Plan for Midwest Transportation Weather Research Program
Mission
The mission for this program is to address the weather challenges posed to transportation agencies and transportation system users in the Midwest by
- conducting research,
- performing tests and evaluations, and
- conducting technology transfer.
The primary focus is to provide cost effective solutions and enhance the safety and mobility of travelers and freight.
At this stage, the program intends to include the entire spectrum of identifying, managing, and treating weather issues in transportation. Work may range from consideration of weather as an element in planning, design, and construction to safety, operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities.
Goal
To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation planning, design, construction, safety, operations, and maintenance resulting in improved safety and mobility while minimizing cost and environmental consequences.
Program Objective
Emphasize two-way communication between researchers and stakeholders so the program will provide useful results. The Midwest Transportation Weather Research Program will provide an institutional platform to
- Initiate research and technology transfer leading to a significant reduction of the safety and mobility impacts of weather.
- Provide proactive leadership in the development of national and state-level research agendas.
- Support a forum for identifying the gaps in important, high priority, unmet national and state research programs.
- Raise financial resources from public and private sources to address high priority research and technology transfer research needs.
- Provide a mechanism that allows the focusing of the most qualified individuals, teams, and organizations on research and technology transfer activities.
Possible Organization of the Program
The Iowa DOT is willing to provide leadership for the launch of this program and provide an institutional home for the program until permanent arrangements are made. The first step in the development of a program will include the formation of a program board responsible for identifying
- Operating procedures for the program
- The program development
- Stakeholder input to the process
- Research problem statement development
- Funding to support the program
- Soliciting and receiving proposals
- Contract administration
- Project management
- Project reporting and results evaluation
- Support applied implementation
