TRB’s Cooperative Research Programs Crawford Jencks Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program ECTRI/TRB International Research Roundtable 21 January 2007 Washington, DC
TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES SHRP II STUDIES & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMIN & FINANCE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS RESEARCH PROGRAMS NCHRP TCRP ACRP NCFRP HMCRP CTBSSP TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
What are they? National Cooperative HIGHWAY Research Program (NCHRP) TRANSIT Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) AIRPORT Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) National Cooperative FREIGHT Research Program (NCFRP) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) Commercial TRUCK and BUS SAFETY Synthesis Program (CTBSSP)
Leverage funding, reduce duplication Stakeholder involvement ensures relevance and accountability Partnerships foster trust and research on common interests National Academies brings credibility, continuity, objectivity Why Cooperative Research?
Cooperative Research Programs “The TRB Way” TRB manages CRPs on behalf of sponsors Oversight committee/panel formed Governing body Solicit and select research agenda TRB forms project panels Refine scopes Select contractors Oversee/comment on research and deliverables TRB processes and disseminates results
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Start: 1962 Annual funds: $33 million Sponsors: All (51) state departments of transportation through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) In cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) AASHTO selects projects subject to 2/3rds approval by state DOTs
Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Start: 1992 Annual funds: $9 million Sponsor: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) In association with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) APTA selects projects
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Start: 2004 Annual Funds: $10 million Sponsor: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) US Department of Transportation committee selects projects—stakeholder and customer involvement
National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Start: 2006 Annual Funds: $2.6 million Sponsor: Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) TRB committee selects projects— stakeholder and customer involvement
Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) Start: 2006 Annual Funds: $0.9 million Sponsor: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) TRB/CRP panel selects projects with stakeholder involvement
Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) Start: 2001 Annual Funds: $0.3 million Sponsor: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) TRB/CRP panel selects projects with stakeholder involvement
The CRP Process
Problem Statements Annual solicitation Open to all submitters (except NCHRP) General description of problem or research need
CRP Process TRB staff assists oversight committees/panels to annually solicit and select problem statements Staff forms expert panels for each project Panels refine scopes, staff requests proposals Panels select agencies, staff negotiates contracts Staff executes contracts with agencies Panels/staff oversee and review research and deliverables Staff publishes and disseminates results
Continuing Sub-Programs Syntheses of Practice Legal Research Quick response studies International Scanning Program Domestic Scanning Program Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis-- IDEA program
CRP Potential Product Types Handbooks, guides, manuals Recommendations for industry standards and procedures Syntheses of existing practice or knowledge Fact finding (white papers) as input to policy making (by others) Software products Product enhancements New or improved models/tools Improved operations and services Testing/evaluation techniques
RESEARCH PROJECT PRODUCTS