What is the IRC?

On June 1, 2021, the Innovation and Research Council (IRC) became a chartered organization that brings 11 Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) partners together to actively participate in deployment activities and discussions, and to disperse innovation and research funding from U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The IRC selects innovation and research projects that address FLMA constituents' needs, meet the backlog of infrastructure deficiencies and asset management stabilization, and propel emerging mobility into practice. FHWA Program Offices (e.g., Infrastructure, Safety, Operations, Environment) provide technical assistance to FLMA Partners via the IRC.

IRC Meetings

The IRC meets twice per year at a minimum for the benefit of its Executive members. iHUD and rHUD members are invited to observe IRC meetings.

Review the IRC Charter.

IRC Research Funding

The IRC biennially funds research projects that react to the urgent and visionary needs of the FLMAs. Visit the IRC Research Program Application and Process page for information about the IRC Research Funding application process and timeline.

IRC Strategic Themes

The IRC generally invests in research and innovation in the following categories:

• Infrastructure
• Safety
• Customer Experience and Multimodal Choices
• Technological Advancements / Autonomous Vehicles
• Tools of the Trade 
• Planning for Future Transportation Networks/Traffic Operations
• Pavement and Materials
• Hydraulics and Stream Ecology
• Tribal Community Technical Assistance

IRC Membership

IRC members include executive representatives from FLMAs, including:

• Co-chairs: a permanent FLH Headquarters representative and a rotating FLMA executive representative
• Membership includes representatives from:
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Department of the Interior
  • Federal Lands Highway
  • National Park Service
  • The Presidio Trust
  • Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
  • Tribal Transportation Coordinating Committee
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service
• There are three Tribal representatives to the IRC:
  • One Tribal member of the Tribal Transportation Program Coordinating Committee (TTPCC) who is nominated by the TTPCC, or an FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation proxy
  • One Tribal member with backing and support from a national or regional Tribal organization/committee
  • One Tribal representative based on their research program/project experience and knowledge

IRC Working Committees

The two working committees that support the IRC are:

• Innovation Heightened Utility and Deployment (iHUD)
• Research Heightened Utility and Deployment (rHUD)

Committee members members share ideas for the benefit of the greater good, continue conversations on the topics of emerging needs and cross-agency solutions, and vet research problem statements and communicate follow-up actions. 

The iHUD is a staff-level working committee that supports the innovation visions of the IRC. The iHUD has a grassroots approach for communication, idea collection, and technology transfer amongst peers. The iHUD pulls together innovators from across FLH and the IRC to discuss, vet, and share successes, challenges, and current activities. A major role of the iHUD is to discern which innovations require pursuit for the greater good of all IRC agency members.

The rHUD is a staff-level working committee that supports the IRC’s Biennial Research Program. The rHUD pulls together research and researchers from across IRC member agencies, FLH, and the FHWA RD&T program. Its role is to provide feedback; share experiences, statuses, successes, and challenges; and promote technology transfer of completed research. The rHUD reviews and provides input on future research proposals, assists with the deployment of completed research, and conveys the knowledge of subject matter experts across multiple Federal agencies.