Research and Technology Innovation Life Cycle Agenda

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 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. FHWA's Office of Safety has made significant progress in integrating stakeholder involvement into the corporate roadmapping process: For example, the Office of Safety:

• Embarked on an initiative 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 to gain insight into important issues and items that needed consideration in the development of a model process.
• Completed, thoroughly vetted, and revised safety program area roadmaps and multiyear plans.

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. In addition, the agency partners with others to make improvements to the national transportation system.