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The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) was established in 1962 by the National Academy of Sciences to conduct research in acute problem areas that affect highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance nationwide. The NCHRP is administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and sponsored by member departments (i.e., individual state departments of transportation) of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The state departments of transportation are the sole sponsors of the NCHRP; however, their support is voluntary. Funds are drawn from the states' Federal-Aid Highway apportionment of State Planning and Research (SPR) and can be spent only for the administration of research problems approved on ballot by at least two-thirds of the states.

AASHTO annually proposes specific research problems for inclusion in the NCHRP fiscal year activities. Research projects are assigned to one of 25 problem areas falling within 8 broad research fields, including Administration, Transportation Planning, Design, Materials and Construction, Soils and Geology, Maintenance, Traffic, and Special Projects. Each project is assigned a panel comprised of knowledgeable individuals in the specifics of the particular project, who provide counsel throughout the project's research and reporting phases.

The AASHTO Standing Committee on Research (SCOR) solicits research problems from four authorized sources: (1) the chief administrative officers of the member highway and transportation departments, (2) the chairs of AASHTO's committees and subcommittees, (3) AASHTO's Board of Directors, and (4) the Federal Highway Administrator. Research projects selected for the NCHRP are ultimately determined by recommendations from the TRB and a two-stage approval process involving the Academy, TRB, AASHTO and the FHWA.

NCHRP Research findings are published in the NCHRP Reports series and the NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice series. The reporting format is designed specifically to accommodate transportation administrators and practicing engineers. NCHRP Research Results Digests and NCHRP Legal Research Digests are issued as warranted in order to provide the earliest possible awareness and use of the research findings. Copies of all published reports are issued to the chief administrative officer of each highway and transportation department and widely within TRB circles.

For more information about NCHRP projects, contact the Office of Contracts and Grants, National Academy of Sciences, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418 at 202-334-2060.

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