Resources
Transportation Databases
and Search Engines | State and
Regional Programs | National Cooperative Programs |
U.S. Department of Transportation
Agency Research | AASHTO Programs |
Technology Transfer | Other Major
Transportation Research Programs
Transportation Databases and Search
Engines
Research
in Progress (RiP) Database
Database of over 11,400 current or recently completed
transportation research projects.
Research Needs Database
Collection of transportation research needs statements developed
by national technical committees.
State
DOT Search Engine
Search engine that covers the Departments of Transportation from
the fifty United States and the District of Columbia.
Transportation
Libraries Catalog (TLCAT)
Bibliographic catalog of millions of transportation-related books
and other materials held in government, university and other
transportation libraries worldwide.
TRIS Online
Bibliographic database of transportation research reports,
journal articles and industry publications.
WisCAT
Wisconsin Department of Transportation library holdings
available at WisDOT or from other Wisconsin libraries.
Wisconsin
Transportation Information Search
Search engine for transportation research and related
information from Wisconsin government, university and private sector
Web sites.
WorldCat
More than a billion records of library materials (books,
articles, CDs, DVDs, etc.) available wordwide.
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State and Regional Programs
State
Planning and Research Program (SPR)
“Research” is referred to as Part
II of the “Planning and Research” program. In many states, the
SPR program is the primary or only source of funding for the state
DOT to pursue its transportation research needs. States are required
to match federal SPR dollars one to four.
Transportation
Pooled Fund Program (TPF)
States with common
research concerns combine their resources to support TPF research
projects on a wide variety of transportation topics. The Federal
Highway Administration or a state DOT leads each study.
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National Cooperative Programs
Airport
Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
ACRP carries out applied research on problems
that are shared by airport operating agencies. Subject areas include
design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety, security,
policy, planning, human resources and administration.
Hazardous
Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP)
Still in its pilot stage, HMCRP will carry out
applied research projects to improve the information used in
managing risk associated with the transportation of hazardous
materials.
National
Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP)
A new program, NCFRP will carry out applied
research on problems facing the freight industry, with the objective
of improving the efficiency, reliability, safety and security of the
nation’s freight transportation system.
National
Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Voluntarily supported by all the states, NCHRP
is a long-standing program that undertakes highway research intended
to solve collective problems experienced its members. NCHRP findings
are implemented nationally and can serve as the basis for AASHTO
specifications.
Surface
Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program
(STEP)
The objective of the Federal Highway
Administration’s STEP Cooperative Research Program is to improve
the understanding of the complex relationship between surface
transportation, planning and the environment.
Transit
Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
TCRP focuses on research in the principal
fields of transit, from operations, vehicles and maintenance to
policy, human resources and administration.
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U.S. Department of Transportation Agency Research
Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA)
FHWA works cooperatively with governmental agencies, industry and
research community partners to research, develop, test and implement
the latest proven technological advancements in highway
transportation.
- Exploratory
Advanced Research Program (EARP)
EARP is an FHWA program intended to spur innovation and focus on
high-risk and high-payoff R&D projects. EARP seeks truly
revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal
surface transportation in the U.S.
- International
Technology Scanning Program
The International Technology Scanning Program is a means for
FHWA to access innovative technologies and practices in other
countries that can significantly improve highways and highway
transportation services in the U.S.
- Turner-Fairbank Highway
Research Center (TFHRC)
TFHRC is the home of FHWA’s Office of Research, Development
and Technology. TFHRC research seeks innovative solutions to the
problems facing the highway community today.
Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Research activities by FMCSA’s Office of Research and Analysis
help reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle
crashes and enhance the efficiency of commercial motor vehicle
operations.
- Commercial
Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP)
CTBSSP initiates several synthesis studies each year to address
FMCSA’s areas of concern. Synthesis reports summarize existing
practices and are based typically on literature searches and
surveys of relevant organizations.
Federal Transit
Administration (FTA)
FTA engages in research to provide the transit industry and policy
makers with the information and skills to make good business
decisions about transit technology, to identify and share best
practices, and to help chart the course of future investments.
Research and Innovative
Technology Administration (RITA)
RITA coordinates U.S. DOT’s research programs and is charged with
advancing the deployment of crosscutting technologies to improve the
U.S. transportation system.
- Intelligent Transportation
Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO)
ITS JPO investigates a broad range of wireless and wired
technologies which, integrated into the transportation
system’s infrastructure and into vehicles themselves, help
relieve congestion, improve safety and enhance productivity.
- University Transportation
Centers (UTCs)
There are currently over 70 federally funded UTCs. These
university programs address transportation education, research
and technology transfer. Much of the research conducted by UTCs
is done in collaboration with state transportation agencies,
many of which provide matching funding.
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AASHTO Programs
National Transportation Product
Evaluation Program (NTPEP)
NTPEP provides testing and evaluation of products, materials and
devices that are commonly used state DOTs; this reduces duplication
from state to state and facilitates product prequalification.
Technology
Implementation Group (TIG)
TIG identifies and champions the implementation or deployment of a
select few “ready-to-use” technologies, products or processes
that are likely to yield significant economic or qualitative
benefits to users, AASHTO member agencies, local agencies and their
industry partners.
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Technology Transfer
Local Technical Assistance
Program/Tribal Technical Assistance Program (LTAP/TTAP)
Fifty-eight LTAP and TTAP centers nationwide supply training
programs and information to counties and municipalities to help them
improve their roads and bridges. State sources (such as state DOTs,
universities, or county and local governments) must match federal
funding one-to-one for LTAP centers.
National Highway Institute
(NHI)
NHI is the Federal Highway Administration’s training and education
arm and provides training resources to customers, partners and
learners in every state, as well as many local governments and
private organizations.
National Transit
Institute (NTI)
NTI’s mission is to provide training, education and clearinghouse
services in support of public transportation and quality of life in
the U.S.
National Transportation Library
(NTL)
Administered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, NTL
improves the availability of transportation-related information
needed by federal, state and local decision makers.
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Other Major Transportation Research
Efforts
Long-Term
Pavement Performance Program (LTPP)
LTPP was initiated in 1987 as a 20-year project in the first
Strategic Highway Research Program. LTPP helps improve the national
highway transportation system by collecting and analyzing
information on pavement performance and the elements that influence
performance.
Strategic Highway Research
Program 2 (SHRP 2)
SHRP 2 addresses complex goals in the human aspects of planning,
constructing and operating the highway system. It requires
integrated and atypical approaches to reducing crashes, renewing the
transportation infrastructure, increasing highway capacity and
providing reliable travel times.
National
research reports
View a listing of full-text research reports provided by
organizations with a national transportation focus.
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