Changing Perspectives in Highway Research

The adaptability of the highway mode and its ability to serve economically a wide range of transportation needs makes it likely highway transportation will continue indefinitely to be vitally important, with emphasis shifting to maintenance and operation. Impending fuel shortages are likely to spur research to gain greater efficiency in highway operations. In the short term, research may, for example, aid ride sharing through advances in communications and identification technology. The paper covers several emerging opportunities for more efficient operation and use of vehicles through advances in electronics. Research to increase understanding of the interdependencies among highway transportation, land use, job opportunities, and the quality of life should lead to increasing public support of efforts to improve highway operations.