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FHWA’s international activities enable domestic stakeholders to gain better access to technology, information, and markets for the benefit of both public and private sectors. The Office of International Programs is active in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities abroad that benefit the U.S. highway transportation community and support U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Generally, the activities of the office fall into the following categories:
- Sharing technology and information
- Promoting harmonization of transportation rules, systems and standards
- Providing technical assistance
- Promoting access to foreign markets and involvement by interested U.S. transportation firms
OIP activities are designed to support FHWA in shaping the future of highway transportation in the U.S. by incorporating the agency’s strategic goals into a broad range of interactions with foreign counterparts. The office coordinates technical assistance and information exchange with foreign government agencies and other organizations. The results include better understanding of technologies and practices with the potential for adaptation and use in the U.S., more extensive use of proven U.S. standards and working methods for improving mobility in other parts of the world, and opportunities for U.S. firms interested in overseas markets that are open for employing U.S. standards and technologies.
In most instances, OIP is the first link between FHWA and the rest of the world. It is a resource to which international colleagues can turn for assistance with their most vital transportation questions. It is also the resource to which U.S. stakeholders can turn for assistance in reaching foreign governments and other entities for the purpose of information exchange and other cooperation.
Across these interactions, the OIP actively fosters mutually beneficial activities: yielding information to improve the safety, durability, and efficiency of our road system; providing assistance so that other countries can benefit from U.S. experiences and expertise to improve their roads; and supporting U.S. foreign policy and service provider interests with strategic partners.
Supporting FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Strategic Goals
The Office of International Programs (OIP) activities result in interactions with foreign counterparts to identify and pursue topics of interest, focusing on creating and maintaining opportunities for meaningful information exchange. These interactions align with FHWA's three strategic goals:
- National Leadership - working with foreign peers with advanced experience with issues such as performance measurement and innovative finance.
- Program Delivery - studying similarities between innovation promotion programs in the U.S. with parallel programs overseas.
- System Performance - sharing U.S. expertise on safety issues through participation in the World Road Association, providing support to exchanges related to deployment of intelligent transportation systems.
Similarly, the office's activities address priorities identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Department's 2006 - 2011 Strategic Plan identifies Global Connectivity as a strategic objective. The goal of Global Connectivity is to "facilitate an international transportation system that promotes economic growth and development." OIP advances this goal by serving as a facilitator for information flows and professional exchanges that increases the technical capacity of FHWA and foreign counterpart agencies to build and maintain safer, more reliable, and more efficient road networks.