Surface Transportation Environmental Research A Long-Term Strategy -- Special Report 268 (2002) / Chapter Skim
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8 Establishment of a Long-Term Research Strategy
8 Establishment of a Long-Term Research Strategy
Pages 185-196
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From page 185... ...
. In 1998, in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Congress called for the establishment of a surface transportation environmental cooperative research program, along with the development of a national research agenda on transportation, energy, and the environment.
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From page 186... ...
In this chapter components of a national research agenda for a proposed surface transportation environmental cooperative research program are outlined; the characteristics of successful cooperative research programs are detailed; and mechanisms for funding and implementing the proposed program, as well as fostering increased cooperation and coordination between the surface trans portation community and other research entities, are examined. NATIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA FOR A SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM The first step in formulating a long-term research strategy for transportation and the environment is to develop a national research agenda that responds to current and anticipated problems and policy choices.
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From page 187... ...
Without new research in each of the six areas, decision makers will lack important information needed to make sound decisions on transportation and the environment. A new surface transportation environmental cooperative research pro gram is needed to ensure that the national research agenda on these critical issues is implemented.
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From page 188... ...
Further, research findings are often narrowly disseminated, so that they are known within academe but not the broader community of professionals, or are known in the state where the work was conducted but not elsewhere. If a sur face transportation environmental cooperative research program were estab lished, all parties representing contending perspectives could be brought together to define the research questions, review the research methodology, and jointly interpret the findings, thereby increasing the likelihood of accep tance of the results.
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From page 189... ...
: A clearly articulated mission from which a strategic focus and research pri orities can be ascertained; An institutional structure that provides for complete scientific indepen dence from outside influences; A credible and openly competitive process for soliciting and evaluating research proposals based on merit review; A rigorous standard for evaluating research products; A mechanism for widely disseminating research findings and for involving a wide array of stakeholders; and An ability to obtain competent staff and to secure a stable funding source. The Advisory Board reviewed the organizational structures of four leading cooperative research programs: HEI,1 EPA's Science to Achieve Results Pro gram (STAR)
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From page 190... ...
Establishing clear criteria aids in the selection of the most appropri ate research projects, thereby ensuring a selection process that is transpar ent, fair, and subject to open competition. HEI, STAR, NCHRP, and TCRP all use clear selection criteria in addition to insisting that the selected research projects undergo external merit review.
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From page 191... ...
All four of the research programs reviewed share common fea tures for actively soliciting stakeholder involvement. Stakeholders are invited to participate in the formulation of the program's strategic plan and strate gic focus areas, to submit research proposals, to participate in merit reviews of the research proposals, to participate in workshops at which ongoing research is presented, and to participate in peer reviews of the research prod ucts.
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From page 192... ...
Stakeholder involvement Strategic plan Open solicitation of research proposals Merit review of research proposals Research presentations at workshops Peer review of final research Dissemination of research reports FUNDING Adequate and stable funding must be available for the proposed program on a multiyear basis to support administrative, contracting, and sponsorship activities, including the ability to enter into partnerships with other public and private entities; to support long-term research, both basic and applied; and to sponsor workshops and demonstrations of implementation. Congress first established a continuing commitment to transportation research beyond the budget of the then Bureau of Public Roads of the Depart ment of Agriculture through the Hayden-Cartwright Act of 1934, enabling the
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From page 193... ...
These funds, along with limited direct apportionments to DOT, remain the principal source of transportation research support today. With passage of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, trans portation agencies were given broader responsibilities and required to coordi nate with environmental organizations.
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From page 194... ...
While a precise annual budgetary estimate for the even tual surface transportation cooperative research program cannot be established until after the startup phase, it is the Advisory Board's opinion that the bud get will not exceed such a small fraction of the overall federal transportation program. A national commitment of this scale would not pose a significant financial challenge to the federal transportation program, and given the impor tance of the environmental issues at stake in the proposed research program, could be expected to produce benefits many times as large.
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From page 195... ...
The implementing organization would be directed to report the program's activities each year to the appropriate federal agency representatives and to Congress. INCREASED COOPERATION, COORDINATION, AND COMMUNICATION The proposed surface transportation environmental cooperative research pro gram could serve as a coordinating body for many entities involved in such research.
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From page 196... ...
1999. NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice 280: Seven Keys to Building a Robust Research Program.
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