Introduction
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register to solicit public comments on its Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Published on January 13, 2026, this notice from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) fulfills requirements under 49 U.S.C. 6503, which mandates a five-year strategic plan to direct federal transportation research efforts. The RFI invites input from the transportation research community, stakeholders, and the public to refine the department's vision, goals, and priorities. This development is significant as it seeks to align RD&T activities with broader departmental objectives, addressing challenges like congestion, safety, and environmental preservation in an evolving transportation landscape. Comments are due by February 12, 2026, with submissions accepted via electronic means, email, or mail to ensure broad participation.
Background and Legal Framework
The RFI stems from statutory obligations outlined in 49 U.S.C. Chapter 65, which establishes the primary purposes of federal transportation research. This chapter emphasizes a structured approach to RD&T to enhance the nation's transportation system. The requirement for a five-year strategic plan, as specified in 49 U.S.C. 6503, ensures that federal efforts are forward-looking and responsive to current needs. Previous plans have guided investments in areas such as infrastructure durability and congestion reduction, building on legislative foundations like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which expanded funding for transportation innovation.
Key players include OST-R, which oversees the development of the plan, and the broader DOT, including modal administrations like the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. The notice is signed by Michael A. Halem, Acting Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, highlighting leadership continuity in this process. This RFI represents a collaborative step, drawing on input from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private sector and international partners, to inform a comprehensive strategy.
Primary Purposes of Transportation Research
The strategic plan must describe how it advances the core purposes of transportation RD&T, as defined in 49 U.S.C. Chapter 65. These include improving the mobility of people and goods, which involves enhancing accessibility and efficiency across modes like highways, rail, and aviation. Reducing congestion is another focus, targeting urban bottlenecks and traffic management technologies.
Promoting safety remains paramount, encompassing initiatives to lower accident rates through advanced vehicle technologies and infrastructure improvements. The plan also addresses improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, to ensure long-term resilience. Environmental preservation is highlighted, with efforts to minimize the ecological footprint of transportation activities.
Additionally, the purposes include preserving the existing transportation system through maintenance and modernization, and reducing transportation cybersecurity risks, a growing concern amid increasing digital integration in systems like traffic control and autonomous vehicles. These elements align with the DOT's broader Strategic Plan, which integrates research priorities to support national goals.
Key Questions and Areas for Public Input
To shape the RD&T Strategic Plan, the RFI poses eight targeted questions, encouraging responses on a range of topics. The first question asks how DOT should prioritize and invest in research activities over the next five years and extending to 25 years, prompting long-term strategic thinking. The second seeks input on the types of research activities needed to meet departmental goals, such as basic research, applied development, or pilot programs.
Question three inquires about key trends influencing transportation, including social, demographic, economic, and technological factors like urbanization, aging populations, e-commerce growth, and advancements in electric vehicles and AI. The fourth focuses on emerging challenges, opportunities, or knowledge gaps warranting additional RD&T investments, such as climate change adaptation or equitable access in underserved communities.
Coordination is addressed in question five, asking how DOT can best lead and collaborate with various government levels, the private sector, nonprofits, and international partners. Question six explores using the research portfolio to develop national standards for interoperability across multimodal systems, essential for seamless integration of technologies like connected vehicles.
Question seven seeks ideas on activities to facilitate the deployment of research results into the U.S. transportation system, such as technology transfer programs or partnerships. Finally, question eight opens the floor for any other comments on DOT's research portfolio and activities, allowing for diverse perspectives.
Potential Implications and Perspectives
This RFI could influence short-term RD&T funding allocations, potentially accelerating projects in high-priority areas like cybersecurity and safety. In the long term, it may shape policy directions, fostering innovations that address megatrends such as automation and sustainability. For instance, input on emerging technologies could lead to standards that enhance interoperability, reducing fragmentation in the transportation sector.
Different stakeholders may offer varied views. Industry groups might emphasize economic competitiveness and rapid deployment, while environmental advocates could push for greener research priorities. State and local governments may highlight regional needs, such as rural mobility or urban congestion. Legal precedents, like those from cases involving federal research mandates (e.g., interpretations of the National Environmental Policy Act in transportation projects), underscore the need for balanced, evidence-based planning. Without endorsing any side, these perspectives illustrate the RFI's role in capturing a multifaceted dialogue to inform a robust strategic plan.
Conclusion
The DOT's RFI marks a critical phase in developing a strategic framework that will guide federal transportation research for the next five years. By soliciting broad input, the department aims to create a plan that effectively addresses statutory purposes and emerging priorities. Potential next steps include analyzing submitted comments, drafting the plan, and possibly holding stakeholder workshops. Ongoing debates may center on balancing short-term needs with long-term visions, such as investing in immediate safety enhancements versus exploratory research in futuristic technologies. Challenges could arise in coordinating diverse inputs and ensuring equitable representation, while opportunities exist for innovative partnerships that advance a resilient, efficient transportation system.
