The TKN Ten

Ten functions that need funding to facilitate development of Transportation Knowledge Networks.

TKN Funding Needs by Function - Average Annual $’s over Five Years

Function / Investment
1. National Digital Repository – including documents & data / $800,000
2. National Print Repository / $500,000
3. National Transportation Portal with Federated Search / $1,000,000
4. Information Modules* / $3,400,000
5. Research/Literature Review Services* (could be partially self supporting through fees for service for non TKN members) / $1,000,000
6. Standards Coordination + Thesaurus / $800,000
7. Targeted Collection & Digitization Efforts* / $4,500,000
8. Information Provider Outreach, Coordination and Communication* / $500,000
9. Library Connectivity Support and Advocacy* / $500,000
10. User Outreach & Education* / $500,000
TOTAL / $13,500,000

The estimated average annual funding needs (over a five year period) for different TKN functions are displayed in the table below. These costs would need to be “front loaded” to accommodate start up activities and technology investments. Note that these are rough estimates to relate specific activities to line item budgets. Actual allocation of a given budget across functions could vary considerably.

This breakdown of needs is consistent with the high end of the recommendations of TRB Special Report 284. The total investment would be $13.5 million annually. Functions 1, 2, 3 and 6 would be performed by the national coordination function. Functions 4, 5 and 7-10 would be performed by the TKNs in partnership with the national coordination function. Therefore, the amounts shown for this latter set of activities (marked with asterisks), include grants for TKN members. It is envisioned that these grants would be made in response to specific proposals for development of products or services (e.g. to digitize a collection and make it available to the entire transportation community) rather than on a formula basis. For estimation purposes, it was assumed below that roughly 50% of the total would be for TKN member activities, including outreach and delivery of specific products and services that have a national benefit.

From NCHRP Project 20-75 Transportation Knowledge Networks: A Business Plan. Spy Pond Partners, University of MinnesotaCenter for Transportation Studies, andSandra Tucker. January 31, 2007.