Task 80, FY 1997, "Assessment of AASHTO Needs for an Information Clearinghouse on the Principles and Programs of Continuous Quality Improvement" (Texas A&M Research Foundation). Through the establishment of its Standing Committee on Quality (SCOQ), AASHTO has made a commitment to advocate, advance, investigate, and share principles and programs of continuous quality improvement among member departments. The Committee's first responsibility is to develop strategy in at least four key focus areas: institutionalization of quality in member departments; marketing and communications; recognition; and training. An additional responsibility of the SCOQ is to serve as a clearinghouse for member departments by continuously collecting and disseminating information on current and emerging quality initiatives and successes. This involves working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Quality Initiative (NQI), the NCHRP, and quality efforts in the private sector. This research project was organized to support the SCOQ in the establishment and operation of this clearinghouse.

The continuous quality improvement website was operating as the AASHTO Quality Clearinghouse at the following Internet address: https://tti.tamu.edu/quality/. This website enabled state highway and transportation agencies and other organizations involved in transportation to share information about their continuous quality improvement activities. The project was completed on June 30, 1999, and the website is no longer in operation. (NCHRP Staff: E.T. Harrigan)