Avalanche forecasting and mitigation are critical operations for transportation agencies that manage highways and railways that are exposed to avalanches.  These operations are an important part of winter operations in many western states and have large implications for public and workers safety.

The current Transportation Avalanche Research Pooled (TARP) Fund project (TPF – 5(337)) is ending, and the next phase of pooled fund work will begin under this new solicitation.  This new TARP project will maintain the original mission of supporting collaborative research efforts toward avalanche hazard assessment and mitigation within the transportation industry.  The goals are to improving public and worker safety, improve operational efficiency, improve and develop informational analysis tools, and explore beneficial avalanche technologies and techniques. 

Currently, almost all Transportation agencies that operate avalanche programs in North America are participating in TARP and have expressed great interest in participating in the next phase of the project.

The group will fund research and development efforts to achieve the following project goals with research focusing on:

• Avalanche Performance Metrics
• Avalanche Mapping & Hazard Analysis
• Avalanche Safety & Risk Management
• Avalanche Detection & Warning
• Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS)
• Avalanche Blast & Explosive Analysis

To accomplish these objectives, collaboration between all parties is encouraged, regular Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings will be held, and an annual face-to-face meeting for all parties will be convened to evaluate the current work done under the study and to plan and implement future activities.

Minimum annual commitment of $25,000 for a minimum of three years is recommended ($75,000 total) but lesser amounts may be considered with approval of TAC members. 

A total combined commitment of $300,000 to the fund is the minimum required amount to initiate a study. It is hoped to attract membership from additional transportation-related organizations internationally as well.