Section 2: Research Program Overview
Anchor: #i1002043What is the Cooperative Research Program?
The Cooperative Research Program is research and related efforts conducted by Texas state-supported colleges and universities (and others on a limited basis) for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Its cooperative nature is reflected in:
- the participation of the universities in advising the TxDOT Research Management Committees (RMCs) during program planning,
- the close coordination between the TxDOT users of research findings and the university researchers, and
- the participation of the universities in the funding of the program.
Why is the Research Program Important?
The program is important to TxDOT because:
- the development and application of advanced technology, new knowledge and improved methods and procedures are critical to future TxDOT service quality and operational cost-effectiveness,
- top-quality colleges and universities are made available to help solve immediate state transportation needs, and
- students working on TxDOT research projects at the university are attracted to TxDOT careers upon graduation.
The program is important to colleges and universities because:
- a continuing, adequately-funded research program allows them to build and maintain a high-quality faculty and staff of researchers, and
- it offers graduate students at the colleges and universities the opportunity to work on and to learn from research projects.
The program is important to the State of Texas because:
- it contributes to the high quality of Texas transportation facilities and services,
- it assists the state in meeting needs created by growth and changing technologies,
- it ensures that transportation research funds are available to Texas colleges and universities to maintain the high quality of education at those institutions, and
- it ensures that high-quality transportation talent is available in Texas.
What Kind of Research is Involved?
Topical areas — Senate Bill 698, passed by the 75th Texas Legislature on May 13, 1997 and later included in chapter 150 of the Education Code, provides for research relating to transportation, including:
- economics,
- planning,
- design,
- construction,
- maintenance, and
- operation of transportation facilities.
Transportation facilities are defined as:
- highways,
- turnpikes,
- airports,
- railroads (including high-speed railroads),
- bicycle and pedestrian facilities,
- waterways,
- pipelines,
- electric utility facilities,
- communication lines and facilities,
- public transportation facilities,
- port facilities, and
- facilities appurtenant to other transportation facilities.
Applied and Basic Research — The program has traditionally been drawn from problems, which need solutions, and as such, concentrates on achieving results, which can be applied rapidly to improve procedures and materials. However, basic research to determine underlying processes and phenomena is also important and is supported in the research program. A proper balance of basic and applied research serves to keep Texas' transportation system among the best in the world.
Anchor: #i1002250What if the Research Involves Information Technologies?
Many research projects will include the development or acquisition of information technology (IT) components, including computer hardware and/or software, which will be delivered to TxDOT. However, the purpose of the research program is not to fund projects whose sole objective is the acquisition, development, maintenance, or enhancement of new or existing hardware and/or software.
Projects with IT deliverables will be approved and administered in light of:
- the hardware and/or software’s conformity to TxDOT’s technology architectures and standards,
- the hardware and/or software’s implementation, maintenance, and support requirements, and
- Information Systems Division (ISD) and Information Resource Council (IRC) responsibilities described in Chapter 2.
Who May Participate in Funding Research Projects?
Funding for TxDOT research is provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and TxDOT. It is possible for other governmental agencies or private entities to contribute funding to a particular project. Refer to Chapter 1, Section 4, “Research Funding and Budgeting,” for further information.
Anchor: #i1002292Who May Participate in the Research Program?
Any Texas state-supported senior college or university — It is TxDOT policy that research projects be open to competition among all Texas state-supported senior colleges and universities that have an interest and expertise in the specific project.
The TxDOT Research and Technology Implementation Office maintains a list of all interested Texas state-supported colleges and universities. The list is used for mailing the requests for proposals (RFPs). Joint projects, in which two or more colleges or universities pool expertise on a single project, are encouraged.
TxDOT employees — TxDOT employees having the expertise and willingness to conduct a project may do so, contingent upon approval of the project. Refer to "In-House and Joint-Venture Projects" in Chapter 11 of this manual.
Other Texas state and/or local agencies — Texas state and local agencies may conduct projects for which they have expertise, if the expertise is not otherwise available at a Texas state-supported senior college or university. Such contracts must be effected under Texas state provisions for interagency or interlocal contracts.
Federal agencies — Federal agencies may conduct research projects for TxDOT.
Private firms, private universities, and other private entities — Private sources are rarely requested to conduct research projects for TxDOT. The Cooperative Research Program uses primarily Texas state-supported colleges and universities. The Texas Legislature passed legislation which provided for the development of the cooperative programs between TxDOT and Texas state universities (Refer to Section 3 of this chapter). The intent was to develop a program that would benefit the State of Texas as a whole through the strengthening of both TxDOT and the participating universities. Therefore, it has been TxDOT policy to honor the intent of the legislature and restrict the majority of the program to our university partners.
In the event that expertise is not available at a Texas state-supported college or university, or at a Texas state agency, consideration may be given by the Research Management Committee (RMC), with Research Oversight Committee (ROC) approval, to contracting with the private sector.
NOTE: TxDOT does not include private entities on its regular requests for proposals (RFPs) mailing list. Such private-sector contracts must be effected under state provisions for consultants, or under professional services contracts, or other procurement procedures. See Contract Management Manual.
Anchor: #i1002344Who May Participate in Research Program Development?
Individuals with expertise and/or interest in a particular area of research may request to serve on the Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) associated with one of the five Research Management Committees (RMCs). The RMC chair approves TAP memberships. These individuals may come from:
- TxDOT,
- the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
- Texas state-supported colleges and universities, and
- state and local governments.
Refer to Chapter 2 for more information concerning research program personnel and Technical Assistance Panels.
Anchor: #i1002391Who May Provide Research Project Oversight?
TxDOT employees with expertise and/or interest in a particular project may be selected by the Program Coordinator (PC) associated with the project to serve as the Project Director (PD).
Other individuals with expertise and/or interest in a particular project may request to serve as a Project Advisor (PA) on the Project Monitoring Committee (PMC). Approval requires concurrence of the Project Director (who chairs the PMC) and the Program Coordinator (PC) associated with the project. Project Advisors may be:
- TxDOT employees,
- Federal employees,
- private individuals or representatives of trade groups,
- university employees, or
- state and local government employees.
Refer to Chapter 2 for more information about Project Monitoring Committees.
Anchor: #i1002449What Oversight is there of the Research Program?
Federal regulations, 23 CFR Part 420.207, include the requirement that each state periodically conduct a review, termed a “peer exchange”, of its research program, and that the state participate in similar reviews of other states' programs.
Several peer exchanges of the Texas program have been conducted. For further information on this program or the results of these peer exchanges, contact RTI.