DC-2022-007

The objectives of the Transit Cooperative Research Program as described in the first grant application to FTA are as follows:
- To identify transit problems in need of research and development (RD) investigation and to establish a priority ranking among them.
- To provide an opportunity for transit operators, local government officials, and many other constituencies including construction organizations, financiers, real estate developers, and community representatives to identify problems and participate in developing appropriate solutions.
- To improve communications, technical information transfer, and exchange.
- To provide a means of addressing a variety of near-term transit problems in cooperation and in coordination with the federal program on transit research.

Federal Role:
FTA provides monitoring and direction to the TCRP by (1) providing guidance; (2) serving as an official voting member of the TOPS Commission; (3) providing the principles of the USDOT strategic plan as reflected in FTA's most recent annual modal research plan each year for incorporation into the TCRP solicitation for research problem statements; (4) reviewing all proposed TCRP research to avoid duplication of effort and to reinforce any related activities; (5) participating in any decision to re-direct project activities; (6) appointing a FTA liaison to each technical panel to guide implementation of TCRP projects to ensure coordination with other FTA research; (7) providing problem statements for consideration by the TOPS Commission in establishing the annual agenda of TCRP projects; (8) attending review meetings; and (9) ensuring that issues and concerns are resolved as they arise during implementation of the TCRP project agenda. FTA participates in the project panel selection process to maintain diversity and to ensure that the defined project work statement is not expanded to the point that it does not coincide with the original problem statement approved by the TOPS Commission. FTA works closely with TRB and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to ensure dissemination, distribution, marketing, and advertising of TCRP studies and demonstrations with an emphasis on the timely deployment and mainstreaming of products and practices resulting from the TCRP. FTA reserves the right to re-direct project activities and funding for the Transit Cooperative Research Program FY 2022 31st year supported under this award and related activities.

Recipient Role:
The National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicines (NASEM) Transportation Research Board will manage the project as outlined in the application, including organizing and managing the annual solicitation of problem statements and their preparation for consideration by the TOPS Commission. TRB will convene project panel meetings, appoint expert technical panelists to define the project work statement and guide the research, develop and distribute a request for proposals, and then process and evaluate proposals to select the best qualified research agency to perform the work. Additionally, TRB will conduct and follow-up on decisions resulting from meetings of the TOPS Commission, administer the cooperative agreement and third-party contracts, provide quarterly progress reports, financial reports, and final close-out reporting to FTA, and disseminate the results of TCRP projects widely through on-line reports, the TCRP website, webinars, social media, and other dissemination mechanisms.

National Academy Of Sciences

20.530 - Public Transportation Innovation

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) [DOT]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

District Of Columbia United States

State-Wide

None