Vigorous Research, Technology Transfer, and Training

Innovation through research and development is a major theme of the ISTEA and a priority for the DOT. The FHWA is committed to expanding environmental research and improving the transfer of new environmental technology to our partners in the transportation community.

It is FHWA policy to:

• Conduct active and responsive research needed to advance state-of-the-art knowledge of transportation's linkage to and effects on the natural environment, neighborhoods, and communities. This includes pursuing research on the health and environmental effects of transportation on, and benefits of transportation for, minority and low-income populations.
• Develop joint research and training efforts with Federal, State, and local transportation and environmental resource and regulatory agencies. Promote an interchange of training among these and other partners.
• Expand current efforts to disseminate state-of-the-art information on environmental protection, impact evaluation, mitigation, and enhancement. To this end, use forums such as experimental and demonstration projects, technical conferences and training programs, electronic bulletin boards, and other technology transfer activities to promote the incorporation of research results into practice.
• Seek, through research and application of sound management and "intelligent transportation" practices, ways to improve the transportation design and operational characteristics of existing and new transportation facilities from an environmental perspective.
• Expand and improve FHWA's environmental training curriculum, and develop environmental training targeted at managers.