![](photo2.gif) |
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 1997
FUTURE DIRECTIONS |
1:00pm-2:00pm |
Opening Session and Introductions
- Joe Toole, Session Moderator
Welcome - Dick Weaver
Keynote Address - Julie Anna Cirillo
Washington Video Welcome - Tony Kane |
2:00pm-2:45pm |
Reauthorization Update - Ray Griffith, Bob Betsold,
Mike Halladay |
3:15pm-3:45pm |
NHI Futures Task Group - Harry Hersey |
3:45pm-4:30pm |
ITS Participation Opportunities - Shelley Lynch
|
4:30pm-5:00pm |
Research & Technology Maps - Carolyn Goodman
|
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Opening
Session and Introductions
|
Session
Moderator |
Joe Toole, Director, FHWA Office of Technology Applications |
Opening
Remarks |
Welcoming participants, Mr. Toole said that the Conference
was about technology and what participants can do to help partners with
it. The present session was devoted to future directions for technology
transfer. Technology is not just about helping customers, however, but
also about champions. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Welcome
|
Session
Leader |
Dick Weaver, Deputy Director and Chief Engineer, CALTRANS |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Mr. Weaver greeted participants on behalf of the State of
California and praised his State's partnership with FHWA. In regard to
research, he said that science is a process of evolving and testing that
sometimes fails. He urged participants to share the results of research
so that others do not have to replicate previous work. |
Issues Discussed |
- Communications
- Documentation
- Dissemination
- Emphasis on air and water quality - Need for research
- LTPP
- Rehabilitation of concrete pavement in high-volume metropolitan areas
without disruption
- Long term pavement life
- Rehabilitation of corridors
- The Northridge Earthquake - True costs of rehabilitation and potential
disruption
- Pavement marking and its relationship to maintenance
- Research opportunities
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
Quality is a continuous process of increments. Participants
must continue their efforts in research and technology, struggle to reach
the right people with their results, and always be true to their research
and the right product. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Keynote
Address
|
Session Leader |
Julie Anna Cirillo, Administrator, FHWA Region 9 |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Ms. Cirillo said that, contrary to the program, technology
is not the future of FHWA, but rather technology is the future FHWA. Technology
and the mission of FHWA are synonymous. |
Issues Discussed |
- Reauthorization discussions have brought forth a great diversity of
views, from the need for only minor adjustments to a complete devolution
of FHWA functions to the States. Expressions of opposition to government
should be a wake-up call.
- Development and delivery of technology is clearly a Federal role. FHWA
must, however, undergo a radical transformation from T2 to 3D:
Develop, deliver, and deploy technologies and best practices to customers.
This will ensure against FHWA becoming redundant. FHWA must give up compliance
enforcement and return to its roots, the development and delivery of products.
- Elements of FHWA's business strategy of the 21st century:
- Staff:
- Specialists in areas such as teams, negotiation, conflict resolution,
and development skills
- Movement away from a military model to allow shifting by knowledge
and skill paths
- Focus on adding value to products
- Product line:
- Mode shift from process to product
- Identification of best techniques and practices
- Product and expertise to be shared without limits
- Organizational structure to fit the first two:
- Virtual teams, telecommuting, treatment of the field as customers,
all tailoring result to location
- All program delivery to reside in Division offices, with fewer Region
offices, which coordinate
- Headquarters line functions grouped to focus on production
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
The prevailing FHWA culture is sometimes so ingrained that teams are
not enough to rehabilitate it. Because the current structure collapses
for development and deployment, radical change is required. This process
is largely complete in Region 9. The core function of Regions must be delivery
of and stewardship through technology. The message must be that the public
pays the salaries and uses the product - and is the customer. The public
is best served by strengthening technical expertise, encouraging innovation,
and espousing teams. Division administrators are the vanguard of technology
deployment and dissemination. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Washington
Video Welcome
|
Speaker |
Tony Kane, Executive Director, FHWA |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Technology is the future of transportation and a strong economy, not
just of FHWA. Mr. Kane intended to address that future and how FHWA will
get there. |
Issues Discussed |
- Filling in the gaps in the existing transportation infrastructure
- Massive reconstruction of the existing structures, with emphasis on:
- Life cycle extension
- Use of technologies so that reconstruction serves customers better
- Overlay of transportation structures with a communications structure
to:
- Make vehicles smarter through ITS
- Enhance safety
- Assist motorists with technologies
- Reaching the future by emphasizing the infrastructure, with commitments
to education and training
- Reauthorization is about the future
- Partnerships
- FHWA must become a different organization through focus on:
- Proactive research
- Innovative leadership
- Training
- The Quality Journey
- Improved performance
- Raising the state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art everywhere
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
To deal with the tough problems FHWA has to face, it is necessary to
have thinking that is different from the thinking that created the problems
and to be the partner of choice in serving one's customers. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Reauthorization
Update
|
Session Leader |
Bob Betsold, Associate Administrator, FHWA Office of Research and Development
|
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Referring to a handout publication, Technology to Keep America Moving,
Mr. Betsold said that ISTEA Reauthorization sets a research and technology
agenda that emphasizes awareness, participation, and field involvement.
|
Issues Discussed |
- Transportation research and technologymore emphasis and visibility
at higher levels:
- Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Committee on Surface Transportation R&T
- DOT R&T Council
- R&T Coordinating Committee (FHWA)
- Focus groups on Reauthorization:
- R&T Coordinating Committee
- AASHTO Research Advisory Committee
- Reauthorization proposal areas directly impacting FHWA include intermodal
research and strategic planning
- Reauthorization emphasis on the following R&T programs (closing
the gap between what is done well and what should be done better):
- National Technology Deployment Initiative
- Advanced Research and Long Term Pavement Performance
- State Planning and Research
- ITS (strong support for continued funding)
|
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Reauthorization Update
|
Session Leader |
Mike Halladay, SHRP Implementation, FHWA Office of Technology Applications |
Issues Discussed |
- Key features of the National Technology Deployment Initiative (NTDI)
include:
- A limited number of customer focused goals
- Deployment orientation to put technology on the road and close the
gap between state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice
- Focus on outcomes
- NTDI goals in NEXTEA include:
- Reduced delay and improved safety in construction and maintenance work
zones
- Extended life of the current infrastructure
- Increased system durability and life
- Improved safety for driving at night and other periods of reduced visibility
- Support and enhancement of environment
- Support of community oriented transportation and sustainable development
- Minimized transportation system closures, constraints, and delay caused
by snow and ice
- Professional capacity building and technology partnerships
- Program elements:
- LTAP
- NHI Eisenhower Fellowships
- UTCs/URIs
- Technology Partnerships Program
- Advanced research
- LTPP
- State Planning and Research ProgramCornerstone of State R&T programs
- ITS
- ITS and Federal-aidReauthorization includes an explicit statement
that other programs' funds may be used for ITS and requires use of ITS
national protocols
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
State in narrative form any conclusions reached or the major points
that need to be resolved in future discussions. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Reauthorization Update
|
Session Leader |
Ray Griffith, Chief, Technology Management Division, FHWA Office of
Technology Applications |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
ISTEA Reauthorization will mean revolutionary changes at FHWA. At issue
will be technology as an integrated part of FHWA. Reauthorization should
be seen as a tool for getting the agency where it wants and needs to be.
Mr. Griffith discussed how the transition would be transformed into legislative
language, with reference to the document, Technology to Keep America
Moving. |
Issues Discussed |
- Appendix A, Section 6003Research and Technology Program
- Emphasis on research and development
- Why the program is needed
- Technical innovation
- Long term commitment items emphasize need for assured source of funding
- The legislative package is constrained in terms of dollars requested
and relates to the overall highway budget available
- The largest increase is in ITS, which represents a shift in philosophy
toward deployment
- Next largest increase is in NTDI
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
There is a need for a funding increase for research and technology.
The pace must be accelerated in closing the gap between the state-of-the-art
and the state-of-the-practice. The United States can be competitive globally
only if the state-of-the practice is advanced, yet the state of knowledge
must continue to advance, as well. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: NHI Futures
Task Group
|
Session Leader |
Harry Hersey, FHWA |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Before addressing the Task Group and changes in NHI, Mr. Hersey explained
that NHI was founded in 1971 and expanded through ISTEA. After 6,000 courses
conducted, NHI is being reorganized to expand its efforts under Reauthorization.
|
Issues Discussed |
- To prepare for Reauthorization, NHI is:
- Adopting a new paradigm
- Changing its program delivery
- Developing a 6-year strategic plan
- Developing a business plan
- Changing the organizational structure
- NHI's new paradigm means:
- More efficient and effective program delivery
- The RTCG process embraces education and training
- RTEB sets priorities
- NHI will guide curriculum development; develop education and training
programs; and relieve the Program Office of all but technical oversight
- The following program delivery changes will be made:
- Reduced time to develop and deliver courses
- Establishment of program and technical advisory boards
- Increased FHWA staff instructor involvement
- Process improvements
- Shortened classroom time
- Advanced training delivery methods
- The NHI 6-year strategic plan:
- Has been reviewed by program and field offices
- Will be valid through the life of Reauthorization
- Will be public
- Will be updated at appropriate intervals (annually, at least)
- NHI's vision focuses on deploying advanced technologies and future
mobility
- NHI's mission focuses on professional capacity development in advanced
technologies and closes the gap between state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice
- NHI's business plan is structured on the strategic plan, updated as
necessary
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
NHI is changing from a hierarchical to a team based, dynamic organization
where employee participation, creativity, and accountability are encouraged. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: ITS Participation
Opportunities
|
Session Leader |
Shelley Lynch, FHWA ITS Joint Programs Office |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
The perception that ITS stands by itself is a true one. To be successful,
ITS has to be real to everyone and a part of everything done day to day
in FHWA as an integrated part of R&T. |
Issues Discussed |
- ITS is an application of information and telecommunications technologies
to transportation
- ITS technologies are here today and deployable now
- The effort will be regionalinterjurisdictional and intermodal
- The effort emphasizes:
- Deployment and technical guidance
- Integration
- Professional capacity building
- Partnerships
- Rural ITS applications
- Intelligent vehicles
- Common misconceptions about ITS include:
- ITS is Star Wars
- ITS is only for ITS specialists
- ITS only benefits urban areas
- Radio traffic reporters already do what ITS does for cheaper
- Why should we care?
- ITS is part of FHWA's future, with FHWA shift to an operations focus
- ITS is part of the cost of doing business
- Benefits will accrue through synergies
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
Ms. Lynch said that participants are in a unique position to link people
with ITS efforts and should get involved, look for opportunities, and call
on specialists when needed. Everyone can and must be a leader. She requested
feedback on how to make ITS more useful and how to integrate it better
into the way FHWA does business. |
![](photo2.gif) |
Session Title: Research and
Technology Maps
|
Session Leader |
Carolyn Goodman, Technology Transfer Director, Virginia Transportation
Research Council |
Opening Remarks/ Background Information |
Ms. Goodman discussed a technology map brochure sponsored and produced
by a team comprising the District of Columbia Department of Public Works,
Maryland DOT, Virginia DOT, the Washington Metro- politan Area Transit
Authority, and FHWA's Region 3 Technology team. |
Issues Discussed |
- The goals of the effort were to market transportation technologies
and to enhance the service oriented images of the participating agencies
- The messages included:
- Transportation as vital to the economy and quality of life
- Transportation agencies as progressive forces
- The participating agencies working together
- The public payoff
- Public ownership and direction of roads
- The objectives of the effort were to:
- Gain a positive return on investment
- Enhance the image of transportation agencies and transportation engineering
with the public
- Provide a model publication useful to other transportation groups
- Educate the public about the high-tech nature of transportation operations
- Encourage young people to join the transportation engineering profession
- Provide information to domestic and foreign tourists visiting the capital
- The audiences were:
- PrimaryThe general public and the press
- SecondaryElected officials and civil and traffic engineering professionals
- The brochure focuses beyond ITS, showing technologies on the ground
now, with a revision to come including technologies in place within the
next year
- The project process has taken place in three phases and is currently
seeking partners for reprinting and further opportunities
|
Summary/ Conclusions |
If you can find public support, the funding will be there. You have
to change people's perceptions. |