On
the Move Quarterly NewsletterOn
the Move Quarterly NewsletterThe long awaited revision of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is to be released in the first quarter of 2001. Preceding the release of the MUTCD will be the final rule regarding critical provisions of the manual and the dates for full compliance with the mandatory requirements. Early briefings on the manual revisions and its new features will be given nationwide during the first three months of 2001.
Every effort has been made to make the manual user friendly, practical, and pertinent to all types and classes of public highways, roads, and streets. Of special significance is new Part 5 of the manual dealing with low volume, rural roads. This new Part 5 should prove to be of special help to county road departments. Numerous signage details which have been somewhat unclear are addressed within this part.
Special efforts are being made to apprize MUTCD users of the provisions it contains and to answer any questions regarding the manual and its use. A special nationwide video conference is scheduled for March 20, 2001 (see article on page 8). In addition, there will be special briefing sessions conducted for elected officials, local agencies and state DOT personnel. Technical training sessions are under development to address the needs of all users of the MUTCD. These sessions are to be held throughout the year and will be continued as long as needed.
The hard copy editions of the MUTCD will be published in a loose leaf binder. This will more easily facilitate issuance and keeping track of new and revised provisions that could be made later. In addition to the printed manual, the Federal Highway Administration will maintain a MUTCD web site containing the complete manual along with a means for asking questions and obtaining clarifications on details of the manual provisions. Supplementing these, CDs containing the complete MUTCD will be made available.
The Utah Technology Transfer Center is working closely with FHWA in the implementation of the new MUTCD. Links to FHWA's web site are currently provided on the Center's home page under National Partners. The latest information on the MUTCD along with side-by-side discussion of the specific revisions to the manual can be accessed through our web site or directly through the internet at [http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov].
For specific details on the scheduled briefings, training sessions, and video conference, please refer to the centerfold section of this newsletter outlining the proposed training, workshops, and conferences to be conducted in the first quarter of 2001. If there are any questions on the new MUTCD please contact us at 1-800-822-8878 or by e-mail [doyt@cc.usu.edu].
The Utah T² Center will stock the MUTCD Millennium Edition as soon as it becomes available. The cost will be our cost plus shipping. You can also access the entire MUTCD on-line, for free, when it becomes available at the MUTCD Website.
The US DOT has announced $200 million in FHWA discretionary funds for 401 infrastructure projects in 49 states. The grants were provided in 5 categories: public lands highways, the transportation and community system preservation pilot program, ferryboats and terminals, scenic byways, innovative bridge research and construction program, and historic covered bridges. Check it out at [www.dot.gov/affairs/fhwa6600.htm].
Surface transportation improvements also received $123 million in FHWA discretionary funds for 50 projects in 32 states. Learn more at [www.dot.gov/affairs/fhwa10700.htm].
TEA-21 required the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to study the effectiveness of state DOT consultations with local officials and report the results to Congress. The National Academy of Public Administration was contracted by FHWA to develop factual findings on the subject. Several associations (NACE, NACo, NADO, APWA, AASHTO, etc.) were involved in a sounding board to FHWA on this contract. The Academy's report, Rural Transportation Consultative Processes was submitted to FHWA in May 2000. It is available on the internet at [www.NAPAWASH.org/publications]. It deals with the consultative practices used by State DOTs as well as principles of effective consultation.
The Academy is now preparing supplemental information for FHWA, which will contain a short description of each state's consultation process with comments by local agencies. Check out the website listed above for more information.
The US Forest Service has announced its plan to prevent road construction in some 58 million acres of national forests, and to prohibit timber harvesting as well. The proposed rule to protect roadless areas, issued last May, drew more than 1.5 million comments. In November, it issued its "preferred plan" and is expected to issue a final regulation in December. Under the preferred plan, road building would not be allowed except to protect public health, to allow access to some reserved right, or to realign an existing road in order to protect natural resources. The plan would allow construction of federal-aid highway projects if they are deemed by the Secretary of Agriculture to be in the public interest, and no possible alternative to the project exists. Forest industry groups and forest state legislators have vowed to attack the regulation in the Congress and in the courts. Information on the proposed plan can be viewed at [www.roadless.fs.fed.us].
Paul Mooney is the new Marketing and Technology Implementation Specialist for the Federal Highway Administration, Utah Division Office. Most recently, Mr. Mooney comes from the FHWA Connecticut Division Office where he worked in Planning, Research, and Technology Transfer. He worked closely with the Local Technical Assistance Program (T² Center) there.
Prior to his Federal service, he was the transportation specialist for the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments. In New Mexico, he provided assistance to city, county, and tribal governments which included transportation planning, grant writing, and several other activities. Notably, before his government services, Mr. Mooney worked in managerial positions in private industry. He incorporates business practices into Federal service and offers marketing expertise, customer service training, and strategic planning within his office.
We welcome Paul and look forward to working with him in partnership with local Utah agencies in determining the best use of new technology to better serve our public!
excerpt from Minnesota Technology Exchange, Vol. 8, No. 4
FHWA has released two new resources. The first is a new CD-ROM titled Pavement Preservation: State of the Practice, July 2000 (No. FHWA-IF-00-012). It contains guidelines on pavement preservation. Several DOTs share the best practices they have learned, as well as the benefits that have resulted from pavement preservation efforts. These benefits include improved ride quality, extended service life, and increased customer satisfaction.
The second is a videotape, Preventive Maintenance: Project Selection. This video is geared toward maintenance supervisors and program managers who make the daily decisions to implement various preventive maintenance treatments.
These resources will be available from the T² Center Library by calling 1-800-822-8878. To purchase your own copy of the video, you can contact the Foundation for Pavement Preservation by calling (202) 367-1167 or by e-mail at [ffp@ce.sba.com].
Our hats are off to Sheriff Brad Slater, Captain James Chipp, and Sergeant Jeff Toone for their initiative in providing work-related training to 20 Weber County inmates. These inmates took the work zone traffic control and flagger training offered by the Utah T² Center. Under the inspired leadership of the Weber County Sheriff, these inmates will be better prepared to obtain worthwhile employment after their sentences are completed. Again, our hats are off to the Weber County Sheriff and the inmates who took advantage of this important opportunity.
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently passed a policy resolution regarding minimum levels of retroreflectivity for signs. After careful consideration and study of the various issues related to FHWA's suggested guidelines for sign retroreflectivity by AASHTO's Task Force on Retroreflectivity Guidelines, the Task Force has provided interim findings and recommendations.
Based upon those findings, AASHTO agrees that "it is desirable to assure adequate night visibility of traffic signs" and that regular assessment of the adequacy of retroreflectivity (or the planned replacement) of signs is necessary to assure adequate night visibility.
AASHTO further expressed their concerns that "efforts to assure adequate night visibility should not impose undue burdens on highway agencies."
AASHTO continued by recommending to FHWA that they consider the following, relative to the retroreflectivity of traffic signs:
The AASHTO Task Force on Retroreflectivity Guidelines is not done. They will continue to evaluate future FHWA findings and recommendations regarding minimum retroreflectivity values for additional types of signs and for pavement markings as they become available. They will make comment and provide recommendations at that time.
To read more about this policy resolution, and learn more about other AASHTO recommendations, please check out their website at [www.aashto.org].
Our local and national partners are a valuable resources to us, and to you. We work with them to provide training, keep current on new technology, and other resources to make your job easier. You can link directly to our partners through our website. Do it today!
Our thanks to these important partners for sharing this information and working with us in our efforts to serve the local agencies of Utah.
January 17: Local Officials Day at the Legislature. Newly elected officials and legislators are invited to participate in this important event.
March 9-13: National League of Cities Conference (Washington DC)
April 25-27: Road School (St. George Dixie Center). More details will be published in our next newsletter and on-line at the League website.
February 9: County Officials Day at the Legislature. Lunch will be held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City.
April 11-13: Management Conference (location to be determined)
January 25, February 22: APWA Monthly Chapter Luncheons. All chapter luncheons will be held at the West Valley City Fitness Center (5415 West 3100 South, West Valley). Please call Penny Knight at (801) 569-5070 for more information.
March 21-23: Annual Spring Conference (Dixie College, St. George, Utah). More information on this meeting will be posted at the T² Center website when it becomes available.
For information on ITE activities, please call Don Adams at (801) 323-0887 extension 201.January 26: Annual Meeting (Hilda B. Jones Center, Salt Lake City). Cost is $30 to register BEFORE January 5 ($35 after). If you chose to pay your annual dues with your seminar registration, you will only pay $40 BEFORE January 5 and save $5 ($45 after). Contact Jason Davis, P.E., with UDOT Region 2 by phone at (801) 975-4820 or e-mail [jdavis@dot.state.ut.us] for more details and to register. You can download a .pdf file of the registration form here.
February 20, March 20: Monthly Luncheon Meetings (Shanghai Restaurant)
For information on these and other Trust activities, please call Craig Bott at 1-800-748-4440 extension 310. (Please leave a message if Craig is not available.) You can also e-mail Craig at [cbott@ulgt.org]. Also, check out their website at [http://www.ulgt.org].February 8: Sexual Harassment Training for Employees-1½ hours, Managing Sexual Harassment for Supervisors-1 hour, Americans with Disability Act/Fair Labor Standards Act Training-1½ hours (Moab City).
February 9-10: Certified Citizen Planner Training (Cedar City)
March 1: Rural Water Association, Managing Personnel Liability through the Establishment and Use of Performance Management System (St. George).
March 23-24: Certified Citizen Planner Training (Vernal)
January: Workplace Violence (Ogden and West Jordan)
February: Personnel Law (West Valley City) & OSHA Training (Brigham City)
March: Parks & Recreation (Riverdale and Orem) & Supervisors Seminar (West Jordan)
Specific dates are being determined. Cost for each of these workshops is $20 for members, $50 for non-members.
For information on Utah Operation Lifesaver activities, or to get involved with this worthwhile effort, please contact Bret Barney at (801) 489-8041.The Utah T² Center is pleased to offer APWA's course on Construction Inspector Training. This course has been broken into three modules, and will be presented during January, February and March of 2001 in Salt Lake City.
This course is for new and potential members of the profession of construction inspection, or those in the profession who would like to brush up on specifics types of construction project inspection.
The benefits of this program include providing an awareness of general principles and procedures associated with construction inspection, and explaining the responsibilities and liabilities associated with participating in the construction inspection process. As part of the course, students will be provided with a comprehensive resource document they can use for future reference.
Students taking this three-part course will learn about:
A full brochure and registration packet will be sent in early January. For more information about this and other T² Center workshops continue exploring this website or call us at 1-800-822-8878.
7-11 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting (Washington DC)
15 Closed
24 Work Zone Traffic Control (Salt Lake City)
26 ITE Annual Seminar (Salt Lake City)
30 MUTCD Briefing (Salt Lake City)
31 APWA Construction Inspector Training (Salt Lake City)
8 Asset Management & GASB-34 (Salt Lake City)
13 Work Zone Traffic Control & CMVO Training (Duchesne)
19 Closed
21 APWA Construction Inspector Training (Salt Lake City)
28 Hydraulic Design of Culverts & Drainage Systems (Salt Lake City)
21 APWA Construction Inspector Training (Salt Lake City)
26-30 Heavy Equipment Operator Training (St. George)
Roger Wentz, executive director of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) has announced plans to hold a nationwide broadcast on March 20, 2001 that discusses changes and updates to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The manual, scheduled for completion in December, contains standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide motorists in all 50 states. Uniformity of traffic control devices is critical to optimize traffic performance and to help improve safety by reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes.
"Everyone in the roadway safety industry has worked hard over the last couple of years to provide input and ideas into this new manual," Wentz said. "Many of the new changes and updates are significant, and by releasing this information to communities around the country simultaneously, countless lives will be saved on [our] nation's roadways beginning immediately."
The current MUTCD, published in 1988, had several changes added in 1995 but essentially, the 1988 version has remained the industry standard for over 12 years.
"Times have changed," said Shelley Row, director of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Transportation Operations. "Congestion is a national issue, technology is pushing us in new directions. There are more work zones than ever before, and transportation professionals must respond to increasing demands. It's time for a new Manual," she said. Row handpicked a FHWA panel who will present the manual during the nationwide broadcast.
The panel, the actual drafters of the new manual, will present the manual's changes and updates from a television set at Northern Virginia Community College, in Annandale, Virginia on March 20. The two-and-one-half-hour broadcast begins at 11:00 am EST. ATSSA, the host of the broadcast, is pre-registering downlink sites now across the country, via their website at [www.atssa.com]. Program viewers will also have the ability to immediately interact with the panel via toll free telephone numbers on March 20, in-place specifically for the broadcast.
Currently, ATSSA chapters across the country, as well as other agencies and organizations associated with roadway safety, are becoming actively involved and registering as downlink site sponsors for the broadcast. ATSSA has established a link at its website that explains the broadcast in greater detail. The link also features a nationwide map detailing the locations of pre-registered downlink sites, including driving directions to those locations.
"Anyone with an interest in roadway safety must get involved in this broadcast," said ATSSA President Dennis Sterndahl. "Communication tools exist right now to make this new information available to virtually anyone, anywhere, with immediacy and accuracy. Lives on our nation's roadways will be saved right away as a result of this broadcast."
Shortly after the broadcast, videotape copies of the program will be available through ATSSA, as well as both print and CD-ROM versions of the complete MUTCD.
Since 1969, ATSSA has represented companies and individuals in the traffic control and roadway safety industry. ATSSA's 1,700 members provide the majority of traffic safety services and materials used on our nation's roadways, such as guardrails, stripes, signs, lighting, drums, cones and barricades. ATSSA, headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, also has heavy emphasis on work zone safety and training.
To register as a downlink site in your community, visit [www.atssa.com], or contact Chris Kovacs-Sbitan at (800) 272-8772, ext. 150, or by e-mail at [chriss@atssa.com].
NOTE: If you are interested in being part of a downlink for this conference, please contact the T² Center by calling 1-800-822-8878 to let us know. If enough people are interested in this broadcast, we will make the necessary arrangements for local participation.
FHWA Research Development & Technology [www.tfhrc.gov]. Contains on-line copies of the FOCUS newsletter, Public Roads Magazine, and TRANSPORTER.
Institute of Transportation Engineers [www.ite.org]. This site provides current information on new rules and standards, upcoming meetings and conferences, and discussion groups.
National Association of County Engineers [www.naco.org]. Contains updated information on organization activities with links to statistical information for all counties in the United States. Also contains on-line copies of the following publications: County News, Legislative Bulletin, Leadership Letter, Coast to Coast, and County Environmental Quarterly.
Our thanks to the staff of the Minnesota Technology Exchange for their synopsis of resources at each site.
UDOT continues their customer service focus with the establishment of public involvement coordinators in each region. These coordinators serve as advisors to open houses for the public, spearhead UDOT's Outreach program, foster community relations and involvement in transportation issues and projects, and serve as spokesperson to local media. They are to play a major role in the implementation of UDOT's efforts to bring context sensitive solutions to transportation projects.
The thrust of context sensitive designs and solutions is to bring all potential impacts, issues, and stakeholders into the design process as early as possible to assure that all appropriate aspects and objectives are addressed. The public involvement coordinators are charged with the responsibility of notifying stakeholders and facilitating their input.
Local agencies, communities, their designated officials and the public in general are encouraged to contact the public involvement coordinator in their region with any questions or concerns they might have. Photos and contact information for the Director of Public Affairs, the Public Information Officer, and the regional public involvement coordinators are included here to help you get to know them.
Lynette Phillips, Director of Public Affairs4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City UT 84119-5998
(801) 965-4224
Amanda Covington, Public Information Officer4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City UT 84119-5998
(801) 965-4389
Andy Neff, Public Involvement Coordinator169 North Wall Avenue, PO Box 12580
Ogden UT 84412
(801) 399-5921 x. 282
J. Robert Ballew, Public Involvement Coordinator2010 South 2760 West
Salt Lake City UT 84104-4592
(801) 975-4958
Geoff Dupaix, Public Involvement Coordinator825 North 900 West
Orem UT 84057
(801) 227-8006
Myron Lee, Public Involvement CoordinatorPO Box 700
Richfield UT 84701
(435) 893-4702
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At least 3.9 million miles of public roads crisscross the United States. Wildlife experts say these roads impact animals in several ways: roadkill, habitat loss, and habitat fragmentation.
While millions of animals are killed each year in vehicle collisions, roadkill threatens humans as well as animals. Each year, more than 200 motorists are killed and thousands more are injured in animal-vehicle collisions, according to The Wildlife Society. The insurance industry estimates that the annual cost to society for these fatalities and injuries is $200 million. Individual motorists usually pay at least $2,000 in vehicle repair every time they hit a deer.
You have an opportunity to make a difference. Under TEA-21, Federal Highway Administration funding support is available for wildlife crossings on both new and existing roads. Thanks to TEA-21 and an expanded "Transportation Enhancements" category, states and communities can get help not only for crossing structures but for habitat connectivity measures.
To find out more about strategies being used to counteract roadkill, habitat loss and fragmentation, check out the website listed above. These strategies range from site-specific projects like goat bridges and bear underpasses to regional models that combine landscape ecology, conservation biology, and human safety concerns with long-range transportation planning.
For more information, contact Paul Garrett by calling (303) 969-5772 x 332 or on-line at [paul.garrett@fhwa.dot.gov].
You can also check out these websites with more information on animal/vehicle interactions:
click on Pathways-the Newsletter, then 1998 HTML format, then on Fall 1998 (you're looking for the "Deer Crossing Hazards" article)
www.white-water-associates.com
click on research, then projects, then car-deer accidents
Our thanks to Alice Karsama, with the Michigan Tribal Technical Assistance Program, for providing information on these links!
In preparation for the 2001 International Public Works Congress and Exposition, APWA issued a call for papers. Public works personnel from all around the country, and the world, were invited to present their best ideas at "the best show in public works." APWA is now reviewing those papers to find the best and most innovative leaders in the public works field...your peers!
The 2001 International Public Works Congress and Exposition will be held in Philadelphia, September 9-12, 2001. Participants can expect to learn more about: advancing infrastructure, expanding your horizons, innovations in technologies and practices, managing environmental resources, public support for public works, skills for survival, stretching your dollars and the competitive edge.
You won't want to miss it, so start planning now to attend! For more information, go to [www.apwa.net].
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FHWA's Work Zone Mobility a Safety Program offers a look at how to improve safety and mobility in work zones as well as saving lives and reducing injuries and fatalities. The guidebook assists construction workers by providing descriptions and points of contact for work zone best practices at every stage of a project. It is available at [http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/workzone.htm].
The Minnesota County Engineers Association is aggressively planning the NACE 2001 conference scheduled from April 22-26 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Please plan now to attend their annual conference. A terrific technical program along with an entertaining guest program is being planned. Participants will also enjoy perusing more than 100 exhibits. They have even invited Governor Jesse Ventura to kick off the conference. Don't miss out on this important event. For more details, check out [www.naco.org].
Be sure to mark your calendars now for the Utah Asphalt Conference, March 7-8, 2001. The cost will be $75 per person before February 15th and $90 per person after February 15th.
The conference will be broken into general and breakout sessions. General session topics include HMA overlays, the keys to quality asphalt, and asphalt pavement analyzer.
For the engineering and materials breakout sessions, participants can expect to learn more about life cycle cost analysis, pavement warranties and updates on UDOT's QC/QA specification.
For the construction and maintenance breakout sessions, participants will learn more about slurry seals and micro-surfacing, chip seals and scrub seals and in-place recycling and overlays.
In addition, smoothness, selecting asphalt mixes for local roads, longitudinal joints, HMA segregation avoidance practices and perpetual pavements will be discussed.
Speakers for the conference will come from state Departments of Transportation, FHWA and industry. The conference will be an excellent opportunity for participants to meet with experts in the field of asphalt pavements, and to share their own experience with their colleagues.
Vendors are currently being solicited for the conference. A table sponsorship will cost $300 and break or meal sponsorships are also available. We will also hold daily drawings for items donated by our sponsors.
For more information, or to register, please contact Keri Shoemaker at the Utah Technology Transfer Center by calling 1-800-822-8878. You can also complete the registration form (on this page) and fax it to Keri at (435) 797-1582.
The conference will be held at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center (255 South West Temple, Salt Lake City). A block of rooms is being held until February 7th for conference participants. Just call 1-800-HILTONS and mention you're with the Utah Asphalt Conference to get the special rate of $129/night for single and double.
More information about this conference can be found on-line at this website. To register, please e-mail Keri Shoemaker. She will need the following information:
All payments should be made out to the Utah Technology Transfer Center.
To more quickly meet the needs of local agencies in southern Utah, the T²
Center is proud to introduce Bill Swensen as our new southern region
Work Zone Traffic Control instructor. With demand for work zone traffic
control training at an all-time high, the T² Center was not been able to meet
all the requests by local agencies for training in as timely a manner as we
would like. So, with Bill on-board, we will better be able to serve you.
Bill is ATSSA certified, and brings many years of practical experience to his job as instructor. He has worked in the fields of construction and public works for much of his working life.
He has worked for the City of St. George for the last 11 years and currently serves as their Encroachment Officer. His work with St. George has included traffic control, signage, etc. in a variety of departments.
Bill serves on the Safety Committee for St. George City and is involved with the APWA Southern Utah Chapter as Secretary. As a member of the St. George City fitness and wellness committee and certified in first aid, class participants will be in good hands if you overdo it!
We are excited to welcome Bill as he serves as our part-time work zone traffic control instructor.
To request work zone traffic control training wherever you are in our great state, just call the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878. If you live in southern Utah, you'll get to meet our new instructor and learn from his experience and training. We're glad to have Bill on the T² Center team!