Meeting Notes
RAC Leadership Teleconference 1:30 – 3:30 eastern time, September 9, 2010
Participants: Sandra Larson (chair), Jeffrey Brown, Camille Crichton-Summers, Nanda Srinivasan, Wes Lum, Dale Peabody, Sue Sillick, Nancy Chinlund, Timothy Klein, Ron Kirk, Cameron Kergaye, Ned Parrish, Lisa Williams, Tommy Nantung, and Mara Campbell.
Decisions and action items are underscored.
1:30 Role Call
Approve Minutes from last meeting
A motion (Jeff Brown/Mara Campbell) to accept the minutes was approved.
1:35 Old Business
TRB Report:
(1) Eleven CRP publications since 8/12 RAC Leaders Conference Call:
NCHRP Research Results Digest 347: A National Database of Subgrade Soil- Water Characteristic Curves and Selected Soil Properties for Use with the MEPDG NCHRP Research Results Digest 349: Evaluation of Existing Roadside Safety Hardware Using Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Criteria NCHRP Synthesis 407, Effective Public Involvement Using Limited Resources
TCRP Report 139: Guidebook for Recruiting, Developing, and Retaining Transit Managers for Fixed-Route Bus and Paratransit Systems TCRP Report 142: Vehicle Operator Recruitment, Retention, and Performance in ADA Complementary Paratransit Operations TCRP Research Results Digest 96, International Transit Studies Program, Report on the Fall 2009 Mission: Managing Increasing Ridership Demand TCRP Synthesis 83, Bus and Rail Transit Preferential Treatments in Mixed Traffic
ACRP Report 35: Planning for Offsite Airport Terminals ACRP Synthesis 21, Airport Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction
NCFRP Report 4: Representing Freight in Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Models NCFRP Report 5: North American Marine Highways
(2) TRB Technical Activities Division: A replacement for Pete Shaw has been named --- Jennifer Rosales from Parsons Brinckerhoff. Jennifer will be starting on September 15, 2010. Elaine King is retiring in September. Ann Purdue will be replacing her and starting soon. Registration site is now open for the Annual Meeting.
(3) National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP):
- A memorandum of Agreement between NAS and FRA has been signed by NAS….awaiting FRA signature - FY 2010 grant application submitted to FRA on 7/30….awaiting approval - FRA working on governing board appointments…….21 person board and will include 4 state DOT members
(4) NCHRP
- FY 2012 problem statements due September 15th - Working with states to collect remaining FY 2010 NCHRP funding - Pre-FY2008 deobligation / reobligation still occurring - FY 2011 First panel meetings to develop RFPs started…….RFPs hitting the street Penn DOT is doing some research on how NCHRP research is being used in their DOT.
(5) TCRP
- FY 2011 problem statement screening panel met on 8/27 to screen 100 statements --- ended up with 35. - TOPS Committee will meet October 21-22 to select FY 2011 projects
(6) ACRP
- ACRP governing board meet 7/18-19 to select FY 2011 research projects - Announcement of FY 2011 projects distributed 8/2……soliciting panel nominations (due 9/15)
(7) NCFRP/HMCRP
- FY 2011 problem statements were due 7/31 - Both received funding for FY 2010 programs - Trying to schedule governing board meetings (October – Mid-November) FHWA Report: Lisa Williams
Will keep RAC informed on national initiatives. FHWA will host regional summits on implementing various technologies of the Everyday Counts initiative including VA, MN, IL, MA, CA, CO, GA, and WA.
FHWA Divisions will be represented on the national leadership team for discussion on research activities. 4 Division Administrators that will be included in the discussions are: Butch Waidelich from NH, Lubin Quinones from IA, Susan Klekar from NV, and John Sullivan from NC.
Pooled Fund Website webinar: The Next TPF Program Quarterly Webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010. http://www.pooledfund.org/
RITA Report: Tim Klein
BTS Director Dr. Steve Dillingham will soon take on leadership of RITA’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI). There will be a fully open national search for a new BTS Director. References welcomed.
BTS expanded its Key Transportation Indicators with two new tables: State and Local Government Transportation Construction Value, a monthly measure of state and local government expenditures on air, land and water transportation infrastructure; and U.S. Air Carrier Cargo Revenue Ton-Miles, a monthly measure of freight shipments on U.S. airlines. http://www.bts.gov/publications/key_transportation_indicators/
IntelliDrive User Workshop – September 29-30, 2010; Washington, DC. RITA's ITS JPO will be hosting free workshops on IntelliDrive Systems Engineering User Needs to obtain stakeholder input for the definition of the core IntelliDrive System. http://www.its.dot.gov/press/docs/WashingtonDC_Registration.doc
NG9-1-1 What's Next Forum & Webinar – September 23-24. This T3 Webinar is a unique offering by the Transportation Safety Advancement Group (TSAG) on behalf of ITS JPO and NHTSA. http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/res_t3_register.asp?EventID=100923_ng911
ITS Vehicle Safety Research Conference – October 20; Ypsilanti, MI. A one-day public meeting to present results from the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) field operational test. Registration instructions and additional information
BTS expanded its Key Transportation Indicators with the addition of two new tables: U.S. Air Carrier Cargo Revenue Ton-Miles, a monthly measure of freight shipments on U.S. airlines, and State and Local Government Transportation Construction Value, a monthly measure of state and local government expenditures on air, land and water transportation infrastructure. 2:00 New Business
Task Force Updates
For the latest TF Updates: http://cms.transportation.org/?siteid=55&pageid=2449
Chris Hedges is going to put members of task forces on the website as a chart. Please copy Rick and Chris on any corrections.
Coordination and Collaboration task force: Nancy C. – Task force is focused on the share point site. Working with Amanda Wilson on the RITA Sharepoint site. Next task force meeting is September 22, 2010. There was a discussion on development of a national research agenda and a framework for coordinated transportation research. Wes Lum: Safety group had NCHRP fund a policy study that recommends a policy setting body that would meet annually to address the national agenda for safety.
TKN: Survey is being conducted to determine whether each DOT has an information officer, and how information is managed.
Value of Research: Mara Campbell reported that CTC Associates have produced the final draft of the brochure “Research makes the difference, 2010.” It should be published in time for the AASTHO Annual Meeting. Dale is presenting to SCOR (December meeting) the 16 high value projects. 14 of these will be featured at a poster session at the TRB Annual Meeting. The 125 submittals for high value projects are posted on the website. The next task force meeting is scheduled for the third week of September, 2010.
Peer Exchange Webinar Update
John Moulden has been occupied with the Every Day Counts summit meetings and has not yet established an updated schedule for the Peer Exchange webinars. Lisa Williams will provide an update.
Summer 2011 RAC meeting July 25 – 28 2011, Salt Lake City, UT
The RAC Region IV meeting was held for planning the next meeting. A core planning team has been set-up. A planning meeting is scheduled for next week.
Ned Parrish is the point of contact for the technical program.
CUTC Liaison Group
A draft MOU will be circulated soon. Sandra has updated SCOR Chair John Halikowski on the current status. 2:30 Adjournment
Next Conf Call: Thursday, October 14 2010