Strategic Plan

for the 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Strategic Plan
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

To the Reader:

I am pleased to present the Strategic Plan for the Federal Highway 

Administration’s (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC). 

Located in McLean, VA, TFHRC is FHWA’s core facility for research, 

development, and technology within the broader transportation research 

community. This document describes TFHRC’s plans for providing national 

leadership in highway research, both by advancing its own endeavors and 

by coordinating those endeavors with activities managed by other offices 

within FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), and by 

other public, private, academic, and international entities. Indeed, partnerships constitute a key element of the Strategic Plan. Other major themes 

of the Plan include identification and implementation of the right research; 

systematic planning of TFHRC’s research capabilities, both human resources 

and infrastructure; and accelerated transition of technology from the 

laboratory to the operating environment. 

America’s highway network affords immense potential for improved safety, 

efficiency, economy, mobility, and quality of life. Only research of the caliber, 

breadth, and depth that have characterized TFHRC since its inception can 

fully unlock that potential. With the ultimate benefits of the research clearly in 

view, this Strategic Plan presents the principles and strategies that will enable 

TFHRC to realize its vision and accomplish its mission, and thus foster a safer, 

longer-lasting, and more productive highway network for America. 

Sincerely,

Michael F. Trentacoste

Associate Administrator for Research,

Development, and Technology

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................3

FHWA’s TFHRC ...................................................................................................... 3

Structure of Highway Research ............................................................................... 4

Purpose and Principles of the TFHRC Strategic Plan ................................................... 5

Sources and Implementation of the TFHRC Strategic Plan .......................................... 5

STRATEGIC CHALLENGES ....................................................................................7

VISION, MISSION, AND CORE VALUES ...............................................................9

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................. 11

Goal 1: FHWA Conducts and Sponsors the Right Research and Technology 

Development to Improve Performance of Our Nation’s Highways ...............................11

Goal 2: FHWA Engages in Strategic Partnerships to Enhance and Leverage Research, 

Development, and Implementation ........................................................................ 13

Goal 3: FHWA and TFHRC Maintain a Flexible Organization and Agile Research 

Workforce to Meet New and Evolving Transportation Challenges ................................14

Goal 4: First-Rate Research Infrastructure Is Developed and Sustained Through 

Long-Range Planning and Adequate Capital Investment ........................................... 16

Goal 5: Research Activities and Outcomes Are Appropriately Advanced Through 

Effective Alignment of Resources, Dissemination of Knowledge, and Technology 

Transition ........................................................................................................... 17

Goal 6: TFHRC Provides National Leadership to Highway and Intermodal 

Transportation Research.... .................................................................................... 20

MOVING FORWARD ............................................................................................23

APPENDIX: FHWA’S RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IN BRIEF ....................................25

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................31

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .....................................................33

1

Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Located in McLean, VA, the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC), is the 

Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) core facility for research, development, and 

technology within the broader transportation research community. This document 

describes TFHRC’s plans for providing national leadership in highway research, both 

by advancing its own endeavors and by coordinating those endeavors with activities 

managed by other offices within FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, and by 

other public, private, academic, and international entities. By conducting and catalyzing 

the right research in keeping with this Strategic Plan, TFHRC will better enable highway 

transportation to fulfill its potential for improved safety, efficiency, economy, mobility, and 

quality of life. 

FHWA AND TFHRC IN THE STRUCTURE OF HIGHWAY RESEARCH

The existing highway research and technology (R&T) environment comprises multiple 

programs, including FHWA’s R&T Program, State highway agency R&T programs, the 

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Transportation Research Board 

(TRB) research programs, University Transportation Center (UTC) programs, the Intelligent 

Transportation Systems Program, and many others. Some of these programs involve 

ongoing collaboration with international organizations. 

Within this structure, FHWA is in a unique leadership position to identify and address 

issues of national significance that require long-term or high-risk research, planning, and 

investment. In this role—and in partnership with many stakeholder organizations—FHWA 

shapes and executes an innovative national R&T program comprising eight research 

components: infrastructure; operations; safety; planning, environment, and realty; policy; 

innovative program delivery; Federal lands; and exploratory advanced research.

VISION, MISSION, AND CORE VALUES

TFHRC Vision

To shape the future of transportation as the Nation’s premier center for highway research 

and innovation. 

TFHRC Mission

We conduct and coordinate research and advance innovation for a mobile society. We 

provide objective, high-quality technical expertise, leadership, and results.

TFHRC Core Values

TFHRC shares FHWA’s core values of public service, integrity, respect, personal 

development, collaboration, and family.
Executive Summary

2

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

TFHRC strives toward the following six goals, with accompanying objectives, to realize its 

vision and guide its mission. 

Goal 1: FHWA conducts and sponsors the right research and technology development to 

improve performance of our Nation’s highways

The right research and development focuses on problems of national significance, has the 

potential to provide significant benefit over the long term, and/or advances the state of 

the art or practice through higher-risk, higher-payoff research that FHWA is well suited to 

undertake. 

Goal 2: FHWA engages in strategic partnerships to enhance and leverage research, 

development, and implementation. 

Coordination of research programs, built upon TFHRC’s advanced science and technology 

expertise, objectivity, and resources, enables FHWA and others to jointly achieve national 

transportation goals.

Goal 3: FHWA and TFHRC maintain a flexible organization and agile research workforce to 

meet evolving transportation challenges. 

By engaging in farsighted planning for its human resources and internal structure, TFHRC 

positions itself to conduct the right research in the long term while maintaining the 

flexibility to seize on fast-developing opportunities. 

Goal 4: First-rate research infrastructure is developed and sustained through long-range 

planning and adequate capital investment. 

Strategic investment in research infrastructure—including engagement in partnerships as 

appropriate—ensures that resources are optimized and that current and future research 

needs are met.

Goal 5: Research activities and outcomes are appropriately advanced through effective 

alignment of resources, dissemination of knowledge, and technology transition. 

Emphasizing effective communication, TFHRC plans and conducts research and technology 

development, while engaging transition partners early in the research process to facilitate 

knowledge transfer and technology transition. 

Goal 6: TFHRC provides national leadership to highway and intermodal transportation 

research. 

TFHRC strengthens its national leadership role by chairing the FHWA R&T Leadership 

Team, by actively engaging in an array of partnerships, by strategically managing its 

research capabilities, and by implementing strategic planning that provides a research 

vision for the Nation’s highways.
3

Introduction

Strategic Plan for the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

INTRODUCTION

This Strategic Plan focuses on the activities, resources, and capabilities of the Federal 

Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC), both 

internally and as FHWA’s core facility for research, development, and technology within 

the broader transportation research community. Accordingly, this document describes 

TFHRC’s plans for providing national leadership in highway research by advancing its 

own endeavors and by coordinating those endeavors with activities managed by other 

offices within FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), other cooperative 

research programs, the States, other levels of government, the private sector, academic 

institutions, and international organizations. By conducting and catalyzing the right 

research, the center will better enable highway transportation—in concert with other 

modes of transportation—to fulfill its potential for improved safety, efficiency, economy, 

mobility, and quality of life. 

FHWA’S TFHRC

FHWA’s Office of Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) is located at TFHRC, 

a federally owned and operated national research facility in McLean, VA.(1)

TFHRC provides the world highway community with research and development 

(R&D) related to new and existing highway technologies, leading to a safer, longer 

lasting, more reliable, and more cost-efficient highway transportation system. Housing 

multiple laboratories, data centers, and support facilities, the center conducts applied 

and exploratory advanced research in such vital areas as vehicle-highway interaction, 

nanotechnology, safety, pavements, highway bridges and structures, human-centered 

systems, operations and intelligent transportation systems, and materials. The center 

reviews, tests, studies, researches, and finds solutions to complex technical problems 

through the development of more economical and environmentally sensitive designs; 

more efficient, quality-controlled construction, operational, and safety practices; and more 

durable materials. 

TFHRC engages in long-term planning of highway research, and assembles and actively 

participates in partnerships with other national laboratories, governmental agencies at all 

levels, and with the private sector, to address the transportation needs of our Nation. 

Researchers at TFHRC are dedicated scientists and engineers. Their expertise encompasses 

more than 100 transportation-related disciplines, including civil, structural, and pavement 

engineering; chemistry; safety; mathematics; computational development; modeling and 

simulation; information technology; hydraulics; geotechnology; aerodynamics; imaging; 

geometric design; photometry; visibility; human factors; and many more. 

A team of professionals devoted to technology transfer, marketing, and communications; 

program development; and national and international partnerships also supports the center.
Introduction

4

STRUCTURE OF HIGHWAY RESEARCH

Highway research in the United States is highly decentralized, as described in the July 9, 

2013, letter and report from the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Research and 

Technology Coordinating Committee.(2) Accordingly, TFHRC’s activities and resources 

function within and support larger structures of highway research within FHWA, in the 

United States, and internationally.

The existing highway R&T environment comprises multiple programs, including FHWA’s 

R&T Program, State highway agency R&T programs, the National Cooperative Highway 

Research Program (NCHRP), TRB research programs, congressionally mandated studies 

under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), University 

Transportation Center (UTC) programs, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program, 

and nonprofit and private sector programs. In addition, other federally sponsored 

programs, such as those of the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, fund and 

conduct highway- and bridge-related research. These programs involve ongoing collaboration with international organizations, such as the Organization of Economic Cooperation 

and Development and the Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories.

Within this decentralized, complex structure, FHWA is in a unique leadership position to 

identify and address issues of national significance that require long-term or high-risk 

research, planning, and investment. In this role—and in partnership with many stakeholder 

organizations—FHWA shapes and executes an innovative national R&T program that:

• Produces and delivers the solutions needed to meet current challenges, including 

deployment and training as integral components. 

• Assesses future needs. 

• Responds to those needs proactively and effectively. 

For FHWA, success in R&T requires systematic collaboration with its public- and 

private-sector partners. In today’s customer-driven atmosphere, there is an even greater 

responsibility to work with partners to define the direction of R&T and to develop the plans 

needed to achieve results, especially because many partners will implement the technologies and innovations. FHWA’s leadership role includes conducting, sponsoring, sustaining, 

and guiding highway research; working with partners and stakeholders in the highway 

community to develop longer-term or higher-risk innovative technologies that address 

issues of national significance; and coordinating with partners and stakeholders to ensure 

that substantial research findings are placed into practice nationally. 

To ensure a corporate approach to R&T, the FHWA R&T Leadership Team oversees FHWA’s 

R&T Program and sets the R&T agenda for the FHWA. The Corporate Master Plan for Research 

and Deployment of Technology & Innovation describes the structure of the FHWA R&T 

Leadership Team, which consists of selected FHWA Division Administrators and 

senior staff at FHWA Headquarters, including the Associate Administrators responsible for 

achieving the agency’s programmatic goals.(3) The Associate Administrator for Research, 

Development, and Technology is chair of the R&T Leadership Team and is responsible for 

integrating the individual components into a coherent R&T program. At every level and 

stage of the R&T program, priorities and agendas are set in accordance with FHWA’s vision, 
5

mission, and strategic goals, the results of stakeholder engagement, and the Department’s 

RD&T Strategic Plan.(4,5) Although based on a solid structure and methodical procedures, 

FHWA’s R&T Program strives always to keep multiple pathways open for innovation, which 

can originate—and is welcomed—at every level of the hierarchy both within and outside FHWA.

PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES OF THE TFHRC STRATEGIC PLAN

The center aims to provide consistently high-quality, objective, and relevant leadership, 

technical expertise, and results to its stakeholders and partners, thus advancing its longterm pertinence, effectiveness, and success. To fulfill this aim requires a clear vision of 

TFHRC’s future state and a well-defined trajectory to get there. That vision and its enabling 

trajectory must incorporate flexibility and encourage creativity, so that the center can 

anticipate future challenges, seize opportunities for innovation, and foster productive 

partnerships. Building on these purposes and principles, this Strategic Plan aims to guide 

the continued development—and capitalize on the substantive accomplishments—of 

TFHRC as the Nation’s focal point for, and catalyst of partnerships in, highway research 

and innovation.

SOURCES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TFHRC STRATEGIC PLAN

Initial input for developing the Strategic Plan came from the TFHRC research staff through 

a survey of future trends and issues and a staff workshop that addressed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges for the center. Initial external stakeholder input 

consisted of an informal discussion with leaders from State highway agencies, academia, 

and industry, who emphasized TFHRC’s long-term perspective and leadership role as key 

strengths and identified partnerships as essential to the center’s success. TFHRC leadership, which includes the Associate Administrator for RD&T, the Chief Scientist, the office 

directors, and selected assistant directors and key senior staff at TFHRC, evaluated the 

information provided internally and externally, as well as the results of broader strategic 

planning efforts within USDOT and FHWA, and developed six strategic challenges, with 

accompanying goals and objectives, to frame the Strategic Plan. After reviewing the 

framework, the FHWA’s Federal Advisory Committee on R&T—the Research and Technology 

Coordinating Committee (RTCC), which operates under the auspices of the TRB—provided 

valuable feedback that has been incorporated. Further reviews and comments by FHWA 

leadership and additional external stakeholder groups informed the final version of the 

Strategic Plan. 

This Strategic Plan sets forth broad principles and long-term goals and objectives for 

programs that must ordinarily be planned and executed on a multiyear basis. Accordingly, 

updates would occur if underlying principles, goals, and objectives should need to be 

amended; for example, to reflect major settled redirections of USDOT or FHWA strategic 

plans. The most recent version of the FHWA Strategic Plan, for instance, last underwent 

revision in July 2012 to reflect changes and updates since the original document’s release 

in December 2008.(6)

TFHRC’s Federal staff and management are identifying, prioritizing, and undertaking the 

specific activities that will achieve the Strategic Plan’s objectives. In accordance with the 

Plan’s purpose and principles, this implementation process will be iterative, incorporating 

consultation (within TFHRC, with other units in FHWA, and with appropriate partners and 

stakeholders) and reflecting real-world developments and needs over time. 

Introduction
6
7

Strategic Challenges

STRATEGIC CHALLENGES

The six goals of this TFHRC Strategic Plan correspond to each of the following six strategic 

challenges. Successfully meeting all six challenges will ensure TFHRC’s continued focus on 

priority research, quality conduct of R&T, and technology deployment for maximum benefit 

to the Nation and the public. The six strategic challenges are as follows:

1. Systematically and farsightedly setting priorities and effectively implementing. TFHRC 

must assure that it is conducting, sponsoring, and contributing to the right research 

and technology development, investing in priorities according to its Strategic Plan, 

and ensuring quality work. 

2. Developing and balancing permanent (i.e., in-house) and partnership capabilities 

to maximize their long-term effectiveness. TFHRC must engage in partnerships in 

conjunction with, or in lieu of, permanent capabilities (especially for emerging or 

seldom-used capabilities) and must ensure that FHWA has effective methods, such 

as ad hoc as well as long-term agreements, to tap into the partnerships. 

3. Applying foresight and acumen to position TFHRC’s organization and staffing for the 

future. TFHRC’s organization and staffing must be flexible and agile. TFHRC, working 

with FHWA’s Office of Human Resources under the policy guidance of the Office of 

Personnel Management, must recruit the needed expertise and develop the workforce 

to guide, inspire, and capitalize on innovation. 

4. Strategically investing in research infrastructure for maximal long-term benefit. With 

FHWA investing in TFHRC’s research infrastructure in accordance with identified longterm research needs, TFHRC must, where appropriate, leverage external facilities for 

both emerging and important traditional research areas. 

5. Engaging stakeholders substantively at the key stages in the research process 

to maximize and accelerate research and innovation product adoption. Because 

technology transfer and deployment are critical components to success for FHWA, 

stakeholder engagement must occur at key points in the research process to assure 

stakeholder participation, resource alignment, and technology transition. 

6. Providing national and international leadership by envisioning, guiding, and catalyzing 

highway and intermodal transportation research. TFHRC and its leadership must play 

a key role in developing and advocating a vision as well as creating and implementing 

coordinated national highway and transportation research within the United States. 

TFHRC does this through its communication, coordination, and collaborative R&T 

efforts and representation on national and international research venues.
8
9

VISION, MISSION, AND CORE VALUES

TFHRC’s vision, mission, and core values inspire the center’s goals and objectives, motivate 

its work, and guide the day-to-day conduct of its affairs.

TFHRC VISION

To shape the future of transportation as the Nation’s premier center for highway research 

and innovation. 

TFHRC MISSION

We conduct and coordinate research and advance innovation for a mobile society. 

We provide objective, high-quality technical expertise, leadership, and results. 

TFHRC CORE VALUES

Table 1 presents the core values of TFHRC, which are the core values for all of FHWA.

Vision, Mission, and Core Values

Public Service

We are committed to the 

pursuit of professional 

excellence motivated by 

serving the public interest 

and providing high-quality 

products and timely 

services.

Integrity

Ethics, fairness, and 

honesty define the way we 

do our work and conduct 

ourselves. We have the 

courage to be innovative 

and to make tough 

decisions. 

Respect

We value individual 

diversity and the unique 

strengths, skills, expertise, 

and backgrounds of our 

employees. We treat 

others in a polite and 

courteous manner. 

Family

We support, care about, 

listen to, and respond to 

employees and their 

family needs. 

Collaboration

We maximize our collective 

talents through teamwork 

and partnerships based 

on mutual trust, respect, 

support, cooperation, and 

communication.

Personal Development 

Through a wide variety 

of learning opportunities, 

we nurture the development and use of 

leadership, technical, and 

professional skills in all 

of our employees.

Table 1. FHWA and TFHRC shared core values.(18)
10
11

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

The following six goals and their constituent objectives are at the heart of this Strategic 

Plan. Each goal responds directly to the corresponding strategic challenge, as presented 

previously. 

• Goal 1: FHWA conducts and sponsors the right research and technology development 

to improve performance of our Nation’s highways.

• Goal 2: FHWA engages in strategic partnerships to enhance and leverage research, 

development, and implementation.

• Goal 3: FHWA and TFHRC maintain a flexible organization and agile research workforce 

to meet evolving transportation challenges.

• Goal 4: First-rate research infrastructure is developed and sustained through longrange planning and adequate capital investment.

• Goal 5: Research activities and outcomes are appropriately advanced through effective 

alignment of resources, dissemination of knowledge, and technology transition.

• Goal 6: TFHRC provides national leadership to highway and intermodal transportation 

research.

GOAL 1: FHWA CONDUCTS AND SPONSORS THE RIGHT RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 

DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF OUR NATION’S HIGHWAYS 

The success of the FHWA R&D Program begins with an unwavering focus on the right 

R&D activities to support TFHRC’s mission to conduct and coordinate research and 

advance innovation for a mobile society. The right R&D focuses on problems of national 

significance, has the potential to provide significant benefits over the long term, and/or 

advances the state of the art or practice through higher-risk, higher-payoff research that 

FHWA is well suited to undertake.

FHWA must ensure that its research programs address the long-term needs of the Nation 

and the public. The Nation continually demands improvements in highway safety, roads 

that are in a state of good repair, and sustainability. Increased focus is expected on 

congestion reduction; energy conservation; environmental concerns, including global 

climate change; alternative modes of transportation; and better management and use of 

significantly increasing amounts of data to optimize system condition and performance 

across the entire highway transportation system. These improvements must occur 

simultaneously with mounting budgetary challenges and escalating needs to accelerate 

delivery of innovation, which necessitate increasingly careful, productive, and costeffective resource allocation. The strategic approach for FHWA R&D takes these and other 

factors into consideration to create and pursue those research efforts that best serve the 

Nation’s immediate and long-term needs. 

Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives

12

Objective 1.1: Shape the Future of Transportation Through Innovation and Technology 

Development, Addressing Problems of National Significance

TFHRC conducts research designed to achieve strategic national transportation goals. 

Successful achievement of these goals requires significant and sustained research efforts 

that are best provided or led by a Federal research program. TFHRC provides leadership 

and coordination and engages in partnerships designed to address national interests. 

These partnerships are particularly beneficial when other public and private sector research 

organizations are also tackling emerging or critical national issues.

Illustrative Pathways1

• Establish an effective procedure for identifying long- and short-term R&D needs and 

the best way to satisfy them.

• Establish FHWA-wide R&D strategic plans and roadmaps as blueprints for addressing 

functional area needs through research, development, and implementation.

Objective 1.2: Strategically Invest R&D Resources

Research investment decisions are based on strategic consideration of priorities, longterm plans, and core capabilities. Strategic plans and roadmaps that outline what FHWA 

wants to achieve and how best to achieve those goals form the foundation for the strategic 

investment process. The pursuit of desired outcomes drives investment decisions. The 

process is flexible, but sustains investment in key areas and satisfies the need to develop 

or evolve capabilities that address emerging issues. To ensure appropriate resource 

application, TFHRC leadership performs periodic investment reviews. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Conduct the research that leads to achievement of national research objectives, and 

invest strategically in support of that research.

• Conduct periodic research investment reviews.

Objective 1.3: Establish and Maintain High Standards of Quality for the Conduct 

of Research and Research Products 

Consistently high standards of quality for research activities and products are critical to 

delivering high-value research results and accelerating the transition of those results 

to practical application. TFHRC is committed to maintaining high standards, monitoring 

programs and projects against those standards, and continuously improving our research 

performance.

Illustrative Pathways

• Define, review, and update quality standards.

• Conduct periodic research quality reviews.

• Systematically control the quality of research products.

 1 All the “illustrative pathways” here and in the subsequent objectives are intended to convey examples of 

possible implementation mechanisms. They are subject to change or deletion.
13

Goals and Objectives

GOAL 2: FHWA ENGAGES IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE AND LEVERAGE 

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION 

Providing advanced science and technology expertise, objectivity, and resources, we 

develop and lead partnerships to address problems of national interest and emerging 

research areas. Coordination of research programs provides a vision for FHWA and other 

stakeholder organizations to collaborate to achieve national transportation goals. 

Partnerships can provide the capabilities, multidisciplinary approaches, and creativity 

that together conquer challenges, but that could be impossible to assemble within a 

single research enterprise. Facilitated by increasing global connectivity and necessitated 

by progressively tightened resource constraints, partnership engagement assists FHWA 

in achieving its long-term research goals. Depending on the goals, capabilities, and 

interests of the entities involved, specific partnership arrangements may focus on research 

coordination and scoping, conducting research, advancing research results, and/or 

implementing technologies into practice. Some partnerships begin unplanned, but provide 

mutual benefits in focused areas. TFHRC remains open to these unplanned and unexpected 

opportunities. To help accomplish our research mission on a more enduring and 

comprehensive basis, however, a strategic, proactive approach must be used to identify 

potential partners and develop appropriate relationships. This strategic approach demands 

an awareness of the complete landscape of highway research within the United States and 

internationally, and a commitment to create and sustain effective working relationships 

with partners. 

Objective 2.1: Identify Opportunities for and Engage in Strategic Partnerships

Partnerships complement, extend, or substitute for in-house research capabilities deemed 

necessary for the successful achievement of research goals. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Identify capabilities of potential partners.

• Match research needs as contained in FHWA roadmaps with potential partners. 

• Sustain partnerships by periodically reviewing partnership agreements to ensure 

effectiveness, relevance, and commitment.

Objective 2.2: Expand Methods for Establishing Effective Partnerships

Maximizing the extent and benefits of partnerships hinges on the successful use of all 

authorities and mechanisms available to FHWA. To the extent that TFHRC provides for its 

core capabilities through industrial or academic partners, long-term agreements may be 

necessary to provide reasonable assurance of continuity. The motivations, incentives, and 

risks for implementation partners may differ from those for research partners. In cases 

where effective partnerships are limited by existing authorities, legislative or regulatory 

changes could be enabled for future collaborative relationships. 
Goals and Objectives

14

Illustrative Pathways

• Develop and take full advantage of partnership authorities and mechanisms, 

which may vary among partner types and partnership purposes.

• Encourage and facilitate international partnerships, bringing foreign innovations to 

America and potentially encouraging world demand for goods from the 

United States.

Objective 2.3: Develop Partnerships to Access External Research Infrastructure

When establishment or maintenance of needed research infrastructure—i.e., infrastructure 

solely or primarily dedicated to research—at TFHRC does not make long-term sense 

technically or fiscally, or does not assure adequate capacity to fulfill projected research 

requirements, external partners are considered for provision of the necessary infrastructure 

capabilities. Managers at TFHRC evaluate both domestic and international research 

facilities for this purpose. 

Reliable external research facilities must be capable of producing credible work, must have 

a plan for and likelihood of sustaining capabilities over the required period of time, and 

must have a genuine interest in partnering with FHWA. 

Likewise, FHWA has a profound interest in encouraging performance-based management 

and operations of transportation infrastructure. TFHRC neither manages nor operates 

transportation infrastructure; the R&D performed onsite is restricted to developing 

enabling technologies, modeling and simulating their capabilities, and performing limited 

onsite testing. Consequently, TFHRC must partner with transportation facility owners and 

operators to test promising prototypes on public facilities. These partnerships are mutually 

beneficial because facility owners and operators, such as State transportation departments, 

can benefit from early implementation of advanced technology, and TFHRC can benefit 

by obtaining real-world data from the measurement systems installed in what becomes a 

living laboratory. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Execute agreements with other Federal research enterprises to access highperformance computing resources.

• Develop partnerships with State and local transportation agencies to augment 

internal experimental facilities with research in living laboratories.

GOAL 3: FHWA AND TFHRC MAINTAIN A FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATION AND AGILE RESEARCH 

WORKFORCE TO MEET NEW AND EVOLVING TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES

Future transportation challenges, along with quickly emerging technologies and practices, 

call for a highly adaptable research workforce to respond with workable solutions. 

Transportation problems—and the technological opportunities for addressing them—are 

becoming increasingly complex, requiring multidisciplinary teams, effective partnerships, 

and a workforce that can adapt its skills to meet immediate and evolving needs. 
15

Thus, greater flexibility in managing the Federal workforce would enhance the efficiency, 

responsiveness, and effectiveness of future research. Human resources policies may be 

able to evolve, within future legislative and regulatory authorities, to provide this flexibility. 

In any case, the Federal workforce alone does not suffice to meet future challenges. 

TFHRC continues to monitor, and adjust as needed, the composition and allocation of its 

onsite contractor workforce to adapt its output to the Nation’s evolving needs for highway 

research. This evolution also governs the configuration of the center’s visiting staff from 

academia, other government agencies, and industry. Performance management promotes 

and enables high achievement of the combined workforce.

Objective 3.1: Develop and Sustain Flexible Organizational and Human Capital Structures

A flexible organizational and human capital structure would enable TFHRC to develop and 

manage a maximally responsive, agile workforce. Other Federal research enterprises may 

provide good examples of practices in human capital management (e.g., simplified job 

classification) that could serve as models to evolve these organizational and human capital 

structures for TFHRC. Organizational changes should also be instituted as appropriate and 

feasible to enhance the performance of TFHRC and respond to FHWA requirements.

Illustrative Pathways

• Identify and consider organizational structures that support flexibility to meet 

changing needs/demands.

• Enhance human capital structure, in coordination with human resources leadership.

Objective 3.2: Define Future Requirements and Establish Proper Expertise Levels for Core 

Discipline/Knowledge Areas

Developing the appropriate workforce requires understanding the substantive needs 

well in advance because changes in workforce do not occur quickly. In accordance 

with the objectives of Goal 1, examination of future research challenges identifies the 

knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed to meet those challenges. Desired workforce 

characteristics for the future are compared with the existing workforce to enable effective 

workforce planning. This planning for subject matter expertise occurs regardless of 

the administrative structure, flexibilities, and limitations of TFHRC. Workforce planning 

proceeds in continuous coordination with infrastructure planning—and is guided by the 

same corporate processes for identifying and meeting future research needs—because 

both human and physical resources must coalesce to serve the same ends and require 

time to mature. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Develop future workforce vision for TFHRC by determining the knowledge, skills, 

and abilities (KSA) needed in the future.

• Assess current state relative to the future vision and create a research workforce/

support expertise plan, taking into account trends and plans for similar disciplines 

throughout FHWA. 

Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives

16

Objective 3.3: Conduct Workforce Planning and Management to Meet Future Expertise 

Demands

TFHRC conducts workforce planning to help achieve, on a timely basis, the skills that 

are identified as needed under Objective 3.2 above. As research priorities evolve, TFHRC 

management will attain the necessary workforce through adaptation of the Federal staff, 

in addition to using non-Federal and visiting researchers. Formal partnerships play an 

important role in providing growth in new research areas. Management of the workforce 

ensures that it does not become stagnant or unresponsive to future challenges. A flexible 

workforce consisting of Federal and non-Federal workers provides alternatives and options 

to refresh and shape the skillsets and experience of the research workforce.

Illustrative Pathways

• Achieve desired Federal workforce capabilities.

• Achieve desired onsite contractor workforce capabilities.

• Augment the onsite workforce with visiting researchers and partnerships, and 

encourage careers in highway research

Objective 3.4: Communicate and Coordinate Within TFHRC and With Other Units of FHWA

To capitalize on TFHRC’s many potentials, proactive internal communication—both within 

TFHRC and within FHWA—is mandatory. Internal communication merits special emphasis 

because it enables each employee to see how his or her projects contribute to the larger 

goals of TFHRC and FHWA, and because it encourages and facilitates creative collaboration 

among projects and personnel. 

GOAL 4: FIRST-RATE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IS DEVELOPED AND SUSTAINED 

THROUGH LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND ADEQUATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT 

As the only Federal laboratory focused on highway transportation, TFHRC develops, 

maintains, and operates first-rate research facilities and equipment. Doing so requires 

strategic investment in research infrastructure to ensure that resources are optimized 

and that current and future research needs are met. Partnerships that leverage the 

infrastructure resources of other research enterprises in government, academia, or industry 

(see Objective 2.3, Strategic Partnerships, for more information), including small business, 

are essential elements, while critical infrastructure is maintained in-house. Critical 

infrastructure for TFHRC includes those physical assets that are:

• Necessary and fundamental to the core FHWA research program.

• Required to solve emerging challenges over the next 10 to 20 years.

• Essential for technical support of national interests related to the highway system.

• Unavailable from external sources.

To complement our reliance on external research facilities, we publicize our infrastructure 

resources and allow other researchers appropriate access. Doing so leverages the Federal
17

investment in our research infrastructure, helps sustain and enhance our abilities, fosters 

partnerships in research, and advances the economy by fostering small business success. 

Objective 4.1: Assess Needs and Strategically Pursue Research Infrastructure

TFHRC anticipates future research needs by actively engaging the broader highway research 

community and maintaining awareness of emerging topics in other research domains. 

Much like human capital, research facilities and equipment are neither easily nor quickly 

developed, so anticipating needs to provide sufficient lead time is critical. Because of the 

time and investment involved, decisions to develop and maintain in-house infrastructure 

must be deliberate and supported by trends in research directions. Developing human 

capital in core focus areas supports investments in research infrastructure. Researchers 

and managers at TFHRC consider how a potential partner’s research facility satisfies some 

portion of TFHRC’s needs and pursue appropriate methods to access and rely on those 

research facilities. FHWA must strategically provide first-rate research infrastructure and 

ensure that physical resources are optimized to meet future research needs. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Assess the requirements for research infrastructure.

• Develop plans to acquire or access needed research infrastructure.

Objective 4.2: Establish Essential Research Infrastructure

TFHRC adapts or upgrades existing in-house research infrastructure that is determined to 

be necessary to retain within the FHWA. With the support of the FHWA R&T Leadership 

Team, TFHRC explores and develops new research facilities and equipment to address 

emerging areas. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Plan and budget for research infrastructure.

• Develop and adapt research infrastructure.

• Operate, maintain, and continuously update a first-rate research facility that provides 

for evolving capabilities that meet the identified needs of FHWA’s R&T Program.

GOAL 5: RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES ARE APPROPRIATELY ADVANCED 

THROUGH EFFECTIVE ALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES, DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, 

AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION 

TFHRC plans and conducts R&T development to improve the state of the practice, consistently focusing on technology transition and on its prerequisite: effective communication. 

TFHRC engages transition partners early in the research process to facilitate knowledge 

transfer and technology transition, ensuring that products and results continue to advance. 

Depending on the maturity of the research results or technology, advancement can require 

further research or development and/or implementation, which can include demonstrations, 

pilot projects, and full-scale deployments. Research and implementation partners agree on 

development milestones necessary for successful transition. 

Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives

18

Communication must take place throughout the innovation or development life cycle 

to create and sustain mutually agreed expectations. As part of that communication, 

TFHRC maintains—and shares with its prospective partners—comprehensive and current 

knowledge of the evolving resources and mechanisms that can advance each stage of 

the research, development, and implementation cycle. Examples of potentially applicable 

mechanisms include, but are not limited to, the Transportation Pooled Fund Program, the 

Small Business Innovation Research Program, the Strategic Highway Research Program, 

and the coordination of cooperative research programs managed by the TRB. These 

programs would be useful in assisting TFHRC’s efforts to foster externally developed 

innovations and technologies.

Technology Transition

Technology transition generally refers to transitioning technology from the laboratory 

to a program. From a highway research perspective, technology transition is the 

incorporation of technology into operating transportation systems to achieve (a) 

increased performance in terms of safety, capacity, speed, energy efficiency, and 

emissions reductions, and/or (b) reduced cost for developing, producing, acquiring, 

installing, designing, constructing, and maintaining operating system components 

throughout their life cycles.

Timing. Timeliness is extremely important to technology transitions because public 

safety and expenditures are involved. Technology transitions can occur during the 

development of highway system components, or even after certain types of components have been in the field for a number of years

Participants. Technology transitions can occur between government organizations, 

such as when a government research facility transitions a technology to a government 

transportation department for installation in an operating facility. Industry can transition 

technology to government, and vice versa. 

Methods. Technology transitions occur through application of the following:

• Leveraging the best technology available from both government and commercial sources.

• Transitioning the technology rapidly into new highway system components with 

advantages focused on safety, performance, energy, environmental, and cost.

• Refreshing the technology, as appropriate, to maintain and further upgrade 

system safety, performance, external impacts, and economy.(7)
19

Objective 5.1: Engage Actual and Potential Stakeholders to Improve Awareness of FHWA 

Research Priorities, Directions, and Technology Roadmaps and to Facilitate Implementation 

of Results

The national and international highway research arena is diverse and requires continual 

communication to establish working partnerships for setting agendas; conduct of research; 

and transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation. The R&T agenda of FHWA is 

transparent to actual and potential stakeholders and partners—within USDOT, at all levels of 

government within and outside the United States, and in the private sector and academia—

and encourages dialogue on FHWA’s national challenges, goals, and strategies.

Illustrative Pathways

• Develop and implement strategic communications plans for R&D.

• Engage external partners early, where feasible, to plan technology transition and 

implementation.

• Support agency initiatives, including targeted outreach, to accelerate technology 

transition and implementation.

Objective 5.2: Collaborate Within FHWA, and With Other Appropriate USDOT Agencies; 

States; Other Governmental Jurisdictions, Including Local Governments; Industry; 

Academia; and National and International Organizations, to Ensure Successful Innovation 

and Technology Transition in Accordance With Agency Technology Roadmaps

TFHRC coordinates R&T programs across FHWA, with other appropriate USDOT agencies, 

States, other governmental jurisdictions at all levels, industry, academia, and national and 

international highway research organizations, to identify areas for collaboration to address 

transportation challenges. The research capabilities of TFHRC provide the knowledge for 

FHWA to add value to the state of the art and eventually influence the state of the practice. 

TFHRC engages with appropriate offices and organizations to develop a technology and 

innovation transition plan and to accelerate implementation of that plan. Transition paths 

vary depending on the nature and maturity of a particular research product or technology. 

Illustrative Pathways

• Develop flexible and seamless process for coordination of R&D across FHWA.

• Engage technology transition partners within the agency early to plan transition 

according to technology and innovation roadmaps.

• Develop and sustain a process to enhance TFHRC’s existing partnership with the 

Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH) and other FHWA units to demonstrate and 

pilot research products.

• Cultivate linkages with other USDOT R&D efforts.

• Establish clear and continual communications for coordination and collaboration to 

facilitate technology transition with national and international partners

Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives

20

Objective 5.3: Foster Development and Implementation of Targeted Externally Developed 

Innovations and Technologies 

Through consultation with FHWA’s partners and stakeholders, TFHRC maintains awareness 

of R&D activities nationally and internationally to identify technologies being developed 

elsewhere that show great promise. Depending on the type of technology and its maturity, 

TFHRC may engage in a partnership to develop the technology further or may advocate for 

its demonstration or implementation.

Illustrative Pathways 

• Maintain awareness of emerging innovations of national interest.

• Develop a process to assess the need for FHWA involvement to advance emerging 

innovations.

• Refine and validate research products when appropriate.

GOAL 6: TFHRC PROVIDES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO HIGHWAY AND INTERMODAL 

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH 

FHWA fulfills its strategic goal of national leadership by developing and advocating 

solutions to national transportation needs. TFHRC fulfills a corresponding national 

leadership role in highway research and technology development. In addition to chairing 

the FHWA R&T Leadership Team, TFHRC actively participates in leading cooperative 

research programs with partners including Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, TRB, and the States. In support of this national leadership role, TFHRC 

strategically manages its Federal and non-Federal workforce as well as its research 

infrastructure. 

Objective 6.1: Advocate a Research Vision for the Nation’s Highway Research Programs

Based on the strategies described in this Strategic Plan for TFHRC and the underlying 

FHWA Strategic Plan, TFHRC advocates and implements a research vision that guides 

the national research agenda in highway transportation. As the champion for research 

in FHWA, TFHRC participates in relevant interagency committees and initiatives, such 

as the National Nanotechnology Initiative, and conducts joint research programs with 

other agencies in the broader research community. TFHRC engages in the leadership of 

national and international cooperative research programs, and leads the FHWA’s Small 

Business Innovation Research program. To improve alignment of complementary research, 

TFHRC promotes research plans and priorities to university transportation centers and 

other academic researchers. TFHRC also catalyzes joint research projects under the 

Transportation Pooled Fund Program.
21

Illustrative Pathways

• Articulate the transportation impacts of broader research.

• Engage in interagency and international research initiatives and collaborate with 

other agencies and organizations. 

• Pursue alignment of cooperative and complementary research programs with a 

national research agenda.

• Engage small businesses.

Objective 6.2: Lead the FHWA R&D Program

TFHRC leads the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of the internal 

and external research that it manages in support of FHWA’s strategic objectives, and 

coordinates the FHWA research program across the agency and the Department.

Goals and Objectives
22
23

MOVING FORWARD

Implementation of the TFHRC Strategic Plan, already well underway, will enable TFHRC to 

strengthen its national leadership of highway and intermodal transportation research. By 

putting in place mechanisms to assure that the center’s programs identify and undertake 

the right research, TFHRC will establish a continuing basis for effecting the following:

• Forging productive partnerships with all levels of the public sector, private industry, 

academia, and the international research community that will leverage and amplify 

the Federal investment in highway research.

• Systematically planning TFHRC’s research capabilities, in terms of both human and 

infrastructure resources.

• Quickly transitioning innovation from the laboratory to the Nation’s transportation 

network, where the benefits of the research will accrue. 

There is great potential for added safety, efficiency, economy, mobility, and quality of life 

in the U.S. highway network. Only research of the caliber, breadth, and depth that have 

characterized TFHRC since its inception can fully unlock that potential. This Strategic 

Plan presents the principles and strategies that will enable TFHRC to achieve its vision, 

accomplish its mission, and—ultimately—realize a safer, longer-lasting, and more 

productive highway network for America.

Moving Forward
24
25

Appendix

APPENDIX: FHWA’S RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IN BRIEF

FHWA’s R&T portfolio comprises five topical areas and three crosscutting programs that 

together support the full range of FHWA’s mission and functions and bolster the farreaching national highway enterprise, as shown in table 2. Research under the direction 

of TFHRC is described in detail at TFHRC Research and Development Programs Web 

page.(8) The entire FHWA research agenda is detailed at the FHWA Research and Technology 

Agenda Web page.(9)

Assisted by staff throughout FHWA and partner entities, the R&T Leadership Team assures 

continuous and comprehensive interaction and productive collaboration among these 

research components. For example, the Leadership Team encourages joint projects 

addressing crosscutting issues and creative initiatives that do not fall neatly into existing 

categories. 

Topical Areas

Research Component

Infrastructure

Operations

Safety

Planning, Environment, and Realty

Policy

Crosscutting Programs

Exploratory Advanced Research

Innovative Program 

Delivery

Federal Lands

Table 2. Research components.

The following sections briefly describe the eight components of FHWA’s R&T portfolio and 

provide references to additional sources of information. 
Appendix

26

INFRASTRUCTURE

The FHWA Infrastructure R&D Program provides technologies and solutions to advance 

practices in highway infrastructure engineering. Detailed information on the programs of 

the Office of Infrastructure R&D can be found on the FHWA Infrastructure R&D Web page.(10) 

R&D activities address pavements, bridges, tunnels, and other structures, the materials 

from which our highway infrastructure is constructed, inspection techniques for assessing 

its condition and long-term performance, and measures to protect the infrastructure from 

natural and man-made extreme events including blast, fire, earthquakes, and floods.

The FHWA’s Infrastructure R&D Program develops products that could eventually become 

national guidelines, tools, or specifications, and that support achievement of the following 

FHWA Infrastructure R&T purposes: 

• Reduce the number of fatalities attributable to infrastructure design characteristics and 

work zones. 

• Improve the safety and security of highway infrastructure. 

• Improve the management of infrastructure assets and advance the implementation of a 

performance-based program for the National Highway System. 

• Improve the ability of transportation agencies to deliver projects that meet expectations 

for timeliness, quality, and cost. 

• Reduce user delays attributable to infrastructure system performance, maintenance, 

rehabilitation, and construction. 

• Improve highway conditions and performance through enhanced design and 

construction practices, increased use of long-lasting materials, and maintenance 

innovations. 

• Reduce the life-cycle environmental impacts of highway infrastructure (i.e., design, 

construction, operation, preservation, and maintenance). 

The focus areas pursued to achieve these purposes include Long-Term Infrastructure 

Performance, Durable Infrastructure Systems, Accelerated Highway Construction, 

Environmentally Sensitive Highway Infrastructure, Performance-Based Specifications, and 

Comprehensive and Integrated Infrastructure Asset Management. 

OPERATIONS

The FHWA Operations R&D Program addresses the full range of technologies, strategies, 

and opportunities to move people, vehicles, and freight more efficiently, effectively, and 

safely. Detailed information on the programs of the Office of Operations R&D can be found 

on the FHWA Operations R&D Web page.(11)
27

Appendix

Investments are made to achieve three strategic aims:

• Manage congestion by improving reliability and operating the system at peak 

performance.

• Build a strong foundation for proactive operations.

• Improve reliability through efficient movement of freight. 

Three focus areas of Operations R&D support achieving the preceding aims:

• Transportation Enabling Technologies pertains to methods and equipment that sense 

and measure traffic characteristics; capture, organize, and manage large amounts 

of real-time “big data” generated by mobile devices; measure vehicle position 

and trajectory; assist in navigation; perform precision lane-level mapping; control 

traffic movement via traffic signals and changeable message signs; and wirelessly 

communicate information among vehicles and the infrastructure and across the entire 

communications spectrum, including 3G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and dedicated 

short-range communications at the 5.9 gigahertz band.(12)

• Operations Concepts and Analysis involves the development and use of new modeling, 

simulations, and visualizations to test connected vehicle strategies and automation 

technologies in their conceptual stages while avoiding costly and possibly unsafe 

testing on “live roadways.” 

• Transportation Operations Applications takes promising concepts from simulations to 

the real world to smooth traffic flow. This area employs hardware and software tools 

and strategies to develop and test innovative transportation applications on test tracks 

and public roads. Applications include those susceptible to implementation in the near 

term (e.g., road weather and work zone management) and the long term (e.g., vehicle 

platooning and creation of eco-friendly electronic glide paths through signalized 

intersections).(11)

SAFETY

FHWA’s Safety R&D Program addresses three major focus areas:

• Human factors research, which fosters understanding of how road users perceive, 

process, and respond to the roadway environment, thus improving highway safety 

through better roadway design. 

• Roadway research, which helps keep vehicles on the roadway and minimizes the 

consequences of leaving the roadway. 

• Safety management, which supports improved safety resource allocation decisions 

through the collection of consistent, high-quality data, the development of analytical 

tools to transform data into actionable information, and the formal evaluation of the 

effectiveness of potential safety improvements.

Additional information on the programs of the Office of Safety R&D is available on the 

Safety R&D Program Web page.(13)
Appendix

28

PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT, AND REALTY

The Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty’s research primarily addresses topics 

associated with comprehensive intermodal and multi-modal transportation planning, 

enhancement of community and social benefits of highway transportation, and 

improvements to the quality of the natural environment by reducing highway-related 

pollution and by protecting and enhancing ecosystems. In addition, research on the fair 

and prudent acquisition and management of real property is undertaken.

Additional information on FHWA’s planning, environmental, and realty research is available 

on the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty’s Research and Financial Services Web 

page.(14)

POLICY RESEARCH

FHWA’s policy research initiatives support the following objectives:

• Evaluate impacts of a broad range of policy options, and analyze current and emerging 

issues that will affect surface transportation programs. 

• Promote the efficient, systematic, and comprehensive collection and utilization 

of national transportation data to improve highway management and investment 

decisions. 

• Research intergovernmental issues between States, cities, and Tribal governments 

that impact transportation policy decisions, budgetary processes, and legislative 

recommendations. 

• Promote the exchange of highway technology and program innovations between the 

United States and foreign countries and organizations. 

Additional information on policy research is available on the FHWA’s Office of Policy and 

Governmental Affairs Web page.(15)

EXPLORATORY ADVANCED RESEARCH

FHWA manages the Exploratory Advanced Research Program across a spectrum of 

issues that are critical to the transportation industry. This research encompasses four 

comprehensive focus areas:

• Predicting societal and complex natural systems.

• Creating next-generation solutions to build, maintain, and manage future highways.

• Developing next-generation solutions for system operations and reducing congestion.

• Creating next-generation pedestrian, bicycle, and driver safety.

Additional information can be found on the Exploratory Advanced Research Program 

Web page.(16)
29

Appendix

INNOVATIVE PROGRAM DELIVERY

The FHWA’s Office of Innovative Program Delivery executes a comprehensive research program. It seeks to place its activities within a broader, national agenda by engaging a wide 

spectrum of stakeholders to define the goals for the research program and develop multiyear roadmaps. Research focuses on (1) refining and developing new innovative strategies 

for project finance, revenue generation, and procurement; (2) developing and delivering 

tools for evaluating the applicability of the innovative strategies; and (3) addressing public 

policy, operational, and legislative issues associated with the strategies.

Additional information can be found on the Office of Innovative Program Delivery Web 

page.(17)

FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

The Office of Federal Lands Highway, in close collaboration with the Office of Research, 

Development, and Technology and other partnering entities, advances highway technology 

through two related programs:

• The Federal Lands Highway Technology Program evaluates new highway technology 

that will improve the quality and efficiency of the Federal Lands Highway Program and 

its delivery systems within the highway community. The program provides solutions 

that are sensitive to agency needs, improve agency efficiency, and improve the quality 

of transportation projects. This is accomplished through engaging partners and customers to play an active role in the program. The program enables technology transfer 

between Federal land management agencies, tribal governments, FHWA Resource 

Centers, FHWA’s Office of RD&T, and the transportation industry. Goals of the program 

include developing, evaluating, and implementing new highway technologies; field 

testing and demonstrating new technologies; providing engineering assistance; and 

sharing and documenting results with the transportation community.(18)

• The Coordinated Federal Lands Highway Technology Implementation Program is a 

cooperative technology deployment and sharing program between FHWA’s Office of 

Federal Lands Highway and Federal land management agencies. It provides a forum for 

identifying, studying, documenting, and transferring new technology to the transportation community.(19)
30
31

References

REFERENCES

Web site references are current as this Strategic Plan goes to press but are subject to 

change.

1. TFHRC is the only federally owned and operated highway research facility, and is 

a member of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC), 

“the nationwide network of Federal laboratories that provides the forum to develop 

strategies and opportunities for linking laboratory mission technologies and expertise 

with the marketplace.” Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (2013). 

“About the FLC.” (Web page) Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, 

Cherry Hill, NJ. Accessed online: October 10, 2013. (http://www.federallabs.org/flc/

home/about)

2. Meyer, M. (2013). Letter from Michael Meyer to Victor Mendez. (Web page) Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, DC. Accessed online: 

October 10, 2013. (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/reports/rtcc_july_2013.pdf)

3. Federal Highway Administration (2003). “Corporate Master Plan for Research and 

Development of Technology & Innovation.” (Web page) Washington, DC. Accessed 

online: October 10, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/

cmp/03077.htm)

4. U.S. Department of Transportation (2013). “FHWA Strategic Plan.” (Web page) 

Washington, DC. Accessed online: October 22, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/

fhplan.htm#intro)

5. Research and Innovative Technology Administration, “U.S. Department of 

Transportation Research, Development, and Technology Strategic Plan, Fiscal Year 

2013–2018,” Washington, DC. Accessed online: December 17, 2013. (http://www.rita.dot.

gov/rdt/sites/rita.dot.gov.rdt/files/rdt_strategic_plan_2013.pdf)

6. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “FHWA 

Strategic Plan.” (Web page) Washington, DC. Accessed online: October 10, 2013. (http://

www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/fhplan.htm)

7. Application to highway R&T is paraphrased from: Department of Defense, Manager’s 

Guide to Technology Transition in an Evolutionary Acquisition Environment, Version 2.0, 

June 2005, Defense Acquisition University Press, Fort Belvoir, VA. Accessed online: 

October 2013. (http://www.dau.mil/publications/publicationsDocs/Managers_Guide.pdf)

8. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “TurnerFairbank Highway Research Center Research and Development Programs.” McLean, VA. 

Accessed online: October 23, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/)

9. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Federal 

Highway Administration (FHWA) Research and Technology Agenda.” (Web page) 

McLean, VA. Accessed online: October 10, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/

fhwaresearch/agenda/index.cfm)
References

32

10. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). 

“Infrastructure Research and Development (R&D) Program.” (Web page) McLean, VA. 

Accessed online: October 22, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/

infrastructure/index.cfm)

11. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Operations 

Research and Development (R&D) Topics.” (Web page) McLean, VA. Accessed October 22, 

2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/topics/operations/index.cfm)

12. “Big data is a term used to describe high-volume, -velocity and -variety information 

assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for 

enhanced insight and decision making.” John Radcliffe, “The Impact of Social and 

Other “Big Data” on Master Data Management,” Gartner, June 25, 2012, ID:G00233199; 

available at Gartner.com.

13. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Safety 

Research and Development (R&D) Program.” (Web page). McLean, VA. Accessed 

October 22, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/safety/index.cfm)

14. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Research 

& Financial Services.” (Web page). Washington, DC. Accessed October 22, 2013. (http://

www.fhwa.dot.gov/HEP/research.htm)

15. The summary of Policy research is adapted from U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Highway Administration (2013), Research Agenda, Meeting the Challenge: 

Policy, Accessed November 29, 2013. (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/fhwaresearch/

agenda/researchareas.cfm?urlanchor=policy#) Additional information on Office of Policy 

research is available at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/

16. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Exploratory 

Advanced Research Program.” (Web page). McLean, VA. Accessed October 22, 2013. 

(http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/index.cfm)

17. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2013). “Innovative 

Program Delivery.” (Web page). Washington, DC. Accessed October 22, 2013. (http://

www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/)

18. Federal Lands Highway (2013). “Technology Deployment (TD).” (Web page) 

Washington, DC. Accessed online: October 10, 2013. (http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/

td/)

19. Federal Lands Highway (2013). “Coordinated Technology Implementation Program 

(CTIP).” (Web page) Washington, DC. Accessed online: October 10, 2013. (http://flh.fhwa.

dot.gov/programs/ctip/)
33

Acronyms and Abbreviations

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CTIP.............................................. Coordinated Technology Implementation Program

FHWA........................................... Federal Highway Administration

FLC ............................................... Federal Laboratory Consortium

LTE ............................................... Long-Term Evolution

MAP-21 ........................................ Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

NCHRP ......................................... National Cooperative Highway Research Program

R&D.............................................. Research and Development

R&T .............................................. Research and Technology

RD&T............................................ Research, Development, and Technology

RTCC ............................................ Research and Technology Coordinating Committee

TFHRC.......................................... Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

TPF ............................................... Transportation Pooled Fund

TRB............................................... Transportation Research Board

USDOT......................................... United States Department of Transportation

UTC .............................................. University Transportation Center
 FHWA-HRT-14-022

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