Highway Infrastructure and Operations Safety Research Needs
The objectives of this research are to:
(a) Develop a detailed methodology for identifying and evaluating research needs in the area of highway infrastructure and operations safety. The methodology should: (1) include appropriate outreach to stakeholders and experts at all levels of government, academia, and the private sector; (2) provide a quantitative analytical approach that examines clearly defined criteria to determine the potential value of the research topics; and (3) identify estimated levels of investment required, probability of success, likelihood of implementation, and other appropriate pros and cons of each research topic.
(b) After objective (a) has been completed, reviewed, and approved by the NCHRP, implement the methodology to identify and evaluate research needs in the areas of highway infrastructure and operations safety.
(c) Develop a detailed plan that can be implemented by other entities within the transportation community to transform the identified research needs into a formal national research agenda. This plan should identify and evaluate alternative institutional structures that offer mechanisms for providing expert scientific advice in setting a prioritized national research agenda. The plan should also (1) identify means to encourage coordination of research activities, (2) evaluate quality of research conducted, (3) monitor ongoing progress on the agenda and overall success, and (4) update and refine the agenda over the long term. The plan should identify alternative models for sustaining a dynamic agenda and evaluate the pros and cons of each.
