European Collaboration

United States, Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories, and European Commission Research Collaboration

Both the United States and Europe face challenges to moving people and goods safety and efficiently on our road systems. The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center conducts collaborative research as a member of the Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL) and issues synchronized calls with the European Commission (EC). Currently, we are in the process of issuing a synchronized call as part of the EC 7th framework programme (FP7 2013) requesting collaboration on a transport research topic of mutual interest. The challenges identified for this call include, but are not limited to, funding challenges, deterioration of existing infrastructure, and the susceptibility of today's road systems to changes in climate.

The collaborative research identified will focus on the development and demonstration of new design, construction, and maintenance, which will address relevant issues associated with both the renovation of existing road infrastructure and the construction of new road infrastructure. The twinned research projects capitalize on the existing experience available in the US and Europe. During this collaboration, projects lead by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) will fund US projects and will collaborate with European researchers. Projects lead by the EC, will be funded by the Commission and the selectee(s) will collaborate with the relevant US counterparts. Funding approval in the US is determined on a project-by-project basis, is dependent on available resources, and is subject to all relevant US laws.

European Commission FP7 2013 Call for Research:

See Challenge 3: Competitiveness Through Innovation SST.2013.5-3 Innovative, cost effective construction and maintenance for safer, greener and climate resilient roads. Pg. 62-63.

Note: The final adoption and the publication of the work programme by the EC are expected in mid-July 2012 and only the adopted work programme will have legal value.

On pages 62-63 of the draft transport work plan is a project identified by the EC for collaboration with the US. SST.2013.5-3. Innovative, cost-effective construction and maintenance for safer, greener and climate resilient roads call for research includes the following language, “…EU selected projects addressing these topics are expected to cooperate closely with the relevant US funded projects.”

Anticipated Federal Highway Administration Lead Research:

• Flooded Pavement Assessment
• Full-Scale Performance of Warm-Mix Asphalt with High Recycled Content

For more information on the collaborative partnerships with FEHRL and the EC, please contact Debra Elston at Debra.Elston@dot.gov or telephone: 202-493-3181.