This website is a sandbox for research needs to support decision-making and design through useful transportation planning analysis. These research needs are not necessarily fully thought-out yet and would benefit from collaborative refinement and widespread support. It is sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Planning Applications (ADB50). We are using GitHub to manage this site along with the developing research needs because it offers tools for open collaboration, transparency, and traceability/version control.
If you have a topic area that you think is a valid research need for this industry, you can add it to the mix – even if you don’t have a fully formed idea yet. If you see a topic that is on this site and are interested in it or have a perspective to add, you can edit it. Once an idea has a few interested parties and is sufficiently thought out, we can transfer it to the Research Needs Database.
To add or edit a research need:
When the CRC sees that you have submitted a pull request, they will merge it into the main repository.
You do not need to download any software in order to do this. It can all be completed through the web interface.
Nobody knows! That said, there is a fairly defined process for progressing transportation research through the National Academies of Sciences Transportation Research Board. However, the National Academies is just one possibility for progressing research needs. Another is contracting directly with a university either by yourself, using pooled funds, or via a research organization such as http://researcHQ.org. The TRB research needs process is discussed below.
Identify gaps in research needed in order to improve decision-making for transportation planning. This step involves multiple stakeholders up and downstream in the transportation planning process and can be conducted by anybody; but is the responsibility of the ADB50 TRB Committee on Planning Applications. The committee research coordinator will reach out to related TRB standing committees and identify if this research needs statement resonates with them and if so, if they would consider co-sponsoring.
As a research need resonates with more stakeholders, it will be refined and the ADB50 Research Coordinator or Committee Chair will post it to the TRB Research Needs Database.
When a research need is deemed "ripe", it will be submitted for consideration. For NCHRP and TCRP, research needs must be submitted by a State DOT or FHWA. For IDEA and NCHRP Synthesis topics, the research need can be submitted for consideration by anybody.
How research needs are selected for funding varies widely depending on the research program. For NCHRP, the AASHTO Sub-Committee on Research (SCOR) votes on research needs in the fall. Selections are announced in April along with their funding levels.
After selected research needs are announced, individuals can nominate people to serve on the Expert Panel. Self nominations are fine. Nominations for NCHRP panels are due in May and selections are made by TRB staff, and must include a certain number of state DOT representatives.
The panel meets to collaboratively develop a request for proposals (RFP) that pivots from the research needs statement. For NCHRP, the first panel meeting usually occurs in June or July.
The Expert Panel reviews qualified proposals and convenes in late summer to select a contractor and provide additional direction on the finalized scope of work. TRB staff conduct the consultant negotiation.
The contractor performs the work as described in the scope of work. Depending on the project and funding level, the Expert Panel may or may not hold an interim meeting. Research moves from the RNS Database to the Research in Progress database].
The Expert Panel reviews the draft final deliverable and votes on its acceptance.
TRB staff translate the final deliverables into a written report disseminated in print and online.
TRB papers are written, webinars are held, and email newsletters are notified. Research is put into the TRID Database.