Research Planning and Coordination

DOT’s Five-Year RD&T Strategic Plan

The Research Planning and Coordination program coordinates, facilitates, and reviews DOT’s research and development activities. The program was established to ensure that DOT is making the most of its $1 billion annual investment in research and technology. The program fosters collaboration in research activities within DOT, across the Federal government, and with partners in state and local transportation agencies, not-for-profit institutions, academia, and industry.

RD&T Planning Council

The Council ensures crossmodal collaboration and coordination in research being done with DOT and with its partners.  Some of the functions performed by the Council are:

• advising the Secretary of Transportation on research issues
• maintaining dialogue with research stakeholders
• upholding the highest standards for quality, transparency, and ethical conduct

The Council members are

• the DOT Under Secretary for Policy;
• the Assistant Secretaries for Transportation Policy, Budget and Programs/CFO, and Aviation and International Affairs;
• the Administrators of the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Maritime Administration, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation;
• the Chief Information Officer;
• the Director of the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response; and
• the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

RD&T Planning Team

The Team supports the Council by:

• reviewing and coordinating across the Department research plans and budgets to identify opportunities and gaps and to prevent duplication
• periodically assessing DOT research programs for relevance and quality
• promoting best practices in research performance and technology transfer.