North Central Section Newsletter Wins Again...

For the second year in a row, the INCITER newsletter of the North Central Section snagged the 2008 ITE Newsletter of the Year Award for publications with circulations between 250 and 500. Congratulations go to Peter Langworthy, INCITER Editor, for another job well done!

The presentation will be made at the Honorees Reception and Dinner at the Anaheim meeting in August.

Branson's Taneycomo Bridge Options Outlined...
Option A would have two-way traffic bridges. The new bridge will be constructed downstream from the existing bridge and connect at Branson Landing. A roundabout would be constructed on the Hollister side. (Photo illustration courtesy of MoDOT and Branson Daily News.) By Mindy HoneyBDN Staff Writermhoney@bransondailynews.com

Missouri Department of Transportation officials presented options to relieve traffic congestion on and around the Taneycomo Bridge on Tuesday at Hollister Town Hall. Taneycomo Bridge’s deck is worn and will be closed by MoDOT for safety reasons if it is not repaired in the next few years.

The first option, Option A, includes building a bridge just downstream from the Taneycomo Bridge. The option will make it so there are two two-way bridges with the new bridge’s connection coming out at Branson Landing. The Hollister side would include a roundabout. “We would build the first bridge,” said MoDOT engineer Kirk Juranas, who estimated the construction of the new bridge would take one year to complete. Taneycomo Bridge would remain open during the construction and when the new bridge was open, the existing bridge would be shut down for a yearlong rehab. Juranas said the advantage of Option A is the new bridge would connect with Branson Landing and provide an alternative to Missouri 76. Option A’s estimated cost is $17 million, Juranas said.


Option B would also include a second bridge downstream to the current one. Taneycomo Bridge would remain open while the second bridge was constructed. The second bridge would also take about a year to complete and when opened to motorists, the existing bridge would undergo a rehab. The difference from Option A is, Option B will make it so traffic flows on two, two-lane, one-way bridges with the new bridge tapering and connecting at the top to the existing bridge on the Branson side. On the Hollister side there would be a traffic signal. Option B would cost about $16 million.Andy Mueller, assistant district engineer, explained the funding for the options.


MoDOT has committed to paying for the rehab of the existing bridge, which will cost about $4.5 million. The rest of the funds, Mueller said they are hoping to split 50-50 with Taney County, Hollister and Branson. MoDOT project manager Chad Zickefoose said MoDOT officials have visited with each of the entities. “All four of us would be satisfied,” Zickefoose said after Tuesday’s meeting to spend some time visiting with city and county officials to discuss the public’s comments. He said Tuesday’s meeting should offer some insight to which option is most favorable. “We anticipate getting good public comment and being able to move forward,” Juranas said.


This won’t be the first time a cost-share application has been submitted. In early 2008, a cost-share application was submitted to MoDOT’s Cost Share Committee for a project dubbed B-10. B-10, Zickefoose said, was similar to Option A, and referred to Option A as a modified version of the original plan. In February a reviewing committee declined to recommend the application, explaining it contained costs too high to recommend. Juranas reported the project was not rejected out of hand, but because of the financial forecast limiting future funds, the project would have to be revamped.


Several months later, MoDOT officials are now confident one of the two options will get the Cost Share Committee’s approval this time. “In our process we’ll have answered a lot of the questions that came up,” Juranas said. Zickefoose said, “We’ve met with (members of the Cost Share Committee) several times. Either option would be acceptable. The Cost Share Committee was comfortable with either.”

Transportation Professional Certification Board Update

The Transportation Professional Certification Board Inc. (TPCB) announces that starting with the October 2008 exam the TPCB will be offering computer based test administration for its four certification programs (PTOE, PTP, TOPS and TSOS). This will provide applicants with the opportunity to take the test closer to home at any of the 275 locations throughout the United States, Canada and more than 40 international sites. Exams are scheduled during a thirty day “window” for each of the three annual time frames—October, March and August—the exam is offered. Upon approval applicants will be able to go online to determine the exam location and date. If the day is not available, applicants will be able to choose another date. More detailed information is located at www.tpcb.org/examschedule.asp.

Updated ITE Website...

Be sure to check out the new look of the ITE website. It is cleaner, and now easier to find the information you need. Check it out at http://www.ite.org/

Machine Vision's Eye on Driving's Future

By Ralph Vartabedian

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer May 7, 2008

Wouldn't it be great if traffic signals were half as smart as traffic cops? Some new technology is promising to improve the intelligence of traffic signals at major intersections. It is just one of several major advances in which cameras and computers are transforming law enforcement, highway safety and eventually driving itself.

Aldis Corp., an Oak Ridge, Tenn., technology company, is developing a camera and software system that promises by next year a significant improvement in automated traffic signals. For decades, traffic engineers have gone out every few years and attempted to time signals to maximize the flow of vehicles on the majority of major streets. It is only somewhat effective.

Unless a street grid is perfectly symmetrical, engineers can time signals for only one direction of traffic. And if traffic signals are spaced more than half a mile apart, the platoon of vehicles from one signal to another breaks up, said Tom Hicks, vice chairman of the traffic engineering subcommittee of the American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

To supplement timing, engineers have put detectors in the road to determine when vehicles arrive at an intersection. These detectors -- loops of wire embedded in the road -- are expensive and prone to constant failure. And more recently, engineers have used up to eight cameras to detect vehicles, an even more expensive solution.

Aldis plans to start testing next month a single camera that would be hung below a traffic signal, looking out about 600 feet in every direction with a fisheye lens. A computer with some fairly advanced software would calculate the speed of cars, trucks and buses, timing the signals to maximize the flow of vehicles, said Bill Malkes, who helped develop the system.

"If it sees you coming and there is nothing in the other direction, it changes the signal so you don't have to stop," Malkes said. The custom camera and associated software and hardware will cost an estimated $15,000 per intersection, somewhat more expensive than buried loops but requiring less costly maintenance over time, Malkes said.

The setup not only would increase the capacity of the road, but it would also improve the fuel economy of vehicles and reduce emissions, which are greatest when vehicles accelerate from a stop. The safety potential also seems significant, Malkes said, allowing the system to hold cross traffic if it senses that a car is not going to stop for a red light. More than 800 Americans are killed each year when somebody runs a red light.

Another type of camera, mounted on a police car, promises more changes for American roadways. The camera can scan up to 30 license plates per second, convert the images into data and match license plate numbers against a list of wanted vehicles. The patrol officer is alerted on his car terminal to a hot car.

The system, developed by ELSAG North America Law Enforcement Systems, a unit of Finmeccanica, is in use by police departments around the country, including in Rialto, Upland and Baldwin Park. Recently, it was adapted for use on school buses. The idea in that implementation is to capture license plate images of vehicles that don't obey school bus laws and might endanger students during loading or unloading, a spokeswoman said. The data are transferred to a laptop in the bus and then reviewed for violators at the end of the day.

Sebastian Thrun, director of artificial intelligence for Stanford University, said machine vision will eventually transform our transportation system in myriad ways. "We can make driving more efficient, safer and more fun," Thrun said.

The potential may be greatest with automated vehicles. In November, a Stanford team came in second in a Defense Department "urban challenge" contest, in which fully automated vehicles navigated through mock intersections, traffic circles and streets at a 60-mile course in Victorville. Machine vision still faces many challenges, Thrun said. Cameras and their image processing have trouble understanding something new and are not nearly as good as humans at judging distance.

The automated cars in Victorville had to use laser range-finders, which send out light and measure the amount of time it takes for the light to bounce back. Nonetheless, Thrun predicts that within eight years cars will have a number of automation features, allowing drivers to set vehicles on automatic pilot and take a nap or direct an auto to park itself inside a garage. "In the grand scheme of things, we are making a lot of progress," he said.

Good Question: How Do You Drive In A Roundabout?
Jason DeRusha, Reporter
WCCO-TV- Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN
Broadcast 4/30/08

http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=41040@wcco.dayport.com

They are appearing more and more often in Minnesota: roundabouts. Instead of a traffic signal or a four-way stop, there's a traffic circle, where drivers yield and then turn right.

But because it's a fairly new innovation to this state, some drivers are getting confused. "It feels unorganized doesn't it?" asked one woman, outside an Edina roundabout. "I've seen a couple people going the wrong direction," added another woman, outside the new Richfield roundabout.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, there are at least 30 roundabouts on Minnesota roads today with 40 more expected to be completed by the end of 2008. "It's going to be a learning curve for Minnesotans to get used to traveling through a roundabouts," said Wayne Houle, City Engineer and Director of Public Works for the city of Edina. Edina just installed three roundabouts near the Galleria shopping mall, near West 70th Street and France Avenue. "It's going quite well," said Houle. "We haven't had an accident since they were installed. No fender-benders."

Houle said the most important rule to remember about roundabouts involves yielding. "The vehicle that's inside the roundabout has the right-of-way," he said. Basically, whenever there's a gap in traffic in the circle, that's the time to pull into the circle. When you're inside, you shouldn't stop until you exit.

The Edina roundabouts have a colored, raised section of asphalt on the interior of the one-lane traffic circle. That is not for drivers. "The colored pavement is a truck apron," said Houle. It's intended for trucks who have a hard time making the tight turn of the circle.

A study of roundabouts funded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found crashes down 38 percent, after nearly two dozen intersections were converted to roundabouts. Crashes with injuries dropped 76 percent. Other benefits: roundabouts are cheaper to install than putting in a signal, and traffic tends to flow more smoothly and at lower speeds.

"The other thing about roundabouts is that they're better for air quality," said Houle. That's because there's no sitting at a red light, idling. In Virginia, a study found the installation of 10 roundabouts saved more than 200,000 gallons of fuel each year, based on the hours of idling that were eliminated.

2008 MWITE Awards Announced

Last Friday, District Vice President John Davis announced the winners of the Section Activities, Student Chapter and Student Paper Awards for 2008. Congratulations to all the winners!

Illinois DOT fails to see humor in Oak Lawn's quirky stop-sign campaign
State agency cites federal regulations in ordering halt to anti-speeding messages

Oak Lawn officials were hoping extra messages on stop signs would get more drivers to heed the signs. (Tribune photo by Scott Strazzante / September 28, 2007)

Story repringted from Chicago Tribune
by Lolly Bowean, Tribune reporter
12:22 AM EDT, May 1, 2008

The snide and comical remarks in octagonal shapes under stop signs in Oak Lawn were supposed to be a funny way to get motorists to halt and pay attention instead of flying through intersections, Mayor Dave Heilmann said.But some seven months after the signs went up, the laughter has stopped.

Heilmann had to remove the signs after the Illinois Department of Transportation determined they violate the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, he said. If he didn't, the village risked losing federally funded projects, IDOT officials said in a letter." I thought that was a very harsh response to an effort to promote safety," Heilmann said. "I truly believe the signs were making an impact. They were around schools and heavily trafficked areas. The community loved them, and we heard from all over the country about how thinking outside the box was a good way to reinforce the message that people need to stop."

Heilmann launched his public safety campaign to cut down on speeding through stop signs in September. He added slogans such as "and smell the roses" and "means that you aren't moving" to 50 stop signs. At the time, Heilmann said he thought the remarks would get motorists to pause, if for nothing else, to read the phrases. He was sure the quirky signs would help, but residents who had complained for years about drivers not obeying signs had mixed opinions.

There are no statistics on how many drivers fail to stop in Oak Lawn. And though police officers sometimes monitor troublesome intersections, they can't watch them at all times to enforce safety laws, Heilmann said.

When he got the letter from IDOT on April 17, he ordered the signs removed." I don't want to fight with anybody," he said. "I wanted to send a good message and have a good public safety campaign." Still, Heilmann said he was disappointed that he had to junk $1,700 worth of signs." I think government needs to take itself less seriously," he said. "We have to take the work seriously, but it's OK to smile and to be creative in enforcing a serious message."

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

What is the Gas Temperature Where You Live?

GasBuddy Organization Inc., has developed a novel way of showing relative average gasoline prices by county throughout the nation. They call it their Gas Price Temperature Map. Click on the link below and see the nationwide map.

http://www.twincitiesgasprices.com/Price_By_County.aspx?state=MN&c=usa

One thing that is immediately obvious by looking at this is the high price of fuel in California. Of all the states in the union, California is the "hottest" in terms of high gas prices.

This brings up an important issue that ITE is working to address. Earlier this year, I was asking about ITE's potential involvement with transportation lobbying organizations working to raise gas taxes for transportation improvements. I asked whether ITE prohibited lobbying efforts. Out of that discussion came the call for a webinar for ITE elected leadership at all levels on lobbying and advocacy.

Conducting the webinar will be Alan P. Dye, a partner with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean. Mr. Dye specializes in the representation of nonprofit organizations. He is a frequent lecturer at programs organized by ASAE and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others; co-author of the Association gal Checklist, published by the Chamber and the Tax Management Portfolio entitled Trade Associations, published by the Bureau of National Affairs; and Chairman of the Washington Nonprofit Legal and Tax Conference.

• Non-profit Lobbying and Advocacy Web Briefing
  Date: May 14, 2008
  Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. EASTERN
  Site Fee: ITE Leadership FREE.
• To register, click on the following link:
• http://www.ite.org/emodules/scriptcontent/events/eventinfo.cfm?product_major=LOBAD
• Registration closes May 11. Login instructions and supporting materials will be distributed by close of business May 12

"Make No Little Plans" Now
-- MWITE Annual Meeting in Chicago
Hard Rock Hotel -- July 6-9, 2008
http://www.midwesternite2008.org/index.htm

Make No Little Plans:

Transportation in the Heartland

The Annual Meeting of the Institute of Transportation Engineers Midwest Chapter will be held on July 6-8, 2008, at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown Chicago. Our conference theme, "Make No Little Plans: Transportation in the Heartland," is inspired by renowned architect Daniel Burnham. His Plan of Chicago, commissioned by the Commercial Club of Chicago and released in 1909, is considered the nation's first comprehensive urban planning document.

This 100th-year period is an exciting time for engineers and planners in the history of this city. Chicago's current bid for the 2016 Olympics gives us an opportunity to examine key transportation engineering construction, design, and planning issues related to mega-projects and special events planning.

Important Dates:

• May 31, 2008: Early Registration closes. Last chance for $250 Full conference registration. $275 registration fee starts June 1, 2008.
• June 27 to July 6: Taste of Chicago food and music family festival.
• July 3, 2008: City of Chicago Fireworks at Monroe Street Harbor.
• July 6, 2008: ITE Midwestern District Board Meeting and conference ice-breaker.
• July 9, 2008: PTOE/TOPS Refresher Course at Cook County Highway Department.

Location:

HARD ROCK HOTEL - CHICAGO
203 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60601
866-966-5166
http://www.hardrockhotelchicago.com/

Make Your Windy City Plans Today!

New Transportation Commissioner for Minnesota

Congrats to Tom Sorel, Former FHWA Administrator, MN Division

By MIKE KASZUBA, Star Tribune (photo by Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune)
April 21, 2008

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has named Tom Sorel, administrator of the Minnesota Division of the Federal Highway Administation, to be commissioner of the state Transportation Department. Sorel replaces Bob McFarlin, who had been acting commissioner since Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau was ousted from the position by the state Senate in February. She continues in her elected office.

The office Sorel has headed is responsible for the delivery of the Federal-aid Highway Program to state and local transportation agencies in Minnesota. The state Transportation Department (MnDOT) is the primary recipient of nearly all Federal-aid highway funds in Minnesota, but much of the funding is passed through to local agencies or other organizations throughout the state.

Sorel has led the Federal Highway Administration's Minnesota office since 2005 and has worked for the federal department for almost three decades. He served as the U.S. Transportation Department's liaison during the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

MnDOT came under heightened scrutiny after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse last summer. In March, a month after being named interim chief, having been a top aide to Molnau, McFarlin closed the aging DeSoto Bridge on Hwy. 23 in St. Cloud when bent connector plates were found during inspections. Earlier this month, the department announced that the bridge will be replaced, along with the troubled Hwy. 61 bridge in Hastings, with construction to start in 2010.

The safety of both bridges had been an issue of mounting concern after the Aug. 1 collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. The decisions to replace the bridges have been seen in some quarters as a sign of increased urgency at the agency. The new commissioner is subject to Senate confirmation, but there's no requirement that a vote take place this year.

Sorel, who has been in Minnesota for three years, has built a low-key résumé. Though Sen. Steve Murphy, chairman of the state Senate Transportation Committee, said he had met Sorel only recently, Sorel received the Presidential Honor for leading the federal transportation response to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, made no secret that he preferred McFarlin. But he said that he believed Sorel would be confirmed by the Senate, and that Sorel "had a very long and productive track record."

In announcing his decision, Pawlenty said he hoped McFarlin would remain with MnDOT and said he had spoken to Molnau about his choice. The governor acknowledged he did not know Sorel well before he became one of three finalists. "It was a very close call," Pawlenty said of his choice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

Report from the 2008 ITE Techical Conference and Exhibit...

ITE: Miami
By Steve Manhart, P.E., PTOE, PTP
ITE Midwestern District Director

During the last week of March, I attended the ITE Technical Conference and Exhibit that was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Miami, Florida. Prior to the conference, I represented the Midwestern District at the meeting of ITE’s International Board of Direction.

Late last year, the ITE Board authorized the update of the ITE Strategic Plan. On Friday, March 28, Mr. Glenn Tekker of Tekker Consultants led the International Board and ITE Staff in facilitating a Strategic Planning Workshop. The purpose of this session was to update and better define who we are as an organization, and to help us determine achievable goals with measurable outcomes. While not yet fully adopted, the Core Purpose of ITE derived from our session was:
· “To advance transportation knowledge and practice for the benefit of society.”
Aligned with this Core Purpose, ITE’s Mission was identified as being:
· “To be the source of professional expertise, knowledge and ideas promoting transportation science and principles.”
The draft Core Values were identified as
· “Collegiality, Social Responsibility, Integrity and Inspiration.”

The International Board is still working on draft goals to meet and enhance these core values. More information will be forthcoming on the adoption and implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Following this exercise, the International Board met to discuss a variety of issues affecting the organization. President Alf Guebert led the meeting

· The Board was introduced to the two candidates for 2009 International Vice-President:
o Paul Eng-Wong – in 1988, Paul co-founded Eng-Wong, Taub & Associates, a traffic and transportation engineering firm in New York City, serving as President. Over the years, it has grown to a 50-person company celebrating its twenty-year anniversary. Paul’s ITE involvement started at the grassroots level as a member and committee chair in the Metropolitan Section before going on to be elected President and Section Director. He was later elected Chair and International Director of the Northeastern District, and served as Chair for both the Transportation Planning Council and Transportation Consultants Council.
o Gene Wilson – In 2001, Gene founded Wilson & Associates in Laramie, Wyoming, specializing in transportation engineering safety consulting and education. For 22 years prior, Gene was a civil engineering professor specializing in Transportation at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Gene has served in a variety of ITE committees and boards, including ten years as Chair of the Transportation Professional Certification Board.

· New Initiatives -- The International Board approved the expenditure of $348,000 from revenues above reserves to fund a variety of new initiatives:
o Professional Development $169,000
o Publications Programs $ 22,500
o Meetings and Conferences $ 10,000
o ITE Journal $ 14,500
o Public Information $ 50,000
o Membership Marketing $ 57,000
o Applications of New Technology $ 25,000
Total $ 348,000

These initiatives include the development of a series of programs and seminars to promote professional development, to assess publication needs, and to promote the application of new technology. In addition, ITE will explore innovative means to bring in international and/or notable speakers to meetings, as well as to simulcast meetings via the web.

· Poster Sessions -- The International Board will explore having poster sessions at future Annual Meetings. Poster sessions have become quite popular with younger members and students. It is also successful to display the posters in the same areas as vendors and breaks. The Board will look at the possibility of holding poster sessions at next year’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

· Agency Membership Changes – The International Board approved a new incremental cost structure for agency memberships between existing cost break points.

· New Publications – The next two years will see the release of several new and updated ITE publications, including:
o Transportation Planning Handbook, 3rd Edition (Spring 2008)
o Urban Geometric Design Handbook (Spring 2008)
o Trip Generation, 8th Edition (Fall 2008)
o Traffic Signal Timing Manual (Summer/Fall 2008)
o Transportation Engineering Handbook (Winter 2008)
o Trip Generation Handbook (Summer 2009)
o Rural Geometric Design Handbook (Summer 2009)
o Manual of Traffic Signal Maintenance (Winter 2009)
o Introduction to Transportation Engineering, 3rd Edition (Winter 2009)
o Parking Generation, 4th Edition (Winter 2009)
o Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (2009/2010)
o Intelligent Transportation Primer, 2nd Edition (2010?)
o Freeway and Interchange Geometric Design Handbook, 2nd Edition (2010)

· Expanded Webinar Offerings – The statement was made that ITE webinars are poised to do nothing but grow! They have become a successful means of professional development and education for our members. The release of many of the new publications listed above will be complimented by corresponding webinars to better share information about the changes or new methodologies.

· Decreased Student Membership – Student membership has dropped in the U.S. in the last year. There still are increased efforts to capture these “Millennium Members”, since they reflect the future of the organization. ITE Headquarters will work to reach out through emerging technologies. There was discussion regarding what other districts do for student and youth outreach. The Western District holds a Traffic Bowl competition between schools at their Annual Meeting (which will be held in conjunction with the ITE Annual Meeting this year in Anaheim). They also have an ITE District page on Facebook.

· New Roundabout Task Force – A new roundabout task force will be implemented as part of the Coordinating Council. If participation and interest increase in that area, it may be upgraded to full council status.


The ITE Technical Conference and Exhibit was called to order on Monday, March 31st. The theme of the conference was “Making a Difference in Transportation Safety,” and sessions spanned two-and-a-half days. The Opening Session featured the Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation Peter Rahn and the George Shrut Professor of Human Performance Management David Shinar from the Ben Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Sessions were split into four tracks – Engineering/Design/Operations Track; Human Behavior/Multi-Modalism Track; Policy and Programs Track; and Planning/Data and Analysis Tools Track.

Highlights included Wayne Tanda of the Monterey County Resource Management Agency (Salinas, CA), who spoke of the Public Sector Perspective in Reducing Exposure to Tort Liability. Wayne stated that up to 2/3 of liability involves maintenance. He recommends performing “Conditions Audits” instead of “Safety Audits”. Furthermore, he suggested that maintenance projects that DON’T get funded should be noted just as much as those that are funded. In addition, he recommends having a good agency policy on records retention.

Another popular session was a Briefing on the Proposed Amendments to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The briefing provided an overview of the significant changes proposed for the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD. The briefing was conducted by Scott Wainwright and Fred Rank both of FHWA and Bruce Friedman of Kimley-Horn. (To view the slide presentation used in this briefing, go to http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/proposed_amend/index.htm

There was also an interesting session on the ITS Safety System being implemented along I-75 “Alligator Alley” in southern Florida.. This seventy-five mile stretch of interstate highway runs through the Everglades between Miami and Naples. Due to its straight alignment, few exits and lack of visual variation for the driver, the crash history is quite high, especially on the last quarter of the trip (near Miami for eastbound traffic, and near Naples for westbound traffic). Furthermore, the 85th Percentile Speed along the stretch is 85 mph (posted at 70 mph). The speaker, Kenneth Vorce of VANUS Engineering Evolution, Inc., described various changeable message boards and other deployments that will be used along the stretch to “relax the eyes” of the driver, and work to reduce driver fatigue.

Sorry, I can’t report on any guest appearances on CSI: Miami (…that I know of). However, there were several opportunities for multi-modal transport in and around Miami (including taxi, bus, people-mover, boat, and air). Also, there were plenty appearances of several ITE members (including yours truly) in South Beach during the week. In all, it was a fun and informative week.

Politicians and the Gas Tax...
Tom Brahms passed this along, stating, "It is most fascinating what politicians dream up and lanch... Here is a sister association's perspecitive..."

ARTBA Press Release...

Ten Reasons Why Suspending the Federal Gas Tax Would be Bad for the Economy and Poor Public Policy

Washington, D.C. [Apr. 15, 2008]—On April 15, Senator John McCain called for a suspension of the federal highway user fees—the 18.4 cents-per-gallon gas tax and the 24.4-cents per gallon diesel tax—from Memorial Day to Labor Day as an “immediate economic stimulus.” In fact, this proposal would have severe negative economic impacts.

It is important to understand the federal motor fuels excises are not “general taxes.” Since 1956, they have been dedicated, by law, to the federal Highway Trust Fund and can only be used for transportation-related investments by state and local governments. In 2006, federal funding provided by gas and diesel fees financed almost half of all highway capital expenditures made by the states.

The federal gas and diesel excises have had nothing to do with the increase in gasoline and diesel fuel prices. The federal gas tax rate has not changed since October 1, 1993.

Here are 10 reasons why the McCain gas tax proposal would be bad for the economy and poor public policy:

1. It would eliminate almost $9 billion that would be invested in road, bridge and public transit investments that benefit the public and American businesses —$7 billion in highway improvements; $2 billion in transit investments. This would trigger a series of negative economic consequences.

2. State and local governments, already cutting back in many instances due to the economic downturn, will decrease their capital investments in highways and transit. This, in turn, will decrease business opportunities for private sector design and construction firms already hit by the recession, which will then reduce demand for related materials, supplies, equipment—and employment.

3. More than 310,000 Americans whose jobs are currently supported by federal investments in highways and transit will have their employment placed at risk. View a state-by-state breakdown.

4. The Highway Trust Fund's Highway Account, already facing a first-ever deficit, due in part to the economic downturn, would see that deficit grow to more than $10.8 billion by September 2009. This will trigger additional cutbacks in state and local investments in highways and transit infrastructure improvements in 2009 and beyond.

5. Even if the federal excises were reduced, the federal government could not guarantee that gas and diesel prices would drop commensurately at the pump. In fact, research shows that when the states of Illinois and Indiana temporarily suspended their sales tax on motor fuel purchases in 2001 in response to escalating retail prices:—the impact on consumer pocketbooks was minimal; and —state transportation improvement programs were shortchanged by tens of millions of dollars.

6. The U.S. economy would lose an estimated $23 billion in long-term economic benefits that would be generated by $9 billion in highway and transit investments—a net loss of $14 billion. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that every $1 in highway infrastructure investments generates $2.60 in economic benefits.

7. Cutting federal investments in highway and transit improvements would exacerbate traffic congestion across the nation —causing motorists and truckers to spend even more on motor fuel. Research by the Texas Transportation Institute shows traffic congestion is now responsible for about three billion gallons of wasted motor fuel in the U.S. each year.

8. Cutting federal investments in highway and transit improvements would affect traffic safety . Nearly 43,000 Americans died last year in motor vehicle crashes. Poor road conditions and outdated alignments were a contributing factor in an estimated one-third of them. Highway crashes cost American society $230 billion—$820 per person—each year. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death of Americans 6 to 28 years of age and result in more permanently disabling injuries than any other type of accident.

9. Reducing or eliminating the federal motor fuels tax would do nothing to increase the supply of motor fuels—a major reason why motor fuel retail prices are up.

10. What would happen when the federal gas tax suspension ends on Labor Day? Would Americans experience—in one day—an 18.4 cent per gallon spike in the retail price of motor fuel?

Using the gas tax as a political expediency would be bad public policy and set a dangerous precedent.

Visit the ARTBA website at http://www.artba.org/economics_research/current_issues/state_fed_gas_taxes.htm for additional information about gas tax issues.

Message from Neighbors -- Slow Down On Our Street!

By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune

(Reprinted from Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 04/14/08)

How fast is too fast when driving on a residential road?

Minnesota's statutory speed limit on most city streets is 30 miles per hour. But that's too fast for some residents in Edina and St. Paul, where the cities get asked all the time to lower local speeds to 25 mph.

In Andover, where rural areas have become residential but big lots still give neighborhoods a rural feel, residents are protesting speed limits that state law sets at 55 mph for rural areas.
Two summers ago, a speeding driver on one of those roads missed a curve, ran off the road and hit a gas meter, sparking a fire that destroyed a $500,000 house. The city asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation to reevaluate the speed limit on the road. MnDOT did -- and kept the limit at 55.

"People are constantly telling us that the speed limits are just too fast," said Andover City Administrator Jim Dickinson.

Since August, a state task force made up of MnDOT and city engineers from around the state has been re-examining speed limit laws and how they affect local roads. Bernie Arseneau, who directs MnDOT's office of traffic, safety and operations, is working with the group. Arseneau agrees that a 55 mph limit on residential roads in Andover and places like Chanhassen "doesn't make any sense." He's suggested speed limits of 30 to 35 mph may be better on such roads.
But he said he doesn't think the task force will suggest lowering city speed limits from 30 to 25 mph because there is "no compelling reason" to do so. While there are city roads where 25 mph is a better speed, Arseneau said, "on those roads, drivers are going 25. So they're functioning safely."

Watching the traffic whiz by

The issue isn't an easy one. MnDOT tends to look at speed limits from an engineering standpoint, considering road characteristics and technical analyses that measure how fast most people drive a stretch of road.

But people who live on a road look at it from their front steps. They watch traffic whiz by. They know how easy or difficult it is to back out of their driveways. They worry about kids playing at the street edge or using a shoulder to walk to the school bus.

Sometimes, St. Paul city engineer John Maczko said, people bemoan speeding on streets near their homes but do it themselves when they drive. "People act one way when they're standing on the sidewalk or sitting in their front lawn, and act 180 degrees opposite when they're behind the wheel," he said.

Maczko, a member of the task force, is a firm believer in a 25 mph speed limit on urban roads. He thinks it's safer. St. Paul has long wanted that lower speed limit, he said. Minneapolis pushed for a similar change a few years ago. And in Edina, Public Works Director Wayne Houle said the city receives "a tremendous amount of complaints" about speeding on city streets. Last month, the Edina City Council passed a resolution supporting the state task force and an investigation into the feasibility of a 25 mph limit.

Enforcement only does so much, Houle and Maczko said. Busy police are reluctant to tag people unless they drive at least 10 to 15 mph above limits. While cities are free to put black-and-yellow "advisory speed signs" on roads -- signs that warn of steep hills or urge drivers to slow to 20 mph around a curve -- they can't just post a new speed limit. State law says they must ask MnDOT for a speed study and a decision on the speed limit.

Houle and Maczko said a 25 mph limit would save their cities money because they wouldn't have to spend so much on signs for exceptions. And they both want a uniform lower statewide limit so speeds don't change at city boundaries, confusing drivers.

Slow-down campaign

In Edina, where traffic worries in one neighborhood resulted in city plans to put in speed bumps that in turn angered other residents, the city is beginning a campaign to get drivers to slow down.

At City Hall, residents can pick up magnetic stickers that say, "Be the pace car, not the race car. Slow down in residential neighborhoods." Window decals with the same message can be stuck on the windshield as a reminder to drivers.

Maczko said that in the end, quelling the speed problem lies with drivers. "When you try and address this whole thing, it really comes down to us as individuals," he said. "There's this belief that we can engineer our way out of everything and if we put up a sign [the problem is] going to go away. It won't."

Still, he thinks 25 mph is the safest speed for residential roads. Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas all go with 25 rather than 30 as a city street speed limit, he said. Arseneau said that nationally, states split roughly down the middle.

While Arseneau said the task force probably will not recommend changing the urban speed limit, that may not be the last word on the subject. A transportation policy bill at the Legislature includes a request for MnDOT to ask local governments what they think of speed limits and report back to legislators. Among the issues it directs the agency to deal with: speed limits and whether road definitions should be changed.

Lobbying and Advocacy Web Seminar

ITE is developing a web seminar on "Lobbying and Advocacy: What Can the Institute, Districts, Sections and Chapters Do?" This web seminar will be offered to the Institute’s Elected Leadership at no cost and led by:

Alan P. Dye
Partner
Webster Chamberlain & Bean
Attorneys at Law

The North Central Section had pursued a ruling on whether they could support a transportation advocacy group in hopes of increasing Minnesota Transportation Funding. This is ITE HQ's response to that request.

I encourage all MWITE elected leaders to contact Ann O'Neill at ITE HQ (aoneill@ite.org) with their interest in participating in the webinar, and preferred date.

News from the Miami Technical Conference and International Board of Direction Meeting

Over the next few posts, you will see new from the Miami meeting. It was a great time, and was quite interesting.

One of the first items to report is ITE's commitment to become a Supporting Organization of the "Make Roads Safe" international campaign. ITE lends its support to this international effort to put global road traffic injuries on the G8 and UN Sustainability Agendas. As such, the organization urges the G8 and UN to:

• Fund a global action plan to improve road safety in developing countries;


• Ensure that at least 10% of road budgets provided by the World Bank and other major lenders is devoted to road safety; and


• Organize a UN summit to agree on a high level political commitment to action on global road traffic injuries.

Please see more information on Make Roads Safe at their website -- http://www.makeroadssafe.org/

Institute of Transportation Engineers
International Director Report

International Director: Stephen J. Manhart, P.E., PTOE, PTP
Date Submitted: March 17, 2008
District: Midwestern District (MWITE)

I. Issues or topics discussed at chapter, section and district board meetings that may need to have ITE Board and/or staff discussion/action (please list for each issue/topic—the chapter, section or district person to contact for further information):

a. Personal Employment Advertising in District and Section Newsletters – This subject came up in February. Illinois Section President Amarpal Matharu informed the District Board that he had received two requests from Illinois Section members to post personal ads for employment in the Illinois Section Newsletter, Items. He asked the District Board for direction on whether he should post these ads. After much deliberation among the Board, I asked the IBOD to share any experience their districts or sections had with posting personal ads for employment. Here were the responses I received:

i. Mid Colonial District (MASITE Section newsletter Editor Dean Kaiser) – This district publishes Section newsletters only. Corporate sponsorships offer unlimited “help wanted” ads plus “sponsor board” recognition. No personal employment ads via newsletter. Opinion that Board would not approve this, as person has not provided necessary sponsorship.
ii. Northeastern District (Director Lynn LaMunyon) – We haven’t run into this on the District level yet. I have copied Mayer Horn, the TransTalk Newsletter Editor (Met Section). He might have more information.
iii. Northeastern District (Met Section Newsletter Editor Mayer Horn) -- Our policy about employment ads is as follows:
· Companies can place employment ads at no cost if they are sponsors. Sponsorship costs $200 per calendar year. Sponsorship includes a business card ad in our newsletter with a hyperlink to the company's web site, inclusion of company announcements at no additional cost, employment ads on the section's web site, and listing on the section's web site as a sponsor.
· Government organizations can place employment ads in the newsletter and on the section's web site at no cost. This policy would probably apply to not-for-profit organizations, but I don't recall this having arisen.
· I would print personal employment ads of Met Section members at no charge.

iv. Texas District (Texas District website & newsletter editor Gary Thomas) – We post employment opportunities on the TexITE Web site at no charge. We currently accept/post personal ads from members. To be honest, never really thought about it. But I don’t think I’m opposed to it.
v. Western District (Director Randy McCourt) -- To my knowledge the Western District and its Sections/Chapters have never done the “I am looking for a job” thing. We post advertisements for agencies/firms looking to hire staff (at a cost) – but not the other way around.
vi. Florida District (Director Jeff Arey) – The Florida District (10) does not have personal ads in the newsletter.

In the end, the spring issue of Items was published with the two personal ads included (see Attachment A). I will keep the IBOD informed of this new service, and subsequent reaction from the membership. Thanks to all who participated in this information-gathering exercise!

b. Transportation Lobbying… Continued – Recently, we were asked to add ITE to the list of supporting organizations for the “Make Roads Safe” international campaign. MWITE supports such a move, but with the following comments.

· This action is somewhat similar to the effort that the North Central Section sought a few months ago when they considered becoming a sponsoring organization for "Vote Yes” campaign in Minnesota. At that time, NCITE has considered becoming a member of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance. The Alliance is a transportation lobbying group advocating for investments in the state’s transportation system. Last year, the Alliance was successful in leading a Minnesota resolution campaign to direct all Motor Vehicle Sales Tax monies to highway and transit funding. Many public and private agencies and organizations are Alliance member organizations, including the fifteen organizations I listed in my last Director’s Report.

· Earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature had approved a transportation funding bill that had been vetoed by the Republican governor. The Democratic majority in the state legislature needed the votes of a few Republican legislators to help overturn the veto. In the weekend leading up to that fateful vote, I wrote letters to the editor of both major metro newspapers (See Attachment B), as well as letters to each of the legislators who had originally voted against the transportation bill, urging support to overturn the veto. Both newspapers ran the letter, and several legislators replied with their side of the story. In the end, six Republican representatives supported the bill, thus successfully helping to overturn the veto, providing the citizens of Minnesota with increased transportation funding to the tune of $6.6 billion over the next ten years.

Does ITE’s larger support of the “Make Roads Safe” campaign allow our districts, sections and chapters to support other efforts at a local scale? Are my letters to the editor and to state legislators fall within ITE’s Policies and By-Laws? As far as I know, these issues have yet to be resolved.

While the North Central Section’s immediate need to resolve this issue has passed, there will be other times when sections and districts will want to consider support for organizations and initiatives improving transportation. Do our actions set the precedents?


II. “New” topics and papers that you feel the other Board members and ITE Staff should be aware of that were presented at one of the chapter, section or district:

§ Wisconsin Section presentation -- University of Wisconsin-Madison Car Share Program“ ZipCar” – Contact ITE Wisconsin President Dave Jolicoeur for more information, djolicoeur@sewrpc.org

§ Illinois Section presentation – “Moving Beyond Congestion” by Ms. Leanne Redden, Chicago RTA (http://www.movingbeyondcongestion.org/ ) – Chicago’s RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace have joined together in a strategic planning process to develop a vision and strategy for the future of transit. The joint goal is to provide a region-wide consensus for convenient, affordable, reliable and safe transit expansion.

§ Illinois Section presentation – “O’Hare Expansion and Role of O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP)” by Rosemarie S. Andolino, Executive Director of Chicago’s OMP. The OMP, a $6.6 billion program in 2001 dollars, reconfigures O’Hare’s outdated intersecting runway system into a parallel runway configuration, substantially reducing delays and increasing capacity well into the future. The OMP also includes construction of a new terminal on the west side of the airport. The OMP will create up to 195,000 new jobs and $18 billion in economic activity to the region’s economy each year in addition to the 450,000 jobs and $38 billion O’Hare generates today.

§ North Central Section presentation – “Panel Discussion of HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) in Minnesota by Sue Groth of Mn/DOT, Mark Peterson of the Minnesota State Patrol, and John Bloomfield, Human Factors Researcher from the University of Minnesota. Presentation of the reduction in crashes along targeted highways within state.

§ North Central Section presentation – “Updated Access Management Tools and Real World Examples”, a panel discussion by David Plazak, Iowa Sate University’s Center for Traffic Research and Engineering (CTRE), Brian Gage from Mn/DOT, and Kristi Sebastian from Dakota County, MN. Mr. Gage provided an overview of Mn/DOT’s new Access Management Manual, while Mr. Plazak and Ms. Sebastian provided real-world examples of access management in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest.


III. Student Chapter or student-related innovative activities and/or products that the ITE Board and/or staff should be aware of:

§ The ITE student chapter at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) participated in Student Day at the school. The chapter and its student members collaborate with other UIC units like Urban Transportation Center (UTC). The Chapter aims to facilitate further exchange of latest information on a variety of scientific, professional, and educational issues related to transportation in collaboration with other UIC programs, faculty and staff who are committed to research in transportation.
§ NCITE and the Illinois Section hosted annual scholarship and awards presentations this year. Both sections had seen an increase in applicants – a welcome change from previous years.


IV. Unique programs or projects of the chapter, section or district:

a. Simulcasting ATSSA Webinar – NCITE promoted and co-sponsored the simulcast of a webinar on the FHWA’s new Sign Reflectivity Final Rule that was presented at ATSSA’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans. (NOTE -- This simulcast represented an opportunity for persons to learn from the presentation while not actually attending the conference. This “virtual conference attendance” is something ITE’s IBOD should consider as an alternative means of serving members who, by virtue of high travel costs, cannot attend our Technical Conference or Annual Meeting. The only issue would be webinar costs.)

VI. General Comments / Other Significant Issues to bring to the attention of the Board and HQ Staff:

a. Chicago District Meeting – The Illinois Section will be hosting the 2008 Midwestern District Meeting at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago, IL, on July 6-8, 2008. These dates provide opportunities for attendees to bring family to the event for the Taste of Chicago and July Fourth events nearby. It is estimated that the room rate will be $189/night plus tax.

Attachment A -- Excerpt of Spring Issue of ITEMS Newsletter

Attachment B -- Excerpt of Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Sunday, February 24, 2008, p. 9B

2008 Section Activities Award (Reminder)

MWITE Vice President John Davis reminds us that just about TWO WEEKS, the Section Activity Reports are due! This competition follows the International ITE procedures and format and the winner is the MWITE nominee to International.

See the District website at www.midwesternite.org for additional details, and please try not to include your NCAA tourney brackets in with your Section’s report.

Study: Traffic congestion is up in the Twin Cities metro
St. Paul Pioneer Press Article Last Updated: 03/14/2008 08:44:14 AM CDT

Traffic congestion in the metro area has increased for the first time in four years, according to a new study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Last year, there were 305 miles of congested freeway in the Twin Cities area, compared with 267 miles previous year, 277 miles in 2004 and 280 miles in 2004. A "congested mile" is defined as a mile of traffic moving slower than 45 miles per hour.

Much of the increase traces back to the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in August, according the Metropolitan Freeway System 2007 Congestion Report. The bridge collapse sent traffic to Highway 280, Interstate 94, Interstate 694 and Interstate 35W as people searched for alternate routes.

Construction projects on busy interstates also contributed to the congestion, the report said.

The report can be found at :http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/08/03/14-congestion.html

Maintaining Professional Involvement In A Time of Economic Downturn
By Steve Manhart, MWITE International Director, from the MWITE Spring 2008 Newsletter

Whether or not our government wishes to face it, our economy is in a downturn. We may even be in a recession (…yikes, I said the “R” word). I will leave that for the economists and politicos to figure out.

Nevertheless, companies and agencies are facing economic struggles, tighter budgets and less discretionary funding. As a result, many companies and agencies have limited or totally restricted out-of-state travel, professional memberships, and outside organizational activities. Some companies and agencies are requiring that participation in professional organizations be on a member’s own time and on his or her own dime.

So how does one maintain professional involvement in this time of economic downturn? One may argue that if the employer does not pay for his or her membership, why stay involved? Worse yet, if one is laid off or between jobs, does it make sense to retain one’s professional organization memberships?

To answer these questions, one must decide whether the involvement is worth the investment of time and money. In a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper (“The Benefits of Professional Organization Membership”, by Robert Elsenpeter, February 18, 2008), the business columnist outlined the top reasons that professional organizational membership is important:

· Personal and professional development resources
· Networking opportunities
· Professional certification that can help your career
· Service and support from the national organization
· Opportunities to develop one’s leadership skills
· Discounts on related products and services
· Regular organization conferences
· Member publications

I believe whole-heartedly that the Institute of Transportation Engineers is beneficial in each of these areas. Membership in ITE affords the transportation professional with opportunities for growth, networking, and technical resources. Personally throughout my career, I have benefitted from the networking and leadership opportunities within ITE – from the section level all the way to the international level. I would challenge anyone who is questioning the value of professional organization membership to review this list and tell me what he or she can forego and still sustain or grow his or her career.

Say that you are a member in several professional organizations. Each organization provides niche benefits and opportunities based on what interest or profession is being served. Why would one stay with ITE versus other organizations? Does ITE membership provide the personal or professional benefits that serve your needs?

Remember that ITE is the preeminent international organization for transportation professionals. Currently, ITE is working to increase its importance and relevance (therefore, its value) to the transportation professional. The ITE International Board of Direction is undertaking a strategic planning initiative this year. The purpose of this initiative is to tweak and adjust the organization to fit the ever-changing needs of its membership. Furthermore, the Board has created a high-level committee focused on improving Member Recruitment, Retention, and Reinstatement (the “Three Rs”). Another committee has been created to focus on Public Relations and Information Sharing. The output of these committees will increase the value and vitality to our membership. (More information will be presented in upcoming issues.)

On a district level, MWITE is working to become more valuable to our members is by providing personal advertisements for employment. This is a new service that we are initiating in this [upcoming] issue. While we have long posted employment ads from consultants and agencies, this is the first time we are providing our members the ability to place personal ads for employment. After checking with other districts, it appears MWITE is the first to be offering this service to its members – an important new benefit in this time of economic downturn.

So how does a member maximize his or her membership? In many ways, the resulting benefit a member receives is proportional to the investment of time and effort he or she may put into the organization. This may be a simple as attendance at a section meeting, or be as complex and time-consuming as committee involvement, presentation of a paper, or attendance at a district or international meeting.

The ITE International Meeting is our annual showcase of new projects, products, innovation and interaction among transportation professionals. Each member should try to attend this meeting at least once during his or her career. If cost or schedule prevents a member from attending the International Meeting, he or she should consider attending the District Annual Meeting. Though narrowed to a district focus, this meeting still provides members with many of the benefits of achieved at the international meeting. Section and chapter meetings, while still important, provide the narrowest scope of interaction and information sharing.

The current economic climate requires some tough choices to be made with one’s professional membership budget. ITE strives to remain the preeminent international organization for transportation professionals. The International Board of Direction is working to keep pace and stay vital with the changing transportation profession. As you deal with this time of challenge, weigh the importance of your professional organizational membership. Retain your membership and stay involved. No matter at what level, ITE will provide a good return on your investment.