The Signal March April 2017

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10 American Traffic Safety Services Association
ATSSA’S 47TH ANNUAL
CONVENTION & TRAFFIC EXPO
Fredericksburg, Va. (Feb. 8, 2017) – The American Traffic Safety
Services Association (ATSSA), in partnership with the National
Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board (TRB), have
honored three university engineering students and their supporting
teams, for winning the ATSSA/TRB Traffic Control Device
Challenge.
Engineering students from around the country competed in the
challenge, which focused on improving roadway system design, or
the creation of innovation in roadway traffic control devices that help
improve safety on America’s roadways. Participants in the contest
included students from high schools, community colleges, college or
graduate students, or teams of students with an interest in
transportation.
Nearly 20 finalists from across the country were evaluated for the
prestigious awards during the January TRB annual meeting in
Washington, D.C. From those submissions, first, second and third
place winners were selected to present their concepts to the roadway
safety industry—and over 3,000 guests—during ATSSA’s 47th
Annual Convention and Traffic Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. Feb. 10–14.
Additionally, winning teams received cash prizes and plaques for
their submissions. The winners were:
All submissions to the contest were original designs or modifications
to industry-accepted designs or products. A panel of TRB experts
judged the entries based on the ability of the idea to address a specific
roadway problem, how easily it would be understood by all road
users, its applicability on a nationwide basis, and its feasibility for
implementation.
ATSSA’s core purpose is to advance roadway safety. ATSSA
represents the roadway safety industry with effective legislative
advocacy and a far reaching member partnership. The association
also leads the nation in work zone safety training and education for
roadway workers across the country. ATSSA members accomplish
the advancement of roadway safety through the design, manufacture,
and installation of roadway safety and traffic control devices.
The mission of the TRB is to provide leadership in transportation
innovation and progress through research and information exchange,
conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and
multimodal.
1st Place ($1,500)
Title: Electronic Beacon to Guide Autonomous Vehicles through
Work Zones
Student team: Owen Hitchcock, Kristin Kersavage, Lingyu Li,
Xiao Liang, Xu Lin
Institution: Penn State University
2nd Place ($1,000)
Title: The New Generation Steering Wheel Cover
Student: Jelena Karapetrovic
Institution: New Mexico State University
3rd Place ($500)
Title: The Pima County Split-Face Marker
Student team: Garrett Anderson, Vincent Morello, Lindsey Willman
Institution: University of Arizona
The contest will take place again in 2017. Questions regarding the
contest should be addressed to 
Winners of Traffic Control Device Challenge exhibit
at ATSSA’s Annual Convention
National ATSSA awards presented during
Annual Convention
On Feb. 12, three prestigious ATSSA national awards were
presented during the Opening General Session of ATSSA’s 47th
Annual Convention and Traffic Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. Kathi
Holst of D2K Traffic Equipment and Design LLC presented Henry
Ross (Plasticade) with ATSSA’s Industry Achievement Award. Joe
Jeffrey (Road-Tech Safety Services Inc.) and David Rush (VDOT)
presented the ATSSA National Safety Award to Steve Kite of
NCDOT. Sara George (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) presented
the ATSSA National Media Award to Shannon Deskins of East
Kentucky Broadcasting. 
Industry Achievement
Award
Henry Ross, Plasticade
Presented by Kathi Holst,
D2K Traffic Equipment and
Design LLC
National Safety Award
Steve Kite, N.C.-DOT
Presented by Joe Jeffrey,
Road-Tech Safety Services Inc.
David Rush, Va.-DOT
National Media Award
Shannon Deskins,
East Kentucky
Broadcasting
Presented by Sara George,
Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet