The American public wants safer roads that can help reduce fatalities and injuries from highway crashes; new and reconstructed highways that are more compatible with established communities and the natural environment; highway rehabilitation and repair projects that are performed quickly to reduce traffic disruption and provide smooth, lost-lasting pavements; and systems that manage traffic to reduce congestion and provide highway users with precise, reliable information about traffic conditions, incidents, and alternative routings. Achievement of many of these goals is possible and perhaps even essential to sustain the nation's economic growth, improve its quality of life, and preserve the environment for future generations, but it will require continuing innovation delivered through a strong national highway research and technology (R&T) effort. Organising and supporting such an effort has always been challenging. The highway industry - the joint public-private enterprise responsible for the highway system - is highly decentralised. More than 35,000 government units manage the highway system, and tens of thousands of private contractors, material suppliers, and other organisations provide supporting services. Highway R & T reflects the way the industry is organised by also being decentralised - an approach that keeps much of the research close to those who implement its results. This report examines the federal role in the nation's overall highway R&T effort. Its emphasis is on determining whether the focus and activities of the federal program are appropriate in light of the needs of the highway system and its stakeholders as well as the roles and activities on other national highway R&T programs. (Author/publisher)
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