TRAC, an interdisciplinary committee of experts from industry, academia, and the private and public sectors, will examine and recommend actions FTA can take to ensure that its research and innovation program is relevant, timely, and effective in meeting the diverse and changing needs of the public transportation community. To do so, TRAC will review the program’s:

•latest Section 5312 Research Report that highlights program activities and accomplishments;
•strategic planning process, including approaches for setting research priorities and identifying research needs and opportunities;
•procedures for obtaining and evaluating stakeholder input;
•means for evaluating research results, furthering their use, and understanding their value to the transit industry and broader public.

TRAC will identify candidate areas of emphasis for FTA-sponsored research that are consistent with the stated goals of the U.S. Department of Transportation and with the Fast Act’s emphasis on improving mobility and infrastructure durability, reducing congestion, promoting safety, and preserving the transportation system and environment.

Drawing on its interdisciplinary knowledge and experience, TRAC will assist FTA in identifying and examining emerging trends affecting the public transportation sector as well as transferable practices from outside the sector that can benefit public transportation. TRAC will make recommendations to FTA on research and innovation program strategies intended to strengthen the public transportation industry’s adaptation to new circumstances and adoption of new practices.

TRAC will issue its findings and recommendations in biannual consensus letter reports but with the option, per request of FTA and subject to funding availability, to issue a longer consensus report that addresses elements of the task statement in more depth and over a longer time horizon.