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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
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r&t now This newsletter is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information. |
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| Publication Number: N/A Date: March 2009 |
Publication Date: March 2009
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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
202-366-4570
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.
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:
william.zaccagnino@fhwa.dot.gov
202-493-3183
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.
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.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/general/08066/index.cfm
FHWA Hosts Nanoscale Research Workshop
On March 5-6, FHWA hosted a workshop to identify interests and capabilities for nanoscale research that can be applied to highway industry subject matters. The workshop brought together FHWA technical experts with those from University Transportation Centers, Federal laboratories, and other sources who are conducting relevant nanoscale research. The information and thoughts shared at this meeting will shape the scope of FHWA's further investment in nanoscale research through an open solicitation, interagency agreement, or other appropriate mechanisms. The workshop supports the development of strategic roadmaps and outlines funding needs for nanoscale work that could lead to enhanced capabilities and longer term partnerships along specific lines of nanoscale investigations relevant to highway research. The FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program coordinated the workshop. For more information, contact:
david.kuehn@dot.gov 202-493-3414
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:
202-493-3467
202-493-3414
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:
202-493-3414
Session Summary: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Transportation Research Board (TRB) 88th Annual Meeting (January 15, 2009)
A workshop was held at the TRB 88th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, to provide the bridge engineering community with an overview of the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program activities since April 2008.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/infrastructure/structures/ltbp/news.cfm#gp
202-493-3042
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.
202-493-3042
Techbrief: High-Performance Materials for Substructures, Foundations, and Earth Retaining Systems Workshop
On August 28 and 29, 2006, a workshop was held at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center on the application of high performance materials (HPM) to the design and construction of substructures, foundations, and retaining systems. The purpose of the workshop was to identify pertinent HPMs, discuss the pros and cons of applicability, and develop a plan to address the research and implementation issues.
Long-Term Pavement Performance Compliance with Department of Transportation Information Dissemination Quality Guidelines
This document provides information on the compliance of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program. It also includes the Information Dissemination Quality Guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation. It discusses the activities performed under the LTPP program, and it also addresses the policies and procedures established by these guidelines.
LTPP Newsletter – Winter 2009
This issue includes: Recap of LTPP State Coordinators' Meeting During TRB Week; LTPP Standard Data Release 23 is Here!; LTPP Database Tips; and, In Brief: SPS WIM Installations.
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:
202-493-3383
Evaluation of Sign and Marking Alternatives for Displaced Left-Turn Lane Intersections
This document describes research conducted by the FHWA to support guidance on the signing and marking of displaced left-turn lane intersections (DLT)—also known as continuous flow intersections (CFI).
http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/08071/index.htm
202-493-3314
Two Low-Cost Safety Concepts for Two-Way Stop-Controlled, Rural Intersections on High-Speed Two-Lane, Two-Way Roadways
The FHWA Office of Safety has identified intersections as one of its safety focus areas. As part of the FHWA efforts to reduce intersection crashes and the related injuries and fatalities, two concepts have been identified: (1) rumble strips on outside shoulders and in a painted yellow median island on major road approaches and (2) channelizing separator islands on side road approaches with supplemental STOP signs.
http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/08063/index.htm
202-493-3314
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.
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.
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.
https://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.
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/
Resource Center: www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/
National Highway Institute: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx
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