Hari Kalla: This is the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research facility of Federal Highway
Administration. We've been doing research and developing innovations for last 65 years.
Our research program has two goals. One - to provide safe, efficient and
durable infrastructure; and second - to rebuild our infrastructure cheaper and faster.
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It's called the backbone of America. Our country's economic future depends on its
transportation system and its ability to efficiently and safely move people and
goods across the country. The United States has built one of the world's
largest transportation systems. With more than 600,000 bridges and 8.5 million
lane miles, the system is large and complex. It's also aging. The Federal
Highway Administration plays a vital role in leading the nation's
transportation research to meet current and future highway challenges. We work
with partners around the world to improve roads and bridges and increase
efficiency. We're saving lives, reducing congestion, and advancing economic growth.
Our safety research focuses on the causes of fatalities and injuries by
examining highway designs, construction practices, and maintenance operations.
For example, FHWA developed the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model to help
identify design details to minimize future crashes. We're also developing
roadside safety features that guide vehicles back on the road when they
stray. FHWA develops innovative tools to increase highway capacity, reduce
congestion, and improve traffic analysis. For example, adaptive signal control
adjusts the timing of lights to accommodate changing traffic patterns.
Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control allows vehicles to broadcast speed,
following distance, acceleration, and deceleration to other equipped vehicles.
Our researchers look for ways to maintain infrastructure integrity and
protect investments. FHWA brought warm instead of hot mix
asphalt to the United States. Warm mix asphalt reduces fuel consumption,
greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. It also extends the paving season
FHWA's research provided details for connecting prefabricated bridge elements
and systems with slide-in bridge construction. New bridges can now be slid
into place and paved within 48 to 72 hours. FHWA is looking for innovative
ways to get the most out of existing roads. We transition a good idea into a
great one by furthering the development of the Divergent Diamond Interchange, a
new method for navigating busy intersections. DDIs improve safety and
reduce congestion, and more than 70 are now in operation. We also support the
efficient movement of freight. FHWA developed the Freight Analysis Framework
which integrates data to create a national picture of freight movement for
all modes of transportation. FHWA develops new technologies and
improves practices to minimize negative impacts on people, the environment and
our natural resources. We worked with the U.S. Forest Service to develop the
Roadside Revegetation Technical Guide to help ensure native plants are placed in
areas disturbed by highway construction. FHWA developed eNEPA, an online tool to
help States collaborate and streamline the NEPA process.
FHWA is looking beyond today's challenges to anticipate the emerging
issues of tomorrow. What will personal travel look like in the future,
and how will it influence system demand on the road? How do we continue to
improve safety and mobility, manage highway finances, and help meet future
energy demands? Imagine using the public right-of-way as a source of energy. We're
developing an intelligent power system that may provide cost-effective,
efficient, and reliable, renewable electric power production, storage and
distribution. Picture new technologies like connected and automated vehicles to
streamline mobility, decrease traffic crashes, and congestion and save time and fuel
It's all about people. FHWA's research
and technology professionals in partnership with state DOTs and other
agencies provide innovation to improve the safety and mobility of the highway
system and the economic stability of our country.
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