FHWA/UTC Workshop on Urban/Suburban Mobility and Congestion Mitigation Research, HRTS

FHWA/UTC Workshop on Urban / Suburban Mobility and Congestion Mitigation Research

Topic 1: Presentations on Secretary Mineta's Congestion Initiative and FHWA's Urban Mobility Priorities

Questions/Comments on this Topic:

Excellent information. I feel like I am ahead of the pack because this initiative is new and hasn't trickled out to the State DOT's yet. The UTCs need to know about this. It will help them make their research program relevant!
Good luck! A great objective; not sure it is very realistic
Effective. It's nice to be updated on national priorities and directions.
Good overview of goals and objectives
Effective
Effective, informative
Telework needs to be reflected in research areas as it is part of the plan (same for TDM); Private sector includes working with employees, not just as investors; Pricing needs to include much more.

Topic 2: Panel discussion on FHWA's research program and UTC opportunities

Questions/Comments on this Topic:

Very good information. The "research gaps" piece is especially useful to me - and should be noted by all UTCs. They need to put attention to the gaps.
Good handouts. Incentivizes cooperation among UTCs
Very worthwhile. It provided knowledge about various programs and gave me ideas about follow up to make FHWA more aware of relevant research we are doing.
Effective. I believe there are a great deal of opportunities that need to be explored and implemented between FHWA and UTCs.
Presentations were informative
Effective - helped bring me up to speed on FHWA's programs
Effective, informative
This material should have been sent in advance
Very helpful

Topic 3: Breakout Discussion Groups

Questions/Comments on this Topic:

Good exchange of information. Cross fertilization of experience and initiatives from various States/UTCs very helpful. Would have like to have seen more information from the UTCs as to what they were working on and what are their thrust areas, etc.
Need more time; recognize that some UTCs will be competing so may be holding back; Increase pressure to States to use CMAQ and make guidance so it can be used consistently.
Very worthwhile opportunity to start relationships with FHWA Program Managers.
Effective. Very informative. I am more clear on what each group is doing
I struggled to understand objectives
Good effort - seemed to be effective - time will tell. We need another day to keep going.
Effective. Not enough time to cover all subtopics.
Very good discussion in Integrated Corridor Management
Some discussion about Mapping Research results back to program areas needs to be addressed. Once research is mapped to program areas we need a mechanism to provide the outcome to practitioners and manufactures that can practically apply it.

Overall Rating of Workshop

Your Comments/Suggestions for Improvements Here:

All the information from this needs to be pulled together and sent to UTCs and their collaborating DOT research institutions. Need to emphasize the part that UTCs need to pay attention to gaps and to those issues that have been raised in the congestion Initiative of Secretary Mineta.
Need to have State DOTs and UTCs subject area experts to be involved. Put it on downtown or more convenient to Metro
Worthwhile investment of time.
Very effective. Please keep me up-to-date on future workshops.
I give it a 4 out of 5 - good dialog
Please consider funding travel for some limited number (5-7) of State DOT staff to increase their participation in these workshops. We need more of these types of workshops.
Effective
Overall a good design...but too much "fire hose" of information on first day. Do parallel, in depth briefings after participants read high level overviews (prior to meeting)
The matrix of research areas and programs areas was good information; more detail about research focus areas would have been helpful as read ahead material.
Very good information on DOT interest areas and strategic plans.