2005 Profile: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

NHTSA · 2006 · ROSA P / Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

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Summary

This document serves as a 2005 profile of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC), the Federal Highway Administration’s primary research facility located in McLean, Virginia. The publication outlines TFHRC’s mission to innovate and deploy practical solutions for real-world transportation problems through a dynamic, stakeholder-driven approach. Rather than operating in isolation, TFHRC coordinates its research agenda with state and local governments, academia, and the private sector to ensure that technologies address actual needs. The facility houses 24 laboratories and employs over 300 researchers and contractors who focus on three primary areas: infrastructure, safety, and operations. The profile highlights the implementation of FHWA’s Corporate Master Plan, which emphasizes engaging stakeholders throughout the research process and overcoming institutional barriers to technology deployment. The research methodology at TFHRC is characterized by multidisciplinary collaboration and extensive partnerships. The Office of Infrastructure R&D employs systems approaches to improve bridge and pavement performance, utilizing nanoscience to develop materials with enhanced strength and durability. The Office of Operations R&D develops hardware and software tools to mitigate congestion and improve safety, while the Office of Safety R&D focuses on preventing roadway departures and protecting pedestrians. TFHRC facilitates cross-fertilization of ideas by sharing staff with state departments of transportation, other federal agencies, and international partners, such as the Japanese Ministry of Land, Transport, and Infrastructure. Additionally, the center conducts annual independent lab assessments to maintain research quality and engages in pooled fund studies, such as the Traffic Management Center study, to share best practices among public agencies. The profile details several specific innovations and their results. In infrastructure, researchers developed a quantitative imaging technique for evaluating coating failures on steel bridges, which was adopted as an ASTM standard. They also conducted full-scale tests on curved steel girder bridges, leading to new AASHTO specifications. In operations, the QuickZone software enabled cost-effective construction phasing in Yosemite Valley, while ACS-Lite adaptive control software reduced traffic delays and fuel consumption in Ohio and Texas, yielding significant annual savings. Safety initiatives included the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model, which helped estimate crash reductions in Idaho, and research into freeway median cable underride crashes, which identified location and slope issues rather than design flaws. Furthermore, TFHRC installed a new weather station to support traffic simulation models and vehicle-infrastructure integration initiatives, sharing data with NOAA to improve weather forecasting. The significance of TFHRC’s work lies in its ability to translate research into actionable technologies that enhance the national transportation system. By fostering partnerships and focusing on real-world applications, TFHRC produces advanced tools and materials that reduce costs, improve safety, and increase efficiency. The center’s outreach efforts, including international technical exchanges with Korea and China and publications like the *Covered Bridge Manual*, demonstrate its role in disseminating knowledge and preserving cultural heritage. Ultimately, TFHRC’s dynamic approach ensures that federal transportation research remains essential and responsive to the evolving needs of the highway community, contributing to a safer and more efficient transportation future.

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• perceptual countermeasures

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Methodological Resource: dataset resource