PART IV: Summary of Comments - SCOR/RAC

PART IV: Summary of Comments17-May-10Reviewer Comments Distribution of Ratings■ See C hedges coments. Will this be a study that keeeps coming back for more??■ Managing the right-of-way for this purpose would potentially create substantial concerns with permitting, safety,shading, noise, lighting, property rights, aesthetics, and the logistics and cost of managing such a program.■ [Rating: 3] Research objectives 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 are wholly or partly overlapping with FHWA’s carbonsequestration pilot. If funded, recommend waiting until FHWA’s reports are published and build from the results andrecommendations therein.Research Advisory Committee■ Very timely. However, there should be a push to "regionalize" the carbon sequestration methods, analysis and evaluation,so that Ohio could get some useful information. Terrain and vegetation are vastly different across the country. 2 years istoo long.■ The carbon sequestration piece is of interest in particular, due to increased demands to remove the tree canopy within theROW for commercial and utility interests (Design)■ This proposed research topic is very timely and would be of great benefit to State DOT’s throughout the country. Thepotential to use right-of-way for carbon sequestration has economic, safety, legal and engineering consequences that mustbe well-researched for rational decision-making to occur. In the Northeast, many states are now part of RGGI (RegionalGreenhouse Gas Initiative) to cap-and-trade greenhouse gas credits in the field of electric power production. I wouldenvision right-of-ways of highways being evaluated as an asset for both carbon sequestration potential as well as amonetary asset at the State’s disposalOther■ [Rating: 3]■ [Rating: 5] The Committee believes that this is a forward thinking proposal. It was developed in consultation withFHWA. It will become even more relevant if a cap and trade system is developed and implemented. This research willbuild on the New Mexico and Minnesota DOT carbon sequestration pilots. It would provide useful information oncarbon sequestration to offset GHG from vehicles. There is also the potential that the research will provide data forprospective revenue generation. TRB's ADC10 has reviewed this problem statement and ranks it as a top priority. Itmirrors a research statement that they have recently developed. This is one of the committee's top priorities.Item #65:G-07Information and Data to Support Improved SafetyManagement and Communication of Safety Needs(17)(46)NR 0 1 2 3 4 5SCOR 2 4 6 4 1RAC 2 5 9 17 9 7Standing Committee on Research■ Many of the activities in this problem statement are not really research. The work from task group 1 has a largemarketing component, the work from task group 4 seems redundant with other efforts, and task group 5's work seems tofocus on development of materials for a meeting.■ G-5 though G-7 seem intertwined■ Probably good to have good PR materials. Cost seems to high.■ Need coordination with G-05 and G-06.■ [Rating: 3] The proposed activities under the three Task groups are worthwhile and would provide some potentiallyuseful products.Research Advisory Committee■ This project would have some useful products but we believe there are other projects proposed that determine AMFs andwe would rather see those projects completed.IV-45