Rural Transportation Districts’ Research Needs Survey

In an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of rural transportation facilities, enhance the mobility of rural travelers and conserve the ecological well being of the environment, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) Rural Program Steering Committee sought information on rural transportation Districts’ challenges, needs and opportunities. In order to fulfill this request, the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University conducted a survey on Caltrans’ behalf to assess rural District research needs. Each survey question addressed one of the following aspects of the research identification process adopted by the research committee: Perception of the rural District transportation challenges; Identification of research priorities of rural transportation Districts; Identification of research from other states that might be leveraged; Identification of collaboration strategies among potential partners that may need to be created to address challenges; Required communication strategies to make research more accessible and to accelerate implementation of research results; Districts’ role and responsibility for research activities; and Evaluation of the Rural Program Steering Committee’s effectiveness in addressing rural transportation research needs. WTI conducted the survey using Survey Monkey (an online survey tool) during January 2009.