THE ARRB RESEARCH PROGRAM AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

This paper outlines the involvement of local government in the activities of the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB). Participation by local government engineers in providing technical advice to directors and to various projects started in 1961. Liaison was strengthened with the creation of the Local Government Committee in 1969 which then began to initiate research of particular relevance to local authorities and to influence the form and content of the ARRB conferences. The forum provided to local government engineers by the ARRB Committee and conferences then led to the creation of the Australian Council of Local Government Engineering Associations (1976) and the Institution of Engineers, Australia, National Committee on Local Government engineering (in 1980). A selection of research projects of specific interest to local government engineers is described to give an indication of the range of studies and the major project on the design and maintenance of residential streets initiated and funded by local government is discussed. An outline of research needs in street planning, operation and safety is presented. Information services, from publications to conferences, from regional symposia to information retrieval are briefly described and the associate membership concept introduced. (Author/TRRL)