Cooperation with the United States on mobility
We have been working closely together on mobility and transport with the United States based on a ministerial Memorandum of Understanding dating back to the early 1970s.
Today, we cooperate on many road infrastructure issues such as asset management, climate resilience and automated mobility at both federal and state level.
Rijkswaterstaat is an active member of the TRB. Through active participation in joint programmes and events, such as Freeway Operations and the Every Day Counts programme, we have been able to improve the performance and safety level of our main road network.
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that assists state and local governments in planning, constructing, and maintaining the nation's highway system (Federal-aid Highway Program) and various federally and tribally owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program).
By providing financial and technical assistance to state and local governments, FHWA is responsible for ensuring that America's roads and highways remain among the safest and most technologically advanced in the world.
Rijkswaterstaat has been working with FHWA since 2009 on the basis of a Memorandum of Cooperation and a bi-annual work plan. Current topics of joint activities are resilience of transport infrastructure and building with nature, as well as connected automated driving systems.
Other parties involved in these joint activities include the State Department of Transportation, the US DOT Volpe Center, Deltares and the Delft University of Technology.
Rijkswaterstaat and FHWA are both members of FEHRL and PIARC.
Transportation Research Board
As part of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) provides leadership for transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial and evidence-based information exchange, research and advice on all modes of transportation.
For example, its committees, researchers and staff currently focus on promoting resilient infrastructure, exploring transformative technologies and looking after the health and safety of the public.
Rijkswaterstaat participates in TRB’s Global Affiliate Programme. Rijkswaterstaat and TRB also maintain close ties through TRB’s research programmes, such as the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and several of TRB’s standing committees. A dedicated group of Rijkswaterstaat experts attends the TRB Annual Meeting each year.
The Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (2006-2015) has also provided opportunities for staff exchanges between Rijkswaterstaat and TRB.
Rijkswaterstaat and TRB are both involved in European Conference of Transport Research Institutes and PIARC activities.