The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has issued a call for study topics for its 2012 Synthesis Program from the public transportation industry and individuals with an interest in improving the management and operations of public transit and in finding solutions to concerns facing the industry.

While ideas for study topics may be submitted by anyone at any time, the closing date for consideration of ideas in Fiscal Year 2012 is March 15.

Purpose of Reports
The purpose of the program reports is to produce a compendium of the best knowledge available on those practices found to be the most successful in resolving specific problems or issues within the transit industry. Syntheses are relatively short, averaging 40-60 pages plus reference materials, and become immediate, useful documents that report on the current practices in the subject.

A project panel that meets annually peforms a preliminary screening and ordering of topics, then makes the final recommendations, which are forwarded to the governing board of the Transit Development Corporation (TDC), which also serves as the TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Committee.

Project Objectives
For each topic, the project objectives are to locate and assemble documented information; to learn what practice has been used for solving or alleviating the problem; to identify all ongoing research; to learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and to organize, evaluate, and document the useful information that is acquired.

The following criteria have been established to aid the project committee in the selection of topics for synthesis:

Generality of practice on the topic.

Lack of uniformity and variation in quality of practice—to measure the degree to which a synthesis document might service to improve current practice.

Criticality and timeliness of the topic with respect to safety, economic impact, and social impact—to measure the importance of the topic, either on its own or in relation to other topics.

Quality and quantity of useful available information.

Absence of ongoing research or other forthcoming potential releases of significant information—to avoid a synthesis undertaking likely to be rendered obsolete by the release of new information shortly after its completion.

Information on the submittal process is available here. Information on the TCRP Synthesis Program, including studies currently underway and all completed studies, is online.