CHAPTER
NEWS
American Traffic Safety Services Association
26
Michael Christopher, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA)-KS Division, featured the FMCSA Work Zone Initiative Overview.
In addition, Kevin Palic, KDOT, presented KDOT Contract Documents
and Specifications, and Mike Floberg, KDOT, gave a department update.
Members participated in industry/agency discussions, such as Temporary
Designation Lettering, Type I and Type II Tape, Temporary Signals—“When
is it acceptable to use trailer-mounted in lieu of span wire?” Dan Williams,
ATSSA director of member services and chapter liaison, gave an ATSSA
update, including the Government Relations department and The Foundation.
ILLINOIS
Chapter
Sept. 16
—The chapter met at the Illinois DOT (IDOT) Headquarters
Training Room in Schaumburg, Ill. With a standing-room-only crowd, the
chapter announced Michael Conoscenti, of Western Remac, Inc., as the
new president-elect due to a vacancy.
Bob Felt, ATSSA associate director of member services, reported on the
number of ATSSA chapters in North America and the association’s
membership growth in the public agency category from 11 to 30. Felt
updated the group about ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting, ATSSA’s Leadership
Program in April 2015 and the association’s strategic goals. He also spoke
about The Foundation and ATSSA’s 2015 event schedule. Felt announced
the recent success of the FMCSA with truck-mounted attenuator (TMA)
hits being excluded in the future federal register, the Highway Trust Fund
and the State Transportation Innovation Council opportunities.
Mike Traficanti (NES Traffic Safety LP Chief Estimator), chapter president,
gave the Illinois Tollway update, announcing that 30 new projects would be
undertaken in the near future. Paul Lorton (IDOT), said there were 615
deaths so far this year. With 60 current projects and 75 new ones on the
way, IDOT is looking to improve safety in work zones with state police
presence for better speed compliance and improvement on district-to-
district communication. Lorton added that IDOT is looking into post
corrosion with guardrail and cable median barrier and studying the specs.
INDIANA
Chapter
Sept. 10
—Rick Smith (RoadSafe Traffic Systems Inc.), chapter president,
has held meetings in different locations for the convenience of all members.
The Sept. meeting was held at the INDOT Sub-District in Indianapolis, Ind.
Lee Stuart, ATSSA associate director of member services and chapter
liaison, updated members about the results of the ATSSA Midyear Meeting,
Vehicle 2 Infrastructure (V2I) and the American Traffic Safety Services
Foundation. Paul Berebitski updated the group about the Indiana Contractors
Association, covering contractor best practices, photo enforcement in work
zones and positive protection recommendations for the state. Darcy
Bullock, of Purdue University, who runs state DOT projects, spoke about
rumble stripes—center line and edge line. Mike Holoway, manager of the
Office of Traffic Safety for INDOT, gave an update. Scott Chandler, of the
Crawfordsville District, led a session on rumble stripes and fog sealing.
Dave Boruff, of INDOT, updated the group about work zone safety.
The INDOT attendees indicated their appreciation of ATSSA member
input on the topics.
IOWA
Chapter
June 26
—The meeting and golf outing was held at Copper Creek Golf Club
in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Nearly 20 chapter members attended the meeting.
Mark Bortle, of the Iowa DOT, gave an in-depth presentation about the latest
news from the DOT and supplemental specification revisions. Iowa ATSSA
Chapter Treasurer Charley Cole (Iowa Plains Signing Inc.) delivered the
Treasurer’s Report, which included a balance of more than $10,000. ATSSA
Director of Government Relations Nate Smith updated the chapter about
the status of the highway bill and funding for the Highway Trust Fund.
October 28, 2014
—The chapter held a conference call meeting. Members
discussed pavement marking reflectivity that everyone wants, but the
implementation is holding it up. Only counties are testing so far. Greg Mulder
will be the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) contact. Mark
Bortle, IDOT, updated the group about Annual Work Zone Training dates.
He spoke about portable rumble strips testing, which is continuing, and
that other courses are being accepted for traffic control technician training.
The glare screen spec for maximum gap on base rail between temporary
barrier rail (TBR) has been revised to 12 inches. IDOT is proposing an
increase for insufficient TQC.
The new chapter officers are Marianne Wainwright (LL Pelling Co. Inc.,
Painting Div. Manager), president; Jeff Koudelka (Iowa Plains Signing Inc.),
vice president; and Kurt Jirak (Quality Traffic Control Inc.), treasurer/secretary.
KENTUCKY
Chapter
Sept. 4
—The chapter held its first meeting as an ATSSA-chartered chapter
in the Raymond Building (Engineering) at the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky cabinet members, staff and students were invited. The board of
directors offered CE credits/units as an additional draw. The result was an
increase in attendance, with five Kentucky cabinet members present.
Ken Agent, research engineer for the Kentucky Transportation Center at the
University of Kentucky, presented “Tort Liability: An Engineer’s Perspective.”
ATSSA Government Relations Associate Director Robby Wehagen briefed
members on “The State of the Federal Transportation Bill.” Members
agreed that everyone needs to be involved at a grassroots level to prompt
representatives to move on a long-term transportation bill. Wehagen
encouraged individuals who want more information and to get involved in
the long-term transportation bill efforts to visit the ATSSA Government
Relations section of the web site at
The Iowa ATSSA Chapter Golf Outing was at Copper Creek
Golf Club in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, June 26.
(From left)
Nate
Smith, ATSSA director of government relations; Blake
Balzart, John Thomas Inc.; John Bogues, Decker Supply
Co.; and Ryan Samek, Lindsay Transportation Solutions.
