Detailed Justification for Transportation Futures and Applied Technology Program
FY 2008 Request: $0
Overview
The Transportation Futures Program is essential for enabling
RITA to meet its Mineta Act mandate from Congress (PL 108-426), and is the next
stage in the evolution of the Research, Development and Technology (RD&T)
planning process established in FYs 2005 and 2006. RITA has successfully institutionalized a
process for coordinating, budget and program planning, and reviewing RD&T
programs across the Department. The
Transportation Futures Program will add value to this process by adding the
technical and analytical capabilities required to transform the RD&T Planning and Management function into that envisioned by
the Congress and by the Secretary.
RITA’s unique role within DOT is
to bring a cross-modal framework to modal research programs -- providing the
technical assessments necessary for the Department to improve decision-making
and policy-setting processes, eliminating program redundancies, and developing
a long-range, multimodal roadmap for effective RD&T investment.
FY 2007 Base
The Transportation
Futures Program is a new line item in the RITA budget. The program expands upon activities formerly
under the RD&T Coordination line.
Anticipated FY 2007 Accomplishments
This new program builds upon the work accomplished in FY
2006 in the RD&T Coordination program. Under RD&T Coordination, RITA is developing the five-year
transportation RD&T strategic plan, and conducting RD&T annual program
reviews and RD&T budget and performance planning.
FY 2008 Budget Request: $0
In FY 2008, the Transportation
Futures Program is being combined with the RD&T Coordination Program and
thus, renamed. The Transportation
Futures Program was intended to help RITA meet its Mineta Act mission by
providing the technical and analytical capabilities required to transform the
RD&T planning and management function into that envisioned by the Secretary
and Congress and will continue under the RD&T Coordination budget line item.
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