The Week of October 5, 2012

The Week of September 28, 2012

The Week of August 31, 2012

California

California Showcases Safety Edge Project

A Highways for LIFE demonstration showcase drew more than 30 transportation professionals to observe the paving of a Safety Edge_SM on Mountain Ranch Road in Calaveras County, CA. The participants also attended a workshop on the Safety Edge, a paving technique that mitigates pavement edge drop-offs. The August 23, 2012, event was California’s second Safety Edge showcase. A California Department of Transportation policy that takes effect in October 2012 requires the Safety Edge on all paving projects, except where the technique is not needed or cannot be used.

Connecticut

Connecticut and Ohio Sign Programmatic Agreements

New programmatic agreements in Connecticut and Ohio are designed to shorten the time it takes to deliver highway projects. An agreement signed August 23, 2012, will streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process by delegating to the Connecticut Department of Transportation the authority to classify two categories of projects as categorical exclusions without further FHWA approval. The Ohio agreement, executed August 24, 2012, will shorten part of the environmental process and improve project delivery times by reducing the amount of review time FHWA needs and allowing for concurrent agency reviews. It will apply to the majority of NEPA Section 4(f) determinations processed through the Ohio Department of Transportation's Office of Environmental Services.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Holds Adaptive Signal Control Technologies Symposium

About 50 engineers, planners, designers, contractors, and suppliers participated in a full-day discussion on the use of adaptive signal control technologies (ASCT) in Puerto Rico. FHWA, the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA), and the Puerto Local Technical Assistance Program collaborated on the August 16, 2012, event. PRHTA presented its plans to pilot ASCT in Mayaguez and to improve and replace all signal systems in Puerto Rico over 16 years. Several suppliers delivered presentations on available ASCT products.

The Week of August 17, 2012

Indiana

Indiana Uses Intelligent Compaction Technology

The Indiana Department of Transportation has begun its first quality control/quality assurance soils project using intelligent compaction. The project involves the U.S.31/U.S. 35 interchange, part of the U.S. 31 Kokomo Bypass. The embankment contractor, Fox Construction, will use rollers equipped with sensors (accelerometers) that can determine the relative stiffness of the soil to map the embankment as it is constructed. The rollers will also use Global Positioning System technology that can determine the coverage of the rollers over the embankment area.

Michigan

Bridge in a Backpack Featured in Michigan

More than 50 transportation professionals attended an August 13, 2012, showcase in Harbor Beach, MI, to learn about a new bridge construction technique called Bridge in a Backpack. The Michigan Department of Transportation, Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, and FHWA sponsored the event showcasing the M-25 bridge replacement project. The $1.6 million project is Michigan's first application of the technology, which can reduce construction time and result in a low-maintenance structure with an extended service life.

New York

New York Focuses on Design-Build Quality Assurance

To help New York State prepare for upcoming design-build megaprojects, FHWA hosted an August 21, 2012, workshop on design-build quality assurance. The projects represent more than $10 billion in estimated procurements in the next 6 to 12 months from the New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Thruway Authority, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Texas Department of Transportation staff joined FHWA staff to deliver the training, which emphasized the development a quality assurance plan that addresses how quality assurance and verification oversight will be conducted.

Ohio

Ohio Holds Adaptive Signal Control Technology Workshop

Ohio Department of Transportation staff attended an Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) and Systems Engineering Workshop in Columbus. The August 14 and 15, 2012, workshop included a review of how to apply the Model Systems Engineering Documents for ASCT Systems to a program of projects. The workshop also covered classifying ITS projects using a risk management approach and the flexibilities available in the systems engineering documentation process. Participants found the workshop a great information source as they consider expanding ASCT and the use of programmatic approaches as part of Every Day Counts.

The Week of August 13, 2012

New York

New York Pilots Planning and Environment Linkage Training

FHWA’s New York Division will offer a pilot training session August 22 and 23, 2012, on planning and environmental linkages. The class is designed for New York State Department of Transportation planners and designers and metropolitan planning organization staff. Discussions will cover the benefits of linking planning and environmental considerations to streamline the project development process, as well identification of improvement opportunities and methods to achieve linkages. The plan is to provide the course at several New York locations in the fall.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Signs Programmatic Agreement

Puerto Rico has its first programmatic agreement implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The agreement, signed July 31, 2012, involves the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority (PRHTA), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and FHWA. It establishes a streamlined process for PRHTA handling of routine actions with little or no potential to affect historic properties and makes PRHTA responsible for most steps in the Section 106 review process. It covers sidewalks, roadside barriers, resurfacing, pavement markings, traffic signals, lighting, bridge preservation, and operational projects.

The Week of August 7, 2012

Washington State

Updated Statewide Section 106 Programmatic Agreement Signed

On August 2, 2012 the Second Amended Programmatic Agreement Implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the Federal-aid Highway Program in Washington State Administered by the Federal Highway Administration was executed. The agreement, as the title indicates, is the third Statewide Section 106 agreement for Washington State. The first version was signed in 2000, the second in 2007. The agreement is between WSDOT, the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and FHWA. While none of them are signatory to the agreement, all 29 federally recognized tribes in the state of Washington and five out-of-state tribes were invited to consult on this agreement, and 16 tribes met with us or provided written comments. Tribal comments have been incorporated into the Agreement. This version enhances the agreement and streamlines activities based on our five years of experience with the First Amended PA. This Second Amended PA allows WSDOT Cultural Resources Specialists more discretion to exempt WSDOT projects from additional DAHP and tribal review, while at the same time requiring that all exemptions under the agreement be reviewed by a qualified Cultural Resources Specialist, ensuring that all of the exemptions receive proper review. The PA also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of WSDOT, DAHP, and FHWA in completing the Section 106 process for FHWA-funded projects, allowing WSDOT to act for FHWA for many steps in the process. The new agreement has been uploaded to the FHWA Environmental Discipline Sharepoint Site’s MOU/MOA/Programmatic Agreement Library.

The Week of July 27, 2012

Connecticut

Connecticut Considers Intelligent Compaction Use

After viewing a video conference on the second round of Every Day Counts initiatives, Connecticut’s State Transportation Innovation Council decided to consider use of intelligent compaction technology. During discussion of the new initiatives, a Connecticut Construction Industries Association representative talked about a multitude of fines being levied on contractors for not meeting compaction requirements on projects. The group proposed looking into intelligent compaction to help mitigate this issue.

Indiana

In May 2012, the Indiana Department of Transportation advertised a design-build contract to construct a 3,000-foot extension of Old Salem Road and a 170-foot bridge. The bridge will cross over the proposed SR-265 extension leading to the East End Crossing Bridge of the overall Louisville Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project. The apparent low bidder was Gohmann Construction, Inc., of Clarksville, IN, with a bid of $3.19 million, compared to the engineer’s estimate of $3.47 million. Groundbreaking is expected in August 2012.

Kansas

Design-Build Interchange Project Advances in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin Phase 2 of the Johnson County Gateway project 2 years ahead of schedule to take advantage of low bid prices for materials. Phase 1, under construction, is scheduled for completion in November 2012. Phase 2, the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange design-build project, is now scheduled to begin in 2014. The Johnson County Gateway is one of the State’s most congested interchanges, serving nearly a quarter million vehicles daily. It is scheduled for completion in 2017. This will be Kansas’ first experience using design-build for a transportation project. For more information, visit www.jocogateway.com.

The Week of June 29, 2012

District of Columbia

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hosted a two-day Senior Executive Transportation and Public Safety Summit on June 26th and 27th, at the USDOT Headquarters Building advancing the culture of Traffic Incident Management (TIM) throughout the country. U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau welcomed the group and provided opening remarks expressing the commitment of the entire Department to support safe, quick traffic incident responses on the Nation’s roadways. Those attending this summit include approximately 50 national leaders in the fields of transportation, law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency medical services and their related associations. The forum of senior-level, multi-disciplinary executives tackled tough challenges and discussed innovative solutions to help enhance TIM strategies related to TIM policies and procedures. The group also discussed the effectiveness of State and local legislation on Safe, Quick Clearance—to decrease the exposure of travelers and responders to secondary crashes—and outreach to TIM practitioners and motorists to ensure maximum public and responder safety and legal compliance. The two day agenda included a discussion of national TIM responder training that prepares practitioners from all stakeholder disciplines to adopt and apply a forward-focused approach too safely and efficiently plan for and execute traffic incident operations.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) worked this week (June 25-29) with a Lean Process consultant to re-engineer three of its processes. In short, the Lean/"Kaizen" (Japanese for continuous improvement) process, pioneered by Toyota, is focused on applying lean principles and methods to identify and implement, in Connecticut’s application, the most efficient and valueadded way to provide government services. Tremendous energy and effort was expended this week by three CTDOT teams willing to take a look at existing Departmental processes to re-engineer for the betterment of project delivery, etc. Supporting innovations in project delivery at every level, and wherever we can assist within the organization, four Division members were excited to be invited to be part of this initiative. Together FHWA representatives, Connecticut Department of Transportation decision makers and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection decision makers reviewed three processes CTDOT’s environmental permitting process with CTDEEP, CTDOT’s ROW acquisition process and CTDOT’s DBE Monitoring of Contractor Compliance. Given FHWA’s commitment to EDC, streamlining processes and making innovations in the way we all do business to expedite project delivery is a goal the Division enthusiastically supports via our state partners.

Florida

The Florida Division of FHWA participated in the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) annual conference

The gathering of the Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents (FACERS) is the FAC’s largest event each year and offers an opportunity for hundreds of commissioners and county staff from across the state to come together for continuing education and networking. Representatives from the FHWA Florida Division made presentations on the Everyday Counts Initiative. The Florida Association of Counties or FAC provides a cohesive platform that enables county officials and staff to speak with a unified voice on behalf of all Floridians.

Maine

Maine Veterans Memorial Bridge Opening

On Thursday, June 28, 2012, Administrator Victor Mendez visited Portland, Maine to take part in the opening ceremony of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Completed in 1954, the old bridge had been experiencing rapid structural deterioration which made its replacement a priority. The new bridge, which cost $63 million, and took two years to build, serves as a primary connector between the cities of Portland and South Portland. The new bridge spans 1,600 feet and features multiple scenic overlooks and a 12-foot wide multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists. This design-build project was completed slightly ahead of schedule and within budget. During the opening ceremony, a military band played, uniformed military members mingled with local and state officials, and pedestrians and bicyclists took advantage of a spacious walkway.

Massachusetts

Secretary LaHood, Congressman McGovern, Lt. Governor Murray Visit Transportation Projects in Worcester, MA

Congressman Jim McGovern hosted United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in Worcester on Monday, June 25th, to highlight ongoing regional transportation initiatives in Worcester. McGovern was joined by Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, city and state officials, as well as FHWA Division and FTA Region One leadership to discuss several major efforts to continue cementing Worcester’s role as a major local, state, and regional transportation hub. The visit included a tour and discussion of Worcester’s rehabilitated Union Station, which was partially funded with CMAQ funds, expansion of commuter rail service from Boston to Worcester, freight rail growth in Worcester, and improvements to bus services through the Worcester Regional Transit Authority. Congressman McGovern, Lieutenant Governor Murray, Massachusetts Secretary Davey, and FHWA Massachusetts Division 5 leadership also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge replacement project over Lake Quinsigamond. This project consists of replacement of the existing structure due to structural deficiencies. In April 2012, a Design/Build contract was awarded to The Middlesex Corporation for approximately $90 million ($72 million federal participation). The project will utilize GANS financing under the State’s $3 Billion Accelerated Bridge Program and is scheduled to be completed in January 2016.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Division, along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Programs (LTAP and TTAP) hosted the June 21, 2012 Every Day Counts Exchange on In-Lieu Fee Programs and Mitigation Banking. The event was held at the Center for Local Government and Technology at OSU-Stillwater, and was well attended by a cross section of local government and tribal officials. The morning session topics were the In Lieu Fee program for the American Burying Beetle, followed by aquatic resource mitigation banking then methodologies on reducing erosion on rural unpaved roads. Mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs are becoming more popular in Oklahoma. ODOT and FHWA representatives, and a representative of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), discussed experiences (both positive and cautionary) in the use of mitigation banks, the use of commercial for-profit banks, and in-lieu fee approaches on Oklahoma highway projects. The afternoon session was a nation-wide webinar on mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs broadcast by FHWA headquarters in Washington DC. The webinar provided a national perspective on time and cost saving initiatives. Both the local and national presentations prompted useful discussion of the potential benefits of in-lieu fee programs and mitigation banks in Oklahoma. Tribal representatives in attendance expressed interest in developing an American Burying Beetle In-Lieu program for their IRR projects and the Division has initiated discussions with FLHD to make it happen.

Oklahoma conducts a workshop on "Transitioning to Sustainability"

The FHWA Oklahoma Division, in coordination with the FHWA Resource Centers in Lakewood, CO and Atlanta GA and the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Tulsa metropolitan area, conducted a workshop on Transitioning to Sustainability in Tulsa, OK on June 21-22, 2012. The workshop took place at the INCOG conference Room, and involved local transportation professionals in the Tulsa metropolitan area including engineers, environmental specialists, transportation planners and other transportation development experts. The purpose of the workshop was to provide state and local transportation officials the opportunity to learn more about new approaches to plan and deliver transportation projects in a more effective and financially constrained environment while addressing all the public concerns related to these projects. Kevin Moody and Rod Vaughn of the FHWA Resource Center helped participants to walk through a set of innovative concepts including community cohesion, state-of-the-art implementation strategies, performance measures and other strategies that support the development of partnerships and the implementation of multimodal transportation projects. The discussion also focused on building interagency relationships that can withstand the rigors and public expectations of contemporary transportation project development.

EDC initiatives progressing in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Division, along with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Programs (LTAP and TTAP) hosted the June 21, 2012 Every Day Counts Exchange on In-Lieu Fee Programs and Mitigation Banking. The event was held at the Center for Local Government and Technology at OSU-Stillwater, and was well attended by a cross section of local government and tribal officials. The morning session topics were the In Lieu Fee program for the American Burying Beetle, followed by aquatic resource mitigation banking then methodologies on reducing erosion on rural unpaved roads. Mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs are becoming more popular in Oklahoma. ODOT and FHWA representatives, and a representative of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), discussed experiences (both positive and cautionary) in the use of mitigation banks, the use of commercial for-profit banks, and in-lieu fee approaches on Oklahoma highway projects. The afternoon session was a nation-wide webinar on mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs broadcast by FHWA headquarters in Washington DC. The webinar provided a national perspective on time and cost saving initiatives. Both the local and national presentations prompted useful discussion of the potential benefits of in-lieu fee programs and mitigation banks in Oklahoma. Tribal representatives in attendance expressed interest in developing an American Burying Beetle In-Lieu Fee program for their IRR projects and the Division has initiated discussions with FLHD to make it happen.

Road Safety Audit program presentation given to a multi-state group of GIS professionals

On June 20, 2012, the Oklahoma chapter South Central Arc User Group (OKSCAUG) invited Oklahoma FHWA Safety Engineer to make a presentation on Road Safety Audit (RSA). The (SCAUG) is a nonprofit association of professionals using geographic information systems (GIS) and other spatial technologies to solve challenges in the public and private sectors at the regional, state, and local levels. SCAUG is the foremost GIS user group in the South Central United States promoting the effective use of spatial data and information technologies for the understanding and management of GIS. The OKSCAUG quarter meeting was focus on Public Safety and it was held at the National Weather Center (NWC) in Norman, Oklahoma. There were over 160 attendees registered and attendees were from public to private personnel. Representatives of SCAUG are from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The Week of June 15, 2012

Florida

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary has assembled a team of “Innovators” to improve FDOT’s operations

The secretary selected one representative from each of the seven FDOT Districts, one from Florida Turnpike Enterprise, the Chief Engineer, an Assistant Secretary, and a representative from the FHWA Florida Division Office. The team will evaluate and guide the implementation of the bold and innovative ideas that will positively impact FDOT operations. A kick-off meeting was held last week to develop strategies for idea generation, prioritize an existing list of bold ideas, and develop deployment and implementation strategies. In the spirit of Every Day Counts, the Florida Division will look for opportunities to work with FDOT to identify and deploy innovation to reduce the time it takes to deliver projects, enhance safety and protect the environment.

The Florida Division of the Federal Highway Administration participated in the Design Training Expo in Orlando on June 12-14

The Design Training Expo is a comprehensive training event targeted for Department of Transportation employees and consultant staff who design projects for the Florida Department of Transportation Work Program. Workshop topics included Public Right of Way Access Guidelines, Proven Safety Countermeasures, and Project Management Principles. Representatives from the FHWA Florida Division office will serve as presenters for Every Day Counts, Buy America, and LAP Projects.

Georgia

Ashford-Dunwoody Road Diverging Diamond Interchange

The first Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) in the State of Georgia was opened to traffic on Sunday June 3, 2012. This $4.7 million project includes approximately 1/2 mile of interchange reconstruction on Ashford-Dunwoody Road over I-285 in Atlanta. The project includes a pedestrian walkway with median barrier walls which will be located in the center of the bridge and three 12-ft lanes in each direction. Video detection systems will also be installed to adjust signal timing as traffic conditions change. The project is expected to relieve congestion in the area. This is the first of three DDI interchanges that will be implemented in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The following link illustrates the operation of the Ashford Dunwoody Road DDI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY8xU-UAQWs&feature=player_embedded .

Illinois

Illinois attempts to improve NEPA-404 Merger Process

On May 30 and May 31, the Illinois Division, Illinois Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service convened with a third party facilitator to work on improving the NEPA-404 merger process on Illinois transportation projects in the Chicago metropolitan region. Illinois has had a NEPA-404 merger agreement with Federal resource agencies since the 1990s to help coordinate the transportation decision-making process with the Section 404 permit process. Over the last few years, it has become increasingly challenging to reach agreement in the Chicago region among the agencies on key project milestones such as Purpose and Need, Alternatives to be Carried Forward, and Preferred Alternative. Recently, a high priority, accelerated schedule, bi-state project with the Illinois and Indiana Departments of Transportation resulted in an impasse on purpose and need. As a result, the Illinois Division Office, working with headquarters, obtained the services of third party facilitator to help identify and resolve the issues with the merger process.

Indiana

East End Crossing — Louisville Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project

On May 30, 2012, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) advertised a Design-Build (DB) contract to construct a 3,000-foot extension of Old Salem Road and a 170-foot bridge, which will cross over the proposed SR-265 extension leading to the East End Crossing Bridge of the overall Louisville Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges (LSIORB) project. Bids will be opened on or about July 11, 2012, with groundbreaking in August, 2012. Work on this preliminary phase is expected to be completed by June 2013. The bridge will be designed to accommodate heavy trucks that serve the nearby Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville and River Ridge Commerce Center. When the East End Crossing of the LSIORB project is complete, Old Salem Road will connect with an interchange at SR-265, which will be the first Indiana exit north of the new East End Crossing Bridge. This contract does not include any work on the proposed interchange. Limiting the scope of the early work streamlines permitting issues and provides more flexibility to the future contractor that will build the East End Crossing.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma opens its first Single-Point Urban Interchange (SPUI)

Oklahoma transportation history reached yet another milestone May 25th as the state’s first single-point-urban-interchange opened to traffic at the I-40/Morgan Road interchange in west Oklahoma City. The $34 million project, which began in February 2011, completely reconstructed the interchange and removed the previous clover-leaf design of the ramps. The first of its kind in Oklahoma, the single point urban interchange includes longer on and off ramps at I-40 and a wider Morgan Rd. bridge. The project’s completion marks a big change in traffic flow for motorists in the area as the new design improves traffic flow and safety by allowing large volumes of traffic to travel the area using a single set of traffic signals on top of the bridge. Additionally, the project reconstructed and made improvements to I-40 between the North Canadian River bridge west of Council Road and Sara Road.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island DOT Hosts Workshop on Paving for Safety

On June 5th and June 6th, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) hosted a workshop on Paving for Safety. The course instructor was Frank Julian, FHWA Safety Engineer. Included in his presentation was an overview of the Proven Safety Countermeasures, specifically Safety Edge, Rumble Stripes/Strips, and High Friction Surface Treatment. Also discussed, was how these countermeasures could be implemented efficiently throughout Rhode Island in order to decrease the number of roadway departure crashes. The seminar was attended by 25 local, state, and federal personnel from design, construction, maintenance, and materials.

Washington State

WSDOT’s incident response program making a difference

Timely response to highway collisions by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews, State Patrol, and emergency personnel translated into an estimated $10.7 million in savings for highway travelers this year. In the first quarter of 2012, the Incident Response program saved travelers and businesses money by reducing the time and gas they would have wasted stuck in traffic, while at the same time increasing highway safety. WSDOT’s Incident Response Teams (IRT) cost an estimated $1.2 million to operate per quarter, reporting a benefit-to-cost ratio of approximately nine-to-one for the first quarter of the year. IRT responded to 10,588 incidents between January 1 and March 31with an average clearing time of fewer than 14 minutes. Due to severe winter weather in early 2012, the number of over-90-minute incidents increased by 41 statewide compared to the previous quarter with a total of 153 incidents. The average clearing time on these incidents was 187 minutes.

The Week of March 23, 2012

Florida

The Deputy Administrator will be the opening Key Note speaker highlighting the Every Day Counts Initiative. He will also be participating in a round table discussion on innovation with contractors, consultants, state and local governments. Participants will include representatives from the Florida Division of FHWA, the Florida Department of Transportation, and other local industry groups.

New York

In-Lieu Fee Agreement Introduced

On Monday, March 26, the FHWA coordinated a presentation, by an industry professional, to introduce the process for the approval and use of In-Lieu Fee agreements as an alternative compensatory mitigation option. Based on expressed interest from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the presentation is for NYSDOT, New York State Thruway Authority, and Federal Highway Administration staff and will take place at the NYSDOT main office building in Albany, New York. In-Lieu Fee agreements have been identified as an EDC initiative for streamlining project delivery.

The Week of March 9, 2012

District of Columbia

GRS Workshop Held

On February 23, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) held a workshop on Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS–IBS) technology. DDOT plans to use this technology to construct a bridge in the near future. The workshop topics included design and construction of GRS–IBS and a GRS project specific discussion. GRS–IBS is a key Every Day Counts technology.

North Dakota

Agencies Complete Programmatic Agreement

On March 5, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the North Dakota Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Central Federal Lands Highway Division, and the North Dakota Division Office completed the execution of a Programmatic Agreement for Wetland Mitigation on Emergency Relief Projects. This unique Programmatic Agreement will expedite the project delivery of emergency and permanent repairs under the emergency relief program and at the same time continue to protect wetlands and natural habitat in North Dakota. The Programmatic Agreement maintains the objective of mitigating impacts to wetlands in the Federal-aid highway program that results in a net gain on a program wide basis. The Programmatic Agreement clearly supports shortening project delivery under the banner of Every Day Counts.

The Week of March 2, 2012

The Week of February 24, 2012

District of Columbia

D-B Contract for 11th Street Bridge Replacement Project Moves Forward

The FHWA’s DC Division Office approved a $90,730,000 contract change on February 21 to complete the 11th Street Bridge Replacement Project. Since the award of the initial $260 million Design–Build to Budget contract, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) identified additional funding sources for the completion of the project. The nature of this contract change is to complete the all of the movements identified in the Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decisions that were not included as part of the scope of the initial Design–Build to Budget contract.

Puerto Rico

Workshop Raises Interest in Evaluating Projects for GRS Application

The Puerto Rico Division Office and the Puerto Rico LTAP Center hosted a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) workshop on February 16, as part of the nationwide EDC Exchange on the same subject. The full-day activity introduced the GRS concept to Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works’ engineers, local governments, consulting engineers, academia, and contractors. The training session had about 50 participants, who had the opportunity to learn more about this technology and to evaluate the possibility of incorporating the GRS design in Puerto Rico projects to reduce construction time and costs (as compared to conventional bridge construction). Municipality engineers were impressed with this technology and its benefits, such as reduce cost and construction time. As a result of this workshop and the EDC Exchange, several of the local municipalities will evaluate the potential use of this technology in Puerto Rico.

The Week of February 10, 2012

The Week of February 6, 2012

The Week of January 27, 2012

The Week of January 20, 2012

The Week of December 19, 2011

The Week of November 4, 2011

The Week of October 21, 2011

The Week of October 14, 2011

Who's Making Every Day Count October 14

New Mexico

Success with Warm Mix Asphalt

The New Mexico Division Office has completed the review of the NMDOT's significant revision of their Warm/Hot Mixed Asphalt Pavement and Pavement Smoothness Standard Specifications. The specification revisions had been undertaken as a result of previous process reviews which indicated that the current specifications required additional clarification and modification. It is anticipated that the revised specifications should result in lower, consistent bids and overall project costs. The development of the new Warm Mixed Asphalt Specifications will also enable the NMDOT to let 6-8 projects over the next several months which will utilize various warm mix technologies.

Oregon

Every Day Counts in Oregon: ESA Programmatic Agreement Completed

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) completed a Programmatic Biological Assessment (PBA) for the Oregon Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. On October 13, pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (as amended), the FHWA formally submitted the PBA to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), requesting formal consultation on the program. This PBA is directly aligned with FHWA's Every Day Counts initiative, Expanding the Use of Programmatic Agreements, and when executed through the receipt of a Biological Opinion, will expedite project delivery within Oregon. Specifically, the PBA addresses 17 species and 15 designated critical habitats under NMFS jurisdiction, as well as, 19 species and 9 critical habitats under USFWS jurisdiction. ODOT and FHWA facilitated extensive collaboration amongst interested partners that provided clarity and direction for consultation with the services and development of the PBA.

Wisconsin

Record of Decision for the USH 41 (Memorial Drive-County M) Approved

FHWA approved the Record of Decision (ROD) for the U.S. Highway (USH) 41; Memorial Drive to County Highway M project in Brown County, Wisconsin. The ROD was signed on October 4, 2011. The development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project was done on a very aggressive schedule, in part to support our Every Day Counts (EDC) initiatives, and was completed in 28 months. The EIS/ROD covers the northernmost section of a major corridor expansion project along USH 41 in Brown and Winnebago Counties. The corridor expansion project is a Federal Major project that is currently under construction in both counties. The northern section of this project underwent considerable design revisions to ensure full Interstate standards for the interchanges, including the USH 41 / Interstate 43 systems interchange. Since these design revisions would result in significant impacts, an EIS was prepared. USH 41 from Milwaukee, WI to Green Bay, WI was designated as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System and as a future part of the Interstate System. Improvements as part of this Major project will ensure that these sections of USH 41 meet Interstate standards.

The Week of October 3, 2011

The Week of August 18, 2011

The Week of July 22, 2011

The Week of July 8, 2011

The Week of June 22, 2011

The Week of June 10, 2011

Colorado Making Progress to Implement CM/GC

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and FHWA are making strong progress towards implementation of CM/GC for the first time. A Programmatic Special Experimental Project Number 14 (SEP-14) work plan for the use of the Construction Manager General Contractor (CM/GC) technique on transportation projects has been developed and approved. CDOT currently plans on exceeding their commitment to Every Day Counts by using CM/GC as the delivery method on up to eight projects in the next three years. Using a Programmatic approach to SEP-14 for CM/GC will allow the CDOT to consolidate information from multiple projects into a single annual report to develop consistency statewide. A CM/GC manual will be the end product of this process.

Massachusetts Successfully Completes the First in a Series of 14 Accelerated Bridge Superstructure Replacements on I-93 in Medford

Over the weekend of June 3 – 5, the Massachusetts DOT successfully completed a superstructure replacement of the I-93 Northbound Bridge over Riverside Avenue in Medford, MA. This bridge is part of a $92 million "Fast 14" project to replace 14 bridge structures on I-93, during a series of weekends over the summer of 2011. An Every Day Counts showcase of both Design-Build and Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems technology, this project's contract uses prefabricated, modular superstructure units, eliminating years of work that would occur in the roadway if conventional construction methods were used. The bridge was closed to traffic on Friday evening, with the I-93 traffic reduced to 4 lanes (2 in each direction). The demolition of the superstructure was completed by Saturday morning, followed by installation of the prefabricated, modular superstructure units and associated concrete pours. The bridge construction was completed on Sunday, June 5 at midnight, and the Interstate was open to traffic in time for the Monday morning commute.

New York Division Makes Presentation at Highway Superintendent Conference

On June 6, FHWA presented "The Basics of Roadside Design – How to Create a Forgivable Roadside" to the Highway School Conference of the 11 Cornell Local Roads Program (New York's Local Technical Assistance Program). The presentation included an overview in the morning and two 1.5 hour workshops in the afternoon, which detailed the general guidelines associated with roadside design and the Safety EdgeSM, an Every Day Counts initiative technology. The conference was attended by over 700 county and local agency highway superintendents.

The Week of June 3, 2011

Maryland

FHWA Participates In the Baltimore-Washington Regional Traffic Signal Forum

On May 25th, 2011 the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and the FHWA sponsored the Baltimore-Washington Regional Traffic Signal Forum, which was held at the Maritime Institute Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, MD. More than 100 traffic signal professionals from federal, state and local government and the private sector attended. This event provided a showcase for the Every Day Counts Technology, Adaptive Signal Control, via sessions aimed at improving signal timing through new technologies and the challenges faced by signal operators. Jeff Lindley, Associate Administrator, Office of Operations provided the keynote address at the event.

Florida

FHWA hosts Every Day Counts (EDC) Open House in Ocala, Florida to showcase Safety Edge_SMTechnology

The purpose of the event is to introduce State and local government officials to the Safety EdgeSM shoe, which is a tool used to shape the edge of pavement at a 30-35 degree angle. According to research, the optimal angle will allow drivers to re-enter the roadway safely. The FHWA is working with the State to develop specifications and adopt this new pavement edge treatment as a standard practice on all new and resurfacing pavement projects. The open house event featured a paving demonstration, job site visits and a peer to peer exchange.

The Week of May 27, 2011

Connecticut

First Use of Safety Edge_SMin Connecticut - EDC Initiative

On May 26, 2011, a municipal-funded project to resurface a local divided road in Farmington became Connecticut's first Safety Edge_SMproject. The town's contractor, Galasso Materials, LLC of East Granby used the TransTech Shoulder Wedge Maker (SWM), one of a limited number of devices fabricated and distributed to FHWA Division Offices for experimental use. This latest device was fabricated using a slight refinement of earlier experimental designs to achieve a higher density, pre-compacted, tapered pavement mat edge with a final angle, after rolling, of less than 25 degrees to the horizontal. The Connecticut Division Office has made this device available for loan to Connecticut municipalities through the Local Transportation Assistance Program at the University of Connecticut Technology Transfer Center.

Florida

EDC Roadshow stops in Florida

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez took the Every Day Counts (EDC) Roadshow to Florida May 25-26, 2011. The Administrator spoke on the topic of EDC with a group of stakeholders from the public and private sectors in attendance at the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE). He also met with the FHWA Florida Division Office EDC staff as well as members from the Florida Department of Transportation Leadership Team and the State's EDC State Implementation Team.

The Week of May 20, 2011

Montana

FHWA promoted the Every Day Counts (EDC) Safety EdgeSM recently at a joint conference of the American Public Works Association and others in Bozeman, Montana, on May 9. Marcee Allen, Safety/Traffic/Design Engineer, displayed a Safety EdgeSM shoe, used computer video, and featured a unique theme (Suckers for Safety) to create an attractive and popular booth. The booth was visited by public works officials, engineers, technicians and consultants from the transportation community, as well as many other disciplines.

Rhode Island

FHWA Administrator in RI to discuss Every Day Counts Program with RIDOT Director

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Victor M. Mendez was in Rhode Island on Thursday, May 19, to discuss better, faster, and smarter ways of completing transportation projects. These key elements are part of FHWA's Every Day Counts (EDC) program.

As part of National Transportation Week (May 15 – 21, 2011) Mendez, along with Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Michael P. Lewis, spoke about implementing EDC in Rhode Island and how improving roadway safety, protecting our environment, and shortening project completion times are part of an effort to meet this State's 21st Century transportation demands.

EDC is designed to find ways to deliver projects as fast as possible so that the public can then enjoy the benefits. RIDOT is already using the program's Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (employing this method on the Burrillville's Round Top Bridge replacement project -- this bridge was built in just 41 days); Design Build (construction and design are combined providing significant time savings -- used in projects such as the Wickford Junction Train Station in North Kingstown and the Laurel Avenue Bridge in Coventry); and Warm Mix Asphalt (uses lower temperature asphalt than conventional hot mix methods thereby reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions -- already in use on Block Island).

The Week of May 13, 2011

Florida Division Office

FHWA Administrator Mendez to discuss Every Day Counts (EDC) at the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) Conference

The FICE conference to be held in Orlando, Fl, May 25-26, is focused on "Coping with Changes in a Stagnant Economy." In addition to learning about the EDC initiative and how it will make a difference in the State, conference attendees will also hear from the Florida Department of Transportation's leaders about the future of transportation in this economy, new policies, and new State programs. Transportation engineers, consultants and construction leaders from the private and public sectors have been invited to participate.

Oregon Division Office

EDC: Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) Innovative Contracting uses Accelerated Bridge Construction Methods to Reduce Time, Cost and Environmental Impacts

In the Record of Decision for the Sellwood Bridge project the selected alternative would replace the Sellwood Bridge on its existing alignment, while maintaining traffic on the existing bridge during construction. Maintaining traffic, however, required stage construct of the new bridge. In response to the Request For Proposal for the CM/GC contract, a number of proposals included an accelerated bridge construction method to eliminate the staged construction of the replacement bridge. In the FEIS the construction of the replacement bridge was described as staged construction: The south half of the new bridge would be constructed adjacent to the existing structure, and traffic switched to the new bridge. The existing structure would then be demolished, and then the north half of the new bridge would be constructed. A number of the CM/GC proposals instead proposed to construct temporary piers to the north of the existing piers and then slide the existing deck truss about 40 feet north onto the temporary piers, and then construct the new bridge on the existing alignment in one stage. Traffic would then be routed onto the new bridge and the existing bridge would then be demolished saving construction time and cost as well as reducing environmental impacts.

Puerto Rico Division Office

Safety Edge technology implemented in Puerto Rico

On May 10, the Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Department was pleased to implement its first Safety EdgeSM on the island. A local contractor used the Safety EdgeSM shoe provided by the FHWA Puerto Rico Division Office on an existing asphalt overlay project on State Route PR-182. As a result of using the Safety EdgeSM, no shoulder reconditioning was necessary resulting in economic savings. And, most importantly, the project resulted in a safer road being provided to the motoring public.

Montana Division Office

The Montana Division promoted the Every Day Counts (EDC) Safety Edge_SM recently at a joint conference of the American Public Works Association and others in Bozeman, Montana. FHWA displayed a Safety Edge_SMshoe, used computer video, and featured a unique theme (Suckers for Safety) to create an attractive and popular booth. The booth was visited by public works officials, engineers, technicians and consultants from the transportation community, as well as many other disciplines.

The Week of May 6, 2011

The Week of April 29, 2011

Arkansas

Division Office EDC Champions nominated for Arkansas Federal Employee of the Year

Division office staff members acting as EDC Champions in the State-- David Blakeney, Terry Daniel, Brent Dather, Lester Frank, Joe Heflin, and Randal Looney -- were nominated as a team for the Arkansas Federal Executive Association (FEA) Federal Employee of the Year Award. The Federal Employee of the Year Award was created to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements made by the Federal community. These EDC Champions were nominated for their accomplishments implementing EDC initiatives in Arkansas. A committee selected by FEA members will judge the entries and present the awards at the Annual Federal Employee of the Year Awards Banquet on May 4 in Little Rock.

Massachusetts

MassDOT adopts EDC

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has adopted eleven focus areas and implementation plans were recently finalized. In addition, the MassDOT and the FHWA will work with the MPOs on incorporating Planning and Environmental Linkages into the State's and MPO's planning processes.

The Week of April 22, 2011

Michigan

Michigan DOT Showcases PBES on US 31 at Open House

On April 22, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) held its first open house on Prefabricated Bridge Element and Systems (PBES) in support of the Every Day Counts initiative. This PBES open house showcased the fabrication of precast superstructure elements in a precast plant in Grandville, MI. The superstructure elements are part of a bridge replacement project on US-31/Colby Street over the White Lake Pathway in Whitehall. A second open house is tentatively scheduled for early May to showcase the installation of the superstructure elements in their final location.

Oklahoma

FHWA Resource Center presents Every Day Counts overview and Adaptive Signal Control Technology initiative at Oklahoma APWA conference

On April 14, Paul Olson ITS Technology Engineer with the FHWA Resource Center delivered a general overview of the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative and a technical presentation on the Adaptive Signal Control Technology (SCT), at the Oklahoma American Public Works Association (APWA) conference in Oklahoma City (OKC) at the request of the Oklahoma Local Technical Assistance Program. A brief demonstration of the "ITS Console," which is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's decentralized Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) management console, followed at the Oklahoma Division Office.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico's First Test with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA)

The Puerto Rico Division has taken a lead in promoting Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology among all local asphalt producers with successful results. This week, just 5 weeks after the team from the FHWA and the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority introduced this technology for the first time, the first WMA trial section was constructed. On Interstate highway PR-2 in the Municipality of Yauco, about 700 tons of Superpave Surface Mix (SPS) was used with a dosage of 1.5 percent by weight of binder of a WMA chemical additive. In terms of production temperature, a reduction of 50 degrees F, as compared to conventional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), was achieved. This "green paving technology" translates to about 30 percent reduction in fuel costs. In addition, less compaction effort was required and results were more consistent.

First WMA Workshop in Puerto Rico

This week the FHWA Office of Pavement Technology and the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) provided a workshop on Warm Mix and Ground Tire Rubber Technologies (GTR). The Puerto Rico DTOP Secretary provided opening remarks showing his full support to this technology. The workshop included presentations from the local asphalt paving industry on their recent experience placing WMA and GTR.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Division Office and WisDOT held their annual Interagency Meeting April 20-21 in Madison.

Each agency had an opportunity to provide updates on existing activities and pending rules and regulations. The Wisconsin Division Office staff and an HQ representative from the Office of Planning and Environment (HEPE) devoted time on both days to discussing the Every Day Counts initiatives and the benefits of its implementation in Wisconsin.

The Week of April 18, 2011

The Week of March 11, 2011

Netherlands –(Netherlands – Should be first in the list this week) March 21

The Office of International Programs has received a request from the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, for Mr. Jan Hendrik Dronkers, General Director for Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), to meet with FHWA Administrator Victor M. Mendez and Executive Director Jeff Paniati. The goal of the meeting is to discuss ongoing collaboration between the FHWA and RWS. FHWA's recent activities with the RWS under the 2009 Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) have focused on safety and performance management. Although the collaboration will be a primary focus for the discussions, Mr. Dronkers is also interested in Every Day Counts and possible similarities with the Dutch program to shorten project delivery.

Nevada Legislature (Nevada)

The 76th session of the Nevada Legislature began on February 7, and will end on June 6. The 120 calendar day gathering is held in odd-numbered years, with 63 elected officials (21 Senate, 42 Assembly) now in Carson City. The biggest item on their agenda is to balance the state budget, with newly-elected Governor Sandoval continuing his support for no new taxes. The 2010 Census data will be used to redraw the boundaries for both state and federal election districts – Nevada will have a fourth Congressional District. Transportation issues include reviewing options for more funding, strengthening safety laws, and expanding project delivery choices. Our daily review of the pending legislation shows that gas tax increases and tolling will again be considered. Distracted driving measures, such as a ban on texting, have already been introduced. NDOT will also ask for the authority to use the Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC) procurement method FHWA has recommended as part of Every Day Counts. Other public agencies in Nevada have that authority already. The transportation committees meet each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, and we can attend in person or view the proceedings live over the Internet.

New Hampshire Hosts Regional Safety Edge_SMForum (New Hampshire)

On Tuesday, March 8, in support of the "Every Day Counts" initiative, the New Hampshire Division and New Hampshire DOT hosted a Safety Edge_SMForum that brought paving contractors and Safety Edge_SMdevice vendors together with State and local pavement design, materials, and construction engineers. The purpose of the forum was to address perceived issues with the implementation of this technology and level the knowledge base of all parties that would be involved in its application. The Acting Division Administrator provided opening remarks and Resource Center safety and pavements experts provided a national perspective and outlined experience amongst the various States that have achieved success applying this pavement feature. A contractor and facility owner from a neighboring state that had utilized Safety Edge_SMshared their experience. In addition, Safety Edge_SM application device vendors were provided time to showcase their products and address questions on use of them. In all, more than 100 people participated and early indications point to the forum being a great success.

Virginia Concrete Conference concentrates on Making Every Day (& Dollar) Count (Virginia)

FHWA co-sponsored and participated in the Virginia Concrete Conference on March 3-4. The theme for the year's conference is "Concrete: Make Every Dollar Count." There were over 300 participants for the conference with representatives from the State, local agencies, academia, FHWA, consultants, suppliers, and contractors. The conference had a general session on Thursday afternoon, March 3, highlighted with presentations on Every Day Counts, self consolidated concrete, construction lessons learned on the Chincoteague Bridge, and ACI Concrete Award Presentations.
Concurrent pavement and bridge breakout sessions were held on Friday morning. The pavements session had presentations on advanced concrete pavement technology, quite concrete pavements, life cycle analysis, and reclamation of pavements. The bridge session had presentations on the long term bridge program, high performance concrete performance specifications, long term creep and shrinkage effects, accelerated construction, and lightweight concrete. The conference provided the opportunity for materials, pavement and bridge engineers to network with the industry's leading professionals as they learned about the latest developments in concrete to make every dollar count. Please contact the Virginia division office with any questions at 804 775-3320.

PennDOT launches Innovation Team; Compliments Every Day Counts (Pennsylvania)

In complimentary fashion and consistent with a continued excellent working relationship, the Pennsylvania Division and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), will be launching an Innovation Team. The purpose of the Team is to look for tools and techniques that can shave time, save money and broaden the state of practice when it comes to engineering techniques for high value solutions. Given the budget shortfalls that plague most State DOTs, PennDOT is preparing to invest personnel time and effort to identify innovative ideas, discuss, and implement them where practical. The Division Office is quick to add to the effort. As often the case, frequent sharing of information is the key to change. As such, the Innovation Team will be meeting monthly as an open forum to discuss ideas. This is par for the course when it comes to the working relationship between the two offices, and ease of acceptance of each other's ideas. For example, under this climate the Division was quick to deploy workshops, training sessions and one-on-one meetings to explore the ideas of Adaptive Signal Controls, an Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative. We have also been able to implement low cost innovative solutions that result in significant safety and operation improvements at intersections to eliminate bottlenecks, and propose interchanges solutions, such as ramp metering and diverging diamond interchange design. Under the Every Day Counts activities, the two offices have embraced Warm Mixed Asphalt, Safety Edge, Adaptive Signal Control, Flexibilities in Right-of-Way and Utilities, and the two bridge techniques of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Abutments and Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems. Together, there is promise of deploying new practices and fully mainstreaming all these innovative techniques over the next two construction seasons.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Wisconsin and the WisDOT hosted their annual Transportation Improvement Conference in Milwaukee on March 9 and 10 (Wisconsin)

The conference presented best practices and transportation cutting edge technologies, strategies, and program updates targeted to the Transportation Design Community in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Division Administrator presented the Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiative, highlights of the Transportation Reauthorization Proposal, and presented FHWA 2010 Excellence in Highway Design Awards recognizing the design teams for two Wisconsin Projects. In addition, Wisconsin Division Staff contributed as speakers and moderators to several of the sessions. The workshop was attended by approximately 300 Transportation Partners.

The Week of March 4, 2011

Significant Upcoming Activities - Iowa Division to Host Adaptive Signal Control Technologies (ASCT) Showcase (Iowa)

On March 30, the Iowa Division, with assistance from the Office of Operations, will host an ASCT Showcase in West Des Moines. ASCT is one of five technologies being promoted under FHWA's Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative. As a follow-up to the EDC Regional Summits attended by top-level management, this free one-day Showcase will provide more specific information to practitioners involved in traffic signal operation in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Topics to be discussed include: motivation for adaptive control, an overview of ASCT systems, a methodology to effectively evaluate ASCT systems, procurement options, and recent implementation experience from local agency deployments. More information is available at http://matc.unl.edu/itsheartland/documents/ASCT_2011.pdf.

Arkansas Division to Present EDC Initiative at Little Rock MPO (Arkansas)

Assistant Division Administrator Jim Sinnette will speak on Arkansas EDC initiatives at Metroplan's monthly Technical Coordinating Committee meeting on March 9. Metroplan is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Little Rock metro area. The Technical Coordinating Committee is composed of technical representatives from the counties and cities that are members of Metroplan. In addition to Mr. Sinnette's presentation, FHWA Arkansas Division EDC champions will be attending the meeting to answer any questions about the EDC initiatives.

New Hampshire Hosts 2-day Regional Design-Build Workshop in Support of EDC (New Hampshire)

On March 1-2, FHWA co-hosted a design-build seminar with the New Hampshire DOT and Maine DOT with opening remarks provided by the New Hampshire Acting Division Administrator. There were approximately 150 participants from the New England area consisting of FHWA Divisions, State DOTs, contractors, and consultants. The first half-day was open to contractors and consultants and it included presentations by the FHWA Resource Center explaining the Design-Build process and respective roles and responsibilities. The remaining time consisted of implementing design-build in New Hampshire on the Memorial Bridge project. The workshop was very well organized and well received by all attendees.

EDC Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) Initiative (Puerto Rico)

The PR Highway & Transportation Authority (PRHTA) and the local asphalt industry started testing different WMA mix designs using chemical additives. The initial testing showed that this technology could be applied in Puerto Rico successfully. The drop of the WMA temperature was about 50 degrees, as compared with a conventional hot mix asphalt designs.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is sponsoring a Wisconsin Tribal Transportation Safety Summit (Wisconsin) at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College near Hayward, WI on March 24th. The Division Safety engineer is participating on the planning committee that is led by the TTAP at Michigan Tech University. Others on the planning committee include the WisDOT Tribal Liaisons, FHWA Federal Lands Tribal Liaisons and BIA. We will present the EDC topic and "Safety Edge_SMExperience" on the 2010 STH 55 project on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

The Week of February 25, 2011

Alabama EDC Executive Committee Meeting (Alabama)

On February 28, the Division Office and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will host the first meeting of the Alabama Every Day Counts Executive Committee. The meeting will include presentations and discussions on the Shortening Project Delivery and Accelerating Technology/Innovation initiatives including benefits, as well as evaluation of current practices. Committee representatives include the FHWA Division, ALDOT, State Historic Preservation Office, Alabama Road Builders Association, County Transportation Engineers, Auburn University, University of Alabama, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tuscaloosa MPO, Montgomery Public Works, and Sain Consulting Services.

DelMar Staff Attend DelDOT Winter Training (Delaware)

A number of DelMar Division staff attended and participated in Delaware Department of Transportation's Annual Winter Training on Friday February 25th. Among the several topics discussed was FHWA's Every Day Counts initiative which was presented by Tom Harman of the Baltimore Resource Center, as well as a DelDOT presentation on changes brought about by the new MUTCD. For further information please contact Basharat Siddiqi at (302) 734-1946.

Every Day Counts (Florida)

FHWA Florida Division was invited to speak about Every Day Counts and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise at the Florida Transportation Builders' Association Construction Conference. The annual event was held in Orlando on February 15 and 16. The purpose of the event was to update industry, government and special interest officials on transportation issues, exchange best practices and learn about new technologies. Some of the general session topics included asphalt, concrete paving, high speed rail, Design Build and CM@Risk.

FHWA Administrator provides remarks at Illinois' Annual Transportation and Highway Engineering (T.H.E.) Conference (Illinois)

Illinois held their 97th Annual T.H.E. Conference at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana on February 22-23, 2011. This Conference is the largest annual highway community event in Illinois with an attendance this year of approximately 1,100. The second day featured a "Federal View" presentation provided by FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez, in which he addressed a number of issues including the Administration's FY 2012 budget proposal, prospects for reauthorization, and FHWA's Every Day Counts initiatives. In addition, the conference featured sessions providing more specific information on various initiatives including connected vehicle technology, co-presented by Monique Evans, Director of FHWA's Office of Safety Research and Development, and Jim Wright of AASHTO. Detailed information for the Conference: http://www.theconf.com Point of Contact: Jon-Paul Kohler, Planning & Program Development Manager (217) 492-4988.

Success in the implementation of EDC initiatives in Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)

The PR Division has taken a lead in promoting two Every Day Counts Initiatives; Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) and Safety Edge, among all asphalt producers in Puerto Rico. With the collaboration of Andres Alvarez-State Materials Engineer and Don Watson from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), the team visited each asphalt producer in the Island during the last week of February. The team introduced these two new EDC technologies on a half-day workshop to all contractors and technical personnel from the Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority (PRHTA). The team answered all their questions and misconceptions with regards the use of WMA, clarified many concepts and invited all producers to an upcoming 2-day workshop scheduled for April that will include the new WMA Mix Design Guide, and use of Crumb Rubber Asphalt. Feedback from the industry management and technical personnel from local contractors was excellent and they showed real interest in embracing these new technologies, which will result in safer and environmentally friendly highways.

Topeka, KS Makes Use of EDC Technology (Kansas)

The City of Topeka is taking advantage of new adaptive signal control technology (InSync), as recommended by FHWA's EDC initiative. New traffic signals, equipped with cameras and processors, have been installed along stretches of SW 21st Street and SW Wannamaker Road. These traffic signals will be able to communicate with each other to help coordinate traffic and reduce delays at red lights. The City has posted a video on YouTube, "Seven traffic signals in two minutes", to showcase how this technology improves the driving experience along these heavily traveled roads (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaGh3JsoQQU). This project was funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The cost of the project was $678,000.

Promotion of EDC initiatives continues in Oklahoma (Oklahoma)

Continuing its effort & commitment to EDC, the Oklahoma Division office participated in Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Association (OAPA), annual asphalt workshop held in Oklahoma City February 22 & 23. Over 230 participants attended the workshop. Different state agencies construction engineers, contractors, consultants, and other allied asphalt industry members were in attendance. The Oklahoma Division setup and staffed a booth promoting EDC initiatives with a specific focus on Safety Edge_SMand warm mix asphalt (WMA) technologies. Many handouts, available in the booth, contained technical information on the benefits and usage of the technologies with examples of different manufacturers products. Additionally, copies of the standards and specifications used in construction by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) were available. The technical information and handouts provided guidance about construction aspects of Safety Edge_SM& ODOT's implementation plan of safety edge. Booth staff also presented information on the performance and economic benefits from usage of WMA and a course on the safety aspects for the travelling public on pavements with safety edge. Examples included demonstrated improvements in asphalt compaction and density consistency obtained by applying Safety Edge_SMon the un-restrained side during new pavement which results in better performance and increased durability of Oklahoma roads.

The Week of February 18, 2011

State's Annual Environmental Conference (New York)

On March 8, representatives from the New York Division will give a presentation about FHWA's Every Day Counts initiative at the New York State Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) Annual Environmental Conference. At this conference, NYSDOT regional office staff will talk about a number of the State's projects and environmental initiatives. This year's Wayne McCready Environmental Innovation and Stewardship Award will also be presented. (Contact Jeffrey Berna, 518-431-4125, Extension 219)

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) Workshop as part of Every Day Counts (Puerto Rico)

The FHWA Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center sponsored a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil workshop during February 7-9, 2011. The Puerto Rico DOT Secretary Ruben Hernandez Gregorat and Administrator Mendez opened the workshop emphasizing how important is the implementation of EDC initiatives. Engineers from the Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority, contractors, consultants, and the academia participated in this workshop. This was a great opportunity to get the word out on EDC initiatives.

New Hampshire Hosting a 2-day Regional Design-Build Workshop in Support of EDC (New Hampshire)

The New Hampshire Division is advancing the Memorial Bridge (TIGER II) project with assistance from the Resource Center and Highways for Life program by hosting a 2-day regional Design-Build Workshop on March 1-2, 2011 in Portsmouth, NH. The first half-day will be devoted to educating Contractors and Consultants on the general Design-Build process, while the next day and a half will allow multiple State DOT's and FHWA staff to walk through critical D-B processes using Memorial Bridge project details (e.g. RFQ/RFP, design, and construction.) The results of this workshop are envisioned to add value to not only the Memorial Bridge project, but also future Design-Build efforts around the country.

The Week of February 11, 2011

Arkansas to Evaluate Design Proposals for Reconstruction of Little Rock's Broadway Street Bridge

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) received formal interest from ten engineering firms to design a new Broadway Street Bridge across the Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock. AHTD will ask four or five firms to follow up with formal presentations. The AHTD preliminary estimate to replace the 90-year old Broadway Street Bridge is $45 million and will include both federal and state funds. Currently, the ADT on the bridge is 24,000. Local officials have expressed an interest to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the existing trail system along both sides of the Arkansas River and to consider a "signature bridge" design. Right-of-way constraints will require the new bridge to be built within the footprint of the existing bridge. Construction is expected to begin in 2013. Due to the high volume of traffic, its function as a major river crossing in Little Rock, and the desire to thoughtfully consider aesthetic treatments, the AHTD will explore innovative methods and technologies to reduce project delivery time and to minimize impacts to the traveling public. Division Administrator Sandra Otto met with AHTD Director Dan Flowers to discuss implementation of relevant Every Day Counts initiatives to meet these project goals.

Florida's EDC State Implementation Team (SIT) recently held its first meeting

The purpose of the meeting was to decide which EDC technologies the State will focus on implementing and to develop plans of action. As a result of the meeting, the SIT created four implementation teams that will focus on each specific EDC program area selected by the SIT. Those areas of focus include Safety Edge_SM, Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems, Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil and Clairifying Preliminary Design. The FHWA Florida Division Office has assigned individuals to work with each of these teams.

FHWA Massachusetts Division Concurs in Award of MassDOT's request to award a Design Build Contract for the I-93 "Fast 14" Project in Medford Massachusetts

On Monday, January 31st, 2011, FHWA provided a concurrence in award of contract letter in 8 response to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) – Highway Division request to award a Best Value Design-Build Contract to the joint venture of J.F. White /Kiewit Infrastructure Co. in the amount of $ 78,450,100.00. The project also will include a $ 7 Million incentive/disincentive clause for achieving timely Monday morning roadway openings and various on time project completion milestones. The project will provide for the rapid replacement of 14 deteriorated bridge superstructures on I-93 Northbound and Southbound in the City of Medford, Massachusetts. The majority of superstructure replacements will take place on weekends during the months of June, July and August, 2011 in order to expedite construction and minimize the impact to residents and commuters on this heavily traveled Interstate highway. To achieve this aggressive schedule, MassDOT and the Design Build team will utilize accelerated construction techniques including the use of modular, precast bridge units and heavy lift equipment to install the modular bridge units over the course of a weekend and open the roadway to full traffic on Monday mornings. Traffic management and public outreach efforts will be essential components of the project to reduce construction related impacts with the goal to inform travelers of alternate routes and other means of transportation during the proposed weekend traffic diversions. This project was added to MassDOT's $ 3 Billion dollar Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) after a significant bridge deck failure on one of the I-93 bridges back in August 2010. MassDOT and the FHWA Massachusetts Division Office worked cooperatively to develop and advance the project from concept to award in an accelerated time frame expediting both the NEPA process and the Design Build procurement process. This project will be advanced using a combination of State ABP and Federal aid GARVEE financing. This project is also noteworthy as it supports and highlights FHWA's Every Day Counts (EDC) initiatives of supporting Accelerating Technology and Innovation Deployment (pre-fabricated bridge components) and Shortening Project Delivery (Design-Build Project Delivery), as well as being highlighted by MassDOT's Transportation Secretary and CEO, Jeff Mullan, as a signature project for the new MassDOT. MassDOT's adoption and implementation of these innovative techniques were partly the outcome and result of several workshops (Innovative Contracting Workshop - held in March 2010 and Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer Workshop - held in late 2008) hosted by the Massachusetts Division Office with the assistance of the FHWA Resource Center personnel.

Nebraska EDC focused Systems Engineering Workshop

On February 7-9, 2011, a Systems Engineering (SE) workshop was conducted for the proposed Adaptive Signal Control project on US-6 in Omaha. The SE technical assistance provided on this project, which includes 15 intersections on US-6 and three major crossing arterials, was conducted under the auspices of the Every Day Counts initiative. SE technical assistance was also provided for a major camera/sensor project. The workshop was ably conducted by Paul Olson, Rick Denney and Eddie Curtis of the FHWA Resource Center Operations Team. Participating agencies included the FHWA Nebraska and Iowa Divisions, Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), Iowa Department of Transportation, University of Nebraska, Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, and the Cities of Omaha, Nebraska, and West Des Moines and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The workshop will help to institutionalize SE analysis as a practice in Nebraska and Iowa. Additionally, Emiliano Lopez of FHWA Operations met with NDOR on their effort to integrate SE on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) projects into the state's Clarity project scheduling system. This was a follow-up to the SE for ITS Workshop held in July 2010. The objective is to prepare a guide to assist other states with the integration of ITS projects into their Clarity project scheduling or other similar systems.

Every Day Counts Initiatives Highlighted at Asphalt Conference in Columbus, Ohio

On February 2 & 3, the Ohio Division participated in the joint North Central Asphalt Users/Producers Group & Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference in Columbus. This conference brought together approximately 350 members of the asphalt paving industry from 10 states, with a focus on introducing them to new concepts and technologies. Members of the Ohio Division staff provided the introductory remarks which included emphasis on the use two Every Day Counts areas: Warm Mix Asphalt and Safety Edge. This was followed by presentations from Headquarters and the Resource Center on the national perspective for asphalt paving along with both of these Every Day Counts areas. The Division also had a booth in the exhibition space which permitted Division Office staff to answer individual questions about Warm Mix Asphalt and Safety Edge_SM.