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Public Roads

Finding the Right Safety Tool for the Job

Sometimes finding the right data solution is like looking for a hammer and only finding a screwdriver. While a multitude of new safety data and analysis tools support data-driven decisionmaking, the identification and selection of an appropriate tool can be a daunting task. To help, the Federal Highway Administration developed the Roadway Safety Data and Analysis Toolbox.

Collecting and Interpreting Safety Data

When it comes to the road, there is no such thing as absolute safety. That is why safety stakeholders like transportation agencies and law enforcement professionals integrate safety into every step of decisionmaking processes. Safety data, such as crash frequency and severity, are crucial to creating more secure roads. The ability to collect and analyze this information can support critical decisionmaking efforts across an organization.

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).

Recruiting Tomorrow's Workforce

FHWA's National Summer Transportation Institute celebrates 25 years of introducing students to college life and sparking their interest in careers in transportation.

Toward Self-Diagnosing Bridges

Wireless, self-powered sensors may be the key to continuously monitoring infrastructure. FHWA-sponsored research is aiming to advance the technology.

Getting Connected in Wyoming

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is integrating connected vehicle technology into its statewide transportation management center.

Public Roads - Winter 2019

The Utah Department of Transportation installed these rooftop solar panels on the agency's Wanship Maintenance Station on I-80. The State DOT has installed several small-scale renewable energy projects at its facilities. For more information, See “Renewable Roadsides” on page 16 in this issue of PUBLIC ROADS.

Using Technology to Spring Forward

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Each spring, everything seems alive with possibility, and nowhere is that more evident than at the Federal Highway Administration. Notably, we are at the beginning of a new era of highway safety with new and emerging technologies and tools guiding the path ahead.

Flexible Financing for Small Communities

Decreasing resources and increasing demands require Federal and State transportation agencies to explore innovative financing tools for infrastructure projects. State infrastructure banks (SIBs) are one such tool. Compared to relying entirely on grant-based financing, SIBs can offer accelerated project delivery, provide lower borrowing costs, and facilitate completion of financial plans.

New Framework Aims to Accelerate Project Delivery

A coordinated and timely process for environmental reviews of major infrastructure projects is essential to advancing and delivering these projects to the traveling public. Executive Order 13807, Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects, sets forth a new framework--known as One Federal Decision--for Federal agency cooperation on environmental review and permitting for major infrastructure projects.