Transportation systems and related research needs, meeting recognized national transportation research goals, are discussed. A framework or concept of structuring a research program is developed with a method of assigning priorities and funding requirements to proposed research projects. The study was specifically prepared for the needs of top highway officials, research administrators, and researchers, to aid them in formulating a meaningful highway transportation research program. The formulated methods were applied to 900 proposed research project statements and an example research program produced. In developing the structure for highway transportation research, objectives specifically identified were: (1) to improve highway planning, design, and construction as a part of an integrated transportation system, (2) to improve the role of highway transportation in optimising land use and urban development by improving the safety, serviceability, and operations of the present highway system, and (3) to foster the integration of the highway with the community through improved identification and quantification of sociological, political, economic, and aesthetics factors in highway transportation.
Abstract