Leading on the International Stage

If youve ever been caught in a winter storm, you know what a difference it makes when crews clear roadways quickly and safely. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, and sharing research among State departments of transportation and between the Federal Highway Administration and State DOTs has become the norm. The benefits of receiving or imparting information about research and new practices are well recognized. The same reasoning applies to US participation and leadership in the World Road Association (WRA) (sometimes referred to as PIARC, which stands for the organizations former name: Permanent International Association of Road Congresses). Founded in 1909, the WRA is a network of road administrations from more than 120 countries that convene to share roadway-oriented research, practices, and technologies. The WRA operates on 4-year cycles, with each cycle guided by a new strategic plan with several strategic themes, each overseen by its own coordinator.