FEDERAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR REDUCING TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE COSTS

The 1975 policy statement of the Secretary of Transportation reflects that, for the most part, the nation's transportation infrastructure is in place. What is needed now is the modernization, repair, and more effective use of existing capacity. The cost of maintaining the transportation system is of concern, and much is being done in all sectors to cope with the situation. Inefficient maintenance practices, the need for more reliable and maintainable equipment, the need to eliminate or reduce manual labor, and the need for better information systems are being addressed. Solutions take time to implement and are expensive in most cases. Although the findings in this report do not show that a crisis situation exists or is imminent, they do suggest opportunities for the U.S. Department of Transportation to expedite the changes needed to significantly reduce future maintenance costs. Four major areas have been identified in which common needs exist for all transportation modes, in government as well as the private sector. Only visible action in the form of federal leadership, coordination, and dissemination of technical knowledge can help achieve the needed changes more rapidly.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/598/598-003.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FEDERAL+ROLE+IN+SUPPORTING+RESEARCH+AND+DEVELOPMENT+FOR+REDUCING+TRANSPORTATION+MAINTENANCE+COSTS&author=H.+Raiken&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Maintenance and Operations Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Raiken, Howard H
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 5-11
• Monograph Title: Maintenance management, the federal role, unionization, pavement maintenance, and ice control
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 598
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Development; Federal aid; Information systems; Infrastructure; Maintenance equipment; Maintenance management; Mode S; Research; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs; Research and development; Transportation systems
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153141
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025672
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1977 12:00AM