FHWA R&T Now ~March 2009~

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

Federal Highway Administration 

GENERAL/ADMINSTRATIVE 

-U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Creates Team to Coordinate DOT Role in Economic 

RecoveryU.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced creation of a team at the U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT) to coordinate the Department’s role in President Obama’s economic recovery 

program. The team will ensure that economic recovery funding is rapidly made available for transportation 

infrastructure projects and that project spending is monitored and transparent. 

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot1409.htm

bill.adams@dot.gov 202-366-4570 

-The President and Vice President Visit the Department of Transportation (DOT)- 

Read the President's and Vice President's remarks at DOT Headquarters on March 3, 2009. 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-and-Vice-President-ontransportation-infrastructure/

-FY 2010 NCHRP Project Selection MeetingFrom March 24 through 26 in Washington, DC, the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials’ Standing Committee on Research (SCOR) will meet to select projects for fiscal 

year 2010 National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The NCHRP is funded by 

voluntary contributions from the State DOTs based on 5.5 percent of the Federal-aid State Planning and 

Research Program set-aside. Approximately $26 million in continuing and new projects are funded each 

year under NCHRP and administered by the Transportation Research Board. The members of SCOR; its 

subgroup, the Research Advisory Committee; and FHWA rated more than 150 continuing projects and 

proposed problem statements in February. The result of this balloting will form the basis for SCOR's 

consideration for project selection at its March meeting. As ex-officio members of SCOR, Michael 

Trentacoste, FHWA's Associate Administrator for Research, Development, and Technology; and James 

March, Team Leader of Industry and Economic Analysis in the Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs, 

will attend the meeting along with other representatives from FHWA. For further information, contact: 

william.zaccagnino@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3183 

-Updated Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) Expertise DirectoryThe expertise of TFHRC’s scientists, engineers, and support staff encompasses more than 100 

transportation-related disciplines and expertise areas. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/about/research.htm
-Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center BrochureThe Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean, Virginia, is the Nation's premier 

highway research and development facility. As the research center for the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHWA), TFHRC coordinates and conducts an ambitious program of innovative highway research and 

development to address critical needs of the national highway system.

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

ADVANCED RESEARCH 

-FHWA Hosts Nanoscale Research Workshop- 

 

On March 5-6, FHWA hosted a workshop to identify interests and capabilities for nanoscale research that 

can be applied to highway industry subject matters. The workshop brought together FHWA technical 

experts with those from University Transportation Centers, Federal laboratories, and other sources who are 

conducting relevant nanoscale research. The information and thoughts shared at this meeting will shape the 

scope of FHWA’s further investment in nanoscale research through an open solicitation, interagency 

agreement, or other appropriate mechanisms. The workshop supports the development of strategic 

roadmaps and outlines funding needs for nanoscale work that could lead to enhanced capabilities and 

longer term partnerships along specific lines of nanoscale investigations relevant to highway research. The 

FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program coordinated the workshop. For more information, 

contact: 

david.kuehn@dot.gov 202-493-3414 

-FHWA Exploratory Advance Research (EAR) Awards- 

 

FHWA plans to award cooperative agreements or contracts for exploratory advanced research in up to six 

topic areas totaling around $6 million in federal funds. The Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) 

FHWA received proposals in response to a broad agency announcement that closed February 4. Proposals 

currently are under technical review by panels of internal and external experts. Topics were in the areas of 

predicting complex societal systems and next generation solutions for system operations and reducing 

congestion. The EAR Program anticipated announcing another solicitation on additional topics in spring. 

For more information, contact: 

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

david.kuehn@dot.gov 202-493-3414

-Recent FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research Program WorkshopOn February 15, the EAR Program held a workshop at the American Association for the Advancement of 

Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. The workshop covered the impact of scientific 

partnerships on the future of transportation. An EAR Program exhibit was on display at the 5-day meeting 

to showcase current EAR projects and partnership opportunities. The AAAS Annual Meeting typically 

includes up to 10,000 participants from an array of scientific fields. It provides an opportunity for the 

FHWA to increase awareness of highway research among cutting-edge university and private sector 

scientists that could lead to future partnerships and leverage of knowledge from other disciplines. For 

more information, contact: 

david.kuehn@dot.gov 202-493-3414 
INFRASTRUCTURE 

-Session Summary: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Long-Term Bridge Performance 

Program Transportation Research Board (TRB) 88th Annual Meeting (January 15, 2009)- 

A workshop was held at the TRB 88th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, to provide the bridge 

engineering community with an overview of the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program 

activities since April 2008. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/ltbp/workshop.htm

hamid.ghasemi@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3042 

-FHWA Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Transportation Research Board (TRB) 88th

Annual Meeting PresentationPower point presentation given at the annual TRB meeting in January 2009. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/ltbp/trb88thpres.html

hamid.ghasemi@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3042 

-Techbrief: High-Performance Materials for Substructures, Foundations, and Earth Retaining 

Systems WorkshopOn August 28 and 29, 2006, a workshop was held at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center on the 

application of high performance materials (HPM) to the design and construction of substructures, 

foundations, and retaining systems. The purpose of the workshop was to identify pertinent HPMs, discuss 

the pros and cons of applicability, and develop a plan to address the research and implementation issues.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/pubs/08058/index.cfm

PAVEMENTS 

-Long-Term Pavement Performance Compliance with Department of Transportation Information 

Dissemination Quality GuidelinesThis document provides information on the compliance of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) 

program. It also includes the Information Dissemination Quality Guidelines issued by the Department of 

Transportation. It discusses the activities performed under the LTPP program, and it also addresses the 

policies and procedures established by these guidelines. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/ltpp/pubs/08065/index.cfm

-LTTP Newsletter, Winter 2009- 

This issue includes: Recap of LTPP State Coordinators’ Meeting During TRB Week; LTPP Standard Data 

Release 23 is Here!; LTPP Database Tips; and, In Brief: SPS WIM Installations. 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/ltpp/news.cfm
SAFETY 

-2009 TAC Meeting: Transportation Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(099), Evaluation of Low Cost Safety 

ImprovementsThe FHWA Office of Safety R&D hosted the 2009 Technical Advisory Committee meeting for the 

“Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvements” Transportation Pooled Fund Study (TPF-5(099)), on 

March 18, 2009, in Arlington, VA. Twenty-seven States are participating in the study. The objective of this 

pooled fund study (PFS) is to formally evaluate the safety performance of 20 low cost treatments, selected 

from NCHRP Report 500 guides, through scientifically rigorous before-after evaluations of sites within the 

U.S. where these strategies are being implemented. Information about the pooled fund study can be found 

at: http://www.pooledfund.org/projectdetails.asp?id=332&status=4. For further information, or to join the 

pooled fund study, contact: 

roya.amjadi@dot.gov 202-493-3383 

-Evaluation of Sign and Marking Alternatives for Displaced Left-Turn Lane IntersectionsThis document describes research conducted by the FHWA to support guidance on the signing and marking 

of displaced left-turn lane intersections (DLT)—also known as continuous flow intersections (CFI). 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/08071/index.htm

joe.bared@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3314

-Two Low-Cost Safety Concepts for Two-Way Stop-Controlled, Rural Intersections on High-Speed 

Two-Lane, Two-Way RoadwaysThe FHWA Office of Safety has identified intersections as one of its safety focus areas. As part of the 

FHWA efforts to reduce intersection crashes and the related injuries and fatalities, two concepts have been 

identified: (1) rumble strips on outside shoulders and in a painted yellow median island on major road 

approaches and (2) channelizing separator islands on side road approaches with supplemental STOP signs. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/08063/index.htm

joe.bared@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3314 

RECENT PERIODICALS 

-FOCUS Newsletter – March 2009- 

This issue includes: The Online Connection to Highway Infrastructure Security and Emergency 

Management Resources; FHWA Launches Economic Recovery Web Site; Drive to Survive—Our Future is 

Riding on It; Accelerating Innovation Implementation; Highway Technology Calendar; A Portable Field 

Guide for Bridge Inspectors; and, SHRP 2 Issues New Requests for Proposals. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/mar09/index.htm

lgpope@woodwardcom.com
-FOCUS Newsletter – January/February 2009- 

This issue includes: Your On-Stop Source for National Highway Specification Information; FHWA Seeks 

Comments on Creation of National Tunnel Inspection Standards; New Transportation Workforce Training 

Available Online; Putting the Pieces Together at the Eighth National Conference on Transportation Asset 

Management; Real Solutions to Today’s Transportation Challenges; and, Highway Technology Calendar. 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/janfeb09/index.htm

lgpope@woodwardcom.com

-Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter – February 2009- 

This issue includes: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Announces Principles for Global Warming Legislation; 

House Subcommittee Receives Testimony on Surface Transportation Energy Reduction; United Nations 

Conference on Trade and Development Holds Meeting on Maritime Transport and the Climate Change 

Challenge; U.C. Davis Provides Congressional Briefing on Low-Carbon Transportation Policies & 

Strategies; House Subcommittee Conducts Hearing on Monitoring GHG Emissions; Oregon Governor 

Introduces VMT Fee Legislation; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Enters First Compliance Period; 

New Energy and Climate Change Database for Planners; Summit on America’s Climate Choices, March 

30-31 in Washington D.C.; Washington State Department of Transportation Climate Change Weekly 

Digest; U.S. DOT Launches Web-Based Clearinghouse of Transportation, Climate Change Resources; and, 

Transportation Research Board Starts a New Climate Change Website. 

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

-Innovator–Accelerating Innovation for the American Driving Experience-February/March 2009- 

This issue includes: Accelerated Bridge Construction Picks Up Steam; Project Tests Safer Way to Install 

Markers; Add Innovation to Your Toolbox; Highways for LIFE Wins Gold; Accelerated Construction 

Limits Bridge Closure to a Week; Innovation Helps Meet Today’s Highway Challenges; 20 Ways to 

Benefit From Innovation; and, Calendar.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/innovator/issue11.cfm

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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