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The Signal | March/April 2017
Safer Roads Save Lives
Northwest Chapter
The Northwest Chapter convened at the Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) SW Region headquarters in Vancouver, Wash.,
Nov. 16, 2016.
The chapter sponsored The Foundation’s Sporting Clays Event for $400.
Election results included Derek Behnke, of Zumar Industries, as president-
elect for a two-year term. Nominees chosen as board members for one-year
terms were Mike Burke, of Dicke Safety Products; Michael Flanagan, of
Altus Traffic Management; and Tracy Hopkins, of Specialty Construction
Supply. Nominees chosen as board members for two-year terms were Tad
Blanton, of the City of Medford; Mike Madden, of Trinity Highway Safety;
and Pete Speer, of Pexco.
The ATSSA national update included information about the Star Recruiter
Initiative, committee and council opportunities, ATSSA’s Legislative
Briefing & Fly-In, ATSSA’s Leadership Program 2017, the association’s
corporate training and grant programs and more.
Brian Walsh, of WSDOT, discussed the agency’s Intersection Control
Evaluations and potential solutions that improve roadway safety. He
reviewed Displaced Left Turn Intersections, Diverging Diamond
Interchanges and roundabouts.
Outgoing Chapter President Flanagan received a plaque of appreciation from
Past President Gregg Ulberhart, of Impact Recovery Systems. Vic Shinsel, of
Skip-Line, will serve as chapter president for a two-year term.
The next chapter meeting is tentatively planned in Bend, Ore. The week of
April 10, 2017.
Texas Chapter
The Texas ATSSA chapter met on Jan. 25, at Threadgill’s restaurant in
Austin, Texas. There were 69 people in attendance, including 12 public
officials. The chapter board of directors met before the chapter meeting, and
the newly formed technical committees met afterward.
The chapter had several guest speakers, covering three topics:
•
Darren McDaniel, P.E., transportation engineer at the Texas Department
of Transportation (TXDOT), spoke about solutions for saving lives on
Texas roads. Using data on recommended traffic safety improvements, the
Texas Traffic Safety Task Force developed a five-year plan to reduce
fatalities and crashes on Texas roadways. The plan involves highway
safety engineering improvements and driver behavior and enforcement
campaigns.
•
Dr. Paul Carlson, P.E., Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), shared
information on TTI’s testing of road markings for machine vision. Their
objective is to develop information on the performance characteristics of
pavement markings that affect the ability of machine vision systems to
recognize them. This testing will provide data and recommendations that
the AASHTO/SAE Working Group can use to quickly develop guidelines
and criteria. It is expected for the results to be available by May 2017.
•
Sergeants David Alvarado and Josh Alcala from the Texas Department of
Public Safety (DPS) discussed the use of blue lights on contractors’
vehicles in temporary traffic-control zones. While TXDOT and DPS came
to an agreement that would allow contractors to use blue lights, the local
sheriff departments are not on the same page and will ticket those using
blue lights. The sergeants reported that the only solution would be to get a
bill passed through the legislature that would clarify the statute.
TJ Short, American Signal Equipment Co., was welcomed to the TX board as
a newly elected director. The board has updated the chapter bylaws and will
be presenting them for a member vote at the March 2017 meeting.
Technical committee chair appointments were announced as follows:
•
Guardrail Committee, Jon McGill, Lindsay Transportation Solutions
•
Pavement Marking Committee, Terry Nix, DIJ Construction
•
Sign Committee, Robert McCandlish, 3M-Traffic Safety and Security
Division
•
Temporary Traffic Control Committee, Mike Dodd, Flasher Equipment Co.
Rocky Mountain Chapter
The Rocky Mountain ATSSA chapter met on Jan. 19, at the Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT), Denver. There were 80 people in
attendance, including 17 public officials. Given that the chapter disbanded in
2014, it was rewarding to have such a large turnout.
President Ted Ott spoke about the vision for the chapter, including being
champions for safety and elevating the industry’s professional image.
Speaker Shailen Bhatt, executive director, CDOT, shared his belief that
DOTs exist for two reasons: 1) to save lives, and 2) to make people’s lives
better. He acknowledged that this is what the Rocky Mountain ATSSA
companies are doing on the roadways every day. Mr. Bhatt talked about the
future of autonomous vehicles and the important role ATSSA members will
play in bringing new technologies forward. He sees a future where the state
truly moves toward zero deaths.
Peter Kozinski, director of RoadX Program, CDOT, provided an update on
the RoadX Program, which is involved in looking at innovative technologies
for Colorado. He feels there will be an “ugly transition” as new technologies
are introduced, and they need ATSSA members to help in deploying these
technologies to see if they have value to the industry. Mr. Kozinski feels
ATSSA is positioned to be a valuable partner in helping with the RoadX
Program, and he asked for members interested in participating to contact
him at CDOT.
There was also a robust conversation regarding what ATSSA members want
as the focus of the chapter moving forward. It was determined there is a need
to re-establish committees for membership, training, and specifications, as
well as increased collaboration with CDOT and other cities and counties.
Northwest Chapter outgoing
President Michael Flanagan
(left), of Altus Traffic
Management, receives a
plaque of appreciation from
Past President Gregg
Ulberhart, of Impact Recovery
Systems, during the Northwest
Chapter meeting at the
Washington State Department
of Transportation SW Region
headquarters in Vancouver,
Wash., Nov. 16, 2016.