Transportation Research Board National Cooperative Research Programs

RAC 101

July 26, 2010Kansas City

TRB Cooperative Research Programs

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (1962- $37 mill.)

Transit Cooperative Research Program ( 1992 - $9 mill)

Commercial Truck & Bus Safety Synthesis Program (2002 - $300,000)

Airport Cooperative Research Program (2005 - $15 mill)

TRB Cooperative Research Programs (cont’d)

Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program

(2007 - $1 mill)

National Cooperative Freight Research Program

(2007 - $4 mill)

NCHRP

“AASHTO’s Research Program”State DOT supportFormed in 1962Applied Research Focus

APPLIED Research: AASHTO Guides and Specifications Guides for practitioners Software products Product enhancements New or improved models/tools Improved operations and services Testing/evaluation techniques

Continuing NCHRP Projects:

Synthesis of Practice International Scanning Program Domestic Scanning Program Quick response studies for AASHTO

Financial Support

From State Departments of Transportation

With 5 1/2% of State Planning and Research funds (voluntary contribution)

SPR = 2% of Federal Aid Highway apportionment

RAC Participation in NCHRP:

Developing problem statements Reviewing problem statements Nominating panel members Serving as panel members Providing funding through SP&R Evaluating and implementing results

The NCHRP Process

Problem Statements: Annual solicitation (June) Must be submitted by either…

–State Departments of Transportation

–AASHTO committees and subcommittees

–Federal Highway Administration

General description of problem or research need

TRB Standing Committees:WHY GET INVOLVED?

• To learn • Keep yourself and your organization up to date on

latest research and issues• Get to know leaders in profession• Leaders in profession get to know you!• Become part of a community• To help develop research ideas

How can I get my problem statement selected?

NCHRP problem statements must be …

• Understandable

• Original

• Achievable

• Affordable

• Implementable

• Beneficial

• National in Scope

• High priority

• Widely supported, esp. by DOTs and AASHTO committees

“How to write an effective problem statement”

See: Funding Sources for Transportation Research: Competitive Programs, Appendix B

http://www.trb.org/ResearchFunding/index.asp

Problem statements reviewed by:

NCHRP and FHWA staff AASHTO Standing Committee on

Research AASHTO Research Advisory

Committee

Projects selected by:

AASHTO Standing Committee on Research - SCOR

Approval Required by 2/3 of AASHTO Board of Directors

Formation of Advisory Panels

Experts in subject matter Typically 8 members 4-5 State DOT Academia, Associations, Private

Sector, Local Gov’t Liaison member from FHWA

• Why serve on NCHRP panels?

• How do I submit my nomination?

Through AASHTO Research Advisory Committee Members(see Research.Transportation.org)

Directly to NCHRP

NCHRP website http://trb.org/NCHRP/Public/NCHRP.aspx

• Information on NCHRP and TCRP

• Search engine• Project Info since 1988:

Anticipated / Active / Completed

• CRP publication lists / ordering info

• Requests for proposals• Registration form for

notification of RFPs