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Volpe Center Highlights - September/October 2003

Director's Notes

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment
Security | Organizational Excellence | Awards | Published and Presented

Working with National Park Service and Other Federal Agencies

As part of the Research and Special Programs Administration, the Volpe Center is committed to the Administration's strategic goal of protecting our natural environment and national heritage from harmful transportation-related consequences. The Volpe Center is especially proud of its work in recent years supporting transportation initiatives of the Nation Park Service (NPS). The NPS mission is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. As the U.S. population grows, the park service has become aware that managing increased visitation and the potential negative environmental effects of transportation in the parks is an essential component of fulfilling the park's mission.

Accordingly, a 1997 memorandum of understanding between the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Interior established a mutually beneficial relationship to improve transportation in approaching NPS facilities.

In cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Lands Highway Core Business Unit, the Volpe Center is supporting a comprehensive program for the NPS aimed at developing and implementing alternative transportation systems that may help reduce air and noise pollution in the National Parks.

This issue of the Highlights describes many of these transportation projects, culminating in the Center's support to the development of a long-range transportation plan for the entire park system. The Volpe Center's wide range of technical capabilities - from transportation systems planning, to vehicle and fuel technologies, to environmental assessment, to traffic and transit operations management - are well suited to NPS needs.

Some of the Volpe's international efforts are also featured in this issue. In these areas, the Volpe Center demonstrates its responsiveness in both partnering with other federal agencies and sharing Volpe's experience across national boundaries.

Most importantly, this issue also features an update on the Volpe Center's efforts to strengthen and improve its business practices in step with the President's Management Agenda and the Department of Transportation's strategic goal of achieving organizational excellence. The Center welcomes the opportunity to enhance its performance and maximize the value of its work through improved management practices and processes.

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