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TEXAS RESEARCH PROGRAM OVERVIEWResearch & Technology Implementation DivisionTexas Department of TransportationChris Glancy, Research Portfolio Manager

March 5, 2020

Texas State Planning and Research (SPR) Program

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Aligns to TxDOT Goals and Objectives:-Optimize System Performance - Deliver the Right Projects -Focus on the Customer-Foster Stewardship -Preserve our Assets -Promote Safety

-Value our Employees

History

Commission Minute Orders from 1948 to 1997

Provides TxDOT the authority to contract with Texas colleges and universities for transportation-related research

Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) submitted to Governor identifies a strategy for Research

Source of Federal Funding

US Code, Title 23, “Highways” Funds apportioned to states -

2% used only for planning and research activities.

Not less than 25% of the SPR funds apportioned to a state for a fiscal year shall be used for research

Research:

Develops application for advanced technologies

Contributes to the high quality of Texas transportation facilities and services

Assists the state in meeting needs created by growth and changing technologies

Ensures that transportation research funds are available to Texas universities in order to assure high quality research results

Research SPR Funding Value to TxDOT and State

General Information

Annual Budget – 80/20 Matching Funds The Research program budget is approximately $24M/annually

Federal funds of Approximately $19M

State matching funds approximately $4.8M

Fiscal year begins September 1st

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Functions

Management, Coordination and Oversight State Planning and Research Program, Subpart B

State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC)

Every Day Counts (EDC)

Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

Transportation Pool Fund (TPF)

National Cooperative Highway Research Topics (NCHRP) - Coordinates Texas participation

TxDOT Research Library

Technology Transfer Activities

Research Implementation

Product Evaluation Program

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Program Development Timeline

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Annual call for research

needs

Aug - Sept

Research Committees determine

project selectionsOct - Dec

Executive Committee determines

and approves projects for

funding Dec - Jan

Annual request for proposal is

sent to universities

and proposals are awarded Mar–June

Work Program sent to FHWA for approval

July

Problem Statement – Idea To Research

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Title of Idea

Which TxDOT goals would it benefit

Suggested Area(s) being impacted

Brief description of the problem

Brief description of the idea to test.

Brief description of deliverables i.e.

reports and products

Expect benefits and usage

Implications if not selected

Rough order of magnitude – high level

estimates - cost, duration,

identification of other similar research

Submitter(s) and TxDOT Champion

Project Selection Process

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Problem Solicitation Project Awarding

Request For

Proposals

Proposal Submission

Proposals Evaluated & Project Selected

Work Program

Development

Problem Grouping Committees Prioritize Projects

RTI RTI

Functional Area Committees

RTI

Texas state-funded Universities

Research Oversight Committee

TxDOT-Subject Matter Experts

FHWA Approval

RTI

Executive Committee

Executive Committee

Research Committees – Prioritize Projects

Functional Area Committees (FAC) consists of district and division subject matter experts from across the state. The committee evaluates problem statements and recommends a prioritized list for funding consideration. There are five committees:

• Construction, Maintenance and Materials (CMM)

• Safety and Operations (S&O)

• Structures and Hydraulics (S&H)

• Planning and Environmental (P&E)

• Strategy and Innovation (S&I)

Research Oversight Committee(ROC) consists of district engineers and division directors. Further prioritize recommended projects from FAC for funding consideration.

Executive Committee consist of the Director of Strategy and Innovation, and Chief Engineer. Approves recommended project selections from the ROC based on funding available from RTI.

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Project Monitoring Committee

Team of 3-8 TxDOT technical subject matter experts

Evaluates proposals

Monitors project progress

Reviews technical reports and deliverables

Advises on course of corrective actions; if applicable

Makes recommendations for implementing results

Eliminates impediments

Disseminate and promotes research results

The champion serves as the technical lead

Research Project Manager

Research Project Manager is the point-of-contact

Coordinates and facilitates project meetings

Responsible for overall project management and contract management activities

Review and payment of invoices

Ensures milestones are met and deliverable received according to plan.

Assist with development of corrective actions

Disseminates and promotes research results

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Transportation Pooled Fund

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TxDOT Research Library

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TxDOT Research Library

RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

PROGRAM SUMMARYFY 2021Tom Schwerdt, Research Project Manager

March 4, 2020

FY 2021 Program Summary Owner: Tom

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FY 2021 Program Summary Owner: Tom

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FY 2021 Program Summary Owner: Tom

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RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

AIR QUALITY RESEARCHBrief Overview of Projects Shelley Pridgen, Research Project Manager

March 4, 2020

RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

Current Air Quality Projects

0-7024 - Assessing Ozone Impacts on Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption in Texas

– Scheduled from FY20 through FY22

– TxDOT Champion – Jackie Ploch

– TTI Research Supervisor – Reza Farzaneh

– External Project Advisors – Lori Clark (NCTCOG) and Graciela Lubertino (Houston-Galveston Area Council), Jamie Zech (TCEQ), Jeff Riley (EPA)

0-9907-20 - Electric School Bus Literature Review and Industry Scan

– TxDOT Champion – Jackie Ploch

– TTI Research Supervisor - John Overman

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RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

Past Air Quality Projects

0-6864 - Investigate the Air Quality Benefits of Nighttime Construction in Non-Attainment Counties (TTI)

– Created a Decision Support Framework

0-6928 – Maximize Savings and Minimize Air Pollution with On-Site Manufacturing of Embankment Soils (UTSA) – Cancelled early

0-6943 – Validation of Air Quality Models with Near-Road Monitoring Data (TTI;UTEP)

0-6945 – Ramp Metering Impact Study with Potential Regional Deployment within the Dallas-Fort Worth Ozone Nonattainment Area (TTI)

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RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

Air Quality Research Problem Statements – FY 21

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Project ID Project Name Champion Sponsor Rating

21-085 BUY AMERICA ECONOMIC IMPACTS (EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS) Jackie Ploch NCTCOG 3.50

21-091 EVALUATING THE NOX AND ENERGY REDUCTION BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES OPERATING IN AN URBAN NON-ATTAINMENT AREA Jackie Ploch TTI 2.88

21-099 POLLUTION MONITORING AROUND WORK ZONES, BORDER CROSSINGS, AND OTHER LOCALIZED REGIONS Ar turo Perez CTR 1.25

21-107 UNDERSTANDING VEHICLE TYPE AND USE PATTERNS WITH DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS

AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, AIR CONFORMITY, ENERGY DEPENDENCE, AND GREENHOUSE GAS

B i ll Knowles CTR 2.00

21-108 UNDERSTANDING WEEKEND, SPECIAL EVENT, AND NON-PEAK TRAVEL PATTERNS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS F OR SYSTEM RELIABILITY, AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY, AND GREENHOUSE GASES B i ll Knowles CTR 1.50

21-239 BENEFITS IN SHIFTING TEXAS BUS FLEETS TO ELECTRIC AND SELF DRIVING BUSES Not Listed CTR 2.75

21-240 LAND USE PATTERNS, TRAVEL, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, POPULATION TRENDS, AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGE IMPACTS ON TEXAS’ ENERGY USE AND CARBON EMISSIONS Jack Foster CTR 3.25

1 Air Quality Project made it through the FAC and none made it through ROC for FY21 Possible Reasons for lack of success

limited support at both the FAC and ROC Meetings; No TxDOT Champion to argue for project

RTI Air Quality Research March 5, 2020

Next Steps

Gain Expert Involvement, ENV Division/TPP Division participation and RTI Division support early on in the process.– Allow plenty of time to prepare the problem statement and make it ready to

withstand criticism.– Aim for sound science that will produce results that can be implemented or

contribute to additional valuable studies.

Send well-spoken Champions to FAC and ROC Meetings.– FAC Meeting – make sure you have topic level support for each project

“sponsored” by ENV/TPP. The ENV Division is diverse and all have different priorities. TPP also could speak to the value of these projects.

– ROC – ENV/Planning topics are up against all other Categories. Need to make a strong case for how these projects support Agency/State, (i.e. Big Picture).

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Thank YouQ&A

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