# Presentation: 723158

## Transportation Research & Technology Collaboration within USDOT and with External Partners

- TRB Annual Meeting 2006 – January 26, 2006

**by Eric C. Peterson,**
**Deputy Administrator**

**Notes:**
Good morning.  Thank you for coming to our workshop.  
Transportation research is fundamentally a collaborative endeavor where partnerships and alliances are essential components of the research, development and technology.
This annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board is the result of intense collaboration and partnering at many levels – nationally, regionally, locally, by discipline, across disciplines, among government, universities, transportation operators, manufacturers and others too numerous to mention.

Before I launch into the core of my remarks on collaboration and partnering, I would like to give you a brief overview of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration or RITA, the newest kid on the block in research collaboration and partnering.

## RITA’s Background

***Mineta Act Signed*****:  November 30, 2004**
***Where we came from:***
- 	  **Research and Special Programs Administration**
- Office of Innovation, Research and Education
- Transportation Safety Institute (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Cambridge, MA)
**Office of the Secretary**
- Office of Intermodalism
**Bureau of Transportation Statistics**

**Notes:**
Mineta Act Signed:  November 30, 2004
Required RITA stand-up by March 1, 2005 –       RITA open for business on February 22
Required Report to Congress on DOT RD&T Activities by March 31, 2005 – Submitted March 29

We are composed of several organizations and offices within DOT.  
From  Research and Special Programs Administration or RSPA we have...
The Office of Innovation, Research and Education
The Transportation Safety Institute (Oklahoma City, OK)
And the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Cambridge, MA)
From the Office of the Secretary we have...
The Office of Intermodalism
And the Bureau of Transportation Statistics is the third component of RITA.

A fourth component, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), an important crossmodal technology initiative,  is expected to be transferred to RITA during 2006.

## Created to Meet Specific Goals(Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act;               PL 108-426, November 30, 2004)

***Coordination, facilitation and review*** of the Department’s research and development programs and activities.
***Advancement, research and development*** of innovative technologies, including intelligent transportation systems.
***Comprehensive transportation statistics*** research, analysis and reporting.
***Education and training*** of transportation professionals.
***Engineering and technical deployment****** ***activities of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.

## Our Place in DOT

## Organized to Meet the Mission

## Overview of RITA

**Bureau of Transportation Statistics**

**Research, Development & Technology**
**RD&T Coordination**
**UTCs**
**Office of Intermodalism**

**Volpe National Transportation Systems Center**
**Cambridge, MA**

**Transportation Safety Institute**
**Oklahoma City, OK**

**Notes:**
Right now we are organized into four program areas as shown on the slide.
The Office of Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) provides a framework for achieving effective strategic planning, crossmodal coordination, and timely deployment of innovative transportation technologies.  Within RD&T is the    Office of Intermodalism, which supports intermodal research and analysis, and the University Transportation Centers program, which advances technology and expertise through education, research and technology transfer at university centers of excellence.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics continues to lead in developing transportation data and information for policy makers in areas such as transportation economics and airline, freight and travel statistics.  BTS includes the National Transportation Library.
The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, MA, conducts close to $300 million annually in cutting-edge transportation research, analysis, and technology development for federal, state and local agencies and private customers.  Areas of expertise include:  systems assessment, rail safety, transit ITS, navigation, communications, transportation security, environmental assessment and remediation, economic analysis, project management.
The Transportation Safety Institute in Oklahoma City is the nation’s leading multimodal provider of transportation safety training, educating more than 50,000 professionals each year in state-of-the-art safety methods and technologies.

## Office of Research, Development & Technology

- Coordinates all DOT RD&T efforts, including intermodal.
- Manages and coordinates the RD&T Planning Process.
- Assesses RD&T programs for effectiveness.
- Conducts transportation system assessments and research, and scans of emerging technologies.
- Coordinates technology transfer and results outreach.
- Coordinates DOT university-based RD&T.
- Coordinates multimodal RD&T in innovative technologies.

## Office of Intermodalism

- Serves as the Department’s principal advisor on intermodal transportation research and analysis.
- Provides leadership, coordination, and analytic capabilities in furthering intermodal transportation and RD&T investments.
- Provides transportation planning, research and analysis and operational support to fulfill Secretarial policy priorities and strategic objectives.

## Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Cambridge, MA)

***A Center of Excellence for:***
- Informed decision-making and active anticipation of emerging transportation issues; and
- Advancing technical, operational, institutional, and managerial innovation to improve the nation’s transportation system.

- Full Spectrum of Technical Disciplines, from Engineering and Physics to the Social Sciences

## Bureau of Transportation Statistics

- Compiles, analyzes, and publishes a comprehensive set of transportation statistics
- Issues statistical guidelines for DOT
- Coordinates collection of information with other agencies
- Maintains an intermodal transportation data base
- Operates the National Transportation Library
- Maintains the National Transportation Atlas Data Base
- Prepares the Transportation Statistics Annual Report

**Notes:**
BTS performs a critical statistical and information gathering and dissemination function within DOT and the transportation community.
Its data collection and analysis focused on these areas:
Freight Statistics
Travel Statistics
Airline Statistics
Transportation Economics
Transportation Data Integration
National Transportation Library
Geospatial Information Systems
Statistical Methods and Standards

## Transportation Safety Institute (Oklahoma City, OK)

***Provides premier worldwide training that:***
- Is multi-modal and interagency
- Promotes DOT and other Federal agency initiatives/standards
- Maximizes use of resources
- Assures DOT capability to achieve inherently governmental requirements in relation to safety training

## RITA Authorized to Collaborate

- (e) The (RITA) Administrator may enter into grants and cooperative agreements with Federal agencies, State and local government agencies, other public entities, private organizations, and other persons--
- `(1) to conduct research into transportation service and infrastructure assurance; and
- `(2) to carry out other research activities of the Administration.'.
- (SAFETEA-LU Section 7301)

**Notes:**
SAFETEA-LU sets the framework for collaboration for RITA by authorizing the Administrator greater flexibility to enter into grants and cooperative agreements with a wide array of entities, including other federal agencies, state and local government agencies, other public entities, private organizations and other persons.  

Collaboration and partnering is integral to RITA and USDOT.  It is really “how” we do business. 

With this wide discretion, RITA be creative in forging new or strengthening current collaborative RD&T endeavors with a multiple array of partners. 

Collaboration and partnering is really “how” we actually conduct most of our research activities at the Department and at RITA.  There is virtually no research endeavor that we conduct by “ourselves” without at least one or more internal or external partners. 

First I would like to speak about our internal coordination and partnering followed by some of our external collaboration and partnering.

## RD&T Planning Council

**RD&T** Planning Council

**RD&T** Planning Team

**Notes:**
Internally within DOT research coordination and facilitation occurs through two crossmodal teams which were established by Secretarial order shortly after the creation of RITA.
The RD&T Planning Council is comprised of the heads of the operating administrations, the Under Secretary for Policy, and other senior DOT leaders.
The RD&T Planning Team is comprised of the Associate Administrators for RD&T in the operating administrations.  
Through these two bodies, RITA administers a cyclical planning process that includes multi-year strategic planning, annual program planning and review, and budget and performance planning. 

There are  multiple Department-wide internal working groups, task forces and committees on specific research and technology areas.    In addition RITA manages working groups on data and information.
I will speak about four research areas that RITA manages:   
Remote SensingHydrogen 
Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting 
and Freight.

## Remote Sensing Partnering

** ****University Consortia**
** ****FHWA & State DOTs**
** ****National Research Council/    Transportation Research Board**

**Notes:**
Building on the track record and stake holder relationships established in the TEA-21 Program, RITA will manage a multi-pronged program in collaboration and partnership with the Office of the Secretary, all Operating Administrations, university remote sensing consortia, other academic experts, transportation leaders, service providers, and industry and state transportation agency practitioners.
The key partners that will participate include1 . University Consortia:   The teams will compete and perform major application validation initiatives on a cooperative cost shared basis in their areas of expertise. Each consortia team will include faculty and senior professionals, industry and service providers as required for performing projects in support of the initiatives.  
2.  FHWA & State DOTs:  Field operational validation will be performed by state transportation agencies and in cooperation with FHWA infrastructure and construction teams. The operational validation projects are expected to consist of special application projects in support of implementing applicable construction and infrastructure products in field operations. The projects will be cost shared by state agencies and users and the operations will be managed by FHWA construction and infrastructure teams at headquarters and in regional offices.
3.  NRC/TRB:  We are looking to partner with  the National Research Council/Transportation Research Board to establish a non-FACA program committee composed of academic experts, transportation leaders, and industry and state agency practitioners. The purpose of this committee will be to provide expert evaluation and advice to the program including review of program progress, recommendations on strategies, application validation and program implementation. 

## Hydrogen Collaboration & Partnering

- Administration Priority
- Lead Agency – DOE
- Hydrogen R&D Task Force
- International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy
- DOT-wide Hydrogen Working Group
- California Fuel Cell Partnership

**www.hydrogen.gov **

**www.rita.dot.gov/agencies_and_offices/research/hydrogen_portal/**

**www.iphe.net**

**Notes:**
The hydrogen R&D is an intensely collaborative and  partnering endeavor at all levels. Hydrogen R&D is one of the national priorities emanating from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  The lead agency is the Department of Energy.  
The Department of Transportation is leading the way in demonstrating and deploying new and safer hydrogen distribution and delivery systems including high-pressure composite storage systems. The RITA has already reviewed and granted exemptions for composite vessel and hydride storage technologies, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated its hydrogen vehicle rulemaking process. 
The key partnerships in which RITA participates and collaborates in are:
The Hydrogen R&D Task Force: Established shortly after the President's announcement of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative in early 2003, the Hydrogen Research and Development Task Force serves as the key mechanism for collaboration among the eight Federal agencies that fund hydrogen-related research and development. The task force has developed an extensive hydrogen research taxonomy of past, present, and potential future hydrogen activities of the Federal government; provided guidance for agency research directions; identified key areas for interagency collaboration; and established subgroups to develop and implement a 10-year Interagency Coordination Plan. The subgroups coordinate efforts in three areas: Fundamental Research, Hydrogen Production, Distribution, and Storage Technologies  and  Hydrogen Conversion Technologies. 
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**Notes:**
DOT-wide Hydrogen Working Group:  Within the Department, as deputy Administrator of RITA I chair the Hydrogen Working Group. It serves as the US DOT body to harmonize the hydrogen and fuel cell research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) activities within the US DOT operating administrations. The working group also supports the Secretary's Policy Office in coordinating with other Federal agencies. These coordinated activities, will guide regulatory policy, safety, codes, & standards, and vehicle and infrastructure design for the emerging hydrogen economy.
The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy:  Brings  together 16 countries and the European Commission to organize and implement effective, efficient, and focused international research, development, demonstration, and commercial utilization activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. US DOT represents the United States in the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, serving as co-representative to the Implementation Team and Steering Team. 
California Fuel Cell Partnership:  Established in 1999 the California Fuel Cell Partnership promotes fuel cell vehicles as a means to achieving a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable energy future. It is a collaboration of 32 member companies who are working together to promote the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including automobile manufacturers, energy providers, government agencies, fuel cell technology companies and transit authorities. RITA is the USDOT representative to the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

## Climate Change Collaboration & Partnering

- Steering Committee
- Chaired by Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy
- Represented by OAs at Associate Administrator-level
- Core Staff
- OST/Policy coordinator
- Technical representatives from OST and OAs
- RITA leads research team and administers funds

**RITA**

**FMCSA**

**Notes:**
Another crossmodal research initiative is Climate Change.
The transportation sector is a large contributor and the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions
The Department established the Virtual Climate Change Center in May 1999 to coordinate and integrate all activities.
The purpose of the Center is to:
Improve DOT understanding of links between climate change and transportation;
Build in-house expertise on GHG reduction policies and strategies that affect transportation; and,
Ensure unified DOT voice in domestic and international activities
The Steering Committee, as shown in the diagram, is composed of Associate Administrators for research and is chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.  
Currently the Center for climate Change is developing a new  strategic plan.  
A new element has been added to this program in SAFETEA-LU – Bio-based transportation research program in cooperation with the National Biodiesel Board and several existing USDA university centers.

## Freight R&D Collaboration  & Partnering 

- Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group
- National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program

**Notes:**
The Freight Intermodalism Program has the following objectives:
Promote coordination and leveraging of freight intermodalism technical and funding capabilities across all DOT modal administrations
Assess and forecast the national intermodal transportation system’s impact on mobility, safety, security, the environment, and economic development
Develop and advance freight intermodal technologies 
Partner with industry, academia, federal, state and local partner to improve intermodal freight movement
The program has various components including important statistical information under the purview of BTS.
Freight R&D Collaboration has several components.  Two of those are the Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group and the national Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program.
The Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group (IFTWG) is a public –private partnership focused on the identification and evaluation of technology-based options for improving the efficiency, safety, and security of intermodal freight movement.  The Office of Intermodalism co-chairs the Group and contributes to the activities of the group.  The Group is supported by FHWA’s Office of Freight Operations. 
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**Notes:**
RITA is managing the new National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program authorized under SAFETEA-LU Section 5209.  The program will be implemented through an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (TRB).  The program will have an Advisory committee of a cross-section of freight stakeholders, including DOT, other Federal agencies, state DOTs, local governments, nonprofit entities, academia and the private sector.

## Other Federal Agency Collaboration & Partnering

- White House Office of Science & Technology Policy
- Other Federal Agencies
- Commerce
- Defense
- Energy
- Homeland Security
- NASA
- NSF

**Notes:**
Our external partners include a host of relationships with other Federal agencies.  
These include the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, NASA, and NSF.
Department of Commerce: Within the Department of Commerce (DOC), a number of agencies conduct research relevant to transportation. Current DOT efforts with DOC include: (1) FHWA work with the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) on high-performance concrete; (2) FHWANational Weather Service research on road weather observations; (3) an FRANIST effort on the fire safety of passenger rail car materials; and (4) the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), through which the FAA, DOC, NASA, DOD, and DHS are defining the future air transportation system.
Department of Defense: The DOD accounts for a large proportion of all Federal RD&T.  Examples of collaborative work with DOT include: (1) FHWAU.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies on concrete curing and pavement performance; (2) FHWA work with the Navy on high-performance steel for bridges; (3) the FAA–NASA–DOD Aviation Safety Program; (4) FRA work on a Rail Car Inspection Guide for the military through DOD’s Technical Support Working Group; and (5) the JPDO.  
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**Notes:**
Department of Energy: The DOE conducts research in alternative fuels, propulsion systems, and related technologies.  Current DOTDOE efforts include: (1) joint implementation of the President’s Hydrogen Initiative; (2) FAA work with Sandia National Laboratories’ Airworthiness Assurance “Center of Excellence”; and (3) joint demonstrations and tests of technologies for detecting chemical, biological, and explosive agents.

Department of Homeland Security:  DOT collaboration with DHS includes: (1) Operation Safe Commerce, a public–private partnership providing a test-bed for technologies that increase container security; (2) FRADHS research on the real-time tracking of hazardous-materials tank cars and the development of a rail addendum to the overall DOTDHS Memorandum of Understanding; (3) FMCSATSA efforts on two projects: Untethered Trailer Tracking and Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks; (4) FHWA support for development of an advanced Driver Training Range at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; and (5) FAADHS collaboration through the JPDO.    
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**Notes:**
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: NASA and the FAA are full research partners.  Examples include: (1) coordination at the senior management level through the FAANASA Executive Committee; (2) working-level coordination through the Interagency Air Traffic Management Integrated Product Team and the FAANASA Aviation Safety Program; (3) joint meetings of NASA’s and FAA’s research advisory committees; (4) FAANASA research on aircraft noise and emissions reduction; and (5) joint development of technologies for the future air transportation system through the JPDO.  In addition to NASA’s work with the FAA, the agency cooperates with RITA on the transportation remote sensing program.
National Science Foundation: An independent agency, the NSF seeks to strengthen U.S. science and engineering through education and research.  The NSF also engages in cooperative research, such as (1) a DOTNSF Partnership for Research in Information and Communications Systems for Surface Transportation; and (2) a project with the FHWA and state DOTs on the long-term durability of materials and structures. 

As a result of SAFETEA-LU, we are in the process of forging a new partnership with the US Department of Agriculture focused on bio0based research.

## External Collaborators & Partners

- Transportation Research Board
- University Transportation Centers
- Marshall University-DOE-WVDOT- local industry
- MIT-Hartford Insurance-AARP-APTA
- Montana State Univ. – Caltrans

**Notes:**
In terms of our external collaborators, of which there are many, I have chosen to speak about two key partners:  the Transportation Research Board and the universities.

TRB is without a doubt the Department’s strongest partner in transportation research.  There are far too many partnering projects and events between the Department and TRB to enumerate.  Many of  you are perhaps familiar with them.  

The Department has a strong and long-standing partnership with universities.  RITA manages the UTC program.  
Partnering and collaboration are key to the success of a university transportation center.  It is also a requirement of the grant, if nothing else, by virtue of the fact that there is a 50/50 funding match required. This makes it necessary for the UTC to seek out partners, and they have had many success stories in partnering.
In the interest of time, I will highlight three success stories of partnering with industry.
At Marshall University’s UTC, the Rahall Transportation Institute developed a ceramic-on-steel light bulb, using UTC funding combined with DOE funding and local industry and state DOT dollars.  The bulb's high durability and low energy consumption make it ideal for outdoor use on road signs, address signs, and maritime buoys.

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**Notes:**
The New England University Transportation Center at MIT has leveraged UTC funding to partner with The Hartford Insurance Company to conduct research on how older adults with early stage dementia and Alzheimer's decide when to stop driving.  MIT has also partnered with AARP and APTA on a project examining specific actions transit authorities can take to make their services more attractive to older people.

The Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University was contracted by the California Department of Transportation to develop a prototype mobile data system for use by first responders.  This low-cost compact system is intended of use virtually anywhere, particularly in remote rural areas with minimal communication infrastructure. One application of the system is collection and transmission of rockslide information in remote areas.

## External Collaborators & Partners

- State DOTs
- Transportation operators
- Industry Associations
- Consultants & contractors
- Transportation suppliers & manufacturers

**Notes:**
As you can see from the various examples of partnering and collaboration, RITA through its crossmodal research initiatives, management of the UTC program and its relationship with TRB reaches many more partners which include state departments of transportation, private and public transportation operators, (especially in freight), industry associations, consultants, contractors and transportation suppliers and manufacturers.

We don’t have a neat, easy way to capture the extent and nuances of these interactions.  Each is unique and custom fitted for the task at hand.

## The RITA Mission

**“****Identify and facilitate solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing America’s transportation system.”**

**Notes:**
At RITA we know that the execution of our mission depends on partnering and collaboration.

There are many ways to partner.  

This morning has been educational on the many ways of partnering.
I commend NCHRP on the synthesis report 312 Facilitating Partnerships in Transportation Research.  It lays out some of the elements of partnering and collaboration.