.
Physical and psychological workforce safety
d.
Ensuring safe working conditions
e.
Payroll and benefits continuity
f.
Finance and debt management
g.
Capabilities, training and utilization of IT for remote work, communication, and incident response.
VI. Specific potential transportation impacts based on COVID-19 responses
a.
The effects of shelter in place on local food and household staple access/surge delivery capacity
b.
Traffic operations and parking impacts of hospital surges, drive-through testing facilities, staged meal and grocery distribution, etc…
VII. Tracking data, reporting methods, and evaluations to enhance system resilience
William “Bill” Anderson
Senior Program Officer
TRB | Transportation Research Board
Technical Activities Division
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Direct: 202-334-2514
January 24-28, 2021