TRB’sCooperative Research

ProgramsCrawford Jencks

Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program

-----------------ECTRI/TRB

International Research Roundtable21 January 2007Washington, DC

TECHNICALACTIVITIES SHRP II

STUDIES& SPECIAL PROGRAMS

ADMIN &FINANCE

COOPERATIVECOOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMSRESEARCH 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 StatementsAnnual solicitationOpen 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-ProgramsSyntheses of PracticeLegal Research Quick response studiesInternational Scanning ProgramDomestic Scanning ProgramInnovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis-- IDEA program

CRPPotential 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