Working Smarter, Together
Partnering for more effective project delivery can produce innovative ideas for using Federal aid. Read on to see how States and local public agencies overcome barriers.
Public Roads
Public Roads - March/April 2017
Undertaking a transformational change of approach, USDOT and FHWA are encouraging a multimodal perspective for analyzing freight movements throughout the United States and across its borders. The goal is to improve the efficiency of the U.S. transportation system, support global connectivity, and strengthen the Nation’s economic competitiveness. For more information, see “The Times They Are Definitely Changing,” on page 11 in this issue of PUBLIC ROADS.
Supporting Agencies at the Local Level
Nearly 39,000 local governments, tribes, and Federal land management agencies are responsible for maintaining the vast majority of the road mileage in the United States. That’s about 3.5 million miles (5.6 million kilometers) of the total network of 4.2 million miles (6.7 million kilometers) and more than 300,000 bridges. These agencies face challenges that are similar to their State-level counterparts, such as rising construction costs and making their roads safer, as they seek to invest in needed infrastructure improvements.
Ten Keys to Innovation Deployment
Cultivating organizations that embrace innovation can be challenging. That’s why, in fall 2016, the Federal Highway Administration sponsored regional summits to launch the latest round of innovations in the Every Day Counts (EDC) program. The summits enabled leaders from the State Transportation Innovation Councils (STICs) to share strategies for building cultures that support innovation to meet the demands for a safe, efficient, and cost-effective highway system.
Transportation Data at Your Fingertips
Question: How do you develop and deploy a fully connected transportation system that makes the most of multimodal, transformational applications? Answer: By supporting it with a robust, underlying technological platform for collecting and sharing data. To meet the need for accommodating the enriched data from the connected vehicle environment, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office of the U.S. Department of Transportation launched the Research Data Exchange (RDE) in 2013. Version 3.0 debuted in October 2016.
Providing Comprehensive Training in LRFD
Since October 2007, the Federal Highway Administration has required all new bridges on Federal-aid projects to use load and resistance factor design (LRFD). LRFD is a probability-based design method in bridge engineering that aims to provide a uniform level of safety for all span lengths and material types.
Communication Product Updates
Below are brief descriptions of communications products recently developed by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Research, Development, and Technology. All of the reports are or will soon be available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). In some cases, limited copies of the communications products are available from FHWA’s Research and Technology (R&T) Product Distribution Center (PDC).
Transforming Stewardship and Oversight for Major Projects
Out of necessity, FHWA took a different approach to fulfilling its roles and responsibilities on the complex New NY Bridge Project.
Riding Out The Storm
FHWA is partnering with transportation agencies to develop and implement effective traffic management strategies during adverse weather.
Public Roads - May/June 2017
Motorcycle safety is a key concern for organizers of an annual Memorial Day gathering in Washington, DC. To address the issue, transportation agencies are implementing improvements at high-risk locations across the Nation. Strategies from rider education to debris control can help combat the grim statistics. For more information, see “Slamming on the Brakes on a Mounting Problem” on page 10 in this issue of PUBLIC ROADS.