Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Concrete and rebar.
Asphalt and aggregate.
Research and implementation.
These classic combinations form the foundation of durable bridges that span greater lengths.
Safe, smooth roadways that last longer. And, a first-class transportation system saving lives,
time and money. It's called synergy, and it made the partnership between the
Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Transportation Institute successful for
more than 50 years. Often copied but never duplicated, this lasting partnership produced the
finest multi-modal transportation system in the world.
Well, how does the saying go? All hat and no cattle. I think that would apply to any
institution that tries to emulate what we have in place in connection with the
Cooperative Research Agreement and the various programs.
The transportation system we have today had to start somewhere.
After the turn of the century Texans knew something had to be done about building
roads and highways, connecting farms and ranches to small towns and big cities.
In 1917 the Texas Highway Department was created to meet those needs.
Highway engineers contacted professors at A&M College to share knowledge and use
A&M laboratories to help design and build highways.
We developed relationships that have allowed us to work together long enough
that we did begin to recognize that they have problems that are definitely problems
that need to be addressed and that they recognized that we have those
skills that are necessary to address those problems.
As far as I'm concerned, it was comfortable all the way. It was a cooperative relationship
beginning to end. Of course I don't mean that you didn't have a little dissension now and then,
but it didn't amount to anything.
That's how our unique partnership began. A mutually beneficial relationship built on
respect, trust and professional ties.
The main thing I think that we like about the operation is, they have understood what
we were after, what we needed for research and tried to do the research
in line with what we were looking for. That way we were able to get good research
with them but implement it. And that's the important part of research.
Over the years, that informal exchange of ideas and know-how took hold. But a
more formal association was necessary. Through leadership and determination,
transportation pioneers DeWitt Greer and Gibb Gichrist envisioned a partnership.
Between Mr. Greer and Mr. Gilchrist, they had a personal relationship and a
professional relationship that both very strongly believed that the highway system
and the improvement of the highway system was the real key to the growth of the state
of Texas and the economic development of the state.
They were visionary people that understood the need for good transportation in Texas
and they had a vision for knowing how to go about it and making it happen.
The Cooperative Research Program was born. Thomas McDonald was one of the early
leaders who was instrumental in putting it to work.
Texas has had the right leadership, the right vision and extraordinary timing
in development of the CRA. Particularly because it began in the early 50s in a way
and progressed though the development of the Interstate System.
They had the vision to see that they were going to have to build a series of highways
that most people would have said were impossible.
Once in place, the partnership led to the creation of the Texas Transportation Institute.
And, in the 1950s, the collaborative effort rose to a new level following the enactment
of federal legislation creating the Interstate Highway System.
The construction boom of rural highways and urban freeways began.
Transportation became a necessity of life. Economic growth demanded it.
Over the years, highway engineers and TTI researchers created innovative highway plans
and design specifications. Together, the partnership developed asphalt and aggregate
combinations for smoother, safer and longer lasting highways. That spirit of cooperation
solidified a partnership determined to find solutions to highway design
and construction demands.
When I finally got to a level of leadership, at the District Engineer level, the assistance
that I was able to get from both TTI and CTR through the Cooperative Research Program
was invaluable to me. I was able to make decisions that were based on sound research
and decision making that I would not have had otherwise.
This agreement has probably saved many lives in Texas and there's probably generations of
families in Texas that are here today that wouldn't be here without that research.
Just building and maintaining a first class highway system wasn't enough.
Leaders in the Texas Highway Department realized that the best system of highways
needed to be the safest system of highways.
The partnership had yet another challenge: saving lives.
Highway engineers are always alert to what we call problem areas.
You have a high accident area, you want to respond to it.
Highway safety was a high priority when Bill Ward served as Urban Engineer in Houston.
Innovative safety solutions developed for Houston drivers are now used across
Texas and nationwide. Highway illumination, breakaway signs and crash cushions are just
a few examples. Collapsible steel drums were first used in Houston.
We worked with TTI on developing the installation of those drums because here in
Houston we had a number of spots where we had several fatalities of people
running into these concrete bifurcation points.
The partnership's desire to build on safety led to the vision of forgiving roadsides.
We had the Gulf Freeway and the Central Expressway and there were problems and
they knew there were problems and so we started working together. And I think we,
for many years, led the nation in the concept of freeway design and improvement.
The safety work continues today from innovative culvert designs, median barriers
and guardrails. The ET-2000 is a partnership triumph. This innovative safety
design for end treatment of guardrails was developed at TTI's proving grounds at
Texas A&M University's Riverside campus. It's now used in 47 states, saving lives and money,
Texas A&M University's Riverside campus. It's now used in 47 states, saving lives and money,
reducing severe injuries, lost productivity and lowering maintenance costs.
Ground penetrating radar is helping engineers save valuable maintenance dollars.
This non-intrusive use of technology allows engineers a clear view below the
roadway's surface. Just as x-ray technology revolutionized medicine, ground-penetrating
radar will advance transportation by greatly improving construction and
maintenance techniques. The partnership's work is not finished. Researchers and highway
engineers are developing safer highway surfaces to reduce hydroplaning and
improve skid resistance.
With progress, we've seen increasing urban congestion, fueling environmental
concerns and demands to conserve energy. The economic cost is enormous and
common sense tells us it's getting harder to build our way out of a problem.
We have a myriad of problems that Mr. Gilchrist and Mr. Greer probably never
even envisioned. The multi-modal thing. Integration with transit. Trade.
All of these things combine to, in my opinion, shift the focus of what we need to be looking at.
The partnership is working hard to better understand traffic operations. How to plan
and design safer and more efficient highways linking all modes of transportation.
The partnership's new challenge? Efficient transportation.
We know that we can't afford to just completely build our way
out of all the problems that we have.
To help ease urban congestion, the partnership continues its design and
development of high occupancy vehicle lanes and freeway flow signals.
Car-pooling and park-and-ride sites are helping ease traffic congestion.
Drivers are also getting better highway information. State-of-the-art traffic centers
monitor traffic 24 hours a day and overhead displays on freeways help drivers
make smart decisions. Virtually every mile of state highway in Texas
has been positively impacted in some manner by the Cooperative Research Program.
But the work is far from finished. Tomorrow’s transportation solutions are being decided
today. At a recent ceremony in Austin, the Cooperative Research Agreement was
rededicated by those who recall where it all began. And by those who will continue
the spirit of cooperation.
As we approach the 21st century, it's also obvious that the work of this cooperative
partnership is very far from over. And I would state that the importance of this
partnership is, perhaps, even greater today than it ever has been.
The cooperation that began as a handshake between highway professionals more than
fifty years ago is very much alive today. It has grown to include research partnerships at
state funded universities all over Texas, producing valuable research findings
and educating thousands of transportation professionals.
By the department investing in these young men and young women and sending
them back to get an advanced degree, they're getting expertise and bringing it right
back into the department. Then they have this background experience and their knowledge.
It's not textbook, Generally, it's something they've worked on and had that
experience in the field.
So, the work continues. New challenges to be met and innovative research to implement.
As Raymond Stotzer once said,
Wise words from a leader who believed the Cooperative Research Program
would provide the answers for tomorrow's transportation challenges.