ATSSA Signal July/August 2019

American Traffic Safety Services Association 10 ATSSA News ATSSA launches Traffic Signals Unit Continuing in its role as the leader in roadway safet y infrastruc ture, ATSSA’s Board of Directors approved establishing a Traffic Signals Unit as a membership unit category within the association. According to ATSSA Vice President of Member Services Donna Clark, the as- sociation is moving forward with new partnerships with traffic signal manu- facturers and installers to position itself as a representative of all areas related to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Con- trol Devices (MUTCD). Clark expressed the importance of hav- ing representation for traffic signal man- ufacturers and installers in a transpor- tation landscape that is adapting to rapidly growing technology and a future with Connected and Autonomous Vehi- cles (CAVs) on our roadways. “As CAV technology advances, it will be important to speak with one voice by representing all traffic safety devices, roadside infrastructure, pavement mark- ings, and all things that relate to road- way safety,” Clark said. “The only way to properly and advantageously do that is to be uniform and truly speak for the entire roadway safety industry.” McCain Inc. CAV ProgramManager Mike Schagrin, who conducted a webinar for ATSSA’s Tuesday Topics series on the connectivity of devices and roadway in- frastructure in June, said he sees poten- tial to further advance roadway safety by integrating traffic signals into the con- nected roadway infrastructure. “Without traffic signals, there’s no con- trol over the roadways at intersections. Like all traffic control devices, they help curb the high number of roadway fatalities that occur each year. As ATSSA begins to tap into this sector of the road- way safety industry, the association will be better prepared for integrated sys- tems but especially new technologies that relate to CAVs and connected in- frastructure,” said Schagrin. During ATSSA’s Legislative Briefing & Fly-In, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Deputy Administrator Brandye Hendrickson announced that therewould be a Notice of Proposed Amendments (NPA) this fall for the MUTCD. Now with the formation of the unit, ATSSA will be able to represent the traffic signal seg- ment of the roadway safety infrastruc- ture industry in discussions on the new edition. At ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting, association members will form a Traffic Signals Com- mittee that will focus on issues and in- novations related to these devices. Without traffic signals, there’s no control over the roadways at intersections. Like all traffic control devices, theyhelp curb thehighnumber of roadway fatalities that occur each year. AsATSSAbegins to tap into this sector of the roadway safety industry, the associationwill bebetter prepared for integrated systems but especially newtechnologies that relate toCAVs and connected infrastructure.