Strategic Plan for The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

To the Reader:

I am pleased to present the Strategic Plan for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC).

Located in McLean, VA, TFHRC is FHWA’s core facility for research, development, and technology within the broader transportation research community. This document describes TFHRC’s plans for providing national leadership in highway research, both by advancing its own endeavors and by coordinating those endeavors with activities managed by other offices within FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), and by other public, private, academic, and international entities. Indeed, partnerships constitute a key element of the Strategic Plan. Other major themes of the Plan include identification and implementation of the right research; systematic planning of TFHRC’s research capabilities, both human resources and infrastructure; and accelerated transition of technology from the laboratory to the operating environment.

America’s highway network affords immense potential for improved safety, efficiency, economy, mobility, and quality of life. Only research of the caliber, breadth, and depth that have characterized TFHRC since its inception can fully unlock that potential. With the ultimate benefits of the research clearly in view, this Strategic Plan presents the principles and strategies that will enable TFHRC to realize its vision and accomplish its mission, and thus foster a safer, longer-lasting, and more productive highway network for America.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Trentacoste
Associate Administrator for Research,
Development, and Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

1. FHWA'S TFHRC
2. STRUCTURE OF HIGHWAY RESEARCH
3. PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES OF THE TFHRC STRATEGIC PLAN
4. SOURCES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TFHRC STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC CHALLENGES

VISION, MISSION, AND CORE VALUES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1. GOAL 1: FHWA CONDUCTS AND SPONSORS THE RIGHT RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS

2. GOAL 2: FHWA ENGAGES IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE AND LEVERAGE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION

3. GOAL 3: FHWA AND TFHRC MAINTAIN A FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATION AND AGILE RESEARCH WORKFORCE TO MEET NEW AND EVOLVING TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES

4. GOAL 4: FIRST-RATE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IS DEVELOPED AND SUSTAINED THROUGH LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND ADEQUATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT

5. GOAL 5: RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES ARE APPROPRIATELY ADVANCED THROUGH EFFECTIVE ALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES, DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION

6. GOAL 6: TFHRC PROVIDES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO HIGHWAY AND INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

MOVING FORWARD

APPENDIX: FHWA'S RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IN BRIEF

REFERENCES

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS