Guest Editorial
Public Roads Online
We are pleased to introduce the newly redesigned Public Roads Online to you. The November/December 2000 issue is the debut of the new design, which was created by Sally Hoffmaster and implemented by Diane Enriquez and Heidi Swenson.
Public Roads has been available online through the Web site of the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/) for several years. However, a preliminary review of the responses to our readership survey shows that a substantial number of the magazine's regular readers are either unaware of the online version or have simply never accessed it.
We encourage you to check out the current issue and past issues online. We believe that you will find that Public Roads Online is a useful reference. The online version contains all of the articles and departments of the printed version. In the future, we hope to be able to add some interactive features, such as an electronic bulletin board and an "Ask the Expert" section, to Public Roads Online.
Public Roads has been published since May 1918. All issues from Summer 1993 are available in the online archives. You can use the online index of articles and authors to find a specific article or articles on a particular topic.
If you need information from issues published prior to Summer 1993, contact me [Martha.Soneira@fhwa.dot.gov or (202) 493-3468] or assistant editor Dawn Vanlandingham [dawn.vanlandingham@fhwa.dot.gov or (202) 493-3198]. We'll be glad to assist you.
Share Your Ideas!
Public Roads is continuously soliciting direct input and feedback from our readers. Please send your comments about the magazine and your suggestions for articles.
You are our partner in an information exchange. Your feedback helps us to evaluate how squarely we are hitting the mark in meeting your needs and interests. We are eager to hear from you and to use your comments to produce a more interesting, useful, and relevant magazine.
If you have an appropriate article for Public Roads, please contact me to discuss it. The following information will help you to decide if your article is right for Public Roads. The more detailed "Instructions to Authors" is available at www.tfhrc.gov in the Public Roads section.
Background
Public Roads is the bimonthly magazine of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The magazine features developments in federal highway policies, programs, and research and technology. More specifically, the magazine covers advances and innovations in highway/traffic research and technology, critical national transportation issues, important activities and achievements of FHWA and others in the highway community, specific FHWA program areas, and subjects of interest to highway industry professionals.
Public Roads attempts to communicate through a balance of text and visual elements. Appropriate high-quality photographs and/or illustrations with captions are indispensable.
Audience and Focus
Recognizing that our readership (federal, state, municipal, and foreign transportation officials, planners, and researchers; transportation industry officials; association leaders; engineering professors and students; transportation reporters and trade media representatives; and members of Congress) has very little time for discretionary reading, Public Roads seeks to provide interesting and useful articles with distinct professional relevance. Therefore, the major emphasis of your article should be the significance of the project or subject, results of research and/or lessons learned, and the applicability of these lessons learned to other states, agencies, etc.
Use plain, everyday English. Avoid the use of technical language as much as possible. You must recognize that most of our diverse readers are not experts in your field.
I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Bob Bryant
Editor