Mission
The Indiana legislature recognized the value of research in building
and improving roads as far back as 1937. That was the year the Joint
Highway Research Project (JHRP) was created as a cooperative research
endeavor between the then Indiana State Highway Commission and
Purdue University. Authorized by state statute on March 11, 1937, JHRP's
functions were mandated as follows:
- Make basic studies of materials used in highways
- Facilitate economical design, construction, and maintenance of
county and state highways
- Investigate traffic, safety, and other items as desired and agreed upon
- provide advanced instruction in the fundamentals of highway engineering
and related research
- provide practical experience in construction and maintenance procedures
in the use of highway materials.
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.