The Federal Role in Highway Research and Technology Special Report 261 (2001) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
4 Assessment of the Federal Highway Research and Technology Program
4 Assessment of the Federal Highway Research and Technology Program
Pages 74-94
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 74... ...
It begins with a review of the institutional and historical context in which the federal highway R&T program operates.1 The second section describes eight key characteristics that are crucial to the success and effectiveness of a research program and provides the committee's assessment of the current federal highway R&T program in light of these characteristics. 1As noted previously, the committee uses the term "federal highway R&T program" to refer to the combined responsibilities and actions of Congress, the administration, and FHWA in funding federal highway research, determining research needs, setting research program priorities, and executing the research program.
|
From page 75... ...
Others, such as universities and other research organizations, have a stake in the management, administration, and direction of highway research programs. In addition to responding to these external stakeholders, the R&T program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
|
From page 76... ...
They also incorporate features that are tailored to the specific context in which they operate. Drawing on both types of features, the committee has identified eight characteristics that are crucial to the success and effectiveness of the federal highway R&T program: · Clear mission with well-defined goals that complement other R&T programs, · Significant opportunities for technological progress and innovation, · Early and sustained external stakeholder involvement, · Provisions for open competition and merit review to safeguard the federal R&T investment, · Mechanisms for information management and dissemination, · Rigorous program evaluation, · Adequate resources, and · Appropriate leadership of national highway R&T activities.
|
From page 77... ...
The completion of the Interstate highway system, growing demands on the federal highway program by an increasingly diverse group of stakeholders, and FHWAs' 1998 reorganization to focus on technology delivery intensify these uncertainties. Nevertheless, the program must pursue research important to FHWAs' mission responsibilities, including national transportation policy issues, planning and environmental regulations, intermodal considerations, and many technical issues associated with ensuring that federal-aid highway program funds are used efficiently and effectively.
|
From page 78... ...
In addition, it appears that FHWAs' R&T is responsive to the problems of the agency's internal stakeholders and the directors of the core business units, and serves the agencys' policy and regulatory interests well. In the committees' view, however, other areas, including fundamental issues related to the needs of the agencys' many diverse external stakeholders, are not being addressed.
|
From page 79... ...
Although the program addresses important internal goals well, it is missing the opportunity to focus more on fundamental, long-term research while also pursuing research to address gaps not dealt with by other research programs and emerging issues with national implications. Significant Opportunities forTechnological Progress and Innovation Description The aim of any applied research program is to develop new technologies, materials, and methods that, when implemented, will help deliver better, more costeffective services.
|
From page 80... ...
. The following examples illustrate the nature and scope of opportunities for advancing highway practice through federal highway R&T: · Applying new knowledge -- There are several ways of finding new knowledge to apply to highway transportation.
|
From page 81... ...
Design practices, construction materials, traffic simulation, and airquality modeling are other areas in which new technologies and methods might be adapted from other fields for highway application.
|
From page 82... ...
Conclusion There are numerous opportunities for technological progress and innovation in many areas of highway transportation, including human factors, construction materials, design practices, and traffic control systems. Early and Sustained External Stakeholder Involvement Description Research needs to be closely connected to its stakeholders to ensure relevance and program support.
|
From page 83... ...
Although external stakeholders are far less involved in guiding the program, FHWAs' support of the Research and Technology Coordinating Committee (RTCC) for the past decade has led to continuing, strategic-level external guidance on highway R&T opportunities and priorities and occasional examinations of specific research issues.
|
From page 84... ...
. These activities represent a promising beginning for improved external stakeholder involvement, but the forums' temporary working groups cannot substitute for a continuous, box 4-3 The National Highway R&T Partnership Forum: Major Infusion of Stakeholder Involvement T he National Highway R&T Partnership Forum was initiated in 1998 by FHWA, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
|
From page 85... ...
Effective external stakeholder involvement also includes participation in R&T funding decisions and in review and evaluation of program results. Conclusion FHWA research meets the needs of its internal customers, and the agencys' support of the National Highway R&T Partnership Forum is an important step toward engaging its external stakeholders.
|
From page 86... ...
Conclusion Including independent external experts on research proposal and project review panels would enhance FHWAs' current approach to management of contract research. The trend toward increasing congressional designation of research projects and research performers and away from competitively awarded, meritbased highway research reduces the agency's ability to utilize the nations' best research talent and to conduct research on topics that represent the consensus of the highway systems' stakeholders on research needs.
|
From page 87... ...
. As noted earlier, FHWA reorganized in 1998 to focus more on technology delivery, creating four resource centers that provide technical and program assistance, training, and technology delivery to the agencys' division offices, state and local highway agencies, and others.6 Together, FHWAs' headquarters office, resource centers, and division offices position the agency to gather information on national highway research needs and 6The resource centers are located in Atlanta, Baltimore, Olympia Fields (Illinois)
|
From page 88... ...
Rigorous Program Evaluation Description The 1993 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) focused attention on the performance and evaluation of federal government activities, including research.7 Research program evaluation can show where progress is being made and orient agency and program staff to the need to document practical research outcomes.8 It can also lead to change in the research direction or termination of research activities because the potential benefits cannot justify the resources being expended.
|
From page 89... ...
. Assessment FHWA currently addresses program evaluation in several ways.
|
From page 90... ...
The reports of the working groups of the National Highway R&T Partnership Forum identify additional examples that would require funding. Conclusion Total funding for federal highway R&T is low, with the result that important research needs are not being addressed despite the potential for high payoffs.
|
From page 91... ...
FHWA is the federal mission agency responsible for the nations' highway transportation system and has the largest single highway R&T program. Its responsibilities include advancing national highway policy, administering the federal-aid highway program, and developing and enforcing many highway regulations.
|
From page 92... ...
Early and sustained external Although the program appears to serve FHWA's stakeholder involvement internal stakeholders adequately, it lacks a systematic approach for the sustained partici pation of external stakeholders in determining the program's direction and research topics, setting priorities, and making R&T funding decisions. Provisions for open competition Historically, the Federal Highway Contract and merit review to safeguard the Research Program has been based largely on federal R&T investment open competition and merit review by agency staff.
|
From page 93... ...
Adequate resources Total funding for federal highway R&T is low- less than 0.5 percent of total annual highway program expenditures -- with the result that important research needs are not addressed despite the potential for high payoffs. Appropriate leadership of national As the federal mission agency responsible for highway R&T activities the federal-aid highway program, FHWA is well positioned to be the leader for the national highway R&T effort by influencing rather than directing other programs but has yet to capi talize on this positioning.
|
From page 94... ...
1999. Special Report 256: Managing Technology Transfer: A Strategy for the Federal Highway Administration.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.