Current News
New Organization In Place-Strategic Planning Next
by Matthew M. McDole, P.E., M.ASCE
President, Transportation and Development Institute of the ASCE
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As I assume the reigns as President of T&DI, I want to thank Kam Movassaghi, our immediate past president, for his leadership during his term at the helm. Kam lead us through a year of substantial evaluation and reorganization of the Institute as communicated in Kam’s recent “president’s messages”. Although I don’t want to be too redundant, I want to summarize some of this work and the outcomes and then go on to the following steps which include a strategic planning workshop coming up quickly this November. I do this in hopes that the information can continue to be disseminated and reach a large audience. Also, I hope the information to be clear and lead to greater member participation in T&DI activities. Or, if required, lead to questions so that clarity can be established and that we can continue to grow and improve T&DI.
To read the full article please click here.
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T&DI Updates Its Organizational Structure
Major changes were made to T&DI’s organizational structure at the July Board of Governors meeting. These are the first major changes to the Institute’s council and committee structure since T&DI was founded on October 1, 2002. The changes in the institute’s structure reflect changes in the transportation engineering profession and the Board’s intent to provide more emphasis on the interrelationship between land planning, development and transportation demand.
To read the full article please click here.
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Third International Conference on Urban Transportation Systems
The Third International Conference on Urban Transportation Systems (ICUTS2009) has been organized by the Public Transportation Committee of ASCE’s Transportation and Development Institute in association with the China Academy of Transportation Sciences. The date for the conference, to be held in Shanghai, China, has been moved to March 16-19, 2009.
To read the full article please click here.
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Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day-October 10, 2008
One of the most dangerous things many people do each day is driving or riding in a car or truck going to work, school, the grocery store or run errands. This same danger applies to a rider of a motorcycle or bicycle. Last year 41,059 citizens lost their lives in tragic crashes. Even though there was a reduction from 2006 of approximately 3.8 percent there were 112 lives each day. In the last seven years (2001-2007) there have been nearly 300,000 highway related fatalities.
The 8th Annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day program promoted ways to reduce fatalities with activities occurring in many states. Links to state and local activities occurring in 2008 and previous years can be found by using “Google” and searching “2008 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day”.
To read the full article please click here.
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Seatbelt Use Hits Record Level in 2008
WASHINGTON – More Americans are buckling up than ever before, with 83 percent of vehicle occupants using seatbelts during daylight hours, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today. In 2007, 82 percent used seat belts.
“More and more Americans are realizing that the mere seconds it takes to buckle up can mean the difference between life and death,” Secretary Peters said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 270 lives are saved for every one percent increase in belt use. Acting NHTSA Administrator David Kelly said a contributing factor for such historically high seat belt use is high-visibility law enforcement efforts, such as the Department’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
To read the full article please click here.
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Call for Reviewers
Abstracts for the 3rd International Conference on Urban Transportation Systems have been submitted and the authors are finalizing their draft papers. We want to involve as many of T&DI’s 16,000 members as possible in the review process, as well as other interested transportation professionals. We are especially looking for reviewers that can help review papers that have technical excellence, but the translation to English needs some polishing. If you are interested in being a reviewer for this conference contact Pete Sklannik, Jr. at psklannik@wilbursmith.com to volunteer as a paper reviewer. We will put you to work!
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Transportation and Development Institute Journals Seek Paper Reviewers
T&DI sponsors three peer-reviewed archival journals. All are in continuing need of submittal reviewers. Paper reviewers provide a valuable service to the professional community and also can learn new approaches and results from reviewing new papers in their specialization areas. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, contact the editors, providing your specialty area of expertise and interest:
The Journal of Infrastructure Systems publishes cross-disciplinary papers about methodologies for monitoring, evaluating, expanding, repairing, replacing, financing, or otherwise sustaining the civil infrastructure. Contact: Samer Madamet, madanat@ce.berkeley.edu.
The Journal of Transportation Engineering contains technical and professional articles on the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of air, highway, rail, and urban transportation, as well as pipeline facilities for water, oil, and gas. Specific topics include airport and highway pavement maintenance and performance; management of roads, bridges and transit systems; traffic management technology; construction and operation of pipelines; railway engineering and economics and environmental aspects of urban transportation systems. Contact: Chris Hendrickson, cth@cmu.edu.
The Journal of Urban Planning and Development covers the application of civil engineering to such aspects of urban planning as area-wide transportation, the coordination of planning and programming of public works and utilities, and the development and redevelopment of urban areas. Subjects include environmental assessment, esthetic considerations, land use planning, underground utilities, infrastructure management, renewal legislation, transportation planning, and evaluation of the economic value of state parks. Contact: Gang-Len Chang, gang@umd.edu.
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The Journal of Transportation Engineering seeks submissions to its
Practitioner Forum
Practitioner Forum articles should follow the regular guidelines for ASCE journal submissions, but are intended to report on case studies and professional practice, including recommendations or guidance for other practicing professionals.
Submissions may be made here.
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Improve Your Ability as a Leader – Participate in ASCE’s Leader Education and Development Program (LEAD)
Rising leaders and engineering managers, are you ready to dramatically grow your leadership confidence and skills? If so, attend ASCE’s LEAD Program, an eight month course that begins November 13th at ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA. Earn up to 45 PDHs/4.5 CEUs, learn skills that can be used immediately in your professional and personal lives, and benefit from the interactive sessions with faculty and classmates. The registration deadline is October 29th.
For information on the course outline, benefits, dates, registration, and more, visit www.asce.org/lead or contact Alicia Karwoski.
Announcements
Call for Members – ASCE/T&DI/ICPI Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standard Committee
The Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) of ASCE and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) are seeking members for the Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standards Committee. The committee is developing a consensus guideline for the design of pavements using interlocking concrete pavers in applications of full traffic loading. Membership on the T&DI/ASCE/ICPI standard committees is open to all those who might reasonably be expected to be or who indicate they are directly affected by the activity without dominance by any single interest group: Producer, Consumer and General Interest, including Regulatory. Those interested in applying to the committee should contact Maggie Mairena, ASCE Standards Administrator, for an application at mmairena@asce.org or (703) 295-6012.
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T&DI Transportation Safety Committee Seeks New Members
T&DI's Transportation Safety Committee is seeking people interested in becoming a member of the committee. The committee's responsibilities include dissemination of safety information and to provide education and training pertaining to safety issues related to the planning, design, construction and operation of transportation facilities. The Transportation Safety Committee is also the lead T&DI technical committee in planning the Put the Brakes on Fatalities program. If you are interested in becoming a member of T&DI's Transportation and Safety Committee, please send an e-mail to tanddi@asce.org to obtain a committee nomination form.
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T&DI Task Force for Sustainable Development Seeks New Members
Following the approval of the T&DI Board of Governors, the ASCE T&DI Task Force for Sustainable Development is soliciting members. This task force will focus on broad issues including systems sustainability, urban metabolism and site development. Please send your contact information to Adjo Amekudzi and Chris Hendrickson
if you are interested in joining. More information to come on our inaugural meeting at the January 2009 Transportation Research Board Meeting.
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Key Contact Program
Public policy information you should know in easy to read briefs. That’s what ASCE’s Key Contact Program can provide to T&DI members. T&DI members are invited to join ASCE’s Key Contact Program and receive “This Week in Washington” a weekly email newsletter with information on issues active in Washington, D.C. and the state capitals. In addition, Key Contacts receive periodic Key Alerts asking for grassroots action from ASCE members on a specific issue.
For more information please click here.
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Participate in the ASCE Salary Survey
ASCE members can win one of 10 $100 Visa gift cards by participating in the 2008 Engineering Income and Salary Survey. Each year, ASCE asks its members to take five minutes to log in and enter their salary data. By becoming one of the more than 20,000 ASCE members who have already participated, the Survey will continue offering official, robust data over 35 engineering disciplines. The Survey gives members the ability to search for compensation data by fields such as licensure, length of experience, location, and engineering grade, as well as set the compensation benchmark for their organization.
Submit your salary information today.
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Help ASCE Recognize Greatness
Colleagues who have contributed to civil engineering through their outstanding leadership, research or substantial career accomplishments merit the accolades of their peers. The Society’s Honors and Awards Program invites your nominations for the 2008 selection cycle. Of more than 80 ASCE awards, Transportation and Development Institute members will be especially interested in the following:
Awards for achievement:
Distinguished Member
OPAL
Harland Bartholomew Award
James Laurie Prize
Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award
Wilbur S. Smith Award
Francis C. Turner Award
Robert Horonjeff Award
For more information please click here.
Master Calendar of Events 2009
January 2009
8th Annual New Partners for Small Growth: Building Safe and Livable Communities, January, 22-24, 2009, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
T&DI is a Co-Sponsoring Organization
For more information please click here.
February 2009
Webinar- Sight Distance, February 20, 2009, 12 noon-1:30pm Eastern Time.
March 2009
Webinar- Traffic Impact Studies, March 5, 2009, 12 noon-1:30pm Eastern Time.
Webinar- Reducing Collisions at High Crash Locations, March 6, 2009 , 12 Noon - 1 pm Eastern Time.
3rd International Conference on Urban Transportation Systems, March 18-20, 2009, Shanghai, China.
For more information please click here.
Webinar- Safety Aspects of Timing Traffic Signals, March 20, 2009 ,12 Noon - 1 pm Eastern Time.
April 2009
Design-Build in Transportation Conference, April 1-3, 2009, Baltimore, MD.
T&DI is a Co-Sponsoring Organization.
For more information please click here.
May 2009
12th International Conference on Automated People Movers, May 31-June 3, 2009, Atlanta, GA.
For more information please click here.
June 2009
2nd International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations, tentatively, June 20-24, 2009
For more information, please email 2isfo.eng.hawaii.edu
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Become An ASCE Continuing Education Instructor
Share your professional experience and technological advances with your colleagues through ASCE Continuing Education Seminars. As your professional society we need to continually offer the latest information regarding advances and breakthroughs in your field. To do this we need your help - "the practicing engineer" if you are working on something innovative or cost saving that would be of benefit to ASCE consider sharing the news.
For more information please click here.
Product Information
The Transportation & Development Institute in conjunction with Lands' End Outfitters are pleased to announce the addition of the T&DI logo to the Lands' End Family. This logo can be placed on shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc. from Lands' End. Contact Lands' End at www.landsend.com or by phone 1-800-963-4816. Please reference our logo number #0352715W. (There is a fee for the addition of the logo to the garment.)
The Transportation and Development Institute newsletter is a bi-monthly publication of the Institute for its members. Please direct any questions or comments about the newsletter to tanddi@asce.org
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