AASHTO RAC Region 4 Monthly Teleconference

March 19, 2015

Participants:

Present / Name / Organization
Carolyn Morehouse / Alaska DOT
Jean Nehme / Arizona DOT
Anne Ellis / Arizona DOT
Coco Briseno – Vice Chair / California DOT
Yes / Pete Zaniewski / California DOT
Joe Horton / California DOT
Aziz Khan / Colorado DOT
Amanullah Mommandi / Colorado DOT
Wayne Kawahara / Hawaii DOT
Yes / Ned Parrish / Idaho TD
Sue Sillick / Montana DOT
MostafaJamshidi / Nebraska DOR
Yes / Ken Chambers - Secretary / Nevada DOT
Scott McClure / New Mexico DOT
Yes / Robert McCoy / New Mexico DOT
Ron Horner / North Dakota DOT
Yes / Ron Curb / Oklahoma DOT
Yes / Gary Hook / Oklahoma DOT
Yes / Michael Bufalino / Oregon DOT
Yes / Dave Huft / South Dakota DOT
Yes / Dana Glover / Texas DOT
Yes / Sonya Badgley / Texas DOT
Yes / Cameron Kergaye - Chair / Utah DOT
Yes / David Stevens / Utah DOT
Leni Oman / Washington DOT
Yes / Rhonda Brooks / Washington DOT
Yes / Tim McDowell / Wyoming DOT

Agenda Items

Welcome

Cameron reminded usthe minutes from the February 19, 201RAC teleconference were reviewed and posted on the AASHTO SCOR/RAC web page. This month the reviewers of the draft minutes will be Ned Parrish and Sonya Badgley.

High Value Research Voting

Cameron reminded us that submissions are due at the end of the month. Each Region selects their top four (4), preferably each from a different state. States may not vote for their own projects, and states look to region Chairs for a voting process. Expecting more than a few, Cameron is proposing a two-step process. Each of the Sweet Sixteen will have an opportunity for poster presentation at TRB in January, and there will be two additional identified for a total of six from each region.

FHWA’s Recent Top Three Initiative

David Huft asked about how other states were interpreting and responding to the question from their Division Offices. It was noted that several states had received extremely short notice from their Divisions. Some responses included:

  • Tim McDowell: I-80 connectivity for freight.
  • Ned Parrish: contacted today.
  • Dave Huft: National research framework, automated vehicles, possibly performance measurement or the effects of administrative changes.
  • David Stevens: met, talked about strategic plans and initiatives.
  • Ken Chambers: big variations internally interpreting the question.
  • Rhonda Brooks: Asset management, practical design, new technology utilization.

Ned Parrish asked if Cameron could ask RAC leadership about this initiative.

TRB Take-aways:

Several were shared that were provided by Leni, mostly dealing with knowledge management.

About a dozen were shared that Utah anticipated action/implementation on within the year.The new NCHRP Management Guide to Intellectual Property for State Departments of Transportation was distributed recently and a recommendation was made to share this information with state general councils.

Peer Exchange on Quality of Research Products

Dave Huft: wants to do a peer exchange that focuses on the quality of research products. The quality of these products seems to be declining when it should continuously increase. This results in more time being spent reviewing and re-doing deliverables, and affects quality for DOT customers and the program’s credibility. Dave would like to consider this topic from the DOT perspective as well as the other side: the universities and consultants’ perspectives. If you are interested in this peer exchange contact Dave; he needs to conduct this peer exchange this spring or summer.

RAC Officer’s Meeting Highlights –Ken Chambers

  • An Executive Order on flood plains was issued that may affect planning, environment, design, bridges, maintenance, and various groups. AASHTO is preparing a response to help FHWA craft their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
  • A first report on the design of ET+ guardrail end treatments was released by an FHWA and AASHTO joint task force. AASHTO is also working with TRB on a policy study to examine guard rail end treatments.
  • The new AASHTO strategic plan was approved by the Board of Directors last fall. Committees are now being given direction on the process that will be used to implement the new plan and AASHTO committees will be asked to review their current plans.
  • MDSS, the Maintenance Decision Support System to support winter maintenance activities is being used by several states. A private firm is patenting some of the aspects of the system and several states have indicated their intention to challenge the patents.
  • The SHRP 2 Implementation Task Force met recently to review additional funding requests. About $5 million was returned from TRB for additional implementation; there is still a $1 million contingency.
  • Mark Norman was named TRB’s Director of Program Development and Strategic Initiatives. Fred Hejl, James Bryant, and Michael DeCarmine will be working with the TRB state reps as Mark transitions to his new position.
  • SCOR is meeting March 30-31 to select FY2016 NCHRP projects.
  • Beyond Traffic 2045
  • Another round of public webinars/virtual seminars, March 17 – 30 (all times EDT):
  • March 17th from 1:00-2:00 PM- Beyond Traffic: How We Move
  • March 17th from 3:00-4:00 PM- Beyond Traffic: How We Move Things
  • March 25th from 1:00-2:00 PM- Beyond Traffic: How We Move Better
  • March 25th from 3:00-4:00 PM- Beyond Traffic: How We Adapt
  • March 30th from 1:00-2:00 PM- Beyond Traffic: Dollars And Decisions
  • Sign up at:
  • A special National Town Hall for Young Professionals in Transportation
  • Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 7:00 PM (EDT)
  • In person at USDOT and via Live Webcast
  • RSVP:
  • Secretary’s rollout, video, draft framework and “Share Your Ideas” link at:
  • Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released the State Transportation by the Numbers Profiles 2014 – two-page collections of transportation information for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia Printable handouts:
  • Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) Webinars
  • USDOT’s ATTRI conducts research to improve the mobility of travelers with disabilities through the use of intelligent transportation system (ITS) and other technologies.
  • Co-led by FHWA and FTA, with support from the ITS JPO, and other federal agencies
  • Understanding the Travel Needs of Older Adults
  • March 24, 2015; 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
  • Target audience is older adults, caregivers, advocates, transportation system managers, state, local and federal government officials, academia, and any other individuals involved with technology and mobility needs for older adults.
  • To register:
  • Understanding the Travel Needs of Veterans/Wounded Warriors
  • April 14, 2015; 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
  • Target audience is disabled veterans and wounded warriors, caregivers, advocates, transportation system managers, state, local and federal government officials, academia, and any other individuals involved with technology and mobility needs for disabled veterans and wounded warriors.
  • To register:
  • Melding Multimodal Planning and Urban Economic Development
  • Prepared by Volpe for FHWA Environment and Planning.
  • White paper provides a review of research and current best practices of integrating economic development goals in metropolitan area transportation planning. The information presented is intended to serve as a technical resource for transportation planners, clarifying essential economic development concepts and how peer practitioners can address these concepts in the metropolitan area transportation planning process.
  • Tuition Eligibility under SPR: FHWA is working on a final review of direction to the states on the issue of tuition reimbursement. The direction will take the format of answers to “frequently asked questions”. This is in the final step of internal review and answers will be provided soon.
  • Task Force Updates:
  • Administration: responses were reviewed from the winter meeting survey: increase interactivity and energy. The website subcommittee is still very active.
  • Coordination and Collaboration: RPPM user’s guide is under review; the task force is reaching out to committees to identify research needs.
  • Program Management and Quality: Pat Casey’s report on implementation of NCHRP research has been posted on the NCHRP website. A PM&Q Subgroup is looking at setting goals for successful implementation. A website development sub-group is discussing the Pooled Fund website. Tommy Nantung has coordinated with FHWA on improvements to the site. NCHRP Problem Statement SP-05 will be discussed in two weeks. If selected, funds will be made available to support various RAC activities.
  • Transportation Knowledge Network: A survey was recently distributed on data management practices. Guidance is coming soon on the research report documentation page study by the Library Connectivity Pooled Fund
  • Chris Hedges noted that he has been requested to meet next week with GAO to discuss current trends and research on bicycle and pedestrian safety.
  • Chris Jenks asked the officers to comment on the idea of electronic proposals for NCHRP research. An internal task force at TRB concluded a couple of years ago that volunteers still preferred hard copies. Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches were discussed. RAC members are welcome to provide additional comments and feedback to Chris Jenks.
  • Washington DOT has taken the lead in a Pooled Fund project that is reviewing existing research project management databases. Leni Oman would welcome feedback from RAC members on whether any additional research would be helpful.

2015 RAC/TRB Rep. Summer Meeting Update –Ken Chambers and Michael Bufalino

  • Theme: Creating Dynamic Research Programs ThroughCollaboration [Thank you, David Stevens!]
  • We are going to adopt Pete Zaniewski’s suggestion to start with a “why we are at the summer meeting” objective, then solicit feedback after the meeting to see how successful we were. Also, we will capture bullet points from each session and compile a “final report” that can be shared with the membership.
  • Ken spoke with the task force chairs; Admin.will be coordinating the “Your Role in RAC” session.
  • There is strong support for Cameron’s idea for a session to present peer exchange results.
  • Michael reported that June Houseman will be on-site April 1 and on-line registration will be available about mid-April.
  • The Ahead of the Curve training will take place on Sunday before the meeting; TRB will reimburse some participants for an extra day. About five participants will be selected from each region.

Topics for next month?

  • High Value of Research submittal review.
  • Pat Casey - review NCHRP Evaluating Implementation if available.

Roundtable – Open Q&A

  • Ned reported that the WASHTO 2015 meeting will be in Idaho in July. Could posters for the High Value Research projects be shared? Maybe room for 10 or 12; likely unmanned, but available for oohs and ahhs.

If anyone has suggestions for topics for next month, please send those to Cameron at

Our next conference call is scheduled for Thursday, April16th (10:00 Hawaii Time, 11:00 Alaska Time, 12:00 Pacific Time, 1:00 Mountain Time, and 2:00 Central Time)

Please e-mail potential agenda items to Cameron at .