May/June 2002
ALONG
THE ROAD
Along
the Road is the place to look for information about current and upcoming
activities, developments, trends, and items of general interest to
the highway community. This information comes from U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) sources unless otherwise indicated. Your suggestions
and input are welcome. Let's meet along the road.
Policy
and Legislation
Policy
and Legislation North Carolina to Improve Rural Transportation Planning
In
2001, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation requesting
the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to establish
Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs). As of February 2002, the NCDOT
established 10 RPOs, which are multicounty organiza- tions sharing
common interests. Each RPO works to promote comprehensive, multimodal
transportation planning and more local involvement in the transporta-
tion decision-making process. The State expects to establish as many
as 19 RPOs in the future.
Mississippi
Drops Legal Blood-Alcohol Level to 0.08 Percent
Mississippi
law enforcement officers can expect to make more drunken driving arrests
and to respond to fewer alcohol-related crashes as a result of a new
State law lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent
to 0.08 percent.
Mississippi
Gov. Ronnie Musgrove signed the 0.08 blood alcohol content legislation
into law on March 18, 2002, making Mississippi the 31st State to lower
the driving-under-the-influence offense from 0.10 blood alcohol content
to 0.08. The law goes into effect July 1, 2002, nearly two years after
former President Clinton signed a bill setting the national standard
for driving under the influence at 0.08 and linking State compliance
with Federal highway funding.
Management
and Administration
Now
Available: A Benefit-Cost Analysis for Using ITS Technology for Traffic
Management in Temporary Construction Zones
The
Michigan Department of Transportation developed a benefit-cost analysis
to determine the value of imple- menting Intelligent Transportation
Systems (ITS) technol- ogy for managing traffic flow in temporary
construction zones along the I-496 reconstruction in Lansing, MI.
The analysis
indicates that payback from the proposed ITS system outweighs the
costs by a factor of two to one; an approximate $2.5 million for the
ITS system and engineering costs will net nearly $5 million in benefits.
These benefits come from anticipated reductions in accidents, travel
time, environmental impacts, and energy consumption. Additional benefits,
including customer satisfaction
and worker productivity, may exist but could not be quantified using
available data.
The
analysis is available online at www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov//JPODOCS/REPTS_TE/13591.html.
Transportation
Officials Call for National Commitment to Wireless E9-1-1 System
At
a national E9-1-1 summit on April 8, 2002, U.S. Trans- portation Secretary
Norman Y. Mineta, Transportation Chief of Staff John Flaherty, and
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, MD,
called on public safety officials, the telecommunications industry,
and communities across the country to accelerate implementation of
wireless-enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) services.
The need
to locate people quickly and precisely when they make 9-1-1 calls
on cellular phones prompted the summit in Arlington, VA. In an emergency—
whether it’s due to injury or to another urgent situation— a timely
response can affect the final outcome.
Once
completed, the E9-1-1 system will enable public safety call centers
to pinpoint the locations of callers making emergency contact from
cellular telephones. Call centers already can locate 98 percent of
caller locations from contact made via residential landline phones.
Presently, 25 percent of all 9-1-1 calls are placed from wireless
phones, with 40 percent of the calls not cov- ered by enhanced 9-1-1.
Participants
in the summit included elected officials and representatives from
the wireless industry, State and local governments, public safety
call centers, emergency medical services, police and fire departments,
and the transportation industry.
Implementing
a wireless E9-1-1 system that identifies caller locations is complex
because of new technology requirements and process changes necessary
for han- dling and responding to emergency calls. DOT’s Intelli- gent
Transportation Systems (ITS) program is coordinat- ing the E9-1-1
implementation. The ITS program saves lives, time, and money by combining
advanced communi- cations and transportation technologies with surface
transportation management and operations systems.
For
more information, visit DOT’s ITS Web site at www.its.dot.gov.
Puerto
Rico’s Tren Urbano Project Receives Federal Funding
On
March 22, 2002, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta
granted $105.7 million in Federal Transit Administration funds to
the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority for the Tren
Urbano project.
Puerto
Rico will use the grant, authorized under the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century, to carry out project management, design,
and construction of the guideway and stations for the Tren Urbano
project, a 10.7-mile (17.2-kilometer) heavy rail transit system. The
project includes 16 stations between Bayamon and Santurce, a community
in the municipality of San Juan.
The Federal
Transit Administration executed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
for the construction of Tren Urbano with the Puerto Rico Highway and
Trans- portation Authority on March 13, 1996. An FFGA is the Federal
Government’s commitment to support a transit project over the course
of several fiscal years, contingent upon the availability of funds.
As funds are appropriated, the full funding projects receive priority
consideration.
New
Radionavigation Plan Focuses on GPS As Primary Means of Navigation
On
March 26, 2002, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta
and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the release
of the 2001 Federal Radionavigation Plan, which continues to strengthen
the U.S. commitment to and modernization of the Global Positioning
System (GPS) as a primary navigation tool for supporting the Nation’s
transportation infrastructure.
The 2001
plan is a joint product of the Departments of Transportation and Defense
mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal
year 1998. According to the NDAA, requirements to revise and update
the plan must be performed at least every two years. The 2001 plan
includes scheduling revisions for phasing down most land-based radionavigation
systems to allow more time for transitioning to the GPS. In following
the policy stated in the 1999 plan, DOT will continue to operate Loran-C
in the short term while the administration continues to evaluate the
long-term need for the system. Upon completing studies on Loran-C
in 2002, DOT will make a decision on the system.
Beginning
with the 2001 edition of the plan, Federal radionavigation information
will be published in two separate documents instead of one: the “2001
Federal Radionavigation Plan” and a companion document, “Federal Radionavigation
Systems.” The 2001 plan in- cludes an introduction, policies, operating
plans, system selection considerations, and research and development
sections. The plan will facilitate more efficient and responsive updates
of policy and planning information. Sections relating to government
roles and responsibili- ties, user requirements, and systems descriptions
were moved to the companion document and will be updated when needed.
For
a free copy of the 2001 plan and companion document on CD-ROM, call
617– 494– 2908, or write to Volpe National Transportation Systems
Center, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142. The 2001 plan also is
available online at www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/frp2001.
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The
concrete slabs in the foreground are part of a research test
to demonstrate the snow-melting effect of a de-icing system
planned for installation on a bridge near Lincoln, NE.
|
Technical
News
Nebraska
Bridge Conductive Concrete De-icing System First in Nation
A
new bridge de-icing system in Nebraska will be the first of its kind
on a U.S. roadway. Scheduled for installation
during summer 2002, the system is part of a bridge and roadway construction
project underway on Roca Spur S-55F, off U.S.-77 about 10 miles south
of Lincoln, NE.
The de-icing
system will be installed on a concrete slab bridge located within
60 feet of a railroad crossing, where rapid deceleration is required.
Based on research conducted at the University of Nebraska, the system
operates by warming the pavement whenever icy weather is expected.
University
of Nebraska researchers Sherif Yehia and Dr. Christopher Tuan developed
the conductive concrete mix in 1998, specifically for installation
on bridge decks. The Nebraska Department of Roads worked with Tuan
to make this field application possible. Tuan will publish a report
evaluating the system after a couple of seasons of operation. If the
system proves to be effective, it will be installed near intersections
and on curves where pave- ment and bridge icing conditions contribute
to crashes, potentially reducing injury and saving lives.
The only
known application of a similar technology in the United States is
a sidewalk in Shelby, OH.
The concrete
slabs in the foreground are part of a research test to demonstrate
the snow- melting effect of a de- icing system planned for installation
on a bridge near Lincoln, NE.
Public
Information and Information Exchange
Retroreflectivity
Video Earns a 2001 Communicator Award
An FHWA video titled Night Lights: How Retroreflectivity Makes
Roadways Safe, produced in coordination with the American Traffic
Safety Services Association, won second place in the 2001 Communicator
Awards.
The award
recognizes projects that exceed industry standards in production or
communication skills. This international competition received more
than 3,400 entries. The video markets FHWA’s Run-off-Road: Retroreflectivity
program to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on our Nation’s
roadways. The film
takes a nontechnical look at how retroreflectivity, or nighttime
visibility of signs and pavement markings, helps save lives by making
roadways safer and easier to travel. Targeted to a general audience,
the video defines the science of retroreflectivity used in roadway
signs, pavement markings, and other retroreflective materials on roadways.
The
Night Lights video was previously named a Finalist Winner in the 2001
Aegis Awards. To request a copy of the video, contact Peter Hatzi
at FHWA at 202– 366– 8036 or James Baron at the American Traffic Safety
Services Association (ATSSA) at 540– 368– 1701.
States
to Conduct Field Operational Tests on Variable Speed Limits
FHWA
awarded cooperative agreements to Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia
to implement and analyze the effectiveness of variable speed limits
in work zones.
Variable
speed limit systems rely on input of vehicle speeds and other information
to post an appropriate speed limit, enabling motorists to maintain
the most efficient and safe speeds, without endangering them- selves,
other drivers, or workers. Each of the selected States will implement
the systems in a work zone, monitor operations, and evaluate the effectiveness.
The results from these pilot projects will be distributed to all States,
so best practices for safe and efficient travel through works zones
may be applied.
Reducing
Sulfur Results in Ultra-Clean Fuels
A
new process under development at Pennsylvania State University could
bolster industry efforts to meet future U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) require- ments for extensive reductions in fuel sulfur.
Existing
regulations for diesel fuel allow 500 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur,
compared with about 350 ppm sulfur for gasoline. By 2006, however,
EPA’s suite of engine and fuel regulations will limit sulfur content
to 30 ppm in gasoline and 15 ppm in diesel fuel.
The new
Penn State process uses low temperatures and pressure to remove organic
sulfur, a turnabout from traditional approaches that use high temperatures
and hydrogen gas. Researchers hope that refineries can implement the
process to produce low-sulfur fuels and generate the ultra-clean formulations
required by fuel cells.
West
Virginian Fatalities Significantly Decline In 2001
The
final highway safety statistics for 2001 show a significant drop in
fatalities in West Virginia from previ- ous years. The 356 fatalities
that occurred in the State in 2001 represent a 14 percent decrease
from 415 in 2000. Previous years also ran close to 400 fatalities
in the State.
Although
the decrease cannot be attributed to any single action, various government
agencies did imple- ment a number of measures. First, the FHWA Division
Office continues to coordinate a safety management system involving
highway safety agencies meeting and collaborating on joint activities
to reduce fatalities.
Second,
in recent years, West Virginia passed new laws regarding driver licensing
and impaired driving viola- tions. The State implemented a strategic
plan for improv- ing its crash data system and continues to enhance
and review the system. Finally, emphasis on enforcement of speeding,
impaired driving, and safety belt usage laws has increased. West Virginia
recently began a “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign statewide,
which is likely to further improve safety and reduce fatal crashes.
Yosemite
National Park Road Earns Engineering Award
The
Consulting Engineers Council of California recently selected the reconstructed
El Portal Road in Yosemite National Park to receive an Honor Award
for Engineering Excellence.
The project
to reconstruct the park’s main entrance road was completed using the
design-build delivery method, the approach of contracting with a single
entity for performing both design and construction on a project. The
method accelerated completion, minimized socio-economic impacts, and
employed industry innova- tions. The project was Federal Lands Highway’s
first design-build project and was managed by the Central Federal
Lands Highway Division in partnership with the National Park Service.
New
Multicultural Outreach Web site Unveiled
Dr.
Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unveiled the
Agency’s new multicultural outreach Web site. The site makes customized
traffic safety materials and information available to a myriad of
potential users within the minority community.
A key
focus of the multicultural outreach site is to provide valuable information
about how minority communities are disproportionately affected by
traffic safety problems. The site displays materials to help prevent
crashes, save lives, educate, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related
health care and other economic costs.
Latino/Hispanic
(in Spanish and English), Black/ African-American, Asian-American/Pacific
Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native are among the popula-
tions to be served by this new Web site. Each group has its own separate
section.
Designed
by a diverse group of NHTSA staff, the Web site explains, for example,
that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics
and Ameri- can Indians between the ages of 1 and 44, African- Americans
between the ages of 1 and 14, and Asian- Americans between the ages
of 1 and 24.
Visit
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/multicultural
to access or download research reports, statistics, brochures, posters,
and camera-ready artwork.
RIDOT
Web site Features Images from 25 Highway Cameras
The
Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is now providing
online snapshots from 25 real-time roadway cameras along I-95, I-195,
and Route 10 to help motorists check the traffic online before they
begin a trip.
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The
Rhode Island Department of Transportation placed dozens of real-time
traffic-monitoring cameras along the major highways servicing
Providence.
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Camera
views may be selected by clicking on small camera symbols on a map
of the State’s metropolitan areas. Sneak a peak at www.tmc.state.ri.us/TrafficCams/
LiveCams.asp.
secretary
for former Delaware Gov. Pete DuPont’s 1988 presidential campaign.
As a reporter, Outlaw covered foreign affairs and general assignment
issues for The Washington Times. He also was a reporter and
an editor for the Associated Press in North and South Carolina, and
at several South Carolina newspapers.
Outlaw
was elected a vice president of the Washing- ton chapter of the Public
Relations Society of America. He received the Diamond Award in June
2001 for his professional service to the chapter. In addition, he
is an adjunct instructor at The George Washington University’s Center
for Professional Development and is a journalism instructor at the
Institute for Experiential Learning.
Albert
F. DiMillio Selected to Receive Prestigious Engineering Award
The
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) selected Albert F. DiMillio,
program manager for geotechnical research at the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), as the recipient of the 2002 Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering
Award.
ASCE
established the Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award in 1973
as a memorial recognizing the outstanding professional accomplishments
of Martin S. Kapp. ASCE offers the award to an individual who demonstrates
the best example of innovative or outstand- ing design or construction
of foundations, earthworks, retaining structures, or underground construction.
The Rhode
Island Department of Transportation placed dozens of real- time traffic-
monitoring cameras along the major highways servicing Providence.
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Albert
F. DiMillio received the 2002 Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering
Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Personnel
William N. Outlaw Appointed FHWA Director of Public Affairs
Federal
Highway Administrator Mary Peters announced the appointment of William
N. (Bill) Outlaw as the Agency’s director for public affairs on April
16, 2002.
Outlaw
joins the Agency after 9 years as director of communications for The
Road Information Program (TRIP), a nonprofit transportation research
group. At TRIP, Outlaw coordinated the communications and outreach
efforts with public and private sector groups at the national and
local levels, and helped the organization gain media coverage of highway
and transportation issues throughout the country.
Outlaw
also worked as press secretary to Senator Strom Thurmond (SC), as
a press officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development,
and as press
Albert
F. DiMillio received the 2002 Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering
Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
DiMillio’s
award citation reads, “For his many contribu- tions to innovative
foundation engineering and site improvement through his work at FHWA,
and for his efforts leading to numerous practical innovations that
have permitted difficult foundation problems to be overcome.”
For more
than 30 years, DiMillio has dedicated his skills and energy to supporting
FHWA’s research projects, and he is the recipient of several of FHWA’s
Outstanding Performance Awards, most recently in 1999. He also received
the Construction Innovation Forum’s NOVA Award in 1999 and ASCE’s
James Laurie Prize in 1991.
DiMillio
will accept the award during the annual business meeting at the ASCE
National Convention in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2002.
Jerry
DiMaggio Named FHWA Engineer of the Year
Jerry
A. DiMaggio has been named the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA)
Engineer of the Year for 2002.
He also
received the agency’s Engineering Excellence
Award.
As FHWA’s engineer of the year, DiMaggio will be recognized by the
National Society of Professional Engineers along with other distinguished
engineers that work for the Federal Government. FHWA presents the
Engineering Excellence Award annually to an engineer who has made
extraordinary contributions to the agency and the transportation sector.
DiMaggio,
who joined FHWA in 1976, is a senior geotechnical engineer in the
Agency’s Office of Infra- structure. He is recognized internationally
for his techni- cal expertise in geotechnical engineering. In addition,
he has written or cowritten several FHWA guidelines, which have been
translated and adopted by several European and Asian countries as
their standards of practice.
DiMaggio
has provided technical advice and support on the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel
and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge replacement projects in addition to
design and construction situations nationwide. He also has presented
more than 250 short courses and graduate courses in geotechnical engineering,
including instruc- tion at the University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins
University, and the University of Akron.
DiMaggio
received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Clarkson University
in New York. He is a member of several technical committees and task
forces, includ- ing the American Society of Civil Engineers, American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the
Transportation Research Board.
Sandberg
Named NHTSA Deputy Administrator
U.S.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta welcomed Annette Sandberg
as deputy administrator of DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
An attorney
by training, Sandberg spent more than 17 years in a variety of law
enforcement, supervisory, and administrative posts with the Washington
State Patrol, including nearly 6 years as its chief. When appointed
to that position in 1995, she was the first woman in the country to
head a State police agency. Since June 2001, she has practiced law
in Olympia, WA.
Sandberg
received her law degree from the University of Puget Sound School
of Law and her MBA from City University in Bellevue, WA. She also
was chosen to attend executive institutes at Harvard University and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Glassman
Is New Chief Counsel for NHTSA
U.S.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta an- nounced the appointment
of Jacqueline Glassman as chief counsel for DOT’s National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration.
Prior
to her selection as chief counsel, Glassman spent more than 7 years
in the Office of General Counsel for the DaimlerChrysler Corporation,
where she rose to the level of senior counsel in 1997. Before joining
the company, she worked in private law practice at Sonnenschein Nath
& Rosenthal, where she specialized in regulatory, constitutional,
and commercial litigation. Glassman received her J.D. degree from
Stanford Law School and her B.A. in history from Brandeis University.
Other
Articles in this issue:
Arizona
Tackles Work Zone Delays
A
Hallmark of Context-Sensitive Design
Safer
Roads Thanks to ITS
Do
Better Roads Mean More Jobs?
Exciting
Opportunity for ITS Work
See
It Before It's Built
Roadway
Lighting Revisited
The
Man Who Loved Roads
Benefitting
from LTPP—A State's Perspective