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The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) developed the first Transportation Science and Technology Strategy in 1997 to help Congress and the Administration establish national transportation research and technology priorities and coordinated research activities. Published in 1999, the NSTC’s National Transportation Science and Technology Strategy broadened these elements to incorporate an even greater role for State, local, and tribal agencies; academic institutions; industry; and the larger transportation enterprise. Like its predecessor, the national Strategy provided a direction and framework for transportation research and development (R&D) rather than a description of all research or a strategic plan. It encompassed the earlier strategy’s four-tiered approach: Strategic Planning and Assessment Private- Public Technology Partnerships Enabling Research Education and Training This document, the National Transportation Technology Plan, builds on the initial Technology Plan released in 1998 to present updated implementation strategies for the private- public technology partnerships in the national Strategy and its predecessor. It differs from the 1998 plan in four ways: It includes new partnerships on maritime safety and space transportation. It renames and broadens the scope of the partnerships on next generation vehicles and transportation security. It clarifies the links between the broader technology partnerships and specific Federal programs. It increases the time span shown on the partnerships’ technology roadmaps from eight years to ten. As defined in the Strategy, the technology partnerships in this plan meet three criteria: (1) they address national needs; (2) they focus on technology; and (3) they could rely on the private sector for implementation. Each partnership benefits the country as a whole and could not proceed without some cost-shared Federal support. The partnerships are intended to focus ongoing Federal activities to address national transportation goals--with any new support to be developed within the overall funding limits and constraints already established. The partnerships fall into two broad categories: (1) those representing well-established Federal R&D activities, and (2) new efforts requiring further definition and interagency coordination. Four partnerships represent well-established R&D programs. For these, the focus has been on relating the partnership to a broader research agenda; folding it in with other Federal programs; and, where appropriate, expanding its scope or coupling activities that have natural linkages. The partnerships are: Aviation Safety Research Alliance Next Generation Global Air Transportation National Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure Intelligent Vehicle Initiative Although many encompass existing R&D programs, the other nine partnerships require coordination to define and implement integrated actions. Future progress will depend on the continued encouragement of such efforts. These nine partnerships are: Next Generation Transportation Vehicles Transportation and Sustainable Communities Transportation Infrastructure Assurance Enhanced Goods and Freight Movement at Domestic and International Gateways Monitoring, Maintenance, and Rapid Renewal of the Physical Infrastructure Maritime Safety Research Alliance Next Generation Space Transportation Technology Accessibility for Aging and Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations Enhanced Transportation Weather Services |
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