FHWA

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FHWAs Research and Development Programs

• John McCracken,
• Chief Science Officer and
• Research Program Manager, Infrastructure RD
• U.S. Federal Highway Administration

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Topics to be covered.

• RT Program Overview
• RT Focus areas
• Collaboration Opportunities
• MakForward

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Organization of TFHRC
Research Development and Technology
Office of Corporate Research and Technology
Office of Resource Management
Office of Program Development and Evaluation
Office of Research and Technology Services
Office of Safety RD
Office of Operations RD
Office of Infrastructure RD
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FHWA Mission

• Improve Mobility on our Nations Highways
• through National Leadership, Innovation and
• Program Delivery
• and Roles
• Leaders for National Mobility
• Stewards for National Highway Programs
• Innovators for a Better Future

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A Strategic Approach

• FHWA Commitment recognizes the need to focus on
  high-risk research with high payoff potential.

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Scope of FHWA Role in Research Technology

• Conducting research
• Supporting research by
• State DOTs
• Universities
• Private industry
• Stimulating development and innovation
• Facilitating technology transfer and deployment
• Educating the transportation professional of the
  future

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Authorized Funding for RTE Programs
Program FY-2005 FY-2006 FY-2007 FY-2008 FY-2009
Surface Transportation Research, Development Deployment 196.4M (42.6M) 196.4M 196.4M 196.4M 196.4M
Training Education 26.7M (7.2M) 26.7M 26.7M 26.7M 26.7M
Bureau of Transportation Statistics 27M (-4.5M) 27M 27M 27M 27M
University Transportation Research 40.4M 69.7M (44.8M) 69.7M 69.7M 69.7M
Intelligent Transportation Systems Research 110M (6.6M) 110M 110M 110M 110M
Total 429.8M 429.8M 429.8M 429.8M 429.8M
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FHWA RT Functional Areas (Number of RT Focus
Areas)

• Infrastructure (3)
• Safety (4)
• Operations (5)
• Environment/Planning (18)
• Policy (8)
• Advanced Research (6)
• ITS Research (9 Tier 1 Initiatives)

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Infrastructure Focus Areas
Pavements
Structures
Materials
Technologies To Get In, Get Out, and Stay Out
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Safety Focus Areas
Road Departure prevention mitigation
Strategic Approach To Safety
Pedestrian Safety
Intersections
Safety Management/Human Center Systems
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Operations Focus Areas
Simulation Models/Tools
Adaptive Control Systems
Fully Cooperative Intersection
Enabling Technologies
Improving Transportation with Intelligent
Solutions
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Research Mechanisms

• In-house research at FHWA laboratories
• Structures
• Geotechnical
• Hydraulics
• Aerodynamics
• Non-Destructive Evaluation
• Paint/Coatings
• Bridge Management
• Contract research
• Universities research organizations
• Professional organizations (consultants,
  industry, associations)

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Research Collaboration Opportunities

• University Transportation Centers
• Exploratory Advanced Research
• Strategic Highway Research Program

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Program Delivery

• UTC Program Universities address identified
  Adv. Research focus areas
• NSF - 1.5M leveraged w/ 1.5M match (joint
  research, NSF-managed)
• - Facilitate TFHRC/University
  partnerships (principal investigator with
  lab manager)
• TRB IDEA Program for AR

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Exploratory Advanced Research Program

• Identify and Develop Next Generation
  Transportation Solutions
• SCANNING AND CONVENING (10)
• RESEARCH, THROUGH COMPETITION AND PARTNERSHIPS
  (80)
• INTERNALLY DEVELOPED, COMPETED and EXTERNALLY
  PEER REVIEWED

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• Targeted, short-term program of
• strategic highway research modeled
• on the first SHRP
• Authorized by Congress in 2005
• Administered by TRB in cooperation
• with AASHTO and FHWA
• Integrates multiple fields of study to
• address critical needs

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• Funding
• 150 million, authorized over 4 years
• 108 million of research contracts
• Safety 43.2 million
• Renewal 28.8 million
• Reliability 18 million
• Capacity 18 million

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More Information On FHWAs RT Program

• www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt