ATSSA Signal May June 2019

American Traffic Safety Services Association 44 Chapter News Texas Chapter The Texas ATSSA chapter met on Jan. 22, at the Associated General Contractors office in Austin, with 45 members in at- tendance. The board and technical committees met prior to the chapter meeting. Guest speaker Judith Olvera, an engineer associate for the City of Austin, shared information on a study for special event traffic control conducted by Rutgers University, which the city participated in. The study found that many states don’t properly set up, or know how to properly set up, tem- porary traffic control for special events. The goal of the study is to have specifications added to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) on how to safely perform temporary traffic control for special events. Nate Smith, ATSSA’s vice president of government relations, also provid- ed a national legislative update. The induction of new board members and officers was announced: • Frank Coghlan, president • Shelley Williams, president-elect • Herbert Bickley, director • Steven McKinley, director • TJ Short, director The chapter thanked outgoing president Cory West for his service from 2015–2018 and presented him with a plaque. On Jan. 23 the chapter held an advocacy day, where 27 mem- bers took part in 32 meetings with state legislators and staff. The chapter used the meetings to build relationships with state legislators and educate them on the importance of ATSSA and the roadway safety infrastructure industry. Mem- bers also used the advocacy day to push for inclusion of Tex- as Transportation Department contractors in the state’s ex- isting Move Over/Slow Down law. Top Left: Texas ATSSA member Cory West was thanked for his three years of serving as chapter president, and presented with a plaque at the Jan. 22 meeting. Top Right: Judith Olvera, an engineer associate for the City of Austin, shared information on a study for special event traffic control conducted by Rutgers University with the Texas ATSSA Chapter. Bottom: The Texas ATSSA chapter met in Austin, hearing from several guest speakers, and preparing for their state advocacy day held Jan. 23 at the Texas Capitol.