RAC Region 4 Teleconference

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (1.5 - 2 hours)

9:00 (HI HST), 11:00 (AK AKDT), Noon (Pacific PDT), Noon (AZ MST), 1:00 (Mountain MDT), 2:00 PM (Central CDT)

Teleconference information:

Phone:(405) 521-2724, Access Code: 0178704#

This number is limited to 16 callers. Please use speaker phone if possible to minimize callers.

If you can’t get in, please use the GoTo Meeting chat box. Sorry for the inconvenience.

GoTo Meeting information:

  • Online:
  1. Roll Call/Introductions – Ron Curb

Members / Unofficial/Acting Members / Guests/Staff / Affiliation
AK / Clint Adler (Chair) / Ivy Harris / FHWA / Y
OK / Ron Curb (Vice Chair) / Y / Chris Westlund (OK) / Y
AZ / Anne Ellis / Y
CA / Nancy Chinlund / Meghan Wozniak-Adams / AASHTO
“ / Wes Lum
“ / Lawrence Orcutt
“ / Pete Zaniewski
CO / Jake Kononov
HI / Casey Abe / Y / Associate Members
“ / Steven Ege / Kris Reisenberg (New) / AK Div FHWA
ID / Ned Parrish / Y / Roger Skirrow / Alberta
MT / Sue Sillick / Dirk Nyland / British Columbia
NE / Mostafa Jamshidi / Said Kass / Manitoba
“ / Amy Starr / Blair Chapman / NW Territories
NV / Ken Chambers / Ron Gerbrandt / Saskatchewan
NM / Scott McClure / Amy Estelle / Y / Wally Hidinger / Yukon
ND / Ron Horner / Clayton Shumaker
OK / Ginger McGovern
OR / Barnie Jones / Y
SD / David Huft / Y / Daris Ormesher
TX / Rick Collins / Y
UT / Cameron Kergaye / Michael Fazio
“ / Ahmed Jaber
WA / Leni Oman / Y
WY / Tim McDowell / Y / Michael Patrich
  1. Update from RAC Officer’s Meetings – Ron Curb
  2. No discussion on NEPA & regulations
  3. TRB Report:
  4. TCRP forming panels for 2011
  5. NCFRP ~ 6 new projects announced
  6. TRB staff preparing for 2012
  7. There is a SHRP 2 strategic planning workshop in May to sort out remaining issues for the naturalistic driving study
  8. RITA Report:
  9. Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge ideas submission deadline May 1
  10. ITS Deployment Video Challenge – April through August submit videos highlighting local ITS
  11. Rural Access to Intercity Transportation dropped to 89%
  12. BTS published a summary of the movement of 2.2 billion tons of hazardous materials
  13. ANSI is reviewing the current electric vehicles codes and standards to address deployment gaps for recharging infrastructure and support services
  14. Head hunting continues for Assoc. Admin. For RD&T, candidate must demonstrate the ability to lead a diverse team and promote collaboration
  15. FHWA report:
  16. Ivy Harris distributed guidance for FHWA reporting requirements~ FFATA ~ Ivy emphasized the importance of lead states responsibilities of reporting quarterly all federally funded research through FSRS ~ Ron mentioned that Oklahoma has had problems with the determination of an approved point of contact
  17. AZ is in the early stage of preparing for hosting a multi-state Peer Exchange later this year
  18. Update on planning for 2011 RAC/ TRB State Reps meeting July 25-28, 2011 in Salt Lake City, UT – Ned Parrish
  19. Some sessions expanded to 90 minutes
  20. Still need volunteers to lead and or present ~ Ron volunteered to work with the 15 minute Communicating Results from NCHRP Long Range Projects(after the meeting it was discovered that Harold “Skip” Paul had already volunteered for this) ~ Skip also volunteered to cover the CRP Domestic Scan Program session ~ also post meeting discussion has Barbara Harder covering the 45 minute State DOT Implementation of CRP Projects
  21. Ned requested a list of speakers with abstracts of talks
  22. The Meeting Schedule is mostly complete
  23. Ned and Cameron will meet on-site early in April to discuss the technical needs
  24. CUTC and RAC focusing on roles, partnering and joint mission statement
  25. Task Force updates:
  26. Admin./Educ. And Training > see RAC leadership notes
  27. Value of Research > see RAC leadership notes
  28. Research Funding: Rick > need new Chair
  29. Coord. and Collab.: conference call March 23rd
  30. Prog. Mgmt.: Ivy > Update on SP&R Part 2, Draft by Summer RAC/TRB Rep. Meeting
  31. TKN: Leni has sent out white paper
  32. CUTC liaison group: see above
  1. Member News / Announcements:
  2. Leni sent out the survey link for RAC Region 4 Vice Chair nominations. Clint to confirm final ballot.
  3. Ron mentioned a need for a correction to RAC Region 4 Bylaws which will require an official vote (Article I: Nebraska excluded).
  4. SCOR meeting March 22-23
  5. AASHTO Presidential Awards nominations process deadline April 1st
  6. WASHTO Hewes Award
  7. Vermont volunteered to host the 2012 Summer meeting
  8. Next conference call GoTo Meeting April 19, 2011.
  1. TCRP forming
  2. TCRP form
  3. Research funding will be part.
  4. Looking at reduced bill.
  5. Will go through each proposal and make detailed recommendations.
  6. Will be in close contact with Sandra Larson (RAC) and John Halikowski. (SCOR)
  7. Work with Clint/Ron and Funding TF Chair to advance concerns.
  8. Collaboration & Coordination challenges.
  9. Sue (C&C) Task force to lead?
  10. Use to begin dialog.
  11. Also use RAC 4 collaboration site.
  12. Sue and Clint can be conduits for posting information.
  13. Obama Executive Order on review of federal regulations.
  14. Sandra working with Halikowski.
  15. Welcome to pass info on through Clint.
  16. WSDOT did study on federal regulatory environment (Through Volpe.)
  17. NY and maybe PennDOT also did studies.
  18. Leni will pass on studies to RAC 4.
  19. Ned: December 2008 GAO Study (GAO 09-36)
  20. Hearing with T&I Committee – focused on NEPA revisions.
  21. AASHTO Technical Program Invoices
  22. One invoice with Cover sheet listing all programs sent to CEO and state standing committee reps.
  23. Jim McDonnell will update RAC.
  24. TRB:
  25. NCHRP Ballots and Synthesis Topics Due February 18.
  26. Concern about TRB ballot coming out earlier. (WYDOT).
  27. March 22-23 SCOR meeting
  28. RAC 4 Items to pass along to SCOR?
  29. NCHRP looking for ideas for impacts of NCHRP.
  30. Crawford will send e-mail to RAC.
  31. TCRP forming 2011 Panels.
  32. TRCP 2012 Synthesis topics due March 15
  33. 2012 Problem Statements due June 30
  34. RITA
  35. Report sent to RAC 4.
  36. FHWA
  37. Maximum of 3 states can (take credit for) multi-state peer exchanges.
  38. Leni participated in New England multi-state exchange.
  39. WSDOT, AK, overdue
  40. AZ will be hosting later this year.
  41. Volpe national agenda
  42. Looking at R&T activities -> Reduce redundancy
  43. USDOT National Agenda
  44. Ivy Harris sent to RAC Guidelines for Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)
  45. Pooled Fund reporting for FFATA – FHWA awaiting clarification from their legal counsel.
  46. Huft: answering question of vendor vs. grant is difficult to answer. SDDOT just reports on everything.
  47. Reporting not that onerous.
  1. Update on planning for 2011 RAC Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah – Ned Parish/Cameron Kergaye
  2. Activities to Date
  3. Agenda Online at
  4. Not having anything onSunday Evening.
  5. RAC 101 (Admin TF) wants to due Monday Morning.
  6. Cameron: Tuesday Eve: Offsite event. Working with Meghan on costs.
  7. Wednesday lunch: UDOT looking at speaker. Several local folks to give a presentation. (light, uplifting). Getting personal references.
  8. Wednesday: Regional dinners – outdoor shops eating about 1.5 miles from hotel. Accessible via light rail transit.
  9. Ned will schedule a Planning Meeting next 2 weeks.
  10. Finalizing sponsorship info.
  11. Invite local universities
  12. FHWA division offices.
  13. Registration is open. Fee will be about $325
  14. Can pay with credit card.
  15. Will announce ASAP.
  16. Meetings on Sunday. (Region X Consortium)
  17. Ned will follow-up with Meghan on room teleconferencing availability.
  18. Leni: Knowledge management interest.
  19. Educating New RAC members.
  20. New tasks and volunteers
  1. Task Force Updates – Region 4 Task Force Chairs/Members
  1. Administration / Education& Training
  2. Revising Mission.
  3. Updating RAC 101 for SLC meeting.

a)Admin Task Force working with Meeting Planning Committee on preferred time slot

b)Monday morning.

  1. Value of Research
  2. Solidified process for value of research solicitations.

a)Project Nomination forms sent to RAC 4

b)Send your Nominations to RAC 4 List and Dale Peabody before March 31.

c)RAC 4 to vote on regions’s top 4 by April 22.

  1. SCOR will send each state 15-20 additional copies of “Research Makes a Difference” Brochure.

a)Use to introduce new CEOs to Research Value.

  1. Working on document identifying resources for evaluating value of research

a)Will come out in next month or so.

  1. Coordination with NCHRP 20-63B (Feb 25 Update)
  1. Research Funding
  2. Training – FFATA requirements.
  3. Coordination & Collaboration
  4. Research Program and Project Management (RPPM) Website:

a)Limited test release. TRB Conduct of Research. RAC task forces.

b)Hoping to have avialble early March.

  1. Subgroup working on international collaboration.
  2. TF will ask FHWA (Ivy Harris) to summarize USDOT national research agenda.
  3. Updating funding guide book.
  4. Updating lab facilities (including international).
  1. Program Management & Quality
  2. Analysis of implementation of NCHRP results

a)PennDOT document in July

  1. Coordination with NCHRP 2063B (Feb 25 Update)
  2. SPR Part II Procedures Manual. – Assisting Ivy Harris (FHWA)
  1. Transportation Knowledge Networks
  2. Poster and Session at TRB annual meeting.
  3. Looking at best practices for information portals

a)White paper

  1. Working with TRB Library and Sciences Subcommittee.
  2. Focus on advocacy for TKN.

a)Trying to make info more relevant and retrievable.

b)Trying to create oversight group – with more RAC members

  1. CUTC Liaison Group
  2. Focus on national interest.

a)Need for National Research agenda

b)Develop successful RAC-CUTC partnerships

c)Guidelines on facilitating individual agreements between RAC and CUTC members

d)Sharing info on strategic direction of both organizations

  1. Sandra will update on progress next month.
  1. Member News/Announcements?
  2. Region 4 Elections
  3. Vice Chair.
  4. Ron will become Chair.
  5. Clint will do nomination.
  6. Ron Curb – Ken Reimer
  7. Oklahoma hosting Pavement Preservation Partnership Annual meeting.
  8. In cooperation with FHWA Asset Management Office.
  9. SE states have similar climate.
  1. Next Meeting:Scheduled Tuesday March 15, 2011
  2. Clint unable to host (will be at Caltrans Peer Exchange)
  3. Ron Curb will Host.