America's Highways Accelerating the Search for Innovation -- Special Report 202 (1984) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 13-24
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 13... ...
Executive Summary INTRODUCTION At present state transportation agencies have a unique opportunity to make major improvements in the ways they build, maintain, and operate highways. Because of the infrastructure crisis, the public has awakened to its stake in the highway network.
|
From page 14... ...
2 AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS Why has not a system so crucial to everyday life, so large (4 million miles) , and so expensive ($1 trillion)
|
From page 15... ...
Executive Summary areas to identify the most promising for a national program. Specifically, this strategy involves answering the nine following questions: Will the research yield big payoffs if successful?
|
From page 16... ...
AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS Training requirements, organizational changes, investment in equipment, cash flow requirements, personnel implications, and legal liabilities of new approaches can make or break the acceptance of research findings. Technical research personnel are not necessarily in a position to make these judgments, and, similarly, administrators and political leaders may not be fully aware of the technological options that might be developed.
|
From page 17... ...
Executive Summary Does the research respond to new and potential changes in national policy? Because of the immense variety in local materials, building conditions, and topographic features, the strong problem-solving research capability of state agencies is essential.
|
From page 18... ...
6 AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS cused on these research areas could substantially alleviate the biggest, most pervasive problems now faced by the highway industry. Such a research program could be supported if states would allocate one-quarter of 1 percent of their federal-aid highway funds.
|
From page 19... ...
Executive Summary 7 Long-Term Pavement Performance The nation will spend about $400 billion replacing and rehabilitating pavements before the end of the century. Not only will the Interstate and primary systems need repair but also state, county, and local highways and city streets will require massive investments in pavement.
|
From page 20... ...
8 AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS anization, better repair materials, off-site prefabrication, and more efficient staffing and scheduling could all yield substantial savings. Protection of Concrete Bridge Components An epidemic of bridge deterioration has developed throughout the United States.
|
From page 21... ...
Executive Summary 9 Chemical Control of Snow and Ice on Highways All but 7 of the 50 states can count on snow covering parts of their highway systems every winter. Salt was first used on intercity highways for snow and ice control about 50 years ago; by 1982 salt use had grown to 12 million tons a year.
|
From page 22... ...
TABLE 1 Assessment of High-Priority Highway Research Areas Cement and Long-Term Maintenance Protection of Concrete in Chemical Pavement Cost- Concrete Bridge Pavements and Control of Asphalt Performance Effectiveness Components Structures Snow and Ice Probability of a big payoff High - High High High Medium High Has research on this topic been neglected in recent years? Yes Yes Yes No Yes Possibly Degree to which organizational barriers now impede research High High Medium Low High Low Likelihood that research findings will be usable High High High High High Medium Scale of effort required for suc- cessful project Large Large Small Large Medium Medium Does the research require greater unity of effort, now splintered?
|
From page 23... ...
Executive Summary 11 TABLE 2 A 5-Year Strategic Transportation Research Program Problem Area Annual Expenditure ($ Million) Total Expenditure ($ Million)
|
From page 24... ...
12 AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS A new special project under the Federally Coordinated Program of Highway Research and Development (FCP) ; A modified Research Associate Program under the auspices of the National Bureau of Standards; A university research center or research institute; or A major private research organization.
|
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.