ATSSA Signal Sept/Oct 2018

American Traffic Safety Services Association 32 The Foundation A Roadway Safety Hero Longtime ATSSA member Marty Weed has devoted his career to work zone and roadway safety Marty Weed Former State Work Zone Engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Marty Weed has always been committed to advanc- ing roadway safety. In his 33 year career with WSDOT, Marty has overcome adversity and challenges, professional and personal, working his way up from the bottom at the DOT and battling brain cancer for the last nine years. Marty’s involvement in the roadway safety industry and ATSSA has been tre- mendous. In 2015, Marty was honored by receiving ATSSA’s National Safety Award. He was also honored in a recent event held by ATSSA’s Northwest Chap- ter on May 17, where he was presented with a “Work Zone Safety Hero” award and joined by fellow ATSSA members for a baseball game at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. His involvement with the association began more than a decade ago, when he attended his first ATSSA Annual Con- vention & Traffic Expo. “Seeing how many passionate people there are around the country, doing the same work that I’m doing… and every chance I got I would attend their confer- ences and stay in touch with the people I met,” said Marty. Marty has formed several close relation- ships with other ATSSA members, and over time these colleagues have come to see himas an invaluable resource and mentor. “Marty is one of the top five roadway safety professionals I have met in my 20 plus years at ATSSA. Countless lives have been saved due to his dedication and professional expertise. He is a truemodel of what we need to move Toward Zero Deaths,” said ATSSA President & CEO Roger Wentz. “One of the best resources you have at the DOT level is other state DOT repre- sentatives that are in a similar position… in my time at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Marty was my go-to guy. He helped me learn a lot about the many facets of temporary traffic control, and served as a mentor tome,” said ScottMcCanna, former ODOT State Work Zone Engineer and now se- nior transportation engineer at David Evans and Associates, Inc. “I met Marty years ago through ATSSA… and over the years we did some presen- tations together related to the industry at Expo. Marty’s always been a go-getter, open to new ideas, and willing to share his ideas with others. He was and is al- ways willing to serve as a resource for others. He’s always been an advocate Seeing howmany passionate people there are around the country, doing the same work that I’m doing… and every chance I got I would attend their conferences and stay in touch with the people I met.