Director
Office of Research & Development
Office of Railroad Policy & Development
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development

• Organizational structure
• Strategic goals
• Facilities and equipment
• Core research program
• Project selection
• Current projects
• High Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail research program
• Priorities
• Current status
• Evaluation
• Looking forward
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 2

Office of Passenger and
Freight Programs
Director, Paul Nissenbaum
Project Development and
Delivery
Director, Corey Hill
Grant Management Division
Chief, MaryAnn McNamara
Credit Programs Division
Chief, Barbara Amani
Environment and Systems Planning
Division
Chief, David Valenstein
Engineering and Project Development
Division
Chief, Leonard Evans
Financial and Economic Analysis
Division
Chief, Neil Moyer
Program Development and Strategy
Division
Chief, Rebecca Reyes-Alicea (Acting)
Office of Railroad Policy and Development
Associate Administrator, Mark E. Yachmetz
Office of Policy
Director,
Scott Greene
(Acting)
Surface Transportation
Intermodal Program
Strategic Forecasting and
Environmental Issues
International Affairs
Rail Data Analysis
Office of Research and
Development
Director, John Tunna
Track Research Division
Chief, Gary Carr
Signals, Train Control, and
Communications Division
Chief, Sam Alibrahim, P.E.
Equipment and Operating Practices
Division
Chief, Kevin Kesler
Human Factors
Research Staff
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 3

Office of Research and Development
Director, Dr. John Tunna
Equipment and
Operating
Practices Division
Chief, Kevin Kesler
8 Staff Members including
Human Factors Research Staff led by Tom Raslear, Ph.D.,
Signals, Train Control
& Communications
Division
Chief, Sam Alibrahim, P.E.
3 Staff Members 6 Staff Members
Track Research
Division
Chief, Gary Carr
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development

• Safety
• Highest statutory and programmatic priority
• Livable Communities
• Noise and vibration, closing grade crossings
• State of good repair
• Rail corridor inspection and assessment, understanding rail asset life cycles
(including defect initiation and growth rates)
• Economic competitiveness
• Increasing capacity, workforce development
• Environmental sustainability
• Higher fuel efficiency locomotives with fewer carbon emmissions
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 5

TTC DOTX-218
CTIL
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 6

Track Research Division
• Track and Structures
• Track / Train Interaction
• Operations / Facilities
Equipment and Operating Practices
• Rolling Stock And Components
• Locomotives
• Energy, Efficiency and Environment
• Human Factors
• Hazardous Materials
Signals, Train Control and Communications
• Signals and Train Control (Including PTC)
• Grade Crossing
• Communications
Track & Structures
Signals, Train Control & Comms
Equipment & Operating Practices
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 7

Accident history
Stakeholders
(RRs, unions)
Program
Concept
(PM*)
Accident investigations
*PM: Program Manager
Develop
QUAD
Sheet
Project
Selection
Project
Execution
Improved
Safety…
Program
Manager
Rating
R&D
Management
Rating
Project
Ranking,
Prioritization
Resolve
Differences
Steering
Committee
(not yet implemented)
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 8

Broad Agency Announcement priorities
• Track & structures
• Autonomous and efficient inspection
• Equipment
• 125 mph non-electric locomotive
• Materials and construction • 125+ mph passenger equipment
• Improved turnout performance • Vehicle weight and unsprung mass reduction
• Corridor hardening
• Modeling and simulation software
• High-speed truck – passenger and freight
• Train control
• Train occupant protection
• Grade crossing protection
• Human factors
• Capacity improvements
• Interface with controls and displays
• Interoperable wireless communications
• Cab environment
• Employee training for new technology and operations
• Positive Train Control (PTC) integration and enhancements
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 9

Supplier contacts
Concept papers submitted
Concept papers accepted
Concept papers rejected
Proposals submitted
Proposals accepted
Awards to date
80+
50
21
18
18
15
1
HSR R&D Account
Obligated to date
Committed to date
Account Balance
$25.0M
$1.24M
$7.15M
$16.61M
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development
10

• Annual review and evaluation of FRA’s R&D program
• Covers program management, allocation of resources among program areas, outreach to customers and stakeholders, project selection criteria, and project management
• Also provides direction to the FRA R&D program, and comments on the substance of the research program areas
• A copy of the 2009 review letter report is available on the R&D section of the FRA website www.fra.dot.gov
• The letter report from the December 2010
Review will be available on March 21, 2011
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 11

Reportable train accidents
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
2004 2005 2006
YEAR
2007
Source: FRA Safety Database
2008 2009
Cause Category
Equipment
Human Factors
Grade Crossing
Misc. (excl. GC)
Signal
Track
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development

• FRA’s 5-year Strategic Research and Development Plan – summer 2011
• Increased focus on safety risk analysis
• Continued improvement on program evaluation
Office of Research and Development | Office of Railroad Policy and Development 13