Calstart, Inc.

The Purpose of This Project Is to Address the Research to Practice (R2P) Gap in Transit. Specifically the Fta Has Expended Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Produce a Deep and Growing Bench of High-quality Relevant and Timely Research Which Is Not Being Utilized and Adopted in the Sector at a Satisfactory Pace. the R2P Gap Is a Known Issue and Fundamental Challenge in Communications and Information Management Across All Sectors: It Takes Too Long for Critical Research to Get Into Practice. Researchers Are Actively Working on the R2P Gap in Their Respective Industries But a Literature Review and Identification of Best Practices in R2P Across All Sectors Has Not Yet Been Performed and an R2P Initiative Specifically for Fta Has Not Previously Been Developed. the Purposes of This Project Are to: 1) Develop a Comprehensive Cross-sector Understanding of the R2P Issues and Considered or Tested Solutions; 2) Evaluate and Synthesize the Best and Most Applicable Research to Develop an R2P Initiative Recommendation Report and Implementation Plan for Fta That Will Be Effective at Increasing Engagement of Transit Sector Actors With Research Materials and Adoption of Recommended Practices; 3) Design a Solution Adoption Tracking System (SATS) and Technology Development Plan to Create It Which When Developed Will Provide Fta With Useful Insights About the Utility and Uptake of Research and the Effectiveness of the R2P Initiative; and 4) Implement as Much of That Plan as We Can Within the Time and Budget Constraints of This Grant.calstart Will Work With Its Partners to Develop an Effective Solution for Tracking and Promoting Technology and Best Practice Adoption Across the Country That Promotes Equity and Sustainability in Transit. the Tasks of This Project for the Fta Will Be Led by Calstart the Research Lead With Support From Two Universities Morgan State University and the University of Florida. in Phase 1 the University Partners Will Work With Calstart to Perform Two R2P Literature Reviews Develop a Detailed Implementation Plan for the R2P Initiative. During Phase 2 If Funding Is Available Calstart and Its University Partners Will Develop Written Research Summaries Research Summary Videos the Solution Adoption Tracking System (SATS) Prototype and Conduct Beta Testing of the Tracking System.activities to Be Performed:task 1: Project Managementcalstart Will Manage the Project in Accordance With the Ftas Requirements for a Research Project and in Coordination With the Fta Project Manager During the Projects Period of Performance (pop).task 2: Literature Reviewcalstart Will Work With Their University Partners to Conduct Two Literature Reviews of Research to Practice Methods to Identify the Highest Impact Methods for the Public Transit Industry.task 3: Develop R2P Initiative Recommendation Reportcalstart Will Develop a Plan Based on the Top Three Methods to Transfer Knowledge on Current and Previous Research and Assist in the Identification of the Most Appropriate R2P Methods to Assist Public Transit Agencies in Using and Adopting Research Results. Task 4: Create an Outreach Programcalstart Will Create an Outreach Program for Ftas Research Results to Increase Adoption of Proven Solutions.task 5: Implement R2P Initiative (if Funding Permits)prior to Commencing Work on This Task Calstart Will Submit the R2P Recommendation Report and Implementation Plan to Fta for Input and Approval and Incorporate Ftas Feedback Into the Plan. Subject to Funding Availability Calstart Will Implement Additional R2P Activities Identified in the Implementation Plan.