The Federal Role in Highway Research and Technology Special Report 261 (2001) / Chapter Skim
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3 Highway and Highway-Related Research and Technology Programs
3 Highway and Highway-Related Research and Technology Programs
Pages 47-73
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· The federal highway R&T program involves Congress and FHWA in funding, priority setting, and decision making. · State highway research programs generally focus on issues of state interest; private-sector research focuses on issues affecting business operations or output.
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The final section provides an overview of highway R&T program funding and a comparison of this funding with that of other industries and other federal agencies. Principal Highway R&T Programs and Related Activities The four principal highway R&T programs are FHWA's R&T program, state highway R&T, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
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5Included in this total is funding for surface transportation research, technology deployment, training and education, intelligent transportation systems research and development (R&D) , and the University Transportation Centers program.
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The directors of FHWA's core business units (CBUs) define strategic research priorities, develop program and project plans within their individual business areas, and prepare budget proposals for carrying out research needed to deliver technology to the nation's highway agencies.6 The agency's service business units (SBUs)
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· Educate audiences about the federal R&T program, its accomplishments, and its benefits. Private-sector highway R&T · Characterize national highway technology needs.
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, which amounted to about 16 percent annually.7 Table 3-3 provides summary information on the FHWA R&T program. State Programs Each state highway agency has a research program that addresses technical questions associated with the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of highways, as well as highway-related environmental issues in the state.
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In so doing, they use input from relevant service business units, resource centers, and division offices, as well as some external input. Congress is taking an increasingly active role by desig nating research topics in annual appropriations bills without being guided by established national highway research goals or highway industry consensus on research needs.
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. State research priorities are determined by each state, usually on the basis of suggestions from within the state highway agency and from local highway and transportation agencies.
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The research products are intended for use by the state highway agencies. Researcher selection Researchers are usually chosen in an open, merit-based mechanism (level of competition by state research staff.
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These panels, consisting of experts from the state highway agencies, FHWA, universities, and other highway industry organizations, prepare project work statements, help select contractors in open competition based on merit, and monitor the progress of the work. Table 3-5 summarizes information on the program.
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Expertpeer review Project panels of subject matter experts, research peers, and state highway agency representatives review project plans and interim and final project results. their fields.
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In addition, SCOR assists other AASHTO committees in identifying research needs; advocates funding for highway research; and helps coordinate state involvement in national research activities, including the National Highway R&T Partnership Forum working groups. Serving as an advisor to SCOR is AASHTO's Research Advisory Committee, composed of managers of the state highway agency R&D programs.
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. Private companies undertake research on such subjects as roadside safety equipment, traffic control devices, and flexible culvert and pipes.
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aAdditional categories, such as composite materials, sealants, and contractors, could be included; AASHTO also funds some research, as noted in the text. bThis is a list of the primary associations funding highway-related R&T; many professional societies, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Municipal Engineers, and the Institute of Transportation Engineers, are actively involved in technology transfer and professional training activities; some are involved with the development of standards and specifications.
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The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) Road Test, a $27 million cooperative research project, was carried out in the 1950s under an agreement among the National Research Council, AASHO, and the Bureau of Public Roads.15 The states, the federal government, and the private sector funded the program; it was managed by the Highway Research Board, the predecessor to the Transportation Research Board (TRB)
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, the largest coordinated national transportation technology transfer activity.19 Universities also host technical conferences, often in cooperation with other public and private organizations, and publish proceedings for widespread distribution. The University Transportation Centers (UTCs)
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FMCSA's research budget in Fiscal Year 2000 was $6.4 million. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
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, with an annual budget of about $31 million, gathers critical data for studies in support of strategic planning and national transportation policy, frequently addressing issues and topics affecting highways. BTS also manages Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS)
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Army Corps of Engineers, FHWA, and several state highway agencies.23 Finally, several national laboratories managed by the Department of Energy have recently been involved in transportation-related projects sponsored by FHWA and DOT. Other Countries Because developed countries face a number of similar highway transportation issues and problems, many support highway research.
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24Two voluntary forums have been created to improve cooperation and coordination among laboratories and institutes that carry out highway and highway safety research in Europe. The Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories and the Forum of European Highway Safety Research Institutes aim to encourage greater collaboration among member organizations, most of which are government funded, and to share research results with national governments, the European Commission, the highway industry, and highway users.
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Source of Funds Country Government Industry Other Total Australia 10.0a 5.0a -- e 15.0 Austria 6.0b 1.8b 5.0c 12.8 Belgium 10.0 0.7b -- e 10.7 Canada 25.0 -- e -- e 25.0 Denmark 2.7b 0.9a -- e 3.6 Finland 6.86 -- e -- e 6.86 France 92.0 -- e -- e 92.0 Germany 31.8 -- e -- e 31.8 Greece 2.2b 0.1b -- e 2.3 Iceland 1.5 -- e -- e 1.5 Ireland 4.1d 0.1b -- e 4.2 Netherlands 17.1 -- e -- e 17.1 New Zealand 1.4a -- e -- e 1.4 Norway 7.44 0.6 -- e 8.06 Portugal 0.7b 0.2b -- e 0.9 Sweden 43.7 -- e -- e 43.7 Switzerland 6.0 -- e -- e 6.0 United Kingdom 80.3b 8.0b 11.1b 99.4 aHighway safety research only. bInformation from an unpublished survey conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1996.
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cThe state match for University Transportation Centers is included in the $153 million in state government funding for state highway R&T. dAmount is not included in the total because these funds originated in FHWA's R&T program.
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The motor vehicle and other surface transportation equipment sector, which is dependent on the highway system, spends 4 percent of its revenues on research activities. Two sectors, the basic industries and materials sector and the services sector, spend about 1 percent of revenues on research; although this figure is low compared with the other sectors, it is higher than highway industry R&T spending.
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70 THE FEDERAL ROLE IN HIGHWAY RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY industries, such as steel, chemicals, and electronics. Hence, the improved equipment, materials, and procedures emerging from research in these industries could be significant contributors to highway system improvements.
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Congress also determines the size of the state highway R&T and NCHRP programs by continuing to authorize SP&R funds from the federal-aid highway program. These funds establish the base for state highway R&T funding.
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Although state highway R&T programs generally focus on issues of state interest, their research results can be applicable to national problems. Privatesector highway R&T focuses on issues affecting business operations or output.
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2001. Special Report 260: Strategic Highway Research: Saving Lives, Reducing Congestion, Improving Quality of Life.
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