among decision makers, researchers, program managers, and state highway personnel. See Table 5-1 for a summary of research funding for surface transportation.

In FY 2001 the FHWA spent nearly $184 million on surface transportation research, technology deployment, training and education, and intelligent transportation system research and development (TRB, 2001b). About $2.5 million of this funding is devoted to road weather research and development (see Table 5-2). The FHWA also supports the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, the Highway Safety Information System database,¹ and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office. The FHWA conducts some research itself and contracts for the remainder with private firms, universities, and research institutes. The administration typically selects its research contractors through merit-based competition. In recent years, however, Congress has designated more research projects and research performers. Congressional designations under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century for 1999, 2000, and 2001 amounted to 44