Quality Quick Takes

Summer, 2006
Snapshots of quality-related highway developments

U.S. DOT Blueprint for Fighting Congestion
In the U.S. Department of Transportation's May, 2006 National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta writes, "Congestion is not a fact of life. It is not a scientific mystery, nor is it an uncontrollable force. Congestion results from poor policy choices and a failure to separate solutions that are effective from those that are not… We must not be afraid to embrace new solutions if we going to make any meaningful progress… That is why we have launched a new, national initiative to reduce congestion in America." The plan to focus resources, funding and technology on curbing traffic delays and relieving bottlenecks is posted here (PDF, 488KB).

More from TTI on Breaking the Bottleneck
Research Engineer Tim Lomax of the Texas Transportation Institute discusses "Another Weapon in the Battle against the Bottleneck in the Texas Transportation Researcher. The Texas Congestion Index (TCI) offers decision makers a single, uniform measurement of congestion. According to Lomax, the index methods "allow regions to include a wide variety of established congestion data sources (e.g., where the homes and jobs are located, traffic speeds, travel delay, dollar value of improvements, etc.)" The measurement has been adopted for use in congestion planning by the Texas Transportation Commission, the State's eight major metropolitan planning organizations, and the governor. For more, download this PDF (15.9MB).

AASHTO Technology Implementation Group 2006 Selections
The AASHTO Technology Implementation Group (TIG) is the only AASHTO entity that funds the transfer of market-ready, quality-enhancing, cost-cutting technology from using States to other transportation agencies that could benefit from adoption. The TIG's 2006 focus technology selections are: the Maintenance Decision Support System, Pavement Rehab Strategies, and Precast Concrete Paving Slabs. This year the TIG also chose a second tier of promising technologies: devices for safe edges on pavements (Notch Wedge/Safety Edge/Shoulder Wedge Making); the "Balsi Beam," a mobile work-zone protective device; and Design/Build approaches to traffic signal projects. For more information, visit http://tig.transportation.org.

AGC Explores Green Construction and Safety, Health & Environment
The AGC web site now features presentations and slide shows about green construction techniques and safety, health and environment cross-cutting issues discussed at the 2006 AGC Annual Convention. Sessions covered management, breaking news, training requirements and resources, as well as the market for "green" construction. Construction professionals shared their experiences, looked at legal developments and when it makes sense to go beyond regulatory requirements, and assessed green construction education and products. See the presentations here.

FHWA Promotes Engineering/Technology Advances on the Web
The FHWA Highways for LIFE program promotes faster, safer, more economic engineering of future highways and its web site hosts an "Innovation On Ramp" toolbox with innovations and technologies of use to designers and engineers. The site also features success stories from multiple States. The address: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/index.cfm.
FHWA's Office of International Programs informs the U.S. domestic highway community of technological innovations in foreign countries that could improve transportation in the United States. The office also promotes U.S. highway transportation expertise, goods and services in foreign countries to increase transfers of U.S. highway transportation technology to foreign countries. Access the web site at: http://international.fhwa.dot.gov/

National Work Zone Memorial Available for Conferences & Events
The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation is currently accepting applications to host the National Work Zone Memorial for late 2006 and 2007. Organizations seeking to educate the public about roadway work zone safety while paying tribute to colleagues who've lost their lives in work zone accidents can reserve the touring exhibition that includes an impressive, undulating "wall" of the names of workers and drivers who've died. For more information, call Monica Worth at (540) 675-1250.

For more information:
Bob Templeton, Executive Director
National Partnership for Highway Quality
12009 W. Highway 290, Suite 4
Austin, Texas 78737
512-301-9899
btemplenphq@aol.com
www.NPHQ.org

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