The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) has undertaken more than 100 research projects designed to address critical state and local challenges, such as aging infrastructure, congestion, and safety. SHRP2 research is at the forefront of transportation innovation—helping the nation’s transportation community enhance productivity, boost efficiency, increase safety, and improve reliability through the introduction of solutions that improve the country’s highway network.

SHRP2 (pronounced “sharp two”) is a large-scale, multi-year program that aims to save lives, money, and time by finding efficient ways to address the nation’s infrastructure challenges. The program is a collaboration among the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and Transportation Research Board (TRB).

Volpe delivers expertise in safety data and analysis, research management, and development of national communications and outreach campaigns to support FHWA as the SHRP2 lead implementation agency.

The Challenge

With more than 100 different research projects across four different focus areas at various and continually evolving stages of readiness for national deployment, the partner agencies’ challenge is to maximize the nation’s return on this significant research investment by getting the most important and market-ready products into the hands of the right people at the right time to put into practical use on our transportation system.  Volpe supports FHWA in the communications, organization, and data stewardship activities required to meet this challenge.

The Solution

Volpe helps FHWA explore options for long-term stewardship and ownership of SHRP2 safety data, and develops and implements a strategy to support effective communication of and outreach for the SHRP2 implementation initiatives. As part of this work, Volpe conducts implementation analysis and planning, including organizing workshops with key stakeholders, such as transportation agencies, researchers, and private industry.

SHRP2 research—called SHRP2 Solutions—is available in a series of online modules that improve how transportation professionals plan, operate, preserve, and maintain safety on America’s roadways.

Volpe supported FHWA in the design and development of the program’s GoSHRP2 website, the communications centerpiece for the implementation program, which is designed to generate awareness and interest in the program, support rounds of implementation assistance applications and supporting communications, and provide access to the SHRP2 tools and methods that enable state DOTs and other key audiences to effectively use SHRP2 Solutions.

Volpe also worked closely with FHWA and AASHTO to transition the Implementing Eco-Logical program from a research project to an integrated part of FHWA, in part by convening a SHRP2 implementation planning workshop with stakeholders from across the country. Eco-Logical presents an ecosystem approach to infrastructure development in which transportation, resource, and regulatory agencies establish joint environmental and development priorities by integrating plans and data across agencies.

Volpe’s communications specialists and project management experts support FHWA by organizing key elements of the program and facilitating seamless implementation of SHRP2 Solutions in the field.

The Impact

Volpe’s work is helping FHWA meet the program’s goal of motivating and supporting implementing agencies to use the many new tools, methods, and processes emerging from the research, and maximizing the national investment in this important research program.