	Background

The nation’s transportation system depends increasingly on innovations from research to improve its performance. Such research spans three distinct modes—highways, mass transit, and railroads. ISTEA Provided New Direction and Funding for Surface Transportation Research

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) expressed the need for a new direction in surface transportation research, finding that despite an annual federal expenditure of more than $10 billion on surface transportation and its infrastructure, the federal government lacked two key components for an effective surface transportation research program: (1) a clear vision of the role of federally funded surface transportation research and (2) an integrated framework for the fragmented surface transportation research programs dispersed throughout the government. This report discusses (1) the public and private funding for surface transportation research, (2) the transportation community’s views on the federal role for research and DOT’s ability to fulfill that role, and (3) the issues that the transportation community believes the Congress and DOT should consider during ISTEA’s reauthorization. Most of DOT’s Surface Transportation Research Budget Has Gone to FHWA

Between fiscal year 1992 and fiscal year 1996, DOT budgeted about $2.9 billion (in appropriations and contract authority) for surface transportation research—about 2 percent of its total surface transportation budget. RSPA’s customers include DOT’s modal agencies, state and local governments, the transportation community, and academia. DOT has established councils and committees to coordinate its research both internally and externally. Private companies also focus on applied research. Conclusions

Transportation stakeholders generally agree that the federal government should remain a leader in surface transportation research, serving as the primary source of funds, developing a strategic plan, and acting as a focal point for technology transfer. First, it does not address the total surface transportation system, giving limited attention to system assessment, policy, and intermodal research. Second, it does not include enough basic, long-term, high-risk research to respond to complex, persistent problems.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on surface transportation research, focusing on: (1) public and private funding for surface transportation research; (2) the transportation community's views on such research and the Department of Transportation's (DOT) ability to fulfill that role; and (3) issues that the transportation community believes that Congress and DOT should address during the reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA).

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) between fiscal years 1992 and 1996, DOT provided $2.9 billion for surface transportation research programs to five modal agencies, with the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) receiving $2.1 billion; (2) FHwA allocated almost half of its funding to its Intelligent Transportation Systems Program, and other agencies conducted research on vehicle and driver safety, high-speed ground transportation, mass transit operations, and advanced transportation technologies; (3) ISTEA has encouraged greater public and private cooperation as well as university involvement, and states have increased the amount of federal and state money they spend on such research; (4) the transportation community generally agreed that DOT should lead the nation's surface transportation research program and serve as a focal point for technology transfer, since it has broader interests and a wider perspective than the other parties; (5) DOT has improved external and internal coordination of its surface transportation research program, but lacks the resources and authority to create an integrated framework or strategic plan for surface transportation research; and (6) the transportation community believes that the surface transportation research program does not adequately address the total surface transportation system, giving limited attention to system assessment, policy, and intermodal research, and does not include enough basic, long-term, high-risk research to respond to complex, persistent problems.