Research, Development & Technology Transfer
Mission: Conduct research that continuously improves Alaska's infrastructure through implementation and training.
State Transportation Innovation Council
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), local public agencies and tribal transportation agencies own and maintain the surface transportation system in Alaska and make key decisions on how to deliver projects, and how best to employ techniques and technologies in its operation and safety.
The State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) brings together stakeholders that represent public policy and market forces to lead innovation in Alaska’s transportation program. The STIC provides multistakeholder leadership to perpetuate the deployment of innovation in Alaska. The STIC serves as a forum for initiating and overseeing the rapid deployment of innovative strategies into routine practice to accelerate transportation project delivery and enhance project quality and effectiveness.
You can learn more from FHWA's STIC website and the Alaska STIC Charter:
Innovation Project Applications
The STIC will be accepting applications for the 2024 innovation for Alaska.
- Submit applications by email to cristina.demattio@alaska.gov.
Alaska STIC Contacts
Public Notices
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle
The CAV Working Group was established in January, 2020 to foster a collaborative, statewide planning effort for the purpose of preparing the State of Alaska for the use of Connected and Autonomous vehicles in Alaska.
Industry leaders and transportation stakeholders meet quarterly to review the state of the practice as it related to Alaska's transportation system.
CAV's introductory use in Alaska is considered at all levels of state and local government and throughout the private and non-profit sector to ensure smart, efficient investment in Alaska's highway infrastructure. More information can be found in 2021 Strategic Plan
State Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Charter
Experimental Features Program
The Federal Highway Administration established the Experimental Features Program in order to encourage innovations in state highway design and construction. Experimental features can be a process, product, testing method, or innovation that are eligible for federal funding participation. If an experimental feature fails prematurely, FHWA will financially participate for its repair or replacement.
There are two criteria necessary for an innovation to qualify as an "experimental feature."
- The innovation must have potential benefits to the highway agency or the public.
- The highway agency (DOT&PF) must follow up the use of the feature with an evaluation of how well it worked.
The FHWA Federal Aid Highway Program Manual described an experimental feature as a material, process, method, equipment item, traffic operational device, or other feature that:
- Has not been sufficiently tested under actual service conditions to merit acceptance without reservation in normal highway construction, or
- Has been accepted but needs to be compared with alternative acceptable features before determining their relative merits and cost effectiveness.
The time to think about an experimental feature program is in the project planning stage. If you have a good idea please contact Research staff in your region or the Research Manager:
For more information about the experimental feature program:
Every Day Counts
EDC is a State-based model that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations to shorten the project delivery process, enhance roadway safety, reduce traffic congestion, and integrate automation. Proven innovations promoted through EDC facilitate greater efficiency at the State and local levels, saving time, money and resources that can be used to deliver more projects.
FHWA works with State transportation departments, local governments, tribes, private industry and other stakeholders to identify a new collection of innovations to champion every two years.
American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Innovation Initiative
Formerly the AASHTO Technology Implementation Group, the AASHTO Innovation Initiative advances innovation from the grassroots up: by agencies, for agencies, peer-to-peer. The program actively seeks out proven advancements in transportation technology, investing time and money to accelerate their adoption by agencies nationwide.
Each year, the program selects highly valuable technologies, processes, software, or other innovations that have been adopted by at least one agency, are proven in use, and will be of significant benefit to other agencies.