FHWA R&T Now -November 2008-

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A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Federal Highway Administration 

GENERAL/ADMINISTRATIVE 

-Federal Highway Administration Supports Innovative State Transportation ProjectsThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the new Office of Innovative Program Delivery, 

which will provide states with stronger and more effective federal support to deliver transportation projects. 

Ms. Regina McElroy will assume the position of Director of Innovative Program Delivery. Since 2006, 

Ms. McElroy has been the Director of the Office of Transportation Management. The new Office of 

Innovative Program Delivery will work with state departments of transportation to help them explore 

opportunities with innovative financing and congestion pricing and tap into the $400 billion in private 

funds available world wide for investment in transportation infrastructure. Existing FHWA activities such 

as public private partnerships, innovative financing, experimental projects, and tolling authorities will be 

merged into the new office, which will improve access and communication for the states. The Office of 

Innovative Program Delivery will provide national leadership and advice for states pursuing innovative and 

non-traditional transportation projects. 

nancy.singer@dot.gov 202-366-0660

ADVANCED RESEARCH 

-Making Driving Simulators More Useful for Behavioral ResearchFHWA entered into a contract with the University of Iowa that will evaluate issues related to the use of 

interactive driving simulators in highway safety and operations research. Driving behavior in simulators 

will be correlated to driving behavior in the real world. The influences of visual, auditory, and haptic 

fidelity will be investigated. The proposed research will develop a theoretical model of the relationship 

between driver performance in interactive driving simulators and driving performance in real vehicles on 

real roads. The proposed research responds to research needs identified at the Boston, MA Advanced 

Research Think Tank regarding development of enabling technologies, such as simulators. This award is a 

result of the national Broad Agency Announcement for Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Proposals 

issued in May 2008. Awarded through a cooperative effort of FHWA’s Office of Corporate Research, 

Technology, and Innovation Management; Office of Safety R&D; and Office of Acquisition Management, 

the project will be managed by the Office of Safety R&D. 

For more information about the project, contact: 

thomas.granda@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3365 

For more information about the Broad Agency Announcement for EAR projects, contact: 

terry.halkyard@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3467 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

-FHWA Launches Web Site for Flagship Initiative: Long–Term Bridge Performance ProgramThe Long-Term Bridge Performance Program will collect data on highway bridges across the Nation. The 

data will be used for a variety of purposes, including the study of deterioration and durability of bridges and 
the impacts of maintenance and repair. Researchers expect the program to provide a better understanding of 

bridge deterioration, including the effects of corrosion, fatigue, environmental conditions and loadings. 

For more information, contact: 

ltbp@dot.gov

-FHWA Enters Into Cooperative Agreement with ACIThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has entered into a cooperative agreement with the American 

Concrete Institute (ACI) to support training activities for FHWA’s customers and partners. The technology 

areas covered under this agreement include concrete materials and concrete pavements. Training materials 

for two seminars (Cementitious Materials for Concrete and Chemical Admixtures for Concrete) are being 

developed and should be completed by the end of 2008. Availability of these seminars should be early 

2009. Both are one day seminars. 

This cooperative agreement will help FHWA broaden and improve the success of the technology transfer 

activities being performed the Office of Pavement Technology whose principal partners include State 

DOTs, industry groups, and academia. If you are interested in learning more about these seminars or 

interested in hosting any of these seminars, please contact Antonio Nieves Torres at: 

antonio.nieves@dot.gov 202-366-4597

OPERATIONS 

-Fact Sheet: Office of Operations Research and Development (R&D)- 

The Office of Operations Research and Development (R&D) is making major contributions to help the 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) meet its mobility, safety, and security goals through completed 

or planned products and activities.

http://www.tfhrc.gov/about/08030.htm

EVENTS/MEETINGS/ WORKSHOPS 

-Transportation, Energy and Climate Change Spotlighted at TRB’s Annual Meeting- 

“Transportation, Energy and Climate Change” will be spotlighted for Transportation Research Board’s 

(TRB) 88th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., January 11-15, 2009. Nearly 70 sessions and workshops 

have been planned around this theme, with many led by national and international experts in the fields of 

climate change and energy. Two of the Sunday workshops will be coordinated by TRB’s Special Task 

Force (STF) on Climate Change and Energy, which was established in January of last year to develop a 

strategic plan and roadmap for TRB’s energy and climate change programs and activities, and to facilitate 

communication and coordination among TRB Standing Committees on this topic. The workshops, 

“Climate 101: The Basics of Climate Change” and “Climate Change and Transportation 101” will provide 

an overview of introductory concepts related to climate change and energy. The STF will also be holding a 

joint session with The World Road Congress (PIARC), on research programs to address climate change, 

energy and alternatives for transportation financing. 

For further information, see the TRB Web site: 

http://www.trb.org/meeting/2009/default.asp 

- FHWA Research Library Reference Workshop Web Conference, December 9, 2008- 
Join the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program for 

a workshop on December 9, 2008, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern. The workshop will provide a basic 

understanding of select features and functionality of two free transportation-focused bibliographic (i.e., 

item descriptions) databases and two (2) general Web technology resources. Topics include the 

Transportation Research Information System (TRIS), Research in Progress (RiP), RSS (Really Simple 

Syndication) feeds, and Alerting Services. 

 Link to join the Web Conference: 

http://fhwa.na3.acrobat.com/fhwaresearchlibrary/ 

Teleconference number to access audio portion: 888-603-9707 RESEARCH 

For more information, contact: 

lance.warren@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3123 

RECENT PERIODICALS 

-FOCUS Newsletter - September 2008- 

This issue includes: Performance Contracting: A New Way of Doing Business; SHRP 2 Updates Available 

Online; New Resources for Training the Transportation Workforce; Highway Technology Calendar; An 

Interactive Road Map to the Future of Concrete Pavement; and, FHWA to Offer Highway Materials 

Course. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/sep08/index.htm

lgpope@woodwardcom.com

-FOCUS Newsletter - October 2008- 

This issue includes: Construction Analysis Software Makes It Easier to Get In, Get Out, and Stay Out; 

Earth Retaining Structures: An Essential Part of an Asset Management Program; FHWA Product 

Demonstration Showcases: A Hands-on Introduction to New Technologies; Maintenance Management 

Course Goes Online; Highway Technology Calendar; and, National Conference to Spotlight Safer, 

Smoother, and Longer Lasting Concrete Pavements. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/oct08/index.htm

lgpope@woodwardcom.com

-Public Roads - September/October 2008- 

This issue includes: 1. Steel Versus GFRP Rebars?: Field studies show that glass fiber-reinforced polymer 

offers a low life-cycle cost option for reinforcement in concrete pavements. 2. Gearing Up for SafeTrip-21: 

RITA is promoting technology solutions for improving transportation safety and reducing congestion. 3. 

The Ongoing Evolution of FRP Bridges: In a research project on new hybrid structural construction, Texas 

explored the viability of custom fiber-reinforced polymer beams. 4. Applying AQS in the Highway 

Industry: The advanced quality system offers promise for improving pavement quality while helping 

agencies finish paving projects on time and within budget. 5. Using Supercomputers to Determine Bridge 

Loads: FHWA and the Argonne National Laboratory are using multidimensional programs to study 

hydrodynamic forces on flooded bridge decks. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/08sep/index.htm
dawn.vanlandingham@fhwa.dot.gov

-Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter - October 2008- 

This issue includes: Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Legislation Linking Transportation 

Planning, Housing, California Quality Act (CEQA) Requirements and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; 

California Attorney General Forges Greenhouse Gas Agreement with City of Stockton; Wisconsin’s 

Strategy for Reducing Global Warming; University of Maryland Study on Economic Impacts of Global 

Climate Change; Washington State DOT Adopts Requirements for Analysis of GHG Emissions; Climate 

Change Policy and CO2 Emissions from Passenger Vehicles; TRB’s Special Task Force on Climate 

Change and Energy; and, NHTSA Issues Final EIS for New CAFÉ Standards.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climatechange/newsletter/index.htm

-Innovator–Accelerating Innovation for the American Driving Experience-October/November 2008- 

This issue includes: Michigan Project Features Performance Contracting; Q&A: Why Innovation Matters 

in the Highway Industry; What Others Say About Innovation; Performance Contracting Improves Project 

Outcomes; Innovations Speed Iowa Bridge construction; Visit Us at AASHTO; Highways for LIFE Seeks 

2009 Project Applications; and, Calendar. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/innovator/issue09.cfm

-Centered on Service- November 2008- 

This issue includes: First Northern Air Quality Summit a Huge Success; 2nd Regional Hydraulics Web 

Conference; Bridge Inspector Pocket Guide Available; Low-Cost Signal Timing Workshop Gets Green 

Light Review; Southeast States Host Roundtable on VE; PDS UPDATE: Getting Ready for Winter with 

MDSS in NE, PA, and ID; Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Implementation Workshop Held in ME; Seismic 

Retrofit Workshop in SC; 6th National Seismic Conference; National Hydraulics Conference held in ME; 

CA Debuts Web-based Training: Designing for Older Drivers and Pedestrians; CA Holds GEESD IV 

Conference; MN DOT & FHWA Partner to Promote National R&T Center; Bike-Pedestrian-Only 

Roundabouts; New Staff Profiles; and, Calendar of Events. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/success/cosvol4iss4.pdf

Links: 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: www.tfhrc.gov 

Resource Center: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/ 

National Highway Institute: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx

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