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TRANSPORTER
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY APRIL 2001
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
Rural Development Efforts by FHWA
U
.S. DOT and FHWA are Training: HEPS is
working to understand the developing a new
needs of small towns and course based on the
rural communities and provide release of the new
training, technical assistance, and Rural Transportation
outreach to strengthen and Planning Guidebook.
promote rural development. The course will
Within FHWA, the Office of look at rural
Intermodal and Statewide development
Programs (HEPS) is involved issues and focus on
with several initiatives to improve transportation. The
rural transportation planning and course will be
rural development planning. delivered through a
Outreach efforts include: new and innovative
partnership with
Rural Transportation Planning Local Technical
Handbook: FHWA, in conjunction Assistance Program
with the Federal Transit (LTAP) and Rural
Administration (FTA), is Technical Assistance
producing a handbook on rural Program (RTAP)
planning to help address many of centers. Many
the concerns rural communities LTAPs and RTAPs
have when developing transporta- have expressed an
tion systems. This handbook will interest in building
be a resource to rural planners, their planning A Rural Planning Guide to help planners and officials
decision makers, and tribal training find the right DOT programs to help their communities
transportation officials capacity is available on-line and is being updated. It can be
and planners about the and will found at: http://ntl.bts.gov/data/programa.doc
characteristics of rural be field
transportation, testing this course soon. works to strengthen rural
jurisdictions, planning, Information on course America through collaborative
transit, ITS, and access offerings will be out partnerships. NRDP brings
management. The hand- shortly. together partners from local, State,
book includes case studies tribal, and Federal governments, as
of successful planning efforts. Outreach: HEPS is well as from the for-profit and
The handbook is still in draft form working with the National Rural non-profit private sector to
but will be released within 6 Development Partnership leverage U.S. DOT transportation
months to field offices. (NRDP)—an organization that (Continued on page 2)
TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001 FHWA-RD-01-011 1
& TECHNOLOGY
TRANSPORTER
RESEARCH
The Research and Technology Transporter
New Publication Streamlines Environmental
communicates FHWA research, devel-
opment, and technology accomplish-
Decision Making
ments, findings, information, and
F
technology transfer opportunities. Its HWA's Office of National statistically-generated baseline
audience is transportation engineers Environmental Policy Act of the time required to comply
and professionals in State and local (NEPA) Facilitation, in with the NEPA process;
highway agencies, State DOTs, Local
Te c h n i c a l A s s i s t a n c e P ro g r a m s ,
collaboration with the Louis Berger
Divisions, Resource Centers, Core Group, has produced a study • Develop a methodology to
Business Units, academia, and the examining the impacts of NEPA on statistically assess the impact of
research community. The eight-page the time and costs of various the NEPA process on project
newsletter is published monthly by
FHWA’s RD&T service business unit.
transportation projects. The study delivery time and cost under a
Editorial offices are housed at the is called Evaluating the variety of conditions;
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Performance of Environmental
Center. Comments should be sent to the Streamlining: Development of a • Identify future data needs and
managing editor at the address below.
Field offices are encouraged to submit
NEPA Baseline for Measuring improvements for the continua-
articles for publication via the Continuous Performance. tion of this research.
appropriate agency technology
leader from the editorial board listed The research study By achieving these
b e l o w. T h e n e w s l e t t e r c a n b e
viewed online at www.tfhrc.gov.
provides a better objectives, the study
Subscriptions to the Transporter are free. understanding of how made baseline
Send your request to Judy Dakin at the the NEPA process measurements. These
address below, or send email to impacts the total time measurements make it
judy.dakin@fhwa.dot.gov.
and cost involved in possible to develop
completing a Federal-aid goals, performance
Norman Y. Mineta
highway or bridge project. measures, and benchmarks for
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
Despite the overall benefits of evaluating environmental decision
NEPA in addressing the wide array making. Setting these goals meets
Vacant of public interests that can be the “environmental streamlining”
Administrator impacted by transportation effort called for in TEA-21.
Federal Highway Administration facilities, the process itself has been
Vincent Schimmoler the target of criticism on the basis This first-of-its-kind study presents
Deputy Executive Director that it delays and increases cost for a number of conclusions
Federal Highway Administration completing projects. This is the concerning relationships between
perception for projects that require the NEPA project development
Editorial Board an Environmental Impact process and the delivery of projects
C. Burbank; E. Cleckley; K. Gee; Statement. for transportation facilities that will
A. Hamilton; E. Hempel; be of interest to environmental
C. Johnson; D. Judycki; E. Morris;
The study had three main practitioners and stakeholders
G. Ostensen; V. Schimmoller;
K. Skelton; M. Vecchietti; D. Wilken; objectives: alike.
L. Witman; F. Wright Kreig Larson
• Develop a methodology to (202) 366-2056
Managing Editor, Jon Schans establish an historical and kreig.larson@fhwa.dot.gov
Editor, Melissa Winn
Design, Jean Hwang
Distribution, Judy Dakin
(Continued from front page) 30 through April 4. HEPS is
planning and programming with presenting a panel on rural
U.S. Department of Transportation
other planning efforts at the State, transportation.
Federal Highway Administration Federal, and local level. NRDP is Fred Abousleman
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center holding their National Conference (202) 366-5015
6300 Georgetown Pike, HRTS fred.abousleman@fhwa.dot.gov
in Washington, D.C., from March
McLean, VA 22101-2296
www.tfhrc.gov
2 TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001
SAFETY
New Pedestrian Products
A
pedestrian is
injured in a
traffic crash
every six minutes. In
1999 there were 4,906
pedestrian fatalities—
about 12 percent of all
traffic related fatalities.
With this in mind,
FHWA’s Safety Core
Business Unit is
developing a range of
products targeting the
general road user and
the safety practitioner.
The following products
were just completed Products such as these inform users about safer practices that may help save lives.
and launched:
users (including schools, driver matrix is featured with related
Pedestrian/Bicyclist Safety Resource education groups, enforcement, graphics. More detailed
Set is a CD-ROM containing a etc.) and safety practitioners. The information on each of the 60 plus
library of information on how to CD-ROM activities include the countermeasures illustrated in this
improve pedestrian/bicyclist safety Journey, the Quiz, and a library of brochure can be found on the
in communities across the nation. resources. During the Journey Safer Journey CD-ROM in the
Included in the set is information section the user interacts with the library section. This brochure is
on facility design, planning, software to determine the outcome intended for safety practitioners,
guidelines, good practices, and of the scenario. A crash-type safety advocates, and other special road
tools to aid in problem identifica- countermeasure matrix is users who want to create
tion, and countermeasures included in the library walkable/bikeable
development. This CD-ROM section. This CD-ROM communities.
contains about 15,000 pages of can also be included in
information classified by various State/local community These publications
categories (e.g., design, planning, pedestrian awareness are being distributed
outreach, tools, etc.) and is materials kits and/or nationwide, but specific
intended for safety practitioners used at seminars or audiences will be
and other advocates who want conferences. targeted, e.g. highway
to create walkable/bikeable safety representatives, traffic
communities. A Walkable Community is a engineers, enforcement officers,
brochure that provides a snapshot driver education groups, schools,
Safer Journey—Interactive Pedestrian on designing for a walkable and safe community groups. For
Safety Awareness is an interactive community. Creating a walkable additional information or to
CD-ROM that takes the user community is much more than just request copies contact Leverson
through various pedestrian safety sidewalks; it is important to Boodlal at (202) 366-8044,
scenarios encountered every day understand the needs and leverson.boodlal@fhwa.dot.gov.
across America. It has been characteristics of pedestrians and Janet Coleman
developed to improve the level of the issues that affect their travel. A (202) 366-4668
pedestrian knowledge for all road crash-type safety countermeasure janet.coleman@fhwa.dot.gov
TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001 FHWA-RD-01-011 3
New Capability Added to TFHRC Sign Simulator
A
n improved sign simulator observers. The signs appear to
at TFHRC can create approach the observer at varying
dynamic sign images from rates of speed. As the signs
35-mm slides and can project approach, research participants
three-dimensional images onto a make judgments about the
150-cm diagonal rear projection recognition distance and/or
screen using a unique computer comprehension distance for each
graphics projection system. The particular sign. Many different
simulator (SIGNSIM) is equipped roadway signs have been tested in
with a new participant response this manner over the years. In
station that uses a Vectra Smart order to present high-resolution
Wye keyboard encoder to translate signs approaching at different
button pushes into standard speeds, a special Zoom Lens
computer keystrokes. Slide Projection System
Together these improve- was developed. This
ments greatly enhance slide-based rear-
the range of human projection system has
factors experiments supported most of the
that can be conducted previous research The sign simulator is one of five
at TFHRC. conducted in SIGNSIM. simulators comprising the Human
Centered Systems Laboratory.
The sign simulator is one The current SIGNSIM
of five simulators comprising study is examining possible run-off-road crashes, speed
the Human Centered Systems pedestrian confusion at crosswalks management, intersections, and
Laboratory at TFHRC. with both standard and proposed visibility.
Traditionally the sign simulator has alternative pedestrian crossing Joe Moyer
been used to present dynamic signals. Future studies will (202) 493-3370
images of roadway signs to investigate ways to mitigate joe.moyer@fhwa.dot.gov
OPERATIONS
New Architecture Conformity Rule
O
n February 7, FHWA and ensure that the incoming adminis- shape their implementation where
FTA published Notices in tration has the opportunity to appropriate.
the Federal Register to review any new regulations, the
extend, for 60 days, the effective memorandum asked agencies to To view the White House
dates of their respective rule and temporarily postpone for 60 days memorandum, the FHWA notice
policy regarding conformity with the effective dates of any extending the effective date of its
the National ITS Architecture and regulations that have been rule, and the FTA notice extending
Standards. published in the Federal Register the effective date of its policy, go
but have not taken effect. The to www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov.
The new effective date is April 8. 60-day period allows time for Mike Freitas
This extension was in response department and agency heads to (202) 366-9292
to a January 20 memorandum from assume their offices, become aware mike.freitas@fhwa.dot.gov
the White House. In order to of upcoming regulations, and help
4 TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001
New ITS Standards Web site
T
he standards section of the
ITS Joint Program Office Web
site has been improved to
provide users with an easier and
more complete method of obtaining
the range of resources available.
Located at www.its-standards.net,
the home page of the site describes
what ITS standards are and the role
of the ITS Standards Program.
In essence, industry consensus-
based ITS standards define how
system components operate within
a consistent framework known as
the National ITS Architecture. By The resource documents section
specifying how systems and includes brochures, primers, an
components interconnect, the overview, lessons learned docu-
standards promote interoperability. ments, case studies, and guidance.
To expedite deployment of nation- The deployment status section
ally interoperable ITS systems and includes details on standards that
services, U.S. DOT supports are published, approved, in ballot,
specific ITS standards initiatives, and under development. The latter
especially in areas that have information is available in the form
significant public benefit. of printable milestone charts.
The U.S. DOT ITS Standards The testing section includes
Program is working toward the volumes I & II of the test report for
widespread use of standards to the National Transportation
encourage the interoperability of Communications for ITS Protocol
ITS systems. Through cooperative (NTCIP) Dynamic Message Sign
agreements with five standards Standards. The deployment
development organizations (SDOs), assistance section includes contacts
the Standards Program is acceler- at FHWA Resource Centers, and
ating development of about 100 FTA Regional & Metropolitan
non-proprietary industry-based Offices, an entire database of ITS
consensus ITS standards, and is standards contacts, and links to the
encouraging public-sector partici- ITS Peer-To-Peer program.
pation in the development process.
The Web site also provides easy
The Web site offers seven key access to the range of training
categories of information: programs in general ITS seminars,
(1) About ITS Standards, national ITS architecture, general
(2) Resource Documents, (3) ITS ITS standards, NTCIP standards,
Standards Fact Sheets, and transit standards.
(4) Deployment Status, (5) Testing, Mike Schagrin
(6) ITS Standards Deployment (202) 366-2180
Assistance, and (7) Training. mike.schagrin@fhwa.dot.gov
TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001 FHWA-RD-01-011 5
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Ghasemi Named FHWA Engineer of the Year
H
amid Ghasemi, recipient Civil Engineering Research
of the FHWA Engineering Foundation (CERF), and the
Excellence Award, was Highway Innovative Technology
named FHWA Engineer of the Evaluation Center’s (HITEC)
Year for 2000. seismic isolation evaluation panel.
He is currently the technical
Ghasemi has achieved a great deal manager of a major contract to
over the past three years in the build this country’s largest seismic
field of seismic isolation of shake-table at the University of
highway bridges. He developed California at San Diego.
the test plan and became the
driving force behind the testing of Ghasemi has frequently made
11 seismic isolation devices. In presentations to State and private
addition, he authored 12 of the industry engineers on bridge
project’s 14 reports. These highly dynamics and isolation. He
innovative reports and findings are conducted an analytical/experi-
now being used by bridge mental study on modal analysis of
engineers internationally. As a skewed bridges and has authored
key member of the American more than 15 technical publica-
Association of State Highway and tions. Ghasemi received his Mr. Ghasemi is one of FHWA's experts
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field of seismic isolation of
Subcommittee on Bridges and from the University of Louisville, highway bridges. He has received the
Structures’ Technical Committee and he earned his doctorate in FHWA Engineering Excellence Award
T3, he assisted in the development structural engineering at the and was named FHWA Engineer of the
of the new AASHTO Guide University of Kentucky. He joined Year for 2000.
Specifications for Seismic Isolation FHWA in 1992 and is currently a
of Bridges. Ghasemi is also a research structural engineer in John O’Fallon
member of the American Society FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure (202) 493-3051
of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Research and Development. john.o’fallon@fhwa.dot.gov
Bright Minds Building Cities of the Future
T
wenty-one middle schools private sectors and academia, U.S. DOT presented a special award
from across the country evaluated plans and models of for the best transportation system to
participated in the finals of cities of the future created by the Drexel Hill Middle School from the
the 2001 National Future City middle school students. The western suburbs of Philadelphia.
Competition, which was held in students competed in the overall Their winning city, named
Washington D.C. during National competition for five awards and Aquarius, is a floating city that
Engineers Week, February 18 were evaluated by special teams travels the oceans in the year 2050
through 24. These schools won of judges for the best essay (an with a mission of bringing peace
local and regional competitions to essay was required from each and harmony to the world. U.S.
advance to the national level, team of students); the People’s DOT judges, who evaluated the
where teams of professionals, Choice Award; and 15 special cities for the transportation award,
representing the public and awards. (Continued on page 7)
6 TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001
(Continued from page 6)
were Martha Soneira, Bill
Zaccagnino, and Elizabeth Fischer of
FHWA; Ed Christopher and Nelda
Bravo of BTS; and Bill Siegel of FTA.
St. Barnabas Catholic School in
Beverly, IL, won first place in the
overall competition as well as
winning the best essay award.
The school had won the Chicago
regional competition to advance
to the finals.
Middle school students used off-
the-shelf design software to create
their cities, incorporating residences,
industry, commercial buildings,
public infrastructure, transportation
modes, and other features. While
many students in a school A team from Drexel Hill Middle School was awarded the Best Transportation
contributed to the final products, System special award by the U.S. DOT.
three students were selected to
make the presentation of their city location of transportation access presenters was remarkable and is to
to the judges and to respond to points. be commended as a reflection of
questions, such as those from the the Nation’s bright engineering
U.S. DOT team about the movement The creativity and innovation future.
of people and goods; accommoda- reflected in the city designs and Bill Zaccagnino
tions for pedestrians, bicyclists, and models and the presence and (202) 493-3183
people with disabilities; and the professionalism of all the student william.zaccagnino@fhwa.dot.gov
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Academic/Transportation Research Forum Will be Held June 25–27
T
The FHWA Universities The Academic/Transportation (DDETFP) recipients. One common
and Grants Programs is Research Forum is designed to theme is meeting the workforce
sponsoring the first annual share information on transporta- challenge of the 21st century
Academic/Transportation Research tion research and educational through planning and partner-
Forum from June 25–27, 2001. opportunities and to involve the ships. For further information
Approximately 200 participants are academic community to assist in contact Dr. Sheila Porterfield at
expected at the forum, which will meeting the research priorities and (601) 979-3326 or
be held in Washington, DC. workforce needs of the U.S. DOT. sporterf@ccaix.jsums.edu or Leslie
The workshops will include Porter at (703) 235-0536 or
Jackson State University, through participation from TFHRC, FHWA leslie.porter@fhwa.dot.gov.
the FHWA Minority Institutions of business units, and the former and Ilene Payne
Higher Education (MIHE) Initia- current Dwight David Eisenhower (703) 235-0538
tive, is coordinating the forum. Transportation Fellowship ilene.payne@fhwa.dot.gov
TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001 FHWA-RD-01-011 7
FIRST CLASS
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION
PERMIT NO. G-66
Research, Development, and Technology
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
HRTS
International Symposium Coming this Summer
A
Transportation Technology The Technology of Technology
Transfer Symposium will be Transfer, Worldwide Library and
held July 29–August 2, 2001 Information Resources,
in St. Petersburg, FL. The objective International Transportation
of this Symposium is to bring Training and Workforce
together major transportation Development, International
technology transfer entities Partnerships: Twinning and
world-wide to exchange advances Networking, and Expanding and
and current technology transfer Strengthening Partnerships.
practices and techniques, and in
doing so to improve their efficiency. George Shrieves, former director A brochure regarding the August 2
The Symposium presents a unique of the National Highway Institute symposium was distributed at TRB
beneficial opportunity for partici- and coordinator for the conference and has been mailed out to FHWA
pants to interact with colleagues said, “This is a great opportunity customers and partners.
and counterparts from around the to meet people from other groups,
world to learn and share. All practi- from the U.S. and internationally, the Transportation Research Board
tioners involved in technology and for people to update their (TRB); the Bureau of Transportation
transfer should plan to attend. knowledge of the practice.” Statistics (BTS); the Organization
Shrieves has been involved in for Economic Cooperation and
This Symposium is being held in hosting previous international Development (OECD); and the
conjunction with other world technology transfer meetings. Pan American Institute of
organizations’ meetings, including Highways (PIH).
the U.S. Local Technical Assistance The Symposium is sponsored by
Program’s (LTAP) annual meeting. world-wide transportation entities, For more information about the
Sponsor organizations will hold including: FHWA’s Office of International Symposium visit
simultaneous meetings that are International Programs and NHI; www.international.fhwa.dot.gov.
open to all participants. LTAP and the Tribal Technical Joe Conway
Assistance Program (TTAP); the (703) 235-0552
Topics for the joint sessions include: World Road Association (PIARC); 2001symposium@fhwa.dot.gov
8 TRANSPORTER • APRIL 2001
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