Review of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Research and Development Program (2020) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 77-92
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 77... ...
77 6 Office of Research, Development, and Technology Support Functions In addition to reviewing each of the four research divisions in the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA's) Office of Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T)
|
From page 78... ...
78 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM of research (e.g., applied and knowledge-based research) ; dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of research results; and alignment of staffing and budget levels with these goals and strategies; • Communications and other interactions with industry, other FRA offices, the research community, and railroad labor to identify priorities, recruit partners, and ensure that results are adopted and effective in the field; and • Evaluations of the performance and impact of work of the individual divisions and the program overall.
|
From page 79... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 79 BOX 6-1 Observations and Advice from Reviews of the Four Research Divisions Track and Structures Value of Safety Data and Industry Collaboration in Project Selection The Track and Structures Division (Track Division) budgets for the two research programs on track and structures and track–train interaction align with data on track-related derailment causes.
|
From page 80... ...
80 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM of transit rail and highway systems, opportunities may exist for wider application of this knowledge through increased coordination with the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) , the public transportation industry, and state transportation departments.
|
From page 81... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 81 • The Human Factors Division should engage more frequently with other U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.
|
From page 82... ...
82 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM In recognizing the importance of efficient, precise, and reliable operations to achieving the safety promise of positive train control (PTC) , the division has forged strong connections with the railroad industry to identify and articulate critical PTCrelated issues requiring research and industry involvement in projects.
|
From page 83... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 83 strategic plan issued in May 2013 (Federal Railroad Administration Office of Research, Development, and Technology 2013)
|
From page 84... ...
84 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM projects based on weights assigned to various criteria and considerations such as whether a candidate research topic addresses a need identified through analysis of safety data and consultations with stakeholders, whether it aligns with U.S. DOT and FRA strategic priorities, and how much risk it presents in terms of cost and schedule.
|
From page 85... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 85 Although an updated strategic plan is apparently being drafted, its prolonged absence means that RD&T senior leadership may not be providing sufficient strategic guidance, direction, and support for the four research divisions. Indeed, the preceding reviews of the four divisions yielded examples of needs that a strategic assessment could surface and help resolve.
|
From page 86... ...
86 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM connections and interactions for identifying research needs and priorities, partnering with industry, and ensuring that the research results are usable and applied. The results of that planning should now be evident in practice.
|
From page 87... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 87 pilot projects to test and demonstrate the technologies and concepts in the field. The RD&T management team, however, did not explain how it supports such communications activity with needed guidance and resources -- for instance, by providing funds for staff to attend conferences and to convene workshops with stakeholders.
|
From page 88... ...
88 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM Communications Division make a concerted effort to ensure that its research results are made available to industry and other users as quickly as possible given the rapid pace of information and communications technology development and deployment in the field. In its review of the Human Factors Division, the committee recommended that staff consult regularly with other U.S.
|
From page 89... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 89 the U.S. railroad research workforce and experimental capacity.
|
From page 90... ...
90 REVIEW OF FRA'S R&D PROGRAM evaluations. The RD&T senior management team is responsible for leading the group to establish effective long-range metrics, including periodic benchmark exercises with other agency research units.
|
From page 91... ...
RD&T SUPPORT FUNCTIONS 91 create oversight and administrative burdens that risk delays across the portfolio. • RD&T should consult the four research divisions about their communications needs and challenges and look for opportunities where support by the management team would be advantageous, such as in providing resources for staff travel and participation in industry conferences and for convening annual, multi-day stakeholder workshops for sharing research results, identifying and prioritizing research needs, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in the conduct of research and in the demonstration and deployment of research results.
|
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.