Transportation Performance Measures in Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand

Prepared by the International Scanning Study Team:

Douglas MacDonald
Washington State DOT
Co-Chair

Connie P. Yew
FHWA
Co-Chair

Robert Arnold
FHWA

John R. Baxter
FHWA

Randall K. Halvorson
Minnesota DOT

Hal Kassoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Michael Meyer
Georgia Institute of Technology
Report Facilitator

Ken Philmus
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

T. Jeffrey Price
Virginia DOT

Douglas R. Rose
Maryland State Highway Administration

C. Michael Walton
University of Texas at Austin
William R. White

FHWA

and

American Trade Initiatives, Inc.

LGB & Associates, Inc.

for the

Federal Highway Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

American Association of State Highway

and Transportation Officials

National Cooperative Highway Research Program

(Panel 20-36)

of the Transportation Research Board

December 2004

FHWA International Technology Exchange Program

The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Technology Exchange Program assesses and evaluates innovative foreign technologies and practices that could significantly benefit U.S. highway transportation systems. This approach allows for advanced technology to be adapted and put into practice much more efficiently without spending scarce research funds to recreate advances already developed by other countries.

The main channel for accessing foreign innovations is the International Technology Scanning Program. The program is undertaken jointly with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ( AASHTO ) and its Special Committee on International Activity Coordination in cooperation with the Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-36 "Highway Research and Technology—International Information Sharing," the private sector, and academia.

FHWA and AASHTO jointly determine priority topics for teams of U.S. experts to study. Teams in the specific areas being investigated are formed and sent to countries where significant advances and innovations have been made in technology, management practices, organizational structure, program delivery, and financing. Scanning teams usually include representatives from FHWA, State departments of transportation, local governments, transportation trade and research groups, the private sector, and academia.

After a scan is completed, team members evaluate findings and develop comprehensive reports, including recommendations for further research and pilot projects to verify the value of adapting innovations for U.S. use. Scan reports, as well as the results of pilot programs and research, are circulated throughout the country to State and local transportation officials and the private sector. Since 1990, FHWA has organized more than 60 international scans and disseminated findings nationwide on topics such as pavements, bridge construction and maintenance, contracting, intermodal transport, organizational management, winter road maintenance, safety, intelligent transportation systems, planning, and policy.

The International Technology Scanning Program has resulted in significant improvements and savings in road program technologies and practices throughout the United States. In some cases, scan studies have facilitated joint research and technology-sharing projects with international counterparts, further conserving resources and advancing the state of the art. Scan studies have also exposed transportation professionals to remarkable advancements and inspired implementation of hundreds of innovations. The result: large savings of research dollars and time, as well as significant improvements in the Nation's transportation system.

For a complete list of International Technology Scanning Program topics and to order free copies of the reports, please see the list contained in this publication and at U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Highway Administration, or e-mail international@fhwa.dot.gov.

FHWA International Technology Exchange Reports

International Technology Scanning Program:

Bringing Global Innovations to U.S. Highways

Safety

Traffic Safety Information Systems in Europe and Australia (2004)
Signalized Intersection Safety in Europe (2003)
Managing and Organizing Comprehensive Highway Safety in Europe (2003)
European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)
Commercial Vehicle Safety, Technology, and Practice in Europe (2000)
Methods and Procedures to Reduce Motorist Delays in European Work Zones ( 2000)
Innovative Traffic Control Technology and Practice in Europe (1999)
Road Safety Audits—Final Report and Case Studies (1997)
Speed Management and Enforcement Technology: Europe and Australia (1996)
Safety Management Practices in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand (1995)
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in England, Germany, and the Netherlands (1994)

Planning and Environment

Transportation Performance Measures in Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand (2004)
European Right-of-Way and Utilities Best Practices (2002)
Geometric Design Practices for European Roads (2002)
Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Across European Highways (2002)
Sustainable Transportation Practices in Europe (2001)
Recycled Materials In European Highway Environments (1999)
European Intermodal Programs: Planning, Policy, and Technology (1999)
National Travel Surveys (1994)

Policy and Information

European Practices in Transportation Workforce Development (2003)
Intelligent Transportation Systems and Winter Operations in Japan (2003)
Emerging Models for Delivering Transportation Programs and Services (1999)
National Travel Surveys (1994)
Acquiring Highway Transportation Information from Abroad (1994)
International Guide to Highway Transportation Information (1994)
International Contract Administration Techniques for Quality Enhancement ( 1994)
European Intermodal Programs: Planning, Policy, and Technology (1994)

Operations

Superior Materials, Advanced Test Methods, and Specifications in Europe ( 2004)
Freight Transportation: The Latin American Market (2003)
Meeting 21st Century Challenges of System Performance Through Better Operations (2003)
Traveler Information Systems in Europe (2003)
Freight Transportation: The European Market (2002)
European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)
Methods and Procedures to Reduce Motorist Delays in European Work Zones ( 2000)
Innovative Traffic Control Technology and Practice in Europe (1999)
European Winter Service Technology (1998)
Traffic Management and Traveler Information Systems (1997)
European Traffic Monitoring (1997)
Highway/ Commercial Vehicle Interaction (1996)
Winter Maintenance Technology and Practices—Learning from Abroad (1995)
Advanced Transportation Technology (1994)
Snowbreak Forest Book—Highway Snowstorm Countermeasure Manual (1990)

Infrastructure—General

European Practices in Transportation Workforce Development (2003)
Contract Administration: Technology and Practice in Europe (2002)
European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)
Geometric Design Practices for European Roads (2001)
Geotechnical Engineering Practices in Canada and Europe (1999)
Geotechnology—Soil Nailing (1993)

Infrastructure—Pavements

Pavement Preservation Technology in France, South Africa, and Australia ( 2003)
Recycled Materials In European Highway Environments (1999)
South African Pavement and Other Highway Technologies and Practices (1997)
Highway/Commercial Vehicle Interaction (1996)
European Concrete Highways (1992)
European Asphalt Technology (1990)

Infrastructure—Bridges

Performance of Concrete Segmental and Cable- Stayed Bridges in Europe ( 2001)
Steel Bridge Fabrication Technologies in Europe and Japan (2001)
European Practices for Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures ( 1999)
Advanced Composites in Bridges in Europe and Japan (1997)
Asian Bridge Structures (1997)
Bridge Maintenance Coatings (1997)
Northumberland Strait Crossing Project (1996)
European Bridge Structures (1995)

All publications are available on the Internet at

U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Highway Administration

Abbreviations and Acronyms