DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION The Texas Transportation Institute is particularly skilled in the dissemination of technical information. TTI has been conducting technical and non-technical conferences and short courses both on and off the Texas A&M University campus for many years, and it was found that the policies and procedures developed were applicable to this program. In developing an approach or method of evaluation, it is imperative to establish the general results to which the total program effect is to be directed. In line with the methods outlined in Figure 8 were employed in the dissemination of technical information through the Community Services Program in Transporta: at Texas A&M University. A bibliography of the latest technical reports published by Texas TransportaInstitute was made available to all the cities. Individual copies of each Dort were sent to each city upon request. ACCEPTANCE The Community Services Program in Transportation at Texas A&M University as received excellent reception from personnel associated with the transportation 2ed Approximately 1500 people have actively participated in conferences and inars, and technical information has been sent to approximately 4,100 mayors, Crectors of public works, city managers, Texas Highway Department employees, traffic engineers, city engineers, city planners and others throughout the state Texas. A breakdown of the recipients of this information is shown in Table II. TABLE II.-Recipients of Technical Information Includes manufacturers, community services program committee, contractors, southern ITE. CAPABILITIES OF THE PROGRAM The Community Service Program of Texas Transportation Institute has pted to establish a program of recognized excellence in the dissemination fchnical information within the transportation field. The program as outned in Figure 9 utilizes the vast resources available through the Texas Transtation Institute in seeking solutions to modern-day transportation problems. The implementation of research findings will incorporate the personnel from gencies as shown in Figure 9, and will be dictated by the individual needs each agency. TITLE I OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT A primary consideration in inaugurating a research program is finding a te way of putting the results of research to work. In many instances sively developed technology may be outdated by the time it is generally ed by the practicing profession. The Community Service program of Title I the Higher Education Act of 1965 has provided the Texas Transportation Aitate the means for speeding up the process of translating technical research des into practice. In addition, it has afforded the opportunity to assist individual communities in acquiring the proper attitudes, skills, and concepts required for their participation in the effective solutions of community problems. It is the opinion of the Texas Transportation Institute that Title I is one of most important educational opportunities ever enacted. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED The only problems of substance encountered in implementing this program are those associated with generating matching funds. Unfortunately, state organizations such as universities or the Texas Transportation Institute generally do not have state appropriated funds readily available for use in programs of this type. Consequently, they must rely upon seminar registration fees to generate the necessary matching funds. This places operational restrictions on the program as well as limiting its overall size. When the matching requirements are increased from the FY '67 rate of 75 per cent Federal-25 per cent state to the scheduled 50-50 rate for FY '68, these problems will be intensified. The overall size of the program will need to be drastically reduced since under 50-50 matching the same amount of matching fands will be required to support a program of only one half the size. Perhaps of equal importance is the effect that may be expected on the activities of the program itself. Because of the importance of generating matching funds there will be a tendency to emphasize those activities such as seminars which are revezne producing and minimize those such as the preparation of slide-tape presentations, documentary movies, and consulting services that do not produce any Hatching funds. A shift in program emphasis of this type will be detrimental to the objectives of the act. EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS The institution of experimental projects is one means of attacking individual problems which cannot be solved by traditional approaches. In many cases the sations to specific problems may require considerable experimentation with w and innovative approaches for which the results are not predictable. Experimental projects will also allow the implementation of a “systems approach" to the problems posed by the complex urban system. The "experimental projects” concept appears to offer real promise as a needed tool in seeking solutions to the complex problems associated without urban communities. TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas Transportation Institute was established at Texas A&M University 1950. It is the official research agency for the Texas Highway Department, a earch arm of the Texas Railroad Commission' and the Texas Aeronautics Commission. The Institute operates as an integral part of the Texas A&M University Syswhich currently includes: Texas A&M University. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Texas Agricultural Extension Services. Texas Engineering Experiment Station. Texas Engineering Extension Service. Texas Transportation Institute. James Connally Technical Institute. Tarleton State College. Prairie View A&M College. Texas Forest Service. Administratively, the Director of the Texas Transportation Institute is reonsible to the Dean of Engineering' as are the Directors of the Texas EngineerExperiment Station and the Texas Engineering Extension Service. The Texas Railroad Commission is the regulatory agency concerned with intrastate transportation and communication by all modes; it also regulates gas and oil production. The present Dean is the past Director of the Texas Transportation Institute. |