General
Since its inception, JHRP has continuously conducted meaningful research and relevant extension activities in accordance with its goals. Today it is a national model for the successful partnership of government, academia, and the private sector, combining their efforts in a mutually rewarding research program.
Over the years the state highway agency evolved into the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) as its mission changed to encompass all modes of transportation. To align itself more fully with INDOT's mission, JHRP's name was changed as well, in July of 1997, to the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP), thus enabling a broader range of research at INDOT's disposal.
JTRP has far reaching benefits beyond the obvious objective of improving Indiana's transportation system for its residents. Not only is the research specific to INDOT's and Indiana's needs, but at its disposal are a broad range of Purdue's knowledgeable professionals for immediate advice and consultation when the need arises.
At the same time, Purdue faculty and graduate students are exposed to a broad range of significant and real engineering problems; and participants, due to this excellent training program, go on to become leaders in the transportation field in the United States and abroad. A mutually satisfying partnership with many success stories over the years, JTRP is clearly a national model of how a state university can cooperate with that state's transportation agency to perform needed research at the least cost.