U.S. Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966. Its mission is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) coordinates USDOT research programs and advances the deployment of innovative technologies, including intelligent transportation systems, to improve our nation’s transportation system. RITA brings together important data, research, and technology transfer assets of the USDOT, including:

• Bureau of Transportation Statistics
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• National Transportation Library
• Research, Development and Technology
• Transportation Safety Institute
• University Transportation Centers
• Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Travel Model Improvement Program

The Travel Model Improvement Program (TMIP) was created to advance the state-of-the-practice of travel modeling and planning analysis. To that end, TMIP conducts research and provides a variety of technical services and training to academics and professionals in the fields of travel modeling and planning analysis.

TMIP is a partnership of the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. TMIP also partnered with the Department of Energy and its Los Alamos National Laboratory to conduct the research and development that created the TRansportation ANalysis SIMulation System (TRANSIMS) technology used by TRACC.

TMIP works cooperatively with the Metropolitan Capacity Building Program, which is focused on enhancing the capabilities of State and local transportation staffs to meet planning requirements and needs, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) is the home of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Research, Development, and Technology. TFHRC provides FHWA and the world highway community with the most advanced research and development related to new highway technologies. The research focuses on providing solutions to complex technical problems through the development of more economical, environmentally sensitive designs; more efficient, quality controlled constructions practices; and more durable materials. The end result is a safer, more reliable highway transportation system.

National Crash Analysis Center

The National Crash Analysis Center (NCAC) is a successful collaborative effort among the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and The George Washington University. The NCAC primarily supports efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries on the Nation's roadways, but also works to improve safety worldwide. The missions of the NCAC include:

• Improving safety by expanding researchers' knowledge about crashes
• Developing and sharing detailed vehicle and hardware models
• Leading efforts to apply computer simulation tools to enable researchers to study the complex interactions associated with crashes.