Research and Technology Coordinating Committee Letter Report: March 2014

A March 24, 2014, letter report from TRB's Research and Technology Coordinating Committee (RTCC) to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers recommendations to the FHWA in the areas of research performance, evaluation of research programs, and coordination with stakeholders and related research programs.

The RTCC’s charge is to monitor and review FHWA’s research and technology activities; advise FHWA on the setting of a research agenda and coordination of highway research with states, universities, and other partners; review strategies to accelerate the deployment and adoption of innovation; and identify areas where research may be needed. RTCC’s review includes the process of research agenda setting, stakeholder involvement, the conduct of research, peer review, and deployment. The committee’s role is to provide strategic, policy-level advice on topical priorities, processes, and strategies to accelerate the adoption of innovation.

The letter report recommends that FHWA continue to improve its utilization of field office staff, both to improve research, development, and technology (RD&T) implementation and to strengthen two-way communication with the states; highlight FHWA’s activities in planning, policy, and the environment when presenting its RD&T priorities; evaluate whether it is placing too much emphasis on developing products for near-term application and possibly missing opportunities for larger gains over the long term; and develop clear, concise, and compelling descriptions of its program management and the value of the RD&T program.