The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act (ISTEA) fully supported the implementation of research results from the $150M Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). Successful implementation of SHRP by and large will be measured by successful implementation of the asphalt research. In a unique cooperative spirit, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the SHRP Project Management Office have worked together developing a plan that assures the research will indeed be implemented. This paper describes important aspects of this partnership and focuses on key elements of the plan. These elements include: elements include: i. the large scale procurement and evaluation of new equipment; ii. integration of equipment procurement with national training agenda; iii. integrated activities with standards setting functions of AASHTO; iv. integrated use of other funding sources for follow-up research and implementation - National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), FHWA Administrative Funds, and Federal-aid Planning and Research Funds; v. the unique role of users-producer groups and technical working groups that represent public and private interests. Finally, the very critical function of Specific Pavement study 9 (SPS-9), Validation of the SHRP SUPERPAVE and Innovations in Asphalt Pavements, in the continuing refinement of the SUPERPAVE performance models and design methods will be discussed. (A)
Abstract