Transportation Engineering and Safety Conference 2024

PennDOT is creating a network of EV chargers to support a zero-emission transportation system aligning with broader environmental goals and providing accessible charging solutions for all users. This session updates the attendees on the planning, design, construction and operation of some of the first EV chargers in the nation funded through the NEVI program.

Topic 1:  NEVI in PA – Planning for an EV Future
Speakers: Natasha Fackler & Kiera Crenny

Topic 2:  EV Chargers: Site Construction and Operational Challenges
Speaker: P Michael Sensenig

Topic 3: NEPA Aspects of NEVI
Speakers: Ryan Whittington & Drew Ames

Heavy trucks are a critical piece of a region’s freight movement plan.  However, managing where and when these vehicles may travel is a logistical and operational challenge for both municipalities and PennDOT.  During this session, the presenters will cover (1) the Pennsylvania laws and regulations that are used to restrict truck traffic on both state and local road, and (2) strategies that are being used in the Lehigh Valley to manage the impact of truck traffic in the region.        
Topic 1: Posted Roads – Understanding 4902(a) and (b) Postings       
Speaker: Nick Ninosky

Topic 2: Posted Roads – Understanding 4902(a) and (b) Postings       
Speaker: Halley Cole

Topic 3: Planning for trucks in Your Community           
Speaker: Brian Hite

PennDOT District 6-0 is utilizing GIS to capture and analyze disparate data sets. The City of Philadelphia is piloting a Fleet Electrification project to fund and deploy Smart DC Fast EV Chargers to support the City’s effort to electrify its fleet; they are also piloting the “SmartBlockPHL” project to collect an array of information using smart streetlights. SEPTA is finalizing their Zero Emission Bus Pilot project and is using the data extracted to understand and foster change. In this session, these agencies will discuss how they are using data to drive progress and offer solutions to everyday challenges they face in Southeast Pennsylvania.

Topic 1: Using GIS in PennDOT District 6-0
Speakers: Matthew Anderson & Sharang Malaviya

Topic 2: City of Philadelphia’s Data Drive Solution Projects
Speaker: Akshay Malik

Topic 3: Finalizing Zero Emission Bus Pilot to Support Data Driven Solutions
Speaker: Donzell Dunston

This session offers a comprehensive exploration of how law enforcement professionals handle vehicle crash investigations. The discussion will delve into the methodologies, techniques, and technologies employed to analyze the scene, collect evidence, and reconstruct the events leading to the crash. Additionally, it will cover fatal crash reconstructions and the key components required for a successful prosecution.

Topic 1: Tactical Intelligence Section Commander
Speaker: Lt. Charles N Burkhardt

Role of AI and application in ITS and Transportation.

Topic 1:  Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Decision Support for Traffic Management
Speaker: Kevin T. Miller

Topic 2:  AI Use Cases at PennDOT 
Speaker: Gunnar Rhone

Topic 3:  AI-TOMS DelDOT
Speaker:
 

This session will present current day Federal and Pennsylvania perspectives for highway freight planning and operations. The FHWA PA Division will provide updates of topical interest that will set the stage for three areas of statewide interest: infrastructure preservation through bridge strike prevention, municipal freight planning, and implementation of the 2023 TAC Truck Parking Study.

Federal Perspective
State Perspective

Topic 1: Infrastructure Preservation – Bridge Strike Prevention
Speaker: Todd Trautz

Topic 2: Local Perspective – Municipal Planning for Freight
Speaker: Bob Dolan

Topic 3: Operations Perspective – TAC Truck Parking Implementation
Speaker: Tom Phelan

Topic 1: Case Studies on Infrastructure Resilience

Topic 2: How Resilience is implemented at the State Level

Topic 3: Importance of integrating resilience into the college engineering curriculum

This session will look at various efforts to demonstrate the value of TSMO solutions in improving safety and mobility on the impacted roadways. We will examine the results of cost/benefit analysis for PennDOT solutions and also look at tools that can be used to aid in such analyses.

Topic 1:  Demonstrating the Value of Active Traffic Management on I-76        
Speaker: Brian Depan

Topic 2: Demonstrating the Value of Virtual Queue Protection 
Speaker: Ben Brubaker

Topic 3: Other PennDOT Efforts and Analysis Tools      
Speaker: Scott Benedict

 PennDOT has deployed VSLs on a number of corridors of concern, both in the traditional applications such as I-76 near Philadelphia and in rural applications to address winter weather on I-80 and I-81. The session will cover the performance of these corridors, as well as the vision for the future of VSLs, including expanded permanent installations in high traffic areas and rural areas with weather concerns. This would also cover efforts to use the VSL units to support work zone operations.

Topic 1:  VSL for Winter Weather
Speaker: Jim Roman

Topic 2:  VSL Performance
Speaker: Ryan McNary

Topic 3:  VSLs in Work Zones 
Speaker: Brian Crossley

DesignForce joins us once again for a workshop focused on Conflict Resolution in our industry. For this interactive workshop, we will:

• Identify common sources and triggers of conflict in the workplace.
• Understand the underlying theory and principles of the TKI model.
• Assess personal conflict resolution styles using the TKI assessment.
• Practice applying different conflict styles to various AEC workplace-specific scenarios.
• Learn various strategies for effectively approaching difficult conversations in the workplace.

Speaker 1: Ahmed Kurtom

Speaker 2 : Gabrielle Camilli

What are the ramifications of designing streets to maintain peak hour capacity? We’ll broaden the scope to look at 24-hour operations on a selection of multilane arterials throughout Philadelphia. How much of the day do these corridors have excess capacity and what are the resulting impacts on driver speeds and safety, particularly for vulnerable road users. This session takes theories introduced in NCHRP 1036: Roadway Cross-Section Reallocation and applies them to real world examples, layering in speed and crash data to more fully evaluate how these corridors operate outside of the traditional peak hour view of a traffic engineer.

Topic 1:  24-Hour Capacity Framework
Speakers: Bastian Schroeder & Conor Semler

Topic 2: Evaluating the Off-Peak Impacts of Designing for Peak Hour Operations 
Speakers: Adam Smith & Jacob Elliott

Topic 3 Implementing Complete Streets, Safe Systems, and NCHRP 1036 in Minnesota
Speaker: Sarina Praseedom

Topic 1:  Vehicle Speed Data as a Tool for Road Owners
Speakers: Jason Molinero  & Micah Dickman   

Topic 2: Leveraging Links: A new tool for bike and pedestrian planning in the Philadelphia region
Speaker: Mark Morley

Topic 3: Congestion Calendar and Other PennDOT Tools for Data-Driver Decisions 
Speaker: Scott Benedict

Topic 1: Exploratory Research on Assessing the Risk of Fatal Crashes
Speaker: Ben Pierce

Topic 2:  City of Pittsburgh’s Vision Zero Policy
Speaker: Patty Kerns & Panini Chowdhury

 Topic 3: Advancing the Systemic Approach to Safety
 Speaker: Matt Hinshaw

A brief presentation on the panel and potential topics followed by open panel Q & A:  Topics could include: Highlights of any recently passed transportation-related legislative actions and any potential transportation-related legislative actions under consideration; Thoughts and concerns from a legislative perspective on the future of transportation.

Panel Q&A                           
Panelist 1: Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
Title: PA Senate – Senate Transportation Committee (Republican Chair)

Panelist 2: Senator Marty Flynn
Title: PA Senate – Senate Transportation Committee (Democratic Chair)

Panelist 3: Representative Ed Neilson
Title: PA House – House Transportation Committee (Democratic Chair)

Panelist 4: Representative Kerry Benninghoff
Title: PA House – House Transportation Committee (Republican Chair)

This session will discuss Traffic Management Center (TMC) and law enforcement dispatch center assessments for State, County, and City agencies across North America that AECOM has performed. The purpose of these assessments is to identify areas of opportunity and existing strengths that can be leveraged to enhance current operational quality and consistency, in addition to adding expanded service areas. In the presentation, we will highlight common findings and recommendations from the numerous anonymously-referenced programs we have evaluated. Our goal is to share valuable lessons learned that can apply to any operations-focused program, not just TMCs. The SR 28, Section A64 Wrong Way Detection System HSIP project will begin construction in 2024 in Allegheny County. Within this freeway corridor from East Ohio Street, City of Pittsburgh to the interchange with SR 910, Harmar Township, twenty (20) ramps will be upgraded to include an ITS wrong way detection and warning system. The project scope of work is the installation of sensors to detect wrong way drivers, cameras, and LED border lit signs, also alert notifications to the Traffic Management Center of a wrong way driver. Physical work will include the installation of controller boxes, fiber optic cable, wireless radios, electrical tie ins, cameras, and signs.

Topic 1: SR 28, Section A64 Wrong Way Detection System
Speaker: Stephanie Zolnak

Topic 2:  Traffic Management Center Operating Trends
Speakers: Matt Lee & Arnaud Huguet

This session will present three projects from across the state highlighting the alternatives considered. Projects include the SR 28-Highland Park Interchange in Pittsburgh; a tale of two dated bridges crossing the Susquehanna River connecting Pittston and West Pittson in Luzerne County; and operations and design alternatives for Complete Streets project along Washington Avenue in Philadelphia.

Topic 1: SR 0028-A65 Highland Park Interchange Improvement Project
Speakers: David Jackson & Jessica Belowich   Tim Benner
State Route 28 is a limited-access facility that has two lanes in each direction throughout most of its length; however, at the Highland Park Interchange, Route 28 was only one lane in each direction. This configuration resulted in a physical bottleneck for traffic and frequent vehicle crashes. The Highland Park Interchange Improvement Project (SR 0028, Section A56) sought to address these issues. As part of this project, two lanes were established through the interchange to ensure lane continuity and increase mobility. In addition to reducing traffic congestion, the project addressed other deficiencies, including substandard roadway geometrics and vertical clearances. Sound barriers were installed to reduce noise for adjacent residents. The project enhanced pedestrian safety by installing three new traffic signals and upgrading pedestrian facilities along Freeport Road, which serves as the sole pedestrian link between the communities of Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, and O’Hara. Join us for a presentation that will share project details, project safety improvements, unique conditions, and challenges that were overcome in construction.
 
Topic 2: A Story of Transportation History, Big Data, and Two Bridges across the Susquehanna River
Speakers: Tim Benner & Rob Watts
In Luzerne County, between Pittston and West Pittston, two 1,000-foot bridges span the Susquehanna River within a quarter mile of each other. The Fort Jenkins Bridge--an 11-span concrete arch built in 1924--carries US Route 11 and is part of National Highway System and is in poor condition. The Water Street Bridge--a 5-span metal truss built in 1914--is a county-owned bridge that was closed in August 2021 due to structural deterioration.
The current and ongoing Fort Jenkins Bridge Project is studying both bridges, and the Alternatives Analysis looked at options for rehabilitating or replacing the bridges, with potential removal of one of the bridges. The presentation will tell the story of how the history of the bridges, the dynamics of the communities they connect, and network transportation demand were considered in the alternatives analysis process. Elements of the presentation will include the challenges of revising the project's purpose and need; the application and award of a $19 million RAISE Grant to fund the Water Street Bridge improvements; and origin-destination pattern analysis using "big data" tools.

Topic 3: Operations and Design Alternatives in Philadelphia Complete Streets Projects
Description
Speakers: Will Cowan, Andrew Simpson, & Adam Smith 
This presentation will focus on the operational and design alternatives for two complete streets projects in Philadelphia. The first is Washington Ave in South Philadelphia, where construction was completed in Spring 2023 and WSP just completed the post-installation analysis. The presenters will briefly introduce the initial alternatives analysis that was included as part of the conceptual design and public outreach process. They will then discuss the post-analysis travel time runs and volume collection and how that data compared with the assumptions and findings as part of the analysis of the selected alternative. The second project is Market Street from 20th to 23rd Street in Center City. WSP coordinated with OTIS, Streets, and PennDOT to compare several design alternatives. The presenters will delve into how the bike facility was located, the analysis that needed to account for the Market Street bridge reconstruction, and how consideration of bicycle and pedestrian safety was accounted for in the model and design.

In this session we will examine the analysis, research and crash testing procedures used to determine a roadside safety devices’ compliance with standards outlined in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). These important steps help manufacturers and developers ensure the safety of their devices while obtaining approval into an agency’s Qualified Product Lists (QPL) for use along public roadways. Representatives from PennDOT and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) will speak to their unique perspectives for roadside safety barriers, work zone devices and other testing requirements to meet MASH requirements. Questions from the audience will be received as part of this session.

Topic 1: Teaching to the Test – A Transportation Institute’s Perspective on Roadside Safety Device Development       
Speaker: James Kovar

Topic 2: MASHed Materials - A PennDOT Perspective on Roadside Safety Equipment and Approvals
Speaker: Evan Pursel

Topic 3: Running Down Barricades for Work Zone Safety          
Speaker: Brian Crossley

The Pennsylvania Safety Transportation and Research Track is a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit emergency responders, transportation organizations, and research institutions.  The session will provide an update on efforts underway at the PennSTART facility.

Topic 1:  PennSTART Partners
Speaker: Joseph W. Sutor

Topic 2:  PennSTART Facilities      
Speaker: Keith R. Miller

Topic 3:  PennSTART Technologies          
Speaker: Karen Lightman

Topic 4: PennSTART Master Plan
Speaker: Jim Katsafanas, PE, PTOE

Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order 2023-07 established the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO), which has been established to work with Commonwealth agencies to eliminate barriers to economic development and increase the efficiency in processing permits. As part of the effort, both OTO and PennDOT have established various teams to identify and implement improvements to the highway occupancy permit (HOP) program to streamline the permitting process. This session looks to provide an update on those improvements.

Topic 1:   OTO’s Coordination and Collaboration with Stakeholders                 
Speaker: Eliza Erickson

Topic 2: Customer Service Team Achievements
Speaker: Eric Kinard

Topic 3: Traffic Engineering Team Achievements
Speaker: Steve Gault

PennDOT is exploring revolutionary changes to transportation from self-driving cars to self-flying air transport. Come hear an update on these exciting planning projects.

Topic 1: Future of Advanced Air Mobility in PA
Speakers: Anthony McCloskey & Jonathan Riehl

Topic 2:  Automated Driving Systems Demonstration Grant Updates
Speakers: Gunnar Rhone & Vijay Varadarajan

Topic 3: Emergency Life Saving through Multi-modal Mobility (ELSa-M3) - Johnstown Airport Smart Grant
Speakers: Larry Nulton & John Eberhardt 

The Safe System Roadway Design Hierarchy is a tool that characterizes engineering and infrastructure-based countermeasures and strategies relative to their alignment with the Safe System Approach (SSA), toward the goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. The purpose of the hierarchy is to help transportation agencies and practitioners identify and prioritize countermeasures and strategies when developing transportation projects. The Safe System Roadway Design Hierarchy will facilitate greater understanding and increased application of Safe System principles. Included in this discussion will be how implementing proven safety countermeasures, such as a high friction surface treatment program, can prove beneficial.

Topic 1: Safe System Roadway Design Hierarchy (SSRDH)
Speaker: Karen Scurry

Topic 2: Proven Safety Countermeasures and the SSRDH
Speaker: Phil Bobitz

Topic 3: Continuous Pavement Friction Monitoring
Speaker: Joseph Cheung

Topic 4: High Friction Surface Treatments in PA
Speaker: Jason Hershock

Advances in the availability and quality of probe and connected vehicle data and communications have led transportation agencies to investigate ways to replace and/or augment traditional ITS field devices.  This session will explore advancing technologies and partnerships that are making data collection, analysis and traveler information more robust.

Topic 1: PennDOT Virtual ITS Initiatives (working title)  
Speaker: Ryan McNary

Topic 2: Ohio DOT’s Event Streaming Platform – Crash Detection and Prediction Use Cases 
Speakers: Andrew Wolpert & Darlene Mangold

Topic 3: OEM Perspective on integrating ITS data into vehicle displays 
Speaker: Brad Stertz

PennDOT's Highway Safety and Traffic Operations (HSTO) Division is comprised of twelve distinct units within four sections.  The "HSTO RoadMap" is designed to highlight recent accomplishments of the Division, paint a picture of what drives our business, and look ahead to the coming years. This session will highlight the newly released version of the HSTO RoadMap.

Topic 1: TSMO Operations and Performance
Speaker: Ryan McNary

Topic 2: TSMO Arterials and Planning
Speaker: Steve Gault, PE, PTOE

Topic 3: Traffic Engineering and Permits
Speaker: Robert Pento, PE

Topic 4: Highway Safety
Speaker: Thomas Glass

This session will delve into the intricacies of traffic management at large special events. We will explore the planning, implementation, and communication strategies—including traveler information dissemination and internal team management—employed at three unique events to ensure the seamless flow of traffic and the safety of all participants. Through detailed case studies and expert insights, we will share lessons learned and best practices for managing mobility challenges and enhancing the overall event experience.

Topic 2: Title TBD – Northwest PA Solar Eclipse Event Management
Speaker 1: Greg Maser

Speaker 2: Edward Orzehowski

Topic 3: TBD – F1 Racing Event Management on the Vegas Strip        
Speaker: Tim Sjogren

The City of Philadelphia will discuss its “kitchen sink” approach to improve public transit operations in congested, multimodal rights-of-way. Building off the data-driven corridor prioritization of the Philadelphia Transit Plan (2021), the City has embarked on an ambitious program of over 30 transit-priority projects. Delivering transformative change on these corridors has required the City and its partners to embrace a “kitchen sink” approach to corridor design that requires both infrastructure and policy solutions, working across scales, and approaching problem-solving iteratively. The City will discuss the highs – and lows – of translating a strategic planning effort into projects and policies that affect the urban right-of-way.

AECOM will discuss the Downtown Convergence Study and APTA’s “BRT Roadway/Infrastructure Design and Best Practices” white paper. The Downtown Convergence Study. This session features two case studies to help planners and engineers utilize innovated approaches, identifying strategies for navigating data analysis, and improve decision-making processes in their communities. The LinkUS Initiative addresses the anticipated growth in Central Ohio, particularly in Downtown Columbus, which is expected to increase by 40,000 residents by 2040. This initiative focuses on guiding mobility investments, enhancing housing and job access, and promoting sustainable development. The Downtown Convergence Study examined transit connections, future rapid transit corridors, and bike plans, while highlighting the importance and challenge of decision-making and balancing competing priorities. The objective of this white paper is to share best practices from transit agencies who have implemented or are about to implement BRT, hear about lessons learned, and considerations when planning and designing BRT in order to achieve its maximum benefits and effectiveness. The study took a two-pronged approach to collect information via both a survey and case studies. Topics include roadway design elements, enforcement of bus lanes, and ITS elements.

The Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) and Kimley-Horn will explore trends in post-pandemic transit, highlighting examples in planning, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making. Featuring a case study from Luzerne County, attendees will learn how data and community engagement shaped a recent transit development plan, addressing changing travel needs and reducing barriers to transit use. Emerging trends, including flexible transit options like microtransit, will also be discussed, offering insights into the future of public transportation in a post-pandemic world.

Topic 1:  Bringing the “Kitchen Sink” to a Transit Priority Program
Speakers: Chris Puchalsky & Andrew Simpson

Topic 2: What’s the Answer? Navigating when data analysis is not yielding clear solutions
Speaker: Lauren Lynch & Steve Scheerer

Topic 3: Transit in Transformation: Trends in Planning, Community Engagement, and Data-Driven Decisions
Speaker: Bob Fiume & Tyler Beduhn

Topic 2: SR 0070, Section 10K Bentleyville to Belle Vernon Bridge Reconstruction (B2B)           
Speaker: Patrick B. Richter

V2X Technology Applications

Topic 1: PennDOT V2X Implementation
Speaker: Derrick Herrmann

Topic 2: PA Smart Grant: V2X Data Exchange Vehicle Integration
Speakers: Gunnar Rhone & Vijay Varadarajan

Topic 3: Verizon’s Cellular V2X Applications
Speaker: Jennifer Sherblom

Moving people and goods through Pennsylvania takes a wide range of professionals working in a many different facets of transportation.  This session will explore stories from three of them to help us experience a day in the life...

Topic 1: Stop the Presses
Speaker: Alexis Campbell

Topic 2: Everybody Stay Calm
Speaker: Christopher Fisher

Topic 3:  During Blue Skies and Disasters - Grocery Supply Chain Logistics 101
Speaker: Katie Murphy

In this session, participants will explore how agencies, business and research partners are promoting safer work zones through innovations and technologies. From Transportation Management Plan Coordination for 50+ projects in West Virginia, developing strategies and tools for state DOTs using zipper merge, and to enhancing nighttime work zone safety through effective off-the-shelf strategies, participants can learn effective ways to plan and manage work zones regardless of their environments.

Topic 1: When Multiple Projects Collide: Managing the Traffic Phasing of the Charleston Metro Bridge Initiative  Speaker: Amy Balmer Staud

Topic 2: “Wait Your Turn” – Showing how Late Merge Improves Work Zone Mobility           
Speaker: Scott R. Fritz

Topic 3: Light up the Night – Enhancing Safety in Nighttime Work Zones       
Speaker: Brian Crossley

The use of technology to support safety, mobility, and meet the expectations of the traveling public is also a requirement of transportation organizations’ ability to operate their day-to-day business. In addition, traffic operations and business operations systems often need to be integrated to meet the needs of the customer and the business. All of this use of technology is driving challenges for agencies: (1) organizational change management (how do you get all levels of the organization on-board with change as it relates to technology); (2) rising O&M and upgrade costs; and (3) human resources to support it. This session explores how agencies are or might address this challenge and how private industry partners play a role.  

Topic 1: 
Speaker: Bob Taylor

Topic 2: 
Speaker: Mark Kopko

This session will focus on how automated speed enforcement (ASE) has been piloted and expanded in the City of Philadelphia to reduce vehicle speeds, decrease the number of fatal and severe crashes, and meet Vision Goals. Topics will include the results of ASE on Roosevelt Boulevard, how legislation was used to expand ASE, the identification of priority corridors for ASE, speed studies for selected ASE corridors, coordination and approvals with PennDOT for ASE, and overall lessons learned.

Topic 1: Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) on Roosevelt Boulevard
Speaker: Kelley Yemen

Topic 2: Expansion of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)
Speaker: Marco Gorini

Topic 3:  Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Coordination with PennDOT
Speaker: Sharang Malaviya

Poor nighttime visibility can pose a challenge at intersections, but crashes can be reduced with well-designed lighting. With 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurring in hours of darkness we need to ensure that pedestrians and other vulnerable users can see and be seen, especially at crosswalks and in other high pedestrian activity areas. Crosswalk visibility enhancements are being promoted by the Nighttime Visibility for Safety initiative to help reduce pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries. These enhancements include three separate improvements: high-visibility crosswalks, lighting, and signing and pavement markings. These improvements help make crosswalks and the people that use them more visible to drivers. Agencies can implement these features as standalone or in combination.

Topic 1: Nighttime Visibility for Safety                   
Speaker: Joseph Cheung

Topic 2: Enhancing Pedestrian Visibility at Crosswalks
Speaker: Kathryn Fink

Topic 3: Campus Lighting and Pedestrian Visibility
Speaker: Jonathan Walker