Transportation Research Board
Special Report 313
David Huft
AASHTO Research Advisory Committee
July 28, 2015
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New National Research Framework
More Productive Federal Research Enterprise
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Pressure on research budgets
Increased international competition
Greater expectations of productivity
Push for greater accountability and enhanced performance
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Can lessons learned from transportation research in other countries and nontransportation sectors domestically improve surface transportation research in the United
States?
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If so, how?
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No reorganization of federal agencies
No changes to budgetary processes
Preserve what works
Engage the stakeholders
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Sue McNeil, U of Delaware (chair)
William L. Ball, Merriweather Advisors, LLC
Irwin Feller, Pennsylvania State University (emeritus)
Robert E. Gallamore, Gallamore Group, LLC
Genevieve Giuliano, UCLA
David L. Huft, SDDOT
Dennis C. Judycki, FHWA (retired)
Tschangho John Kim, U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Laurie G. McGinnis, U of Minnesota
Peter F. Sweatman, U of Michigan
Nigel H. M. Wilson, MIT
Jill Wilson, TRB (Study Director)
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Documented transportation research frameworks in:
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Other countries (EU,
France, The Netherlands,
United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea)
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Domestic non-transportation sectors (Agriculture,
Astronomy, Construction,
Energy, Health, and Science)
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Developed framework concept
Identified desirable attributes of a research framework
Conducted high level appraisal of the current U.S. research enterprise
Recommended next steps
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…the social, political and organizational structures in which research is conducted and the processes by which it is accomplished
Societal Goals
Funding
Agenda Setting
Evaluation
Research
Dissemination Implementation
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Engages stakeholders
Supports collaboration
Blends top-down and bottom-up approaches
Generates a comprehensive agenda and balanced portfolio
Engages researchers
Promotes quality research
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Builds on related work
Embraces implementation strategies
Supports implementation
Develops human capital
Communicates new knowledge
Demonstrates return on investment
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Innovation process complex, “messy”
Strengths
◦ Robust portfolio of applied research
◦ Education of future transportation professionals
Weaknesses
◦ Weak linkage between research and national goals
◦ Focus on problem solving at the expense of basic and advanced research
◦ Fragmented
◦ Limited effort to quantify impact and return on investment
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Raise awareness of Surface Transportation
Research
◦ OSTP and USDOT work to elevate visibility of transportation research on national science and technology agenda
◦ Promote transportation research successes
◦ Seek to quantify research impacts and returns
Federal Transportation R&D as % of GDP
0,08%
0,06%
0,04%
0,02%
0,00%
1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011
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Create environment for “quantum leaps” in transportation performance
◦ Pursue broad and robust program of basic and advanced research
◦ Encompass the many relevant disciplines
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Strengthen USDOT research culture and capacity
◦ Engage more fully with federal research community
◦ Consider creating Chief Scientist position within Office of the Secretary
◦ Continue to promote knowledge transfer and disseminate research results
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Why?
Develop a cohesive structure for transportation research
Create mechanism to
◦ identify research goals
◦ fund and conduct research
◦ measure research performance and outcomes
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How?
Convene a National Summit
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Who?
AASHTO Standing Committee on Research
◦ Technically respected
◦ Nationwide state DOT constituency
◦ Directly responsible for delivering transportation services
◦ Key research sponsors and users
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Identify high level research challenges to support societal goals
Involve public, private, and academic stakeholders, including non-traditional
Explore areas of common interest & synergy
Recommend who should lead the framework initiative after the summit
Recommend funding mechanism
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Leadership and Oversight
National Summit
Strategies for Addressing
Transportation Research
Challenges
Research
Convener and
Organizing
Committee
Organizing
Entity
Outcomes
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TRB Ad Hoc Study
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National Summit
$750K from SCOR
14-16 member committee
Timetable TBD
All transportation modes (not just surface transportation)
Envisioned Work Plan
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Recap SR313, begin planning for Summit
Determine Summit format and invitees
Hold Summit, debrief, begin deliberations
Reach consensus, complete report
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SR 313,
, available at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr313.pdf
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Points of contact:
◦ Steve Godwin, TRB staff, sgodwin@nas.edu
◦ Sue McNeil, chair, smcneil@udel.edu
◦ Dave Huft, committee member, dave.huft@state.sd.us
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What benefits can you envision from creating a new national research framework?
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What concerns do you have?
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What advice would you offer to SCOR and TRB regarding the proposed National Summit?
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