The Signal March April 2017

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34 American Traffic Safety Services Association
COMMITTEE
NEWS
Innovation Council
The Innovation Council met on Saturday, Feb. 12 at ATSSA’s Annual
Convention and Traffic Expo in Phoenix. The council heard presentations
from four noteworthy speakers, including Jeff Zaharewicz with the FHWA
Center for Innovation on how to get innovative products to market; Robert
Brydia with Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), who discussed the
potential partnerships between TTI’s testing facilities and ATSSA members;
Dean Deeter with Athey Creek Consulting, who showcased the Enterprise
System, which provides real-time integration of arrow board messages into
traveler information systems; and Paul Carlson with TTI, who gave an
update to his NCHRP study on machine vision and road markings.
ATSSA’s Innovation Council also unveiled the newest ATSSA website:
. This new website showcases the latest news, resources,
events and gives insights to what states are doing with ITS.
Lastly, the Innovation Council created three new task forces to assist in
reaching our group’s goals. If you are on the Innovation Council and would
like to join one of the following task forces, please contact Brian Watson at
: Innovation Council Policy (reauthorization) TF,
Outreach and Education TF, Work Plan TF.
High Friction Surface Council
After a quorum was reached on Saturday, Feb. 11, the HFS Council Chair
Louis Fuselier called the meeting to order in Phoenix. Approximately 50
friends and guests also were in attendance.
The council approved the consent agenda, which included the August 2016
meeting summary, board liaison report, and a review of officer terms set to
expire at midyear 2017.
The Education Subcommittee reported on HFS courses held in Los Angeles,
one canceled recently in Arizona, and a possibility of a future class. The
Membership Subcommittee was renamed Member Engagement
Subcommittee. The Green Bike Lane Task Force reported that the ATSSA
board tabled the specification, and the Tennessee DOT’s Danny Lane is
working to submit language to AASHTO on new specs. The Website Task
Force reported that state specs have been updated and the web page includes
how-to videos. A Committee Rotation Task Force was established to review
current council membership and will report at midyear the results of analysis
and new targets for different categories.
Guest speakers included John Kinston (Hickman Williams) on calcined
bauxite for HFST, Mike Stenko (Transpo Industries) MMA-resin-based
success in Alabama, and Edgar de Leo Izeppi (VTTI) about potential issues
with low macrotexture.
ATSSA’s new Procedures for Standing Committees were shared; the HFS
Council Work Plan was edited and will be approved at midyear: and new task
forces were created: Convention Education, Member Prospects (Committee
Rotation will handle duties), and Reauthorization. ATSSA staff reminded
contractor members that an OSHA survey will be sent out after the Expo to
help get a handle on future ATSSA/OSHA relationships.
Regarding HFST training courses, agency-level outreach was identified as a
need to get the word out, and there was discussion about a possible at-large
HFST course. The HFS Council plans to connect with the ATSSA director of
training about a possible online course (or webinar). AASHTO T3 is looking
at the possibility of developing a course.
The next meeting will take place Aug. 23–25 in Lexington, Ky.
Pavement Marking Committee
The Pavement Marking Committee met on Saturday, Feb. 11. Chairwoman
Mary Hannah greeted attendees and called the meeting to order at 8:42 a.m.
Secretary Juan Arvizu determined a quorum was present. The committee
approved the consent agenda as well as the minutes from the August 2016
meeting.
Dr. Eric Greyson, Dow Chemical, presented “Modernizing and Streamlining
Waterborne Traffic Paint Specifications.” The presentation discussed why
specifications matter, types of specifications, and test methods. Dr. Paul
Carlson, Ph.D., Texas A&M Transportation Institute, presented “Road
Marking for Machine Vision NCHRP project 20-102(6) and PM Update” and
“Update on Impacts of CAVs on State and Local Transportation Agencies
Using Six-Inching Markings Study.” The NCHRP project combines the
efforts of state DOTs in conjunction with AASHTO and SAE International to
research five levels of pavement markings with daytime and nighttime
contrasts and failures being reported. The 4-inch pavement-marking project
is just over halfway complete, and Dr. Carlson will be providing a further
update on the 6-inch pavement-marking project at the ATSSA Midyear
Meeting in August 2017.
Bob Brydia, Texas A&M University, presented “Campus Transportation
Technology Initiative.” The purpose of the initiative is to address safety and
mobility challenges with private-sector technologies; enhance the campus
experience for students, faculty, and staff; showcase transportation
innovations and demonstrate national leadership; and create lasting
relationships with the private sector for future research and development.
The committee approved, with some changes, the staff recommendations of
ATSSA sponsor comments to the NCUTCD on Maintaining Pavement
Marking Retroreflectivity Supplemental Notice of Proposed Amendments
(SNPA). The Government Relations Committee will be making the final
motion on the language.
The committee approved the formation of three new task forces: Member
Prospect Task Force, Capitol Hill Legislative Priorities and Committee
Rotation Task Force. The committee also approved the dissolution of the
Contrast Pavement Marking Task Force.
The next Pavement Marking Committee meeting will be held during the
ATSSA Midyear Meeting in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 23–25, 2017.
Government Relations Committee
The Government Relations (GR) Committee held a meeting during ATSSA’s
Annual Convention and Traffic Expo in Phoenix, Ariz. to learn about our
association’s new state government relations program which is being rolled
out this spring. This new member benefit will assist ATSSA members and
chapters in working with their state legislatures to advance roadway safety
policy and funding legislation at the state level. In addition, ATSSA Director
of Government Relations Robby Wehagen gave an update on his work during
the Trump Administration’s Presidential Inaugural Committee in January.
The next meeting of the GR Committee will be at the ATSSA Midyear
Meeting in Louisville, Ky.