Principal Investigator(s):
Jim Grothaus, Former Sr Dir, Tech Assist, Center for Transportation Studies
Project summary:
The Operational Research Program for Local Transportation Groups (OPERA) covers anything relating to local government maintenance, preservation, or improvement of the transportation infrastructure, equipment, materials, and methods. It encourages involvement by all counties and cities. It particularly strives to encourage maintenance employees' active involvement in research. It promotes operational or "hands on" research. It encourages the development of ideas and methods that improve transportation. The program promotes implementation of new research and transfer of the research experience to all counties and cities. Research project selections shall be made by the program selection committee periodically or as projects are submitted. Local engineers, supervisors, and employees are to provide professional evaluations and results in their field test report submissions. The sponsor shall provide testing data and a written report of the results along with pictures of the research to qualify for final payment. The program strives to develop and promote research that makes a difference and is actively visible locally and statewide.