NCHRP Synthesis Program is Now Accepting Topic Statements
15 April 2026
The NCHRP Synthesis topic statement submittal portal is now
open. Submit a topic statement at this
link: https://nchrpballoting.trb.org/synthesis.
Topic statements are due by 11:59:59pm EST on June 15, 2026. Late submittals will not be accepted.
Important changes:
1. Submitters
are strongly encouraged to consider the federal administration’s priorities
when proposing synthesis topics.
2. While anyone can write or
contribute to preparing a topic statement, submittals will only be
accepted from the following sources:
a. Employees
of state departments of transportation
b. AASHTO
staff on behalf of AASHTO committees or councils
c. Employees
of the Federal Highway Administration
3. Submitters
will use their MyTRB credentials to login to the online submittal system.
If you do not have a MyTRB account, you will be prompted to create one.
4. Instead
of uploading a document, the submitter will fill in an online form; text can be
either typed directly into the form or can be cut and pasted from a document.
5. Topic statement submittals that propose going beyond the scope of an NCHRP Synthesis will not
be accepted.
a. A
synthesis documents current highway-related practices at state
departments of transportation (DOTs).
i. A
synthesis does not document best practice.
ii. A
synthesis is not a research project or a guide; it does not make
recommendations.
b. The
topic addresses an area of practice that is widespread and of interest to most state
DOTs.
c. The
topic should be timely and critical for expediting the delivery, improving the
quality, or lowering the cost of highway programs.
d.
All syntheses use the same approach for
gathering information: a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and
follow-up interviews with selected DOTs to develop case examples. Information
gaps and suggestions for future research to address those gaps will be
identified.
e. Synthesis
contracts are fixed-price with a total budget of $65,000 and an 11-month period
of performance.
The topic statement outline is available here: Topic Statement Outline
(Clicking on the above links
will open the document in a new window. If you do not see the document in a new
window, please check your Downloads folder)
Please direct any questions you may have to MyTRB@nas.edu and
use "NCHRP Synthesis” in the subject line.”