EL PUENTE

Newsletter of the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center University of Puerto Rico, Mayagez Campus

Volume 27, Number 1, 2013

IN THIS EDITION
Message from the Director This edition is the sixth of a series that focus on the implementation activities of EVERY DAY COUNTS (EDC) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Meet Your new DTPW Secretary and PRHTA Executive Director Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2 Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works Why is High Friction Surface Treatment Part of the Next Wave of Innovation in Preventing Roadway Departure Crashes?

Page 2 3

Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2
By: Antonio Nieves Torres, FHWA Office of Infrastructure Antonio.nieves@dot.gov

4-5

6-7

8-9

Intelligent Compaction (IC) refers to the compaction of road materials, such as soils, aggregate bases, or asphalt pavement materials (HMA/WMA), using modern vibratory rollers equipped with an integrated measurement system as is Global Positioning System (GPS), accelerometers, onboard computer reporting system, and feedback control.

UPRMs Representation at the 2013 TRB Annual Convention in 10-11 Washington, D.C. 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week Emeritus Member 2013 TRB Recognition at
12 13 14

Future Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums and Webinars Citizens Commitment to Road Safety

Puerto Rico LTAP

(Continued in page 4)

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The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center is part of a network of 58 Centers through the United States that comprises the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP), which enable local governments, countries and cities to improve their roads and bridges by supplying them with a variety of training programs, an EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013 updates, personalized technical assistance, and newsletters. information clearinghouse, new and existing technology

M
W

essage from the Director

elcome! Best regards to all our readers in our first edition of the Newsletter El Puente for 2013. El Puente is an important tool used by the Center to transfer and share emerging technologies and innovative research initiatives related to transportation, with emphasis on road safety, workforce development and management of the built road infrastructure. Our feature article, Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts (EDC) 2, written by Eng. Antonio Nieves Torres of the Office of Infrastructure of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), presents an overview, benefits and advantages associated with the implementation of Intelligent Compaction (IC) technology. In synthesis, this innovative technology makes use of real-time density, temperature, roller speed, mat stiffness combined with control measurement systems that allows real-time corrections in the compaction process. In this edition, I want to congratulate Eng. Miguel A. Torres -Daz, incoming Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and Eng. Javier E. Ramos-Hernndez, recently appointed Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA), for accepting to lead these administrative agencies to address the challenges of our highway systems in this 21st century. The administrative and professional capacity of these two professional engineers is presented in this edition. The second article related to the control and prevention of fatal risks in road works, written by Eng. Fernando Corts, Safety and Health Director of Ferrovial Agroman, presents a series of Standards that have been developed through his experience in highway construction projects manage by this company. These guidelines are a tool that has the potential to be used and adapted by other contractors performing highway construction work in Puerto Rico. Another innovative technology associated with the federal program Every Day Counts (EDC) 2, known as High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is presented herein. The article author by Gregg Freeman, Business Development Director of Kwik Bond Polymers, presents a background, benefits and advantages of implementing this new technology that has been driven by the FHWA as part of the program Surface Enhancements at Horizontal Curves (SEAHC). In this edition, the Center Staff congratulate the student delegation of the Dwight David Eisenhower for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI-DDETFP) fellowship program who represented the UPRM at the 2013 Transportation Research Board conference. Graduated student Davis Chacn presented his research entitled "Before and After Highway Safety Evaluation Using Empirical Bayes Approach: A Case Study in Indiana", and undergraduate student Valeria Arocho presented her summer research findings in a paper entitled " Pavement Condition Ratings for Parking Lots Using Modified PASER " . The highlights of the 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week that emphasize the education and awareness to drivers and all roads users regarding the importance of highway safety in construction zones is presented. Our awareness campaign theme is All together we can raise awareness and make a difference in saving lives on our public roads. The Center Staff congratulates Dr. Nigel H.M. Wilson for being appointed Emeritus Member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) for his outstanding contributions in technical committees associated with Transit Management and Performance. The electronic version of El Puente Newsletter is available at www.uprm.edu/prt2 and also you can contact us to submit technical articles for the Newsletter of interest to municipalities oriented to transportation with emphasis on road safety, workforce development and management of the built infrastructure. I hope that the selection of these articles in this first edition of Newsletter El Puente for 2013 are of benefit to our readers and other professionals in local transportation agencies in the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Benjamn Colucci Ros

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Meet Your New Secretary of the DTPW and the Executive Director of the PRHTA
Secretary of Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Publics Works (DTPW) Executive Director of Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA)

Professional engineer Miguel A. TorresDaz was appointed Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) the January 2013. Engineer Torres -Daz has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Management Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) and is a licensed professional engineer of the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico (CIAPR). Engineer Torres-Daz, who chaired the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the CIAPR, has over 16 years of experience in the field of infrastructure project management with a wide experience in the planning, preparation and development of projects during the design, bidding and construction phase. Engineer Torres-Daz was Vice-President of the Beta Engineering Company, an independent consultant for the Infrastructure Financing Authority (AFI) in regional infrastructure projects of the Central American and Caribbean Games Mayagez 2010, Negotiated Director and Coordinator of construction projects for the Public Housing Administration, among other professional experiences. For his contribution to the construction industry in Puerto Rico, engineer Torres-Daz has been recognized as the Distinguished Young Engineer by the CIAPR and Engineer of the Americas by the Pan-American COPIMERA Engineering Organization, among others professional recognitions.

Professional engineer Javier E. RamosHernndez was appointed Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) in January 2013. Engineer Ramos-Hernndez has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez (UPRM) and is a licensed professional engineer of the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico (CIAPR). Engineer Ramos-Hernndez has an extensive experience in the coordination and development of highway projects in the design and construction phase. He has served as director, project manager and highway engineer of the Barrett, Hale & Alamo Consulting Engineers firm. During the period of 2001 to 2003, engineer Ramos-Hernndez served as the Design Area Director of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA). Engineer Ramos Hernandez also occupied important leadership positions in the CIAPR San Juan Chapter that included President, Vice-President, Secretary, among others.

The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center Family wishes success to both public officials in their new roles as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works and Executive Director of Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, respectively and welcome local transportation officers and the general public to provide the necessary support for them to fulfill their respective duties and carry Puerto Rico to an economic development through an efficient and reliable highway transportation system with the highest safety standards for all road users. Congratulations!

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2
By integrating measurement, documentation, and control systems, the use of Intelligent Compaction (IC) rollers allow for real-time corrections in the compaction process. IC rollers maintain a continuous record with color-coded plots that include the number of passes, stiffness values, temperature (HWA/ WMA), frequencies, amplitude, and roller speed as well as the location of the roller drum. Compaction is one of the most important processes in roadway construction. needed to consolidation uniformity of It is and the achieve

Identification of non-compacted areas. Increased productivity in terms of knowing when and where to apply compaction effort. Elimination of over and under compaction. Encourages best roller compaction practices. Uniformity in Density The potential for IC technology to improve the in-place density of construction materials, is well documented from projects in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The biggest improvement is in a significant decrease of the variability of measured density. Compaction processes that can produce consistently high and more uniform density offer agencies and the public roads users a much better return on their capital investment increasing the service life and reducing maintenance costs in the life cycle.

materials, which in turn better ensures a

Interior Display for IC (Source: www.fhwa.dot.gov)

stable base platform and materials pavement possess Achieving

surface.

Construction

optimum densities that ensure adequate support, stability, and strength. these densities consistently and uniformly is extremely important. Current processes using conventional compaction equipment may result in inadequate and/or non-uniform material factors densities, which can be one of the that result in premature
Sheep Foot Roller (Source: www.Intelligentcompaction.com)

failure. Intelligent Compaction helps to overcome this. Benefits of IC The

Continuous Record of Material Stiffness Values The ability to continuously measure stiffness during the compaction process, aids in determining optimum compaction throughout the entire project which in turn provides a

benefits

of

Intelligent

Compaction

unique way to guarantee full coverage of the entire project area. Also, another benefit is the "on the fly" identification of weak areas that need to be corrected, re-done, or re-compacted, to avoid pavement performance issues in the future.
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

include: Continuous record of material stiffness values, coverage and temperature. Improved densities. uniform and consistent

Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2
technologies FHWA should move forward in the years to come. Also this technology has been selected under the second phase of the federal program Everyday Day Counts (EDC). The island of Puerto Rico in cooperation with the Transportation Technology Transfer Center
Roller with IC (Source: www.fhwa.dot.gov)

at UPRM, under contract with the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (DPW) and the FHWA, serve as the Technical Oversight leaders for the implementation of the technologies of the EDC Initiatives for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The four (4) initiatives selected by Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are Intelligent Compaction, Accelerated Bridge Construction, 3D Engineered Models for Construction, and Programmatic Agreements. As part of the implementation plan for these activities Transfer the Transportation will be Technology conductCenter

Identification of Non-Compactable Areas By comparing the results of subsequent passes, an evaluation can be conducted to determine whether support from the underlying materials is adequate to allow compaction of the new material. The capability to detect projects or portions of projects that will not allow sufficient support in a non-subjective way is an innovative and important tool for the project personnel. Using this technology, the project personnel can then make a rational decision about the proper course of action to address this problem. The decision may be: remove and replace the underlying materials, stabilize and re-compact the underlying materials, or modify the compaction requirements for the material being used. IC is ready to be implemented in Puerto Rico Intelligent Compaction is a technology that is proving to be effective. It has been piloted already in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, Tennessee and Georgia. Contractors are using this technology to improve productivity in terms of time and money. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has conducted a series of IC workshops which have been very successful in providing demonstrations and information to states and Contractors. Consequently, IC was identified by the Intelligent Construction Systems and Technologies workshop conducted by FHWA in September 2011 as one of the key
EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

ing a EDC II Research-to-Practice Symposium in St. Thomas, USVI on June 17 & 18, 2013. IC Data Management-Veda Workshops Learn more about Intelligent Compaction enrolling in the following one day duration workshop series:

Introduction and Overview ( 30min.) Fundamentals of IC (40min.) Global Positioning System (GPS) (40min.) IC Systems and Measurement Values (50min.) Practical Implementation of IC I (50min.) Practical Implementation of IC II (50min.) More Hands-on with Veda ( 50min.)

For more information you can visit the website: www.IntelligentCompaction.com or you can contact Antonio Nieves at (202)-366-4597 or at email: antonio.nieves@dot.gov.

Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works

By: Fernando Corts, MSc OSH Email: fdocortesc@yahoo.es Director of Safety and Health - Multinational Construction Company in Puerto Rico

General Requirements The implementation of the standards for prevention and control of significant or fatal risks is mandatory in all sites and operations controlled by the company. The mandatory nature is indicated by the use of the verb "shall" included in the standards. In some cases, the phrase "shall be or must be" is used. It means that the primary intent remains, but specific circumstances may make the implementation of the requirements be unreasonable. Any deviation from the specifications of these standards must be formally approved under a procedure to manage exceptions, according to the following steps: a. Documented and detailed description of the difficulties of the implementation of the standard. b. Detailed and documented assessment of the risks associated with the situation under the proposed alternative control measures. c. Formal approval documented by the Project Manager (or maximum authority) and site safety representative, indicating that the level of risk in the alternative control measures is understood, is acceptable for the organization and is consistent with the Vision "Zero Injury" of the Safety and Health Culture of the company.
Standards Implementation Requirements

Introduction This is the first of a series of technical articles associated with the prevention and fatal risk control during road work.

A careful review of roadwork incident statistics

from 2005 to 2009, has identified a number of risk factors on individual projects of the company. These risks require the development of good practices to eliminate any potential death and reduce incidents that could cause potential damages or fatalities. These prevention and control standards of significant or fatal risks have been developed through the experience of current and past construction projects. They establish minimum performance expectations for managing risks at an acceptable practice level. The existence of these standards does not ensure control of risks facing all areas of our activities (including some that have caused many injuries). These other risk areas are addressed through the risk management process, that is a key element of the management standards of safety and health of the company.

Standards Context Standards should be read and used in relation with health and safety policies of the company. The management system is a hierarchical approach where the highest level of the organization must effectively support the needs of the standards. Application of the Standards The standards apply to all places and activities where the company is the Contractor that manages the job site (policy of Puerto Rico OSHA for Construction site), which applies to all company employees, subcontractors, suppliers and visitors involved in controlled activities.

As previously stated in these standards, when using the word "shall" it means that this requirement is mandatory. The phrase "shall be" indicates that the main objective is to fulfill all requirements as if they were mandatory. However, there will be circumstances where local conditions may demonstrate that the requirement is either not applicable or an alternative approach is necessary. When the verb "shall is used, the change can only be considered as compliance if the company representative of highest level of the operation approves it on the basis of a risk assessment, that weighs the risk level and the control measures. The risk management approach to be adopted must be consistent with the occupational safety and health policy of the company by monitoring risk control hierarchy. It is recognized that the principles of risk management are still necessary (i.e. beyond compliance with a mandatory standard) to identify, measure, monitor and reduce the probability of incidents through research, evaluation and understanding of the hazards associated with the activities covered by these standards.
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Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works (CONT.)

Approval of Alternatives Control Measures In exceptional circumstances where the specific requirements of a standard for significant or fatal risks control can not fully achieve the objectives, the approval of alternatives control measures will be applied and documented based upon the Risk Control Management Plan that includes the following: a. Standard details in accordance to the existing gap. b...Alternatives Control Measures that should be implemented. c. Time required to meet the priority, based on the associated conditions to achieve it. d. Establish a point of compliance and authorization signed by the Senior Manager in charge of the project. Standards Structure The requirements of these standards are classified into three priority areas: a. Reason for inclusion and contributing factors. b..Requirements associated with systems and procedures. c. Requirements associated to the persons. These three areas cover the essential management controls that must be in place to integrally manage these risks categories. Critical Aspects of Occupational Safety and Health These are the scenarios with the highest frequency of incidents and the consequences are significant or fatal in the activities within in the Construction Industry. To control, reduce and eliminate risks in road works and reduce incidents with high severity potential, adequate practices and procedures should be applied in the following work areas: 1 . Health and Safety Trainings In risk assessment, prior to starting any road related activity, a specific training for employee exposure to traffic and work within road areas should be contemplated. 2. Evaluation of Significant Risks All jobs considered will have a special focus for which, in risk assessment, should: a. Assign the task to employees, considering its planning, using the preventive tool called Work Assignment. b. Evaluate by means of a safety analysis and/or evaluation of the task using the technique called
EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

Take 3 (routine) or Take 5 (high risk). c. Verify safety conditions through a checklist that meets the minimum standards to eliminate or control risks, according to the hierarchy of risk control. In road works, this preventive tool is called "Maintenance Inspection and Traffic Control. 3. Reduction and Risk Control A hazard is a danger source that is defined as "a condition or situation that exists within the workplace that could cause physical harm, injury and/or damage to property or the environment." Risk assessment refers to the technical study of the adverse effects to health, safety and environment, as a result of human exposure to hazards transmitted by physical, chemical and biological agents, and consists of the identification and characterization of hazards, exposure assessment and risk characterization. 4. Risk Treatment After identifying or recognizing a hazard and evaluating the risk, is required to select a control method and apply it to each recognized risk. The main objective is to select the most practical and effective as possible. The Risk Control Hierarchy is shown below: Elimination: methods that eliminate the risk entirely. Replacement or substitution: methods using a safe alternative for substitution or mitigation (ex. less toxic chemicals for cleaning). Engineering controls: methods to isolate, confine and contain the risk. Separation: isolate the hazard by shielding or enclosure. Administrative controls: are control measures, such as isolation and blockade, job rotation, training and instruction, rules and safe work procedures, among others. Personal Protective Equipment: should be seen as the "last defense barrier" against risky situations. It should only be considered if all other previous methods are not practical. In the next edition Critical Aspects of Occupational Safety and Health, Operational Implementation of Standards and Roadwork Standards will be presented. This technical article is protected by yright . cop-

Why is High Friction Surface Treatment part of the next wave of innovation in preventing roadway departure crashes?
Author: Gregg Freeman, Business Development Director of Kwik Bond Polymers Email: gregg@kwikbondpolymers.com Phone: (720) 626-6643

The champions of

HFST are working ben-

diligently. The FHWA is promoting the (EDC) 2. The goal of

efits of HFST through its Every Day Counts EDC is to advance innovation into daily practice and reduce project delivery time. HFST happens to be one of the thirteen initiatives for EDC 2. With friction values far exceeding conventional pavement friction, high-quality aggregate is applied to existing or potential high-crash areas to help motorists maintain better control in dry and wet driving conditions states the FHWA.

As a member of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) High Friction Surfacing Council, I feel as though we are riding the wave of a new, life-saving technology that is gaining strength at an exponential rate. The reality is that High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) has been applied in roadways for over 35 years in Europe. In United States, HFST is being adopted because it has noticeably demonstrated the ability to save lives and reduce roadway departure (RwD) crashes. Currently, whats new now is that data and statistics are becoming available. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Surface Enhancements at Horizontal Curves (SEAHC) program may have initiated this momentum. The purpose of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) field trials under the SEAHC program is to determine how effective high friction surfacing is on reducing crashes and fatalities on horizontal curves. This data along with other recent studies have all had a positive contribution to the impact. Nine states in the U.S. have aggressive HFST programs in place already.

High Friction Surface Treatment application 12 feet wide lane (Source: DBI Inc.)

At least 39 states in the U.S. have applied HFST on at least one project site to date. Kentucky has installed HFST on over 100 curves. Initial evaluation of the first 26 locations has demonstrated a 69% reduction in crashes per year at those locations. Other states are seeing similar results. A recent study of the benefits of HFST relative to cost suggests a cost to benefit ratio of 24:1. According to a report released by the American Automobile Association (AAA) in November 2011, crashes involving injuries or fatalities cost Americans more than $299 billion a year.

HFST installed in Highway 17 in Santa Cruz, California (Source: Gregg Freeman)

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Why is High Friction Surface Treatment part of the next wave of innovation in preventing roadway departure crashes? (CONT.)
So where is this wave headed? Eventually every state, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island will end up with a Program to deploy HFST. Nationally, EDC 2 is being coordinated through the Division Office in every state and Puerto Rico. They are tasked with the introduction of EDC 2 to each state highway agency. The High Friction Surface Treatments implementation process is being done
Surface with Applied HFST (Source: DBI Inc)

by national webinars, engineering presentations, project fact sheets, and industry co-information sharing presentations at state and federal meetings. We have been presenting this information in conjunction with FHWA Safety Engineers at a statewide level. Everyone wants to ride the new wave. Sometimes its just a matter of crunching the numbers before the enthusiasm turns in to action. High Friction Surface Treatments as well others safety countermeasures in combination with the increase federal funding for the implementation of these strategies are saving lives. As we all paddle out towards the horizon, lets work together in the public policy to integrate these innovations in our roads to safe life. Lets ride the wave together. Momentum is a powerful thing.

Another strategy the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is working on is National Initiative for Highway Safety Towards Zero Deaths (TZD). TZD will be a data-driven effort focusing on identifying and creating opportunities for changing American culture as it relates to highway safety. The American Traffic Safety Services Association is working on supporting these efforts in many ways. One way is to lobby legislation to eventually include HFST as a part of the TZD strategy. Safety strategies such as these have proven to be effective in reducing fatalities and serious injuries. There was a 24% reduction in fatalities from 2006 to 2011 as (HSIP) obligations and expenditures steadily increased in all states.

Installation of HFST with DBIs automated truck. (Source: DBI)

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

UPRMs Representation at the 2013 TRB Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. During the period of January 13-17, 2013, the
92nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) was held in Washington, D.C., where more than 11,700 transportation professionals attended. A delegation of eight The UPRMs student participation was sponsored by the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program for Hispanic Serving Institutions (DDETFP-HSI) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This fellowship program cover travel costs to the convention, provides research assistantships to undergraduate or graduated students and allows a group of students to participate in the 2012 Summer Internship Program between Purdue University and UPRM. Among the students who participated in this program in year 2012-2013 include: Davis Chacn, Jos Silvestre, Jean Elas, Heriberto Pujols, Dafne Valley, Valeria Arocho, David Soto and Erika Jaramillo. This delegation exchanged research ideas with
UPRMs Student Delegation with Henry Murdaugh, Program Director and Vctor Mndez, FHWA Administrator.

students from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez (UPRM), Dr. Alberto M. Figueroa Medina, Director of the DDETFP-HSI program at UPRM and Dr. Benjamin Colucci, Director of the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center also attended to this conference.

participants

from different countries and had the opportunity to attend to several technical and posters sessions as well as exhibitions associated to transportation products and services. The engineer and graduate student Davis Chacn, a Peruvian national, as part of the 2012 Summer Internship Program at Purdue University in Indiana, presented his research project entitled "Before and After Highway Safety Evaluation Using Empirical Bayes

Over 70 countries worldwide were represented at TRB and shared the research findings related to transportation. In the conference, over 4,000 technical presentations in 750 different technical sessions and workshops of topics of interest about transportation are presented. This years theme at TRB was Deploying Transportation Research - Doing Things Smarter, Better and Faster.

Approach: A Case Study in Indiana". The

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

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UPRMs Representation at the 2013 TRB Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. (CONT.)
research focused in highway safety aspects evaluating the effectiveness of potential treatments based on the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) methodology. Besides the participation at TRB, the UPRMs student delegation had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) in Washington, D.C.

Graduate student Davis Chacn

Zaki Mustafa, International President, David R. Soto and Rock E. Miller, Past Int. President at ITE Headquarter in Washington D.C.

Similarly, the undergraduate student Valeria Arocho presented her research conducted as part of the Internship Program at Purdue University, entitled "Pavement Condition Ratings for Parking Lots Using Modified PASER" . The research fo-

The DDETFP-HSI Fellowship Program is an excellent opportunity to attract the next generation of professionals and motivate them to consider the transportation discipline in their professional life or to pursue graduate studies in transportation or related disciplines. The Transportation Technology Transfer Center Staff congratulates the UPRM delegation and encourage them to pursue a transportation career and assist decision makers resolving the challenges and issues in the built transportation infrastructure. For more information regarding the DDETFP-

cused on the inspection and evaluation of the parking lots and pavement quality to determine cost-effective rehabilitation strategies thereof.

Valeria Arocho, Praprut Songchitruksa, and Dr. Alberto Figueroa (Source: Valeria Arocho)

HSI

Program

visit

http://prt2.uprm.edu

webpage or www.fhwa.dot.gov.

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2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week

The 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week will be held on April 15-19, 2013. During this week, all state highway and transportation agencies in the United States and Puerto Rico will be participating. The purpose of this coalition is to educate and create awareness among all public roads users of the importance to take the necessary precautions while traveling a temporary construction work zone in a safe manner. In Puerto Rico, the fatalities associated with motor vehicle crashes have decreased over the last 11 years from 567 to 361, according to the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission
Source: www.fhwa.dot.gov

http://prt2.uprm.edu. Also you can find us in Facebook as Puerto Rico LTAP or contact Irmal Franco or Dr. Benjamin Colucci at 787834-6385. For more information regarding the national activity, visit the website www.workzonesafety.org. The Work Zone Awareness Week in Puerto Rico is expected to start with a minute of silence island wide. A press conference is being planned to be held in a real project of the state highway PR -52 near Coamo. The Governor and with various highway administrative safety and agencies that work directly prevention including PRHTA, PRTSC, the Puerto Rico Police and Department of Health, among others, are expected to participate. It is important to recognize that highway safety is not only for drivers, but also for the workers who are working every day to improve our road infrastructure and help promote socio-economic development of our country.
Give your hand to save the lives of highway workers that contribute to the socio-economic development of our Puerto Rico!

http://

(TSC). The work zones crash data in Puerto Rico will be incorporated as part of the strategy highway safety plan for 2013. In 2011 in the United States, near 32,367 fatalities were reported approximately 580 fatalities were in work zones. This is the fourteenth year that this activity is carried out nationwide. The theme for this year is Roadway Work Zone Safety: We're All in This Together." The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Puerto Rico Division, the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center and the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) have established a series of activities to be held during this week. For more details about these activities, visit the website of the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center

Source: www.fhwa.dot.gov
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Emeritus Member Recognition at 2013 TRB

mately 300 undergraduate and graduate research publications associated with the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Tren Urbano, a heavy rail project of 17.2 kms built and currently operating in the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, were published. The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center recognizes the outstanding The Transportation Research Board (TRB) granted Dr. Nigel H.M. Wilson the prestigious recognition as an Emeritus Member by his performance in the Transit Management and Performance professor Technology of Committee. Massachusetts (MIT), was Dr. Wilson, of this Professor of Professors, Mentor of Mentors in Innovative Professional Development Initiatives in Public Transit and Management in Puerto Rico, United States and at the international level. Congratulations! Dr. Wilson, of English nationality, is an expert in Transit Management at international level, where he has published hundreds of technical publications as well as masters and PhD thesis in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Nigel, as we affectionately call him, was associated with the Innovative Professional Development Program UPR / MIT / Tren Urbano as the program director representing MIT. During the period of 1993-2000, approxiwork that Nigel has performed at TRB Committees and congratulates him for this lifelong achievement as Emeritus Member of this worldwide prestigious research

organization.

Institute granted

recognition during 92nd Annual Convention of the Transportation Research Board held in January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C.

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Future Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums and Webinars

A. Puerto Rico and USVI 1. Procurement and Claims to Projects Related to Transportation and Public
Works Construction Speaker: Dr. Jos L. Perdomo Date: April 19, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico 2. Practical Guidelines for the Selection, Location and Inspection of Highway Safety Barriers Speaker: Dr. Benjamn Colucci Date: May 6 & 7, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico 3. Basic Concepts in Construction, Inspection and Maintenance of Bridges in Puerto Rico Speaker: Dr. Daniel Wendichanski Date: May 13, 2013 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico 4. Basic Concepts in Construction, Inspection and Maintenance of Bridges in Puerto Rico Speaker: Dr. Daniel Wendichanski Date: May 17, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico 5. Introduction / Basics Concepts of BIM and Applications to Highways Speaker: Dr. Jos L. Perdomo Date: May 21, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico 6. Construction Project Management Speakers: Dr. Jos L. Perdomo and Dr. Omar Molina Date: June 10 & 11, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico 7. Practical Guidelines on Construction Inspection of Highways and Public Works Projects Speaker: Dr. Omar Molina Date: June 25 & 26, 2013 Location: Mayagez, Puerto Rico

B. Other Conferences and Symposiums

1. 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week Date: April 15-19, 2013 2. IRF Executive Seminar Series: Road Safety Across Six Continents ( http://www.irfnews.org/) Date: April 21-30, 2013 Location: Orlando Florida 3. 2nd IRF Caribbean Regional Congress (http://www.irfnews.org/) Date: May 6-10, 2013 Location: Bridgetown, Barbados 4. IRF Executive Seminar Series: Performance -Based Maintenance (http://www.irfnews.org/) Date: June 9 to 18, 2013 Location: Orlando, Florida

For more information regarding our seminar program in Puerto Rico and USVI and how to register please contact Grisel Villarubia (grisel.villarubia1@upr.edu) or Irmal Franco (irmali.franco1@upr.edu) at (787) 834-6385 or visit our website at www.uprm.edu/prt2.

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TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

riding on a motorcycle

Walking together we will achieve it!

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

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PR LTAP Center Staff

Benjamn Colucci Ros Director & Editor Gisela Gonzlez Program Administrator Grisel Villarubia Irmal Franco Administrative Coordinators Kevin Y. Rodrguez Editor Assistant Marivic Hernndez Carlos D. Fuentes Anne M. Mndez Adlin Santos Vernica Feliciano Students Interns

EL PUENTE is published by the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center located at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez.

EL PUENTE Newsletter VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013

The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the Center Director and Editor and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, or the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works.

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER

PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying Call Box 9000, Mayagez, PR 00681 787.834.6385 PHONE 787.265.5695 FAX

www.uprm.edu/prt2

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TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER