Agenda

See The Advanced Research Think Tank Series.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) plays a key leadership role in sponsoring, sustaining, and guiding highway research. As a leader in the transportation research and technology (R&T) field, FHWA is working to improve its R&T program and to deploy innovations and technologies. Stakeholders and the public are integral to the establishment of FHWA R&T development and deployment activities. Stakeholder involvement includes influencing the highway R&T deployment during the process of developing and revising FHWA's R&T roadmaps. As they are updated, the R&T roadmaps are used as a communications tool with our partners and stakeholders to inform them of the Agency's planned R&T initiatives. Stakeholders also often use information contained in the R&T roadmaps as a mechanism to find collaborative research efforts or as a tool for planning research programs within their own State departments of transportation (DOT). For instance, FHWA's Office of Safety has made significant process in integrating stakeholder involvement into the corporate roadmapping process: For example, the Office of Safety:

Embarked on an initiative in fall 2004 to develop a uniform stakeholder involvement process that closely aligns with the Guiding Principles and Agency Commitments contained in the Agency's Corporate Master Plan for Research and Deployment of Technology & Innovation (FHWA-RD-03-077).
Held a workshop of safety representatives in November 2004 to gain insight into important issues and items that needed consideration in the development of a model process.
Developed an initial draft implementation plan in December 2004.
Completed, thoroughly vetted, and revised safety program area roadmaps and multiyear plans in 2005.

The roadmapping process is just one of the many ways that stakeholders and the public are involved in establishing FHWA's research agenda. FHWA also establishes and maintains contacts with State DOT R&T programs, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO) Research Advisory Committee, and the AASHTO Standing Committee on Research.