FHWA’s Research and Development Programs

John McCracken,

Chief Science Officer and

Research Program Manager, Infrastructure R&D

U.S. Federal Highway Administration

Topics to be covered….

- R&T Program OverviewR&T Program Overview

- R&T Focus areasR&T Focus areas

- Collaboration OpportunitiesCollaboration Opportunities

- MakForwardMakForward

- R&T Program OverviewR&T Program Overview

- R&T Focus areasR&T Focus areas

- Collaboration OpportunitiesCollaboration Opportunities

- MakForwardMakForward

Office of Research and Technology Services

Office of Safety R&D

Office of Operations R&D

Office of Infrastructure

R&D

Office of Corporate Research and Technology

Office of Resource Management

Organization of TFHRC

Office of Program Development and

Evaluation

Research Development and Technology

FHWA Mission

Improve Mobility on our Nation’s Highwaysthrough National Leadership, Innovation andProgram Delivery

…and Roles• Leaders for National Mobility• Stewards for National Highway Programs

• Innovators for a Better Future

A Strategic Approach

FHWA Commitment recognizes the need to focus on high-risk research with high payoff potential.

Corporate Master Plan forResearch and Deployment of Technology & Innovation

Scope of FHWA Role in Research &Technology

• Conducting research • Supporting research by:

State DOT’s UniversitiesPrivate industry

• Stimulating development and innovation

• Facilitating technology transfer and deployment

• Educating the transportation professional of the future

Authorized Funding for RT&E Programs

Program FY-2005 FY-2006 FY-2007 FY-2008 FY-2009

Surface Transportation Research, Development & Deployment

$196.4M

(+$42.6M)

$196.4M $196.4M $196.4M $196.4M

Training & Education $26.7M

(+$7.2M)

$26.7M $26.7M $26.7M $26.7M

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

$27M

(-$4.5M)

$27M $27M $27M $27M

University Transportation Research

$40.4M $69.7M

(+44.8M)

$69.7M $69.7M $69.7M

Intelligent Transportation

Systems Research

$110M

(+$6.6M)

$110M $110M $110M $110M

Total $429.8M $429.8M $429.8M $429.8M $429.8M

FHWA R&T Functional Areas(Number of R&T Focus Areas)

• Infrastructure (3)

• Safety (4)

• Operations (5)

• Environment/Planning (18)

• Policy (8)

• Advanced Research (6)

• ITS Research (9 Tier 1 Initiatives)

• Infrastructure (3)

• Safety (4)

• Operations (5)

• Environment/Planning (18)

• Policy (8)

• Advanced Research (6)

• ITS Research (9 Tier 1 Initiatives)

Infrastructure Focus Areas

Pavements

Materials

Technologies To Get In, Get Out, and Stay Out

Structures

Safety Focus Areas Road Departure:

prevention & mitigation

Intersections

Strategic ApproachTo Safety

Safety Management/Human Center Safety Management/Human Center SystemsSystems

Pedestrian Safety

Operations Focus Areas

Simulation Models/Tools

Adaptive Control Systems

Fully Cooperative Intersection

Improving Transportation with Intelligent Solutions

Enabling Technologies

Research Mechanisms

• In-house research at FHWA laboratories– Structures– Geotechnical– Hydraulics– Aerodynamics– Non-Destructive Evaluation– Paint/Coatings– Bridge Management

• Contract research– Universities & research

organizations– Professional organizations

(consultants, industry, associations)

Research Collaboration Opportunities

• University Transportation Centers

• Exploratory Advanced Research

• Strategic Highway Research Program

Program Delivery

• UTC Program – Universities address identified Adv. Research focus areas

• NSF - $1.5M leveraged w/ $1.5M match (joint research, NSF-managed)

- Facilitate TFHRC/University

partnerships (principal

investigator with lab manager)

• TRB IDEA Program for AR

Exploratory Advanced Research Program

• Identify and Develop Next Generation Transportation Solutions

• SCANNING AND CONVENING (10%)

• RESEARCH, THROUGH COMPETITION AND PARTNERSHIPS (80%)

• INTERNALLY DEVELOPED, COMPETED and EXTERNALLY PEER REVIEWED

• Targeted, short-term program of

strategic highway research modeled

on the first SHRP• Authorized by Congress in 2005• Administered by TRB in cooperation

with AASHTO and FHWA• Integrates multiple fields of study to

address critical needs

Funding• • $150 million, authorized over 4 years• • $108 million of research contracts:• – Safety: $43.2 million• – Renewal: $28.8 million• – Reliability: $18 million• – Capacity: $18 million

More Information On FHWA’s R&T Program

www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt