2-4 Hours

Within first 4 weeks of PDP
(via teleconference)

2 Weeks

Within first 6 months of PDP
(conducted in Washington DC)

4 Weeks
(Two 2-week sessions)

Over the course of the 2-year PDP (usually in Washington DC)

4 core training courses, totaling 1 ½ Weeks

Throughout PDP
(various locations)

Demonstrates knowledge of FHWA Mission and organizational structure and how FHWA fits within the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Government, and the concept of interagency coordination.

Performs within the relationships and partnerships involved in administering the Federal-Aid Highway program (i.e., other Federal Agencies, State/Local Agencies, Federal Lands, Tribes, Other Public/Private Organizations, and General Public), in particular the unique Federal-State relationship.

Builds and maintains relationships with internal and external partners, especially the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) through various phases of project activities.  Accommodates customer needs through application of sound engineering knowledge and judgement.

Understands  the roles and responsibilities of the different business units and their interaction within FHWA including: Headquarters Core Business Units, Support Business Units, Resource Centers, Division Offices, Turner-Fairbanks Research Center, and Federal Lands Highway Divisions, and utilizes the resources available in each of those offices.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Professional Development Academy
• Attend intermodal meeting(s)

Understands the strategic planning process and performance measures and how they relate to highway safety work activities.  Familiar with the National Strategic Plan, the National Performance Plan, and Core Business Unit Work Plans, particularly the Safety Core Business Unit.

Demonstrates awareness of FHWA core values and the Quality Cornerstones and how they relate to the delivery of the Federal-Aid program.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Professional Development Academy
• Participate in the development of the sponsoring office Annual Work Plan

Aware of the various programs administered within the FHWA (e.g., Planning, Bridges, Civil Rights, Environment, Right of Way, Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), Financial, Federal Aid).

Explains the difference between laws, regulations, policy, etc., the order of precedence, the relationship of one to the other, and in general the process by which each is developed.  Has general knowledge regarding the application of each to transportation programs and projects.

Understands roadway functional classification and designated Federal-Aid systems.  Is familiar with various categories of Federal-Aid financing, especially safety program funding, and associated eligible costs.

Has awareness of environmental, pavement materials, right of way, structures, operations and research programs as well as the safety program in a DO and project development in a SHA.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Professional Development Academy

Understands and applies the methods and practices used in oversight of the Federal-Aid program, including the use of Stewardship Plans and Partnership Agreements.  Understands and has the ability to actively participate in monitoring techniques such as process reviews, product evaluations, in-depth inspections, continuous process improvement studies, etc.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Professional Development Academy
• NHI and local training courses

Demonstrates a working knowledge of the relationship of roadway design elements and safety.  This includes a knowledge of the AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets and AASHTO Highway Safety Design and Operations Guide. 

Demonstrates an understanding of the relationship of safety, environment and capacity in the planning and design process (Context sensitive design).  This includes the design exception process.

• Sponsoring office assignments (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (SHA, RC)
• Participate in a plan-in-hand or other field review such as a road safety audit
• Review and comment on Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E)
• Review and comment on a request for  design exception approval
• Review and comment on an interstate access approval
• Attend formal training:
  • Basic geometric design
  • Context sensitive design
  • Human factors
  • Older driver

Demonstrates a working knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practices relating to the planning, implementation, and evaluation components of Federal-Aid and highway safety improvements projects, including those for the hazard elimination program and the railroad-highway grade crossing program.  This will require an understanding of traffic records, crash data analysis, problem identification and countermeasure selection.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (SHA, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO), Highway Safety Office)
• Participate in field reviews with state counterparts
• Review SHA's HSIP processes
• Review state's before and after report on specific HSIP project
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a specific HSIP project
• Attend formal training:
  "Identification and Treatment of High Hazard Locations" (Northwestern University or equivalent)

Demonstrates a working knowledge of the MUTCD including: part 1, part 2 (general standards, application, classification and design of regulatory, warning and guide signs), part 3 (pavement marking general principles), part 4 (warrants) and part 8 (general). 

Demonstrates a general understanding of the remainder of the MUTCD.  Also demonstrates an understanding of the MUTCD as it relates to older driver highway design recommendations and retroreflectivity

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (SHA traffic unit)
• Review PS&E for application of MUTCD standards and guidance
• Prepare and give a presentation on the  MUTCD 2000
• Attend formal training:
  • Older drivers
  • MUTCD 2000

Demonstrates a working knowledge of application, policies, requirements and good engineering practices, including traffic control devices and human factors, to ensure the safe accommodation of pedestrians and bicyclists.  This knowledge should include consideration of special user groups including older road users and disabled road users.  Demonstrates an understanding of the pedestrian and bicycle resource kits.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (SHA or large city MPO ped/bike office)
• Review and comment on a PS&E for ped/bike accommodation
• Participate in a plan-in-hand review or road safety audit in an urban environment
• Attend Community Traffic Safety Program Meeting
• Review criteria for transportation enhancement program for safety appropriateness
• Participate in Pedestrian Roadshow
• Attend applicable formal training

Demonstrates a working knowledge of the engineering principles, functions, and applications of Roadside Safety appurtenances. 

Demonstrates an understanding of roadside safety policies, crash testing procedures and device performance, including NCHRP 350.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (DO, SHA, Crash Testing Research Facility, RC)
• Attend American Traffic Safety Systems Association (ATSSA) meeting
• Participate in meetings with suppliers, vendors and manufacturers of roadside hardware
• Attend formal training:
  • NHI Course 380032 "AASHTO Roadside Design Guide"
  • NHI Course 38034 "Design, Construction and Maintenance of Highway Safety Appurtenances and Features"

Demonstrates an understanding of Road Safety Audits (RSA), the process by which an independent examiner reports on the crash potential of an existing or future project.

Demonstrates an understanding of how safety is integrated into the transportation community.  This involves bringing together all groups promoting transportation safety.

Demonstrates an understanding of context sensitive design in the planning process that examines the trade-offs between safety and environmental concerns.

Demonstrates an understanding of the components of a comprehensive traffic records system, including crash reporting, data management, Fatal Analysis Records System (FARS) and Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC).

Demonstrates an understanding of countermeasures implemented to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.

Demonstrates an understanding of access management that balances the need for land development with the preservation of capacity and design speed.

Demonstrates a working knowledge of the Highway Safety Plan (HSP) established in 23 USC 402.  This includes working closely with the Governor's Highway Safety Office (GHSO) and NHTSA.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (DO, SHA (engineering functions in crash analysis), Governor's Highway Safety Office, MPO)
• Review MPO's unified planning work program (UPWP)
• Participate in state traffic records coordinating committee
• Attend AASHTO Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety meeting
• Attend Traffic Records Forum
• Participate on a Road Safety Audit team
• Attend State FARS review meeting
• Attend agencies' safety planning meetings
• Review state's highway safety plan
• Attend National Association of Governor's Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR) Annual Meeting
• Attend Lifesavers Conference    
• Attend formal training:
  • Context sensitive design
  • NHI course 13378 "Access Management and Land Development"
  • Road Safety Audits
  • NHTSA Highway Safety Grants Management course
  • Data analysis training

Demonstrates a working knowledge of traffic engineering principles as they relate to the development and implementation of advanced strategies and technologies to improve traffic management, highway operations, capacity and safety.  This will require an understanding of human factors, capacity analysis, traffic operations, road safety audits, traffic calming and safety applications of ITS.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignments (SHA (traffic office or district traffic office), City, County)
• Attend Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting
• Attend formal training:
  • Human factors
  • Older drivers
  • Traffic Engineering Short Course  (e.g., "Traffic and Transportation                    Engineering Seminar" at Northwest  University or equivalent)
  • Road Safety Audit
  • NHI Course 133005 "Highway Capacity and Quality of Flow" or other highway capacity short course

Demonstrates a working knowledge of  Part 6 of the MUTCD including: typical applications, eight fundamental principles, appropriate design and deployment of traffic control devices (TCD) and sign supports, breakaways, sight distance, height, retroreflectivity, etc. 

Demonstrates a working knowledge of roadside safety within work zones including NCHRP 350 requirements and implementation dates.

Demonstrates a working knowledge of pedestrian accommodation principles in work zones.

Demonstrates a general understanding of concepts of retroreflectivity, TCD product innovations, work zone crash causation, worker safety with respect to traffic, flagging procedures and Changeable Message Sign design, location, placement and message application.

• Sponsoring office assignment (OJT)
• Developmental assignment (SHA - develop a traffic control plan)
• Participate in a variety of work zone inspections (rural, urban, day, night, federal, state)
• Attend ATSSA meeting
• Attend AASHTO Traffic Engineering subcommittee meeting
• Review and comment on a work zone traffic control plan
• Attend formal training:
  • NHI Course 380003 "Design and Operations of Work Zone Traffic Control"
  • NHI Course 380063 "Construction Zone Safety for Inspectors"
  • NHI Course 380060 "Work Zone Traffic Control for Maintenance Operations on Rural Highways"
  • ATSSA Courses on Traffic Control for  Worksite Supervisors and Flagging