TRB Divisions

The TRB Executive Committee, whose members are appointed by the chairman of NRC, exercises oversight responsibility for the Board’s programs and activities. Members include senior transportation industry executives, top officials of public-sector transportation agencies, and distinguished researchers from academia. The TRB Executive Office provides policy and operational guidance for TRB programs and activities, oversees committee and panel appointments and report review, provides support and direction for human resource issues and staffing needs, develops and directs the Board's communications and outreach efforts, and provides staff support to the Executive Committee and its Subcommittee for NRC Oversight.  The Executive Office also manages the editing, production, design, and publication of many TRB reports, including the journal series, magazine, and other titles.

	Technical Activities supports standing committees and task forces, organizes the TRB Annual Meeting and other conferences and workshops, and conducts field visits to transportation agencies, organizations, and research institutions.
	Consensus and Advisory Studies convenes specially appointed expert committees to conduct policy studies and program reviews, maintains the TRIS database, provides library services, prepares synthesis reports on behalf of the Cooperative Research Programs, and manages the Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs.
	Cooperative Research Programs manages the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, the Transit Cooperative Research Program, the Airport Cooperative Research Program, the National Cooperative Freight Research Program, and the Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program.
	Strategic Highway Research Program 2 manages a targeted, short-term, results-oriented program of contract research designed to advance highway performance and safety for U.S. highway users.
	Administration and Finance provides financial, information technology, and other administrative support, including financial oversight of the contracts and grants that support the work of TRB, administration of publications sales and distribution, and maintenance of benefits and services for sponsor and affiliate organizations.

The Marine Board, formed in 1965 and previously situated within another unit of NRC, became part of TRB in 1999. The Marine Board provides a forum for the exchange of information relating to maritime transportation and related economic, environmental, and technology issues in a broader context. It identifies potential topics for policy studies, conferences, and other activities. The Marine Board is administratively housed within TRB’s Technical Activities Division.