Research, Technology, and Education Partnerships Overview

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) establishes and maintains ongoing communications with its research, technology, and education (RT&E) stakeholders, customers, and partners. To reach out to a broader constituent base and improve coordination with stakeholders interested in transportation RT&E investment, FHWA, with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB), are part of a national research and technology partnership initiative entitled Highway Research and Technology. The partnership initiative serves as a framework for coordinating RT&E activities between research sponsors, practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders in highway transportation. The objectives of the partnership are to establish a highway research agenda and identify the appropriate roles of the Federal government, State and local governments, universities, and private sector organizations in implementing a national highway RT&E program.

FHWA also works closely with the TRB Research and Technology Coordinating Committee (RTCC with committee number B0024), an advisory committee formed to provide policy-level recommendations on the overall direction of the FHWA RT&E program. The RTCC members consist of top-level administrators, researchers, and practitioners from the States, academia, and private sector. The RTCC's most recent publication, TRB Special Report 261: The Federal Role in Highway Research and Technology, examines the need for highway research and technology (R&T), the importance of a national highway research program, and the appropriate Federal role. Electronic copies of this report are available from TRB's Web site.

FHWA establishes and maintains contacts with State department of transportation (DOT) R&T programs, AASHTO Research Advisory Committee, and the AASHTO Standing Committee on Research. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires that States set aside a percentage of the apportionments they receive from the Surface Transportation, National Highway System, Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation, Interstate Maintenance, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, and Minimum Guarantee Funds programs for State planning and research activities. Of this amount, States must allocate a percentage for research, development, and technology activities, such as research on new areas of knowledge; adaptation of findings to practical applications by developing new technologies; and the transfer of these technologies, including the process of dissemination, demonstration, training, and adoption of innovations by users.

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), administered by TRB, is a means to conduct research in acute national problem areas that affect highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Funds for NCHRP are drawn from the States' Federal-aid highway funds. FHWA's Office of Program Development and Evaluation solicits problem statements from within FHWA for possible NCHRP projects, obtains expert comments on project statements, arranges for FHWA experts to participate on NCHRP review panels and as research liaisons, accepts final reports, and authorizes the release of highway funds for these cooperative research efforts. The Exploratory Advanced Research Program is intended to promote longer term and higher risk breakthrough research with the potential for transformational improvements to the transportation system. FHWA partners with organizations to perform research.

The Transportation Pooled Fund Program enables FHWA; State, regional, and local transportation agencies; academic institutions; foundations; and private firms join together to conduct R&T projects of mutual interest. Funds from participants are consolidated, and the resultant project is managed such that the perspectives and desires of participating agencies are addressed.

FHWA also reviews proposals for funding under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, a research and development program mandated by the U.S. Congress in 1982 and reauthorized in 1992 with the purpose of developing technological innovations using the high level of expertise in the small business community throughout the United States. The aims of the program are to stimulate technological innovation; meet the Federal government's needs for research and development by providing opportunities to small businesses; increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and provide opportunities for minority and disadvantaged participation in technological innovation.

FHWA also engages in cooperative efforts with foreign governments to leverage resources and further the goals of the R&T program. This includes promoting U.S. R&T objectives through participation in international organizations, such as the World Road Association. Furthermore, FHWA fosters cooperation on international R&T activities with our U.S. partners, including AASHTO and NCHRP. For example, the International Technology Scanning Program accesses and evaluates foreign technologies and innovations, which could significantly benefit highway transportation systems in the United States. This program enables advanced technology to be adapted and put into practice much more efficiently without spending scarce research funds to recreate advances already developed by other countries.