Annually hundreds of millions of dollars are invested by state, federal, and university research managers to produce innovations and improvements to the transportation system. However, the benefits of these investments are dependent upon the ability to deploy and implement the results of research - the innovations, technologies, new methods, and procedures. Coupled with this responsibility to put into practice what has been learned, there is a substantial need for effective and continuous sharing of best practices and new information among the transportation community. These factors point to a more basic need - creating and enhancing mechanisms to enable technology transfer, which is the term used for all the activities leading to the adoption of a new-to-the-user product or procedure as an accepted operating practice. A "Technology Transfer Toolbox Scoping Study" has been developed for FHWA and is available for reference. Also, an NCHRP Synthesis Study, "Transportation Technology Transfer Successes, Challenges and Needs" (NCHRP Project 20-5, Topic 35-12) has been developed to establish a baseline for implementation and technology transfer activities currently being performed in state DOT's. Please contact John McCracken (202-493-3422) at FHWA for copies of the files or for further information.

The main objective of the project is to develop an application-oriented, results-driven Interactive Systematic Approach to support the implementation of research results. This will be accomplished through the development of an Implementation Planning Tool, which will include 4 modules [implementation plan module, marketing module, executive briefing module, and a scheduling/tracking module] with a shared body of knowledge of user needs. The vision of the project panel converges at the following critical points required for the development of the T2 Toolbox: - The T2 Toolbox content must be developed first - The tools in the T2 Toolbox should be interactive and decision-directed - A CD based delivery mechanism is a desirable format for the T2 Toolbox for an initial, interim version - A web-based interactive T2 Toolbox should be the ultimate delivery mechanism and the goal of any effort committed to developing the T2 Toolbox - A means of sharing successful practices should be built into the web-based system.

Please see the attached document.

It is anticipated that $20,000 per year [$40,000 total commitment] will be requested from each state in order to serve on the project Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Funding at less than the required commitment is also encouraged and will still enable states to participate in the project and to receive the completed products; however, these states will not be able to serve on the TAC.