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In Chapter 8 “Winter Operations”, a brief introduction was provided that discussed the concept of national working groups, peer exchanges, specialized committees, and national associations. The opportunity and benefits that these associations provide to the department through the sharing of information, collaborating on initiatives, and the formation of relationships with individuals within industry, other State DOT’s or transportation agencies, and professionals in the education arena pay huge dividends to the department. This chapter will identify the current national committees and associations that UDOT Maintenance participates in along with context and background about the goals of each.
As provided by Wikipedia, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols, and guidelines that are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States. Despite its name, the association represents not only highways but air, rail, water, and public transportation as well.[6]
Although AASHTO sets transportation standards and policy for the United States as a whole, AASHTO is not an agency of the federal government; rather it is an organization of the states themselves. Policies of AASHTO are not federal laws or policies, but rather are ways to coordinate state laws and policies in the field of transportation.[7][dubious – discuss]
While AASHTO is not a government body, it does possess quasi-governmental powers in the sense that the organizations that supply its members customarily obey most AASHTO decisions.
Membership
Membership
The voting membership of AASHTO consists of the Department of Transportation of each state in the United States, as well as those of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The United States Department of Transportation, some U.S. cities, counties, and toll-road operators, most Canadian provinces as well as the Hong Kong Highways Department, the Turkish Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, and the Nigerian Association of Public Highway and Transportation Officials have non-voting associate memberships.[6]
The Maintenance Committee develops, maintains, and disseminates appropriate information through guidelines, manuals, specifications, and other resources, to address the maintenance, preservation, and operation of all classes of highways and categories of assets that are under the jurisdiction of the member departments. UDOT is a voting member of this committee and is involved with the numerous sub committees that stem from Mac, such as; Transportation System Preservation (TSP2), Equipment Management (EMTSP), and Winter Maintenance as discussed below (SICOP).
UDOT participates in an AASHTO program that is focused on finding technologies, not in the US, research them, and implement them in a systems oriented framework. Technologies continue to evolve along with the needs of member states, and SICOP remains committed to improving winter maintenance through identification, research, and and technology transfer.
The purpose of WASHTO is to serve its member departments by:
Contributing to the national policies on transportation issues that are responsive to members’ needs.
Promoting a closer relationship between its memes
Advocating legislation that supports efficient and effective transportation systems
Economic competitiveness and the environmental integrity of member states
Providing a forum for exchanging ideas, exploring and adapting techniques, promoting quality and best practices for implementation
Working with the United States Department of Transportation, AASHTO, and other governmental agencies.
Membership
Membership
The voting membership of WASHTO consists of the Department of Transportation of each state in the western United States (see Figure below for member states)
Figure 4.8.1
UDOT is currently the lead state for the WASHTO Subcommittee on Maintenance (Western Maintenance Partnership) pooled fund program. As the lead state, UDOT is tasked with managing the overall funds contributed to the peer exchange and assisting the Chair and Vice-Chair with the annual meeting. The purpose of the current WMP is to provide a partnering forum for promoting effective maintenance strategies through the following objectives:
Provide hosting and travel reimbursements for an annual meeting (WASHTO Committee on Maintenance) and a multi-day annual workshop/scan tour, for a discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state’s maintenance program.
Provide a means to define, support and share technology of mutual interest.
Provide funds for formal training presentations during the annual workshop.
Provide funds for management support of WMP.
Provide funds for special studies, investigations, research and training
UDOT participates in the pooled fund study called No Boundaries. The No Boundaries pooled funded program support its mission with a focus on goals and activities described below:
Holding biannual peer exchanges to discuss current maintenance challenges and explore the host state’s innovative maintenance and operations practices
Maintaining an Innovation Database that describes maintenance products and practices to improve the way transportation agencies do business
Identifying and promoting maintenance innovations and process improvements
Conducting quick-turnaround synthesis research on hot topics in maintenance
Developing marketing plans, annual reports and other publications that highlight recommended innovations.
No Boundaries is a nationwide program that includes a variety of member states, see figure below for current participating states
UDOT participates in the Clear Road national research program that focuses on winter highway maintenance. Clear Roads is a national research consortium focused on rigorous testing of winter maintenance materials, equipment and methods for use by highway maintenance crews.
Since getting under way in 2004, Clear Roads has grown to include 39 member agencies, each contributing $25,000 annually to fund research and technology transfer efforts. Representatives from the participating departments of transportation meet twice a year to discuss and prioritize projects, share effective practices, and review research results.
Primary Activities:
Primary Activities:
Evaluating winter maintenance materials, equipment and methods under real-world conditions.
Developing specifications and recommendations.
Studying and promoting innovative techniques and technologies that will save agencies money, improve safety and increase efficiency.
Supporting technology transfer by developing practical field guides and training curriculum to promote the results of research projects.
The Aurora program is a partnership of highway agencies that collaborate on research, development, and deployment of road weather information to improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of surface transportation. It is administered by the Center for Weather Impacts on Mobility and Safety (CWIMS) which is housed under InTrans at Iowa State University.
As part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) mobilizes expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. For example, committees, researchers, and staff are currently focused on advancing resilient infrastructure, exploring transformational technology, and caring for the public’s health and safety.
UDOT participates with TRB through various committees as well as attending the annual meeting in Washington D.C. that is held every January.
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