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Volpe Center Highlights - May 1999

Economic Growth and Trade

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade | National Security | Published and Presented

Advance America's economic growth and competitiveness domestically and internationally through efficient and flexible transportation.

Volpe Develops Forum on Remote Sensing Applications (RSPA)

Dr. Aviva Brecher, of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Division, worked closely with the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), the Secretary of Transportation's Office of Policy, and a multi-modal team to prepare the agenda, identify prominent speakers and invitees, and write the background paper for the recent National Forum on Remote Sensing Applications for Transportation, held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Auditorium in Washington, DC. The forum, which was co-sponsored by U.S. DOT and NASA, identified the benefits and requirements for remote sensing technologies in transportation, and laid the groundwork for the development of a national policy as required by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), section 5113. About 250 people attended the event, representing a variety of transportation and remote sensing stakeholders. Dr. Brecher's background paper, sent to all conference invitees, provided the context for policy development on remote sensing applications to transportation, as well as the transportation needs and requirements for value-added data products of space imagery.

Center Shares Its Unique Business Structure with DOE

Mr. Philip Coonley, Director of the Office of Administrative Services, hosted a meeting for representatives from the Department of Energy's (DOE) Federal Energy Technology Center. The Technology Center is considering a transition to a "fee-for-service" business structure similar to the Volpe Center's, and the DOE representatives were interested in evaluating the Volpe Center model. Mr. Hans Scott, Budget Branch Chief, presented an overview of the Volpe Center's financial system. Other presenters included Mr. Dave Scali, Chief of the Acquisition Division, and Ms. Elisabeth Gordon, Chief of the Human Resources Management Division.

Presentation at the North American Transportation Statistics Data Interchange Meeting (BTS)

Mr. Michael Rossetti, of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Division, gave a presentation, "The State of Transportation Safety Data in the United States," at the fourteenth meeting of the North American Transportation Statistics Data Interchange at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. Mr. Rossetti's presentation, based on work sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), provided an overview of U.S. DOT safety data institutions and programs as well as an analysis of current and long-term trends in safety statistics. As a follow-up, Mr. Rossetti proposed the creation of trilateral working groups on Vehicle Miles Traveled data and the development of indicators for transportation safety. Mr. Rossetti is a member of the U.S. delegation, which includes staff from other U.S. DOT agencies (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, FRA, and Maritime Administration), the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Census Bureau. The Mexican delegation included members of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and Mexico's National Statistics, Geography and Informatics Institute (INEGI); Statistics Canada and Transport Canada comprised the Canadian delegation.

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