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FHWA R&T Now - March 2009
A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
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General/Administrative
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Creates Team to Coordinate DOT Role in Economic Recovery
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced creation of a team at the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) to coordinate the Department's role in President Obama's economic recovery program. The team will ensure that economic recovery funding is rapidly made available for
transportation infrastructure projects and that project spending is monitored and transparent.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot1409.htm
The President and Vice President Visit the Department of Transportation (DOT)
Read the President's and Vice President's remarks at DOT Headquarters on March 3, 2009.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-and-Vice-President-on-transportation-infrastructure/
FY 2010 NCHRP Project Selection Meeting
From March 24 through 26 in Washington, DC, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Standing Committee on Research (SCOR) will meet to select projects for fiscal year 2010 National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The NCHRP is funded by voluntary contributions from the State DOTs based on 5.5 percent of the Federal-aid State Planning and Research Program set-aside. Approximately $26 million in continuing and new projects are funded each year under NCHRP and administered by the Transportation Research Board. The members of SCOR; its subgroup, the Research Advisory Committee; and FHWA rated more than 150 continuing projects and proposed problem statements in February. The result of this balloting will form the basis for SCOR's consideration for project selection at its March meeting. As ex-officio members of SCOR, Michael Trentacoste, FHWA's Associate Administrator for Research, Development, and Technology; and James March, Team Leader of Industry and Economic Analysis in the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs, will attend the meeting along with other representatives from FHWA. For further information, contact:
Updated Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) Expertise Directory
The expertise of TFHRC's scientists, engineers, and support staff encompasses more than 100 transportation-related disciplines and expertise areas.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/about/leadership.cfm
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center Brochure
The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean, Virginia, is the Nation's premier highway research and development facility. As the research center for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), TFHRC coordinates and conducts an ambitious program of innovative highway research and development to address critical needs of the national highway system.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/general/08066/index.cfm
ADVANCED RESEARCH
FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Awards
FHWA plans to award cooperative agreements or contracts for exploratory advanced research in up
to six topic areas totaling around $6 million in federal funds. The Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) FHWA received proposals in response to a broad agency announcement that closed February 4. Proposals currently are under technical review by panels of internal and external experts. Topics were in the areas of predicting complex societal systems and next generation solutions for system operations and reducing congestion. The EAR Program anticipated announcing another solicitation on
additional topics in spring. For more information, contact:
Recent FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program Workshop
On February 15, the EAR Program held a workshop at the American Association for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.The workshop covered the impact of scientific partnerships on the future of transportation. An EAR Program exhibit was on display at the
5-day meeting to showcase current EAR projects and partnership opportunities. The AAAS Annual Meeting typically includes up to 10,000 participants from an array of scientific fields. It provides an opportunity for the FHWA to increase awareness of highway research among
cutting-edge university and private sector scientists that could lead to future
partnerships and leverage of knowledge from other disciplines. For more information, contact:
INFRASTRUCTURE
FHWA Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Transportation Research Board (TRB) 88th Annual Meeting Presentation
Power point presentation given at the annual TRB meeting in January 2009.
PAVEMENTS
SAFETY
2009 TAC Meeting: Transportation Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(099), Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvements
The FHWA Office of Safety R&D hosted the 2009 Technical Advisory Committee meeting for the "Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvements" Transportation Pooled Fund Study (TPF-5(099)), on March 18, 2009, in Arlington, VA. Twenty-seven States are participating in the study. The objective of this pooled fund study (PFS) is to formally evaluate the safety performance of 20 low cost treatments, selected from NCHRP Report 500 guides, through scientifically rigorous before-after evaluations of sites within the U.S. where these strategies are being implemented. Information about the pooled fund study can be found at: http://www.pooledfund.org/projectdetails.asp?id=332&status=4. For further information, or to join the pooled fund study, contact:
RECENT PERIODICALS
FOCUS Newsletter – March 2009
This issue includes: The Online Connection to Highway Infrastructure Security and Emergency Management Resources; FHWA Launches Economic Recovery Web Site; Drive to Survive—Our Future is Riding on It; Accelerating Innovation Implementation; Highway Technology Calendar; A Portable Field Guide for Bridge Inspectors; and, SHRP 2 Issues New Requests for Proposals.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/focus/09mar/index.cfm
lgpope@woodwardcom.com
FOCUS Newsletter – January/February 2009
This issue includes: Your On-Stop Source for National Highway Specification Information; FHWA Seeks Comments on Creation of National Tunnel Inspection Standards; New Transportation Workforce Training Available Online; Putting the Pieces Together at the Eighth National Conference
on Transportation Asset Management; Real Solutions to Today's Transportation Challenges; and, Highway Technology Calendar.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/focus/09jan/index.cfm
lgpope@woodwardcom.com
Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter – February 2009
This issue includes: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Announces Principles for Global Warming
Legislation; House Subcommittee Receives Testimony on Surface Transportation Energy Reduction; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Holds Meeting on Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challenge; U.C. Davis Provides Congressional Briefing on Low-Carbon Transportation Policies & Strategies; House Subcommittee Conducts Hearing on Monitoring GHG Emissions; Oregon
Governor Introduces VMT Fee Legislation; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Enters First Compliance Period; New Energy and Climate Change Database for Planners; Summit on America's Climate Choices, March 30-31 in Washington D.C.; Washington State Department of Transportation Climate Change Weekly Digest; U.S. DOT Launches Web-Based Clearinghouse of Transportation, Climate
Change Resources; and, Transportation Research Board Starts a New Climate Change Website.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climatechange/newsletter/index.htm
Innovator–Accelerating Innovation for the American Driving Experience-February/March 2009
This issue includes: Accelerated Bridge Construction Picks Up Steam; Project Tests Safer Way
to Install Markers; Add Innovation to Your Toolbox; Highways for LIFE Wins Gold; Accelerated Construction Limits Bridge Closure to a Week; Innovation Helps Meet Today's Highway Challenges; 20
Ways to Benefit From Innovation; and, Calendar.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/innovator/issue11.cfm
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