|
|
|
Title: FOCUS ON NEW INITIATIVES IN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH
Accession Number: 00486188
Record Type: Component
Digital Copy: Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: Research is vital to the continued strength of the U.S. economy and to the nation's role as a world leader. The importance of research has been reaffirmed by steady growth in funding of research and development during the 1980s. Both the public sector and private sector are supplying this increased R&D funding. Yet the U.S. devotes only 1.8% of its gross national product to nondefense-related research, whereas Japan and West Germany devote 2.8% and 2.5%, respectively, of their GNP to this type of research. Unfortunately, the transportation sector has not shared in the recent resurgence in R&D funding. Federal R&D funding for all transportation modes--air, highways, rail, public transit, water, and pipelines--has declined from more than $1 billion in 1980 to an estimated $750 million in 1987 (adjusted for inflation). Federal R&D funding for air transport and highways grew during this period, but research budgets for the other transportation modes were cut because of belt-tightening measures. When government expenditures on transportation research are compared with those of private industry, the inadequacy of current transportation research budgets is even more evident. Decentralization of the transportation industry is in part responsible for the lack of a more well-defined and well-funded research program. In this era of little or no central control of the nation's transportation infrastructure, it is not surprising that research to support that infrastructure is broken into many different program functions, directions, and goals. However, despite all this, a number of major new research initiatives have been launched or are planned. These new research initiatives are the focus of this issue of TR News.
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: Deen, T BPagination: p. 2-4
Publication Date: 1989-7
Serial: Features: Figures
(2)
TRT Terms: Uncontrolled Terms: Old TRIS Terms: Subject Areas: Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning
Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
Created Date: Aug 31 1989 12:00AM
More Articles from this Serial Issue:
|
