Accomplishments Report 2017

American Traffic Safety Services Association 14 New Programs/Innovation ATSSA, in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board (TRB), 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 fromhigh 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 & Traffic Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally, winning teams received cash prizes and plaques for their submissions. 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. The winners were: 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 2018. 2017 winners First Traffic Control Device Challenge a Success ATSSA’s Tuesday Topics program going strong ATSSA introduced Tuesday Topics, which are exclusive, 30-minute webinars for associationmembers in 2016. In 2017, Tuesday Topics attendance has grown steadily, and topics still focus on the roadway safety industry, traffic control, and innovative technologies. Presentations are delivered by ATSSA members, for ATSSAmembers. Anyone whomisses a Tuesday Topic webinar will find the recordings on the ATSSA website at www.atssa.com/TuesdayTopics/Recorded. The following Tuesday Topics were presented in 2017: • Work Zone Do’s and Don’ts • NCHRP Pavement Markings and Machine Vision Results • The Status of AASHTO MASH Implementation • Smart Work Zones • Understanding and Minimizing Work Zone Liabilities from a Construction Attorney’s Perspective • Motorcycle Rider Safety and Associated Roadway Safety Infrastructure Improvements • ATSSA State Government Relations Program • Successful Work Zone Awareness Programs • Digital Printing: Future of Traffic Sign Fabrication • Reducing Horizonal Curve Crashes on Rural Highways Using Dynamic Curve Warning Systems • STEP Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian If you have a topic you wish to hear or present about please email tuesdaytopics@atssa.com. New Programs launches innovate.atssa.com ATSSA unveiled a new innovation focused website: innovate.atssa.com. The website’s goal is to be a reliable and accurate source of innovative technology informa- tion for all members of the transportation infrastruc- ture industry. Innovate. atssa.com provides a forum for our industry to stay up to date with news, policy updates, and industry events related to infrastructure technologies. Work Zone Safety Grant update ATSSA has been obligated over $1.1 million out of the $2.5 million awarded for the Work Zone Safety Grant, a five-year grant. Courses are now open for 2018. Through the Grant, ATSSA offers a number of Work Zone Safety training courses to state and local govern- ments, transportation agencies, public agencies and other groups at no or low cost. Public agencies: $0 Private firms: $25