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In addition to meeting the nation’s transportation needs, federal, state, and local transportation agencies must always guard the public safety and the public treasury. These strictures necessarily induce conservative attitudes among transportation officials; the tried and true is preferred to the innovative and unusual. As a result, even the most beneficial products of research can be difficult to implement among transportation agencies without strong, well-focused technology transfer efforts. FHWA and AASHTO have often turned to TRB for advice and guidance in undertaking such efforts.

FHWA was charged with implementing the products of the $150 million SHRP research among the state departments of transportation. At the request of FHWA and AASHTO, TRB created the TRB SHRP Committee to advise and assist in this massive technology transfer effort. When legislation enacted in 1998 interrupted FHWA efforts to implement Superpave, an improved system for the design of asphalt pavement materials, AASHTO assumed responsibility for the technology transfer program and requested that TRB convene a committee for continuing review and advice.