Volpe Center: Information Resources - Volpe Journal Spring 98

Volpe Journal Spring 98

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Commentary

Since the last edition of the Volpe Journal in Spring 1997, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater has released the Department's Strategic Plan for fiscal years 19972002. The landmark plan is the foundation for transportation excellence in the next century and presents the Secretary's vision of One Department of Transportation (ONEDOT). The concept of ONEDOT projects a unified department capable of acting as an integrated, purposeful leader to optimize transportation efficiency and effectiveness. The department's plan recognizes that in order to achieve the national goals of promoting safety, mobility, economic growth and trade, human and natural environmental preservation, and national security, current transportation problems must be approached and resolved from a systemwide perspective. Otherwise, current transportation challenges will not only go unresolved, but will continue to be exacerbated by ongoing demographic changes, population and travel growth, and continuing global competition and discord.

I am proud that the Volpe Center is working to support the department's strategic plan. Indeed, the Center's value to the nation arises from our ability to integrate the following strengths:

A broad understanding of the transportation system, including the roles played by providers, manufacturers, travelers, shippers, and government at all levels;
Experience in the technologies and disciplines relevant to transportation system applications, including design, implementation, operation, and management functions; and
Knowledge of and experience in the many critical federal roles and responsibilities, perspectives, and objectives in transportation.

This edition highlights some of the Volpe Center's current efforts in support of the strategic goals to increase safety, improve mobility, and enhance the environment. Articles highlight our safety work with Airservices Australia to develop a Global Positioning System aviation outage notification system, as well as research related to rail equipment crashworthiness and airport runway incursions. Also included in this issue is a discussion of one of the Center's more unique efforts in support of the nation's mobility goals -- an assessment of the performance of public transportation systems in meeting the needs of welfare recipients who must find work. On the environmental front, the Volpe Center currently has a lead role in assessing the impact of noise generated by sightseeing and other aircraft overflights on the national parks. Our work to preserve the parks and their beauty is truly worth reading about.

Dr. Richard R. John
Director, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

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