Implementing Transportation Knowledge Networks

TRB Special Report 284: Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Management Strategy for the 21st Century, was published in 2006. This National Research Council policy study is the most recent of a series of studies focusing on the importance of managing information related to the transportation sector (see Special Note F). The study was a direct follow-up to NCHRP Project 20-07(142), Scoping Study for a National Strategic Plan for Transportation Information Management; a report on the findings of this study was released in 2003. The scoping study was conducted in response to a resolution from the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee, which recognized the importance of access to information and made recommendations to address deficiencies in the networks, funding, and expertise needed to make that information available in a timely and efficient manner. The study that produced Special Report 284 was to provide strategic advice to the federal government and the states regarding a sustainable administrative structure and funding mechanism for meeting the information services needs of the transportation sector. The report made a number of recommendations for the governance, organizational structure, and funding mechanisms needed to implement transportation knowledge networks nationally. It is clear that secure, sustainable funding will be key to the success of this effort, along with strong national leadership and commitment from those who will champion the implementation of transportation knowledge networks across the country. A concerted effort is needed to begin implementing the recommendations of the study. This NCHRP project will serve as a first step in what will be a long-term effort to gain increased efficiencies, cost savings, and quality through better management of transportation information. This project developed a business plan to initiate the implementation of transportation knowledge networks in the United States. NCHRP Report 643 is available on the TRB website. In a follow-up effort, the research team developed a Directory of U.S. transportation libraries and information centers that could be potential participants in the TKNs. This Directory can be found on the National Transportation Library website. The final report documenting how this Directory was developed and structured can be downloaded here.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=661

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $200000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-75

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Hedges, Christopher

• Performing Organizations:

  Spy Pond Partners, LLC

  Arlington, MA  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Harrison, Frances

• Start Date: 20070327
• Expected Completion Date: 20090930
• Actual Completion Date: 20090930
• Source Data: RiP Project 11836

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Future; Information management; Policy making; Research projects; State departments of transportation; Strategic planning; Transportation planning; Value engineering; Websites (Information retrieval)
• Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01569120
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-75
• Files: RIP
• Created Date: Jul 1 2015 2:46AM