Leg Track

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hot topics

The following was reported by Larry Ehl, WSDOTs federal liaison.  Larry tracks federal issues in his blog.

• SAFETEA-LU extended through Dec 31 2010

>> more hot topics...

events

2009

• September 13-16, 2009: APWA Congress, Columbus, OH.  [more info here]
• September 17-18, 2009: Washington State Good Roads and Transportation Association Annual Conference.  For more information at the WSGRTA website.
• September 30, 2009, 10-11:30 PM: The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse presents: No Cost Webinar: Taking Proper Care of Pedestrians in Work Zones.  [more info here]
• October 6-9, 2009: CRAB Road Design Conference, Grand Mound, WA [more info here]
• October 10, 2009: Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, "Don't be Driven to Distraction -Drive to Arrive" [more info here]
• October 19-21, 2009: 8th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management, Portland, OR.  [more info here]
• October 20-23, 2009: APWA Fall Conference, Kennewick, WA.  [more info here]
• November 3-5, 2009: Engineers' Training - CRAB Offices, Olympia, WA.
• November 9-13, 2009: American Water Resources Annual Conference, Seattle WA [more]
• November 12, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. EST: Stormwater Runoff for Counties webinar [more]
• November 17, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: TRB Webinar: Maintenance Practices for Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity [more]
• November 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: TRB Webinar: Using Pavement Management to Control Costs and Improve Services [more]
• November 17-20, 2009: WSAC Fall Conference, SeaTac, WA.  [more info here]

2010

• January 10-14, 2010: Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.  [more info here]
• January 12, 2010: NHI Real Solutions Webinar “Local Agency Traffic Safety as a Priority: Stop Doing the Talk and Start Doing the Walk.”, from 1:00 -3:00 p.m. (EDT).  [more info here]
• January 27-29, 2010: WSACE Professional Development Conference, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA [more info here]
• January 28, 2010: Developing a Road Safety Program - Saving Lives in Your County Now, NACo Webinar.  [more info here]
• March 6-10, 2010: NACo Legislative Conference, Washington, DC.  [more info here]
• April 12-16, 2010: First International Conference on Pavement Preservation, Newport Beach, CA. [more info here]
• June 8-10, 2010: APWA Sustainability in Public Works Conference, Minneapolis, MN. [more info here]
• June 21-24, 2010: North American Travel Monitoring Exposition and Conference (NATMEC); Improving Traffic Data Collection, Analysis, and Use; Seattle, Washington.  [more info here]

2010

• July 12-16, 2010: ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, CA. [more info here]
• July 16-20, 2010: National Association of Counties Annual Conference & Exposition, Reno, NV. [more info here]
• August 15-18,2010: APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition, Boston, MA. [more info here]
• October 5-8, 2010: Washington Chapter APWA Fall Conference, Wenatchee, WA. [more info here]
• October 10, 2010: Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, [more info here]
• October 26-29, 2010: NW Pavement Management Association Fall Conference, Vancouver, WA. [more inro here]
• November 9-12, 2010: WSAC Annual Conference, Red Lion Hotel at the Park, Spokane, WA. [more info here]

2011

• March 22-26, 2011: CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Las Vegas, NV, [more info here]
• July 24-27, 2011:10th International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), FL. [more info here]

>> more events...

• Urban Engineer of the Year - Jon Brand, P.E.

  Kitsap County Assistant Public Works Director/County Engineer, Jon Brand P.E., was named the WSACE Urban Engineer of the Year for 2010 by CRABoard Executive Director, Jay Weber, after being nominated by the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners. Kitsap Board Chairman, Josh Brown, presented the award to Jon at the WSACE annual conference banquet held June 16th in Grand Mound, Washington.
  The Kitsap Board of Commissioners nominated Jon citing his strong organizational skills, problem solving skills, and his professional expertise. Jon is an active member of WSACE contributing to the overall success of county engineers statewide. Congratulations Jon!

• Rural Engineer of the Year - Monte Reinders, P.E.

  Jefferson County Engineer, Monte Reinders, P.E., was named the WSACE Rural Engineer of the Year for 2010 by CRABoard Executive Director, Jay Weber, after being nominated by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. Jefferson County Commissioner, Phil Johnson, presented the award at the WSACE annual conference banquet held June 16th in Grand Mound, Washington.
  The Jefferson Board of Commissioners nominated Monte citing his high quality of work and supportive work environment. The Board also noted the establishment of positive relationships with state and local agencies as well as efforts to involve the public in project development processes. Monte is an active member of WSACE and currently serves as the Western District Representative on the WSACE Board of Directors. Congratulations Monte!

• New officers installed at WSACE Annual Meeting

  New officers for the 2010-2011 year were installed at the recent WSACE annual conference banquet by Immediate Past President Derek Pohle, P.E., Grant County. Moving up to WSACE President is Mark Storey, P.E., Whitman County. Joe Rutan, P.E., Whatcom County, moves up to President-elect and Todd O'Brien, P.E., Adams County, is the new Secretary/Treasurer. Todd previously served as Eastern District Representative to the board. Out-going president Brian Stacy, P.E., Pierce County, joined the ranks of past presidents and will serve on the board as Immediate Past President. Congratulations to all the new officers.

• Karen Pendleton recognized by President Stacy

  WSACE President Brian Stacy surprised Karen Pendleton with the WSACE President's Award at the WSACE annual conference. Brian recognized Karen for all the support she has provided to the WSACE Board of Directors in organizing and planning annual meetings and taking care of the organization prior to the hiring of WSACE Managing Director Gary Rowe. Karen has been an intergral part contributing to the success of WSACE and her recognition is well deserved. Congratulations Karen!

• Jim Whitbread tapped for Eastern District Representative

  The WSACE Board of Directors selected Jim Whitbread, P.E., Stevens County, to replace Todd O'Brien, P.E., as the Eastern District Representative to the board. Jim will fulfill the remaining year for the term at which time elections will be held for the next two-year term.

• Ryan Lopossa is new NACE Western Region Vice President

  Congratulations to Cowlitz County Engineer, Ryan Lopossa, P.E., for being selected as the Western Region Vice President for the National Association of County Engineers (NACE).  Ryan has been an active member of NACE as well as WSACE serving as the NACE Director-at-large for Washington on the NACE Board of Directors.  The Western Region VP represents western states including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

• Brian Stacy is new WSACE NACE Director-at-large

  With Ryan Lopossa's selection to Western Region VP, the Washington State member of the NACE Board of Directors opened up. The Board of Directors selected Brian Stacy, P.E., Pierce County, to serve in the interim until elections are held next year for the regular four-year term. We look forward to Brian's continued commitment to NACE and the potential for hosting a NACE conference in the future.

• Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Director Brian Ziegler has been named one of the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year by the American Public Works Association. This national award recognizes outstanding career achievements of public works professionals in both the public and private sectors and focuses on career service to the public works profession overall, rather than on singular projects.  Former Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Director John Trent, now retired, was also recognized as a top ten public works leader in 2001.  Pierce County is also accredited by the APWA.  Congratulations to Brian and Pierce County. [more information here]
• At a crossroads The fate of our secondary roads may be in the balance. Against the backdrop of stalled federal surface transportation reauthorization and threats from reduced state and local funding, secondary roads are at an intersection [read the completer article at Better Roads]
• SAFETEA-LU extended through Dec 31 2010: On March 17, 2010 the Senate voted 68-29 to pass the $17.6 billion H.I.R.E bill (aka "Reid jobs bill") which contains language extending T-LU through the end of this year and extends the Build America Bonds program. The bill restores $8.7 billion to the Highway Trust Fund to offset last fall's rescission, and authorizes a transfer of $19.5 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund to keep the account solvent through the end of the year and into 2011. The bill now goes to the President to be signed into law. [more info from WSDOT Federal Transportation Blog]
• $2 billion in federal stimulus money has been spent in Washington state: Stimulus funding has created or retained tens of thousands of jobs in the state, state officials said Monday. State and local government workers submitted an update to the federal government this past weekend to track stimulus spending. The federal government reported Friday that about 600,000 jobs have been saved or created under President Obama's stimulus plan. [Seattle Times]
• Clearer road signs make the driving easier: Many state departments of transportation are now using a new type font as they replace older highway signs. Clearview was created to be 10 to 18 percent more legible than the older type style (Highway Gothic) and was developed by researchers at Penn State University. The type font uses thinner lines and more open space, improving readability and safety for the traveling public. [from AASHTO E-News]
• Green Roads Coming? - New rating system for green roads being developed at the University of Washington: UW team spells out all of the things that would be needed to certify green roads: everything from using recycled asphalt and more locally produced materials to making sure there's access for alternative modes of transportation or minimizing light pollution from streetlamps. [KPLU], [UW Greenroads Site]
• 28 Percent of Accidents Involve Talking, Texting on Cellphones:  Twenty-eight percent of traffic accidents occur when people talk on cellphones or send text messages while driving, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Safety Council. [Washington Post Article]
• Final Rule on the new MUTCD published in the Federal Register:  The MUTCD Final Rule was published in the Federal Register today.  FHWA also posted the next edition of the MUTCD on the MUTCD website at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/.  The effective date for this final rule is January 15, 2010.  FHWA developed a number of documents and tools to help you sort through this large amount of information.  A very detailed PowerPoint presentation which includes discussion on the majority of changes included in the 2009 edition of the MUTCD is also available on the website.  For more information please contact Hari Kalla, P.E., MUTCD Team Leader, Office of Operations (HOTO-1) Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, E84-316 Washington, DC 20590 Tel.:  (202) 366-5915.
• More Motorists Die on Rural Roads:  In an article reported by USA Today, 56% of the USA's 37,261 traffic deaths occurred on rural roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 23% of the population lives in rural areas.  In Washington State 55% of 2008 traffic fatalities occurred on rural roads.  [Read more at USA Today].
• FHWA Office of Safety Design announces the availability of new one-page technical summaries of five new intersection safety treatments.  The treatments are ones that have been identified or refined since the publication of NCHRP Report 500, Volumes 5 (A Guide for Addressing Unsignalized Intersection Collisions) and 12 (A Guide for Reducing Collisions at Signalized Intersections) in 2003 and 2004, respectively.  [more information here]
• The Sign Retroreflectivity Toolkit provides information that will assist small and medium sized agencies without traffic engineering staff to meet the new Federal requirements for maintaining traffic sign retroreflectivity. This toolkit contains two documents. One is a stand-alone computer based package on a compact disc (called the "Toolkit") that contains much more information, resources, and automated features. The second document is a hard copy of the computer-based package known as the "Guidebook." These documents are designed to assist small and medium sized agencies in making informed decisions before implementing a retroreflectivity maintenance program while considering resource limitations. [more information at FHWA]
• Better Roads Magazine 2009 Bridge Inventory: Bridge Managers are saying that the stimulus has provided a boost but funding remains insufficient. Despite the high number of sub-standard bridges throughout the nation, bridge engineers remain optimistic they will be able to reduce number of deficient bridges. [more info at Better Bridge Magazine]
• EPA Proposed Rulemaking: Stormwater discharges from developed sites can negatively impact water quality through increases in stormwater volume and increased pollutant loads to the receiving waters.  These impacts, as well as recommendations to mitigate them, were recently documented by the National Research Council in a report titled "Urban Stormwater Management in the United States." Because stormwater discharges from the built environment are a principal contributor to water quality impairments nationwide, EPA signed an FR Notice announcing:
  • Its plans to propose and take final action by November 2012 on a national rulemaking to strengthen stormwater regulations and to establish a comprehensive program to reduce stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites; and
  • A proposed information collection request (ICR) to inform the national rulemaking. [more info here]
• WSACE work group needs your input.  The WSACE/WDFW work group would like your input on WDFW's proposed bridge guidance document.  The bridge design guidance will be used by WDFW engineers and biologists when reviewing and conditioning hydraulic project applications (HPAs).  Jon Brand and Owen Carter are representing WSACE on the Aquatics Habitat Guidelines group that is working on the bridge guidelines.  Your comments on the proposed guidance will help Jon and Owen in representing WSACE. [more information here].
• Two county bridge projects selected by FHWA and WSDOT as "Award of Excellence" winners.  Clark County and King County were selected as the "best of the best" by the Federal Highway Administration and the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Highway 99 bridge over Salmon Creek (Clark Co.) and the Tolt River Bridget (King Co.).  More information can be found at WSDOT News.
• A recent FHWA High Risk Rural Roads Program webinar provided an overview of the new federal program established to address the safety issues on rural roads.  The webinar included a presentation for your review.  FHWA also has safety information on line along with facts and statistics including a rural/urban comparison.  WSDOT has implemented the HRRRP through its strategic highway safety plan - "Target Zero".
• New LEED rating system for sustainable development is being developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.  The "LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System" establishes prerequisites for development to obtain the LEED certification.  The prerequisites include limiting the design speed on residential streets, set back and other design elements that may be in conflict with local design requirements.  [more]
• NACE Alert! Action Needed: Urge Continuation of Off-System Bridge Program Legislation to reauthorize the federal highway and transit programs has been put forward by the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Under this proposed legislation, the Off-System Bridge program would no longer exist due to the elimination of the Federal Bridge program. A substantial portion of the off-system set aside goes to improving and replacing county-owned bridges. We strongly urge you to contact Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and tell them to continue to provide for an Off-System Bridge program.  More information is included in the almost biweekly NACE Update sent out by email.
• The University of Iowa is conducting a study on mileage based road user fees.  The study will include participants from Chicago, IL (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will Counties) Billings, MT (Carbon and Yellowstone Counties) Albuquerque, NM (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia Counties) Wichita, KS  (Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, and Sumner Counties) Portland, ME (Cumberland, Sagadohoc, and York Counties) Miami, FL (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties).  More info here.