November/December 2002
Editor's Notes
Securing
Our Nation's Highway System
Robust Partnerships Create a Stronger Transportation System
The faster pace of today's technological world, the vast amounts of
available information, and limited funding mean that government organizations
can't afford to operate in a vacuum. Like business enterprises, public
service entities must work with industry and research partners to
promote innovations and transfer new technologies and concepts into
better systems, processes, and services.
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Dennis C. Judycki |
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Robert E. Skinner, Jr. |
Given the complex and multidimensional nature of the transportation
industry and its decentralized community, partnerships are not only
desirable but also necessary for improving highway planning, construction,
maintenance, and operations. There is little doubt that transportation-related
research investments and innovations play a crucial role in the Nation's
economic growth, mobility, and personal quality of life. With more
than 41,000 fatalities annually on our Nation's highways, we recognize
the significant safety challenge we are facing. However, the vehicle,
infrastructure, and behavioral innovations that have reduced fatalities
by 19 percent over the last 2 decades also should inspire us.
During the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) 2003 annual meeting,
it seems appropriate that we reflect on the importance of research
and innovation to this country and the collaborative work that has
been, and continues to be, accomplished through partnerships. In fact,
more than 80 years ago, the creation of TRB was the result of a
partnership among State departments of transportation (DOTs),
represented by what is now the American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Bureau of Public Roads—now
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—and the National Research
Council.
Several long-standing, robust partnerships continue to exist among
the States, FHWA, and TRB. Forty years ago, the three organizations
established the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP);
at the time it was a revolutionary idea for States to pool Federal-aid
research funds voluntarily. After all these years, the NCHRP no longer
seems revolutionary, but the program continues to produce innovative
research policies and products in highway safety, planning, design,
construction, and operations. Likewise, the three organizations collaborated
on the Strategic Highway Research Program, which produced targeted
research programs that continue to benefit the entire transportation
industry with significant technological innovations.
This issue of Public Roads contains several articles that highlight
or feature the results of our successful partnerships. Examples include
the Transportation, Economic & Land Use System (TELUS), originally
started as a New Jersey effort and later adopted as a national program.
An article on the global technology scan of transportation and wildlife
issues describes partnerships involving several national and international
entities.
TRB's 82nd annual meeting certainly will capture the innovative spirit
of these partnerships. Let us take this opportunity to celebrate our
past partnerships, recognize their importance, and look forward to
even stronger research partnerships in the future.
Dennis C. Judycki,
Associate Administrator RD&T, FHWA
Robert E. Skinner, Jr.
Executive Director
Transportation Research Board
Other
Articles in this issue:
The Scan of the Wild
Filling the Pipeline
TELUS
Measuring the Road to Improvement
Students Grab the Gold Ring
Digging into LTPP Pavement Data
Making It Happen the Fast Way
"Back to Basics" Saves Lives
A Decade of Achievement
Does Your Interchange Design Have You Going Around
in Circles?
From Small Beginnings Come Great Things