Nevada Department of Transportation, North Dakota Department of Transportation and Utah Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Western Transportation Research Consortium (WTRC), hosted a peer exchange on November 19 and 20, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The event focused on three themes:
- Regional Research Coordination and Collaboration: In this first session, participants addressed challenges and best practices for a regional research consortium; this complemented business and planning discussions for the Western Transportation Research Consortium (WTRC).
- Research and Innovation Program Best Practices: Attendees provided examples of program successes and best practices, strategies they have used to overcome obstacles, and current program challenges.
- How to Best Share Research Activities with DOT Leadership: Research staff members discussed how their DOT’s leadership interacts with their program, provided examples of sharing research activities with leadership and how they address barriers to engaging leadership.
Based on presentations and group discussions, participants shared what they saw as the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the host agencies in the areas discussed, and takeaways for their home agencies.