Evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration research and development program
By: Committee for Evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration Research and Development Program, Transportaions Research Board of the National Academies
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board
Series: Transportation Research Board special report -- 316; Special report (National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board) -- 316.
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 61
ISBN-13: 9780309295697
Subjects: Safety measures; Federal aid to research; Railroads; Research; United States; United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development; Evaluation
Description: "TRB Special Report 316: Evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Research and Development Program assesses the effectiveness of FRA's process for identifying research priorities and the usefulness of FRA's Research and Development (R&D) products for improving railroad safety. The study was conducted at the request of FRA. The committee evaluated the performance of four Office of R&D divisions: Track and Structures, Rolling Stock, Train Control and Communications, and Human Factors. The committee also evaluated the R&D support functions of planning, evaluation, and management. Evaluation criteria included the extent to which FRA R&D activities are based on an understanding of industry and FRA needs and priorities; benefit from communication with relevant parties within and beyond FRA; and yield products that are high quality, applicable, and have demonstrable benefits. The committee concluded that the overall productivity of the R&D program appears good and that the program appears well focused on safety. It offered recommendations for ways to strengthen the program in the areas of communications with industry and the Office of Railroad Safety, priority-setting, strategic planning, and project evaluation"-- Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (page 50).
Table of contents: title: Conclusions on the R&D divisions' programs; title: Conclusions on R&D support functions; title: Recommendations; title: Introduction: Method of the review; title: Organization of the report; title: Track and structures: Case study projects; title: Context; title: Input; title: Impact; title: Human factors: Case study projects; title: Context; title: Input; title: Impact; title: Rolling stock: Case study projects; title: Context; title: Input; title: Impact; title: Train control and communications: Case study projects; title: Context; title: Input; title: Impact; title: R&D support functions: Communication; title: Priority setting; title: Strategic planning; title: Evaluation.