Transportation Research Board National Cooperative Research Programs RAC 101 July 26, 2010 Kansas City

TRB Cooperative Research Programs National Cooperative Highway Research Program (1962- $37 mill.) Transit Cooperative Research Program ( $9 mill) Commercial Truck & Bus Safety Synthesis Program ( $300,000) Airport Cooperative Research Program ( $15 mill)

TRB Cooperative Research Programs (cont’d) Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program ( $1 mill) National Cooperative Freight Research Program ( $4 mill)

NCHRP “AASHTO’s Research Program” State DOT support Formed in 1962 Applied Research Focus

APPLIED Research: l AASHTO Guides and Specifications l Guides for practitioners l Software products l Product enhancements l New or improved models/tools l Improved operations and services l Testing/evaluation techniques

Continuing NCHRP Projects: l Synthesis of Practice l International Scanning Program l Domestic Scanning Program l Quick response studies for AASHTO

Financial Support l From State Departments of Transportation l With 5 1/2% of State Planning and Research funds (voluntary contribution) l SPR = 2% of Federal Aid Highway apportionment

RAC Participation in NCHRP: l Developing problem statements l Reviewing problem statements l Nominating panel members l Serving as panel members l Providing funding through SP&R l Evaluating and implementing results

The NCHRP Process

Problem Statements: l Annual solicitation (June) l Must be submitted by either… –State Departments of Transportation –AASHTO committees and subcommittees –Federal Highway Administration l General description of problem or research need

TRB Standing Committees: WHY GET INVOLVED? To learn Keep yourself and your organization up to date on latest research and issues Get to know leaders in profession Leaders in profession get to know you! Become part of a community To help develop research ideas

How can I get my problem statement selected? NCHRP problem statements must be … Understandable Original Achievable Affordable Implementable Beneficial National in Scope High priority Widely supported, esp. by DOTs and AASHTO committees

“How to write an effective problem statement” See: Funding Sources for Transportation Research: Competitive Programs, Appendix B

Problem statements reviewed by: l NCHRP and FHWA staff l AASHTO Standing Committee on Research l AASHTO Research Advisory Committee

Projects selected by: l AASHTO Standing Committee on Research - SCOR l Approval Required by 2/3 of AASHTO Board of Directors

Formation of Advisory Panels l Experts in subject matter l Typically 8 members l 4-5 State DOT l Academia, Associations, Private Sector, Local Gov’t l Liaison member from FHWA

Why serve on NCHRP panels? How do I submit my nomination? l Through AASHTO Research Advisory Committee Members (see Research.Transportation.org) l Directly to NCHRP

NCHRP website Information on NCHRP and TCRP Search engine Project Info since 1988: Anticipated / Active / Completed CRP publication lists / ordering info Requests for proposals Registration form for notification of RFPs