U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
The basic principles governing Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Research and Technology (R&T) investments are outlined in Title 23 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 5: Research, Technology, and Education, and reinforced in Division E of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the latest surface transportation authorization bill.
These guiding principles state that the Federal Government has the responsibility to fund and conduct surface transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities when the work is of national significance and in research areas where there is a clear public benefit and where private investment is not optimal. The FHWA’s responsibility is to assure that State and local governments use national resources efficiently, and to present the best means to support Federal policy goals compared with other policy alternatives.
The role of FHWA is to conduct research; to support and facilitate research and technology transfer activities by State highway agencies; to share the results of completed research; and to support and facilitate technology and innovation deployment.
The Research and Technology (R&T) Program includes fundamental, long-term highway research—research aimed at significant highway research gaps and emerging issues with national implications and research related to policy and planning. FHWA is responsible for addressing the needs of stakeholders and facilitating a competitive approach to grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for research and development projects and programs.
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21)
The most recent transportation authorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), authorizes and provides funding for fiscal years 2013 through 2015 for three FHWA-administered research, technology, and education programs; the State-administered State Planning and Research Program; and three programs administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
FHWA-Administered Programs
State Planning and Research Program (SP&R). States are required to set aside funds for the State Planning and Research (SP&R) Program. Out of four Federal-aid formula program allocations from Division A, Title I of MAP-21, the States must set aside 2 percent for planning and research purposes. At least 25 percent of these funds must be used for research, development, and technology purposes. States use these funds to conduct research aimed at solving specific transportation issues that arise at the State level, or they may leverage these funds by applying them toward Transportation Pooled Fund projects. States can also use these funds as the non-Federal match for Local/Tribal Technical Assistance Program (LTAP/TTAP) centers and for the University Transportation Centers.
Future Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Implementation. MAP-21 authorizes FHWA to lead and coordinate SHRP2. The SHRP2 was authorized in 23 U.S.C. 510 and funded through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), and its extensions from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2012, with the vision to address some of the most pressing needs related to the Nation’s highway system, including:
SHRP2 focuses applied research on four crucial areas:
Finally, MAP-21 also authorizes three programs administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology:
For more information on these three programs, visit http://www.rita.dot.gov/offices.
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Strategic Approach FHWA leadership accepted the challenge to "raise the bar" on R&T and adopted a strategic management framework developed with input from stakeholders. See Corporate Master Plan (CMP) for Research and Deployment of Technology & Innovation (FHWA-RD-03-077) |
» | Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) |
» | Title 23 Chapter 5 USC |
» | 23 CFR Part 420 |
» | 49 CFR Part 18 |
» | 49 CFR Part 19 |
» | For complete information about Titles 23 & 49, visit the Government Printing Office (GPO) United States Code Web Page |