FPCB Program Peer Assistance Guidelines

Through the FPCB program, FHWA offers tailored peer assistance opportunities that assist a requesting agency in addressing its specific needs and objectives. Peer assistance may cover a range of topics such as:

• Alternative Fuels/Sustainability
• Freight Advisory Committees
• Freight Data and Modeling/Analysis Tools
• Freight Outreach and Communication Tools/Products
• Freight Planning, Financing, and Project Delivery
• Freight System Performance
• Integrating Freight into Complete Streets
• Safety Strategies/Technology
• Stakeholder Coordination and Partnerships
• State Freight Plans
• Truck Parking
• Truck Size and Weight
• Urban Freight Mobility

Agencies interested in peer assistance should contact their FHWA Division Office to discuss specific topics of interest and how FPCB program peer assistance may help address their freight goals.

Types of Peer-to-Peer Assistance

Peer assistance can be delivered in different ways. The FHWA will tailor peer assistance to the requesting agency’s specific needs and objectives. Requesting agencies may state a preferred type of peer assistance when submitting their request.

Examples of peer assistance types include:

• Referrals to experienced peers or technical experts for support by telephone or email.
• Training workshop (onsite or virtual) led by an experienced peer or technical expert.
• Peer exchange (onsite or virtual) facilitated by FHWA.

The FHWA will prioritize requests for onsite events based on topics of mutual interest to multiple agencies across a State and/or region. In these cases, FHWA may ask a host agency to promote and make the assistance event available for neighboring agencies or jurisdictions to attend.

See below sections for additional information.

1. Referrals to Experienced Peers/Technical Experts

The FHWA maintains a vast network of experienced peers and technical experts. The FPCB program provides transportation professionals an opportunity to leverage and share in these experts’ knowledge. The FHWA typically recommends referrals when the requesting agency has a limited number of questions or would like information on highly specific topics.

Referrals may be best suited to requesting agencies that either:

• Are in early stages of developing or reassessing an existing program (e.g., freight performance monitoring, freight data collection, etc.) and seek external advice or input on effective practices, lessons learned, or technical standards.
• Have identified an issue in their jurisdiction but are unsure what options exist to address or mitigate the issue.

2. Training Workshop (Onsite or Virtual)

Experienced peers or technical experts can provide onsite assistance at a host agency location, in conjunction with existing conferences and workshops, or via webinar/another distance learning method.

Training workshops may be best suited to requesting agencies that either:

• Have identified benefits in learning alongside a broader set of stakeholders outside their own agency or jurisdiction.
• Would like “hands-on” or in-depth training on a complex topic.

3. Peer Exchange (Onsite or Virtual)

The FHWA can facilitate peer exchanges either onsite at a host agency or via webinar/another distance learning method. The FHWA can also assist in peer exchange coordination and logistics including travel arrangements, agenda development, and meeting facilitation.

Peer exchanges can focus either on programs or projects and may involve one or more of the following elements:

• Roundtable discussions where multiple peer experts share noteworthy practices and transportation professionals engage in dialogue with peers.
• Presentations where peer experts share noteworthy practices with a host agency and (potentially) other invited guests from neighboring agencies or jurisdictions.
• Breakout discussions where peer experts can engage with transportation professionals on specific topics, issues, or needs in a more informal environment.

Peer exchanges may be best suited to requesting agencies that either:

• Have identified benefits in dialoguing and coordinating with broader set of stakeholders outside their own agency or jurisdiction.
• Would like to learn from multiple peers or technical experts.
• Would like opportunities for focused, facilitated discussion on one or more topics.

How to Request Peer Assistance

Agencies may request peer assistance through this online application.

Before submitting the online application, agencies should contact their FHWA Division Office to discuss specific topics of interest and how FPCB program peer assistance may help address their freight goals.

The FHWA staff will review submitted applications to assess eligibility, desired assistance type, etc. If FHWA approves the request, FHWA will contact the requesting agency to discuss proposed next steps to address the request.

Eligibility

Any public sector transportation agency may apply for peer assistance. Requests must be submitted via this online application at least 90 days in advance of the desired event date. Other organizations, such as private mobility providers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others may partner with a public sector transportation agency to request peer assistance.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with their FHWA Division Office before submitting an online application.

Peer Assistance Evaluation and Documentation

The FHWA collects information on the effectiveness and value of peer assistance provided through the FPCB program. This information assists FHWA in better understanding transportation professionals’ learning needs and gaps, as well as where additional or other forms of assistance could be useful. The FHWA will work with the agency receiving peer assistance to compile this information.

Evaluation and Follow Up

The FHWA requires agencies receiving FPCB program peer assistance to complete an evaluation immediately after peer assistance delivery. The FHWA staff may also ask the receiving agency to assist in contacting any peers or stakeholders involved in the assistance event to collect written feedback. The FHWA will review this feedback to help inform the peer assistance evaluation.

The FHWA staff will also follow up with the agency that received peer assistance approximately six months after delivery to discuss how the agency benefitted from the assistance. The FHWA will document actions that the agency has taken and record any outcomes or outputs.

Reporting

The FHWA requires agencies receiving FPCB program peer assistance to provide input that informs a FHWA-produced summary of the delivered assistance. Typically, this summary is a three- to five-page document published on the FPCB website.

Input may include comments on the effectiveness and usefulness of the delivered assistance as well as a description of any outcomes experienced as a result of the event. Input may be brief and is not intended to burden the receiving agency.

The FHWA may collect this input either by email or through a phone conversation with the receiving agency. FHWA will also provide opportunities for the receiving agency to review and concur with the final summary before it is publicly posted.