Cooperation with the USA on mobility
In the field of mobility and transport we work closely together based on a Memorandum of Understanding at ministry level which dates back to the early 1970s.
Nowadays we cooperate on many road infrastructure issues such as Asset Management, Climate Resilience and Automated Mobility at both the federal and state level.
Rijkswaterstaat is an active member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). Through active participation in mutual programmes and events, such as Freeway Operations and the Every Day Counts programme, we managed to improve performance and safety levels on our main road network.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the US Department of Transportation that supports state and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the Nation’s highway system (Federal Aid Highway Program) and various federally and tribal owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program).
Through financial and technical assistance to state and local governments, FHWA is responsible for ensuring that America’s roads and highways continue to be among the safest and most technologically sound in the world.
Rijkswaterstaat has worked with the FHWA based on a Memorandum of Cooperation and a bi-annual work plan since 2009. Current topics of shared activities are transport infrastructure resilience and building with nature, and connected automation driving systems. Other parties linked to these joint activities include the State Department of Transportation, the US DOT Volpe Center, Deltares and Delft University of Technology.
Rijkswaterstaat and FHWA are both members of FEHRL and PIARC.
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
As part of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) provides leadership in transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial and evidence-based information exchange, research and advice regarding all modes of transportation.
For example, committees, researchers and staff are currently focused on advancing resilient infrastructure, exploring transformational technology and caring for the public’s health and safety.
Rijkswaterstaat participates in TRB’s Global Affiliate Programme. Rijkswaterstaat and TRB also maintain close links via TRB’s research programmes, such as the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and several of TRB’s standing committees. A dedicated group of Rijkswaterstaat experts attends the TRB Annual Meeting every year.
The Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (2006-2015) also created the opportunity for staff exchanges between Rijkswaterstaat and TRB.
Rijkswaterstaat and TRB are both involved in ECTRI and PIARC activities.