AASHTO Research Advisory Committee

Value of Research Task Force

Meeting Minutes

Date

/ November 13, 2013 /

Time

/ 11:00 am (central)

Co-Chairs

/ Mark Morvant, Louisiana DOTD
Linda Taylor, Minnesota DOT / Scribe / Daniel Yeh, Wisconsin DOT
Subject / Bi-monthly conference call
Attendees / State DOT – members
Mark Morvant, LA (co-chair)
Linda Taylor, MN (co-chair)
Darryll Dockstader, FL
Cindy Smith, MS
Bill Stone, MO
Daniel Yeh, WI
State DOT – friends
Robert McCoy, NM
Ann Overton, VA
Juan Pava, IL
Jimmy White, VA / Other organizations – friends
Pat Casey, CTC & Associates
Barbara Harder, Barbara Harder & Assoc.
Chris Jenks, NCHRP

Key Points Discussed

No. / Topic / Highlights
1 / Roll call
2 / Review of September 11 minutes / Task force approved the meeting minutes
3 / Updates on high value research project (Sweet 16) / High value document presented at AASHTO BOD at Annual Meeting, Sweet 16 certificates also distributed. SCOR had recommended several projects that were presented at the SCOH meeting.
Poster session at TRB to be on Monday at 8:30 or at the lecture session following at 10:15. Sponsored by COR and TT committees.
4 / Research Makes a Difference brochure / All states should have received a small supply of printed brochures from NCHRP
5 / High value research project guidance – submission / Linda reviewed suggested changes to the guidance document. Daniel asked about how to be able to show videos, pictures or other attachments in RPM – Mark responded you had to open the project sharing. Mark asked for slight changes to the completion dates to projects that could be submitted. Mark also asked whether any definition is needed for “completed” research, especially in regards to publication of the final report.
6 / High value research project guidance – regional voting / Linda reviewed current procedures by each individual RAC region to vote for Sweet 16 projects. She then reviewed a suggested consistent process to recommend to all regions for their adoption. Mark clarified the timeline for submittal (March 31) and Sweet 16 selection.
6 / RPM webinar / Mark indicated no additional steps have been takentowards putting on the webinar, but he hopes to outline presenters and topics prior to TRB. The task force talked about whether to survey states about if and how they are (or are not) using RPM.
7 / Working group update – quantifying the value of research and performance measures / Linda noted there was no progress on this working group due to lack of a chair. Barbara indicated the TRB Conduct of Research Committee has interest in the topic and has sponsored a session at the upcoming TRB meeting. Darryl is also addressing with Jason Bittner the issue of how performance measures can be addressed in TRB and will follow up with Mark.
8 / Working group update –
marketing the value of research / Mark reported that the value of research working group is developing a brochure focusing on high-value safety research projects. The document should be ready for review by the TRB Annual Meeting.
Action Items
No. / Action Item /

Owner

/

Target Date

1 / Next meeting will be at 7:30 PMon January 14 at TRB in the Marriott Park Tower Suite 8212. Mark & Linda will send agenda and details later. / Mark Morvant
Linda Taylor / January 14
2 / Mark Morvant will send list of Sweet 16 projects that SCOR selected for presentation to SCOH at AASHTO Annual Meeting. / Mark Morvant / November 30
3 / Mark Morvant to check with RAC leadership on whether an AASHTO Journal article will be generated on the Sweet 16 presentation at Annual Meeting. / Mark Morvant / November 14
4 / Mark & Linda will send the updated Sweet 16 project submittal guidance and RAC region voting guidance so that the task force can make final changes at the January 14 meeting. / Mark Morvant
Linda Taylor / December 15