FHWA Resource Center
RC Success Stories
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2
Your Link To Successful Solutions For Today's Transportation
JULY, 2001
SCHOOL - PRECIOUS CARGO
Precious Cargo is a program that bridges communication for State Departments Of Transportation (DOT) and local school districts and ensures safer traffic environments for schools located along or near a state highway. Before a new high school is built, is when the program is most effective.
The Precious Cargo Program was first implemented by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Dallas District, in cooperation with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). The program evolved partially as a result of rapid and dramatic growth in what were once remote rural areas around Dallas. This growth led to new schools near high-speed two-lane highways. These highways were not originally designed to accommodate the traffic volumes and patterns typically associated with schools.
As rural areas continue to grow, thereby increasing the needs of schools within their areas, it is so important for districts and State DOTs to communicate at the first stage of planning. The Precious Cargo program can be the portal for future developments in states-a program that can save future conflicts and lives.
Many times, it is not until a fatality has taken place; only then, local officials realize how planned developments could have been done differently. Any fatality is a great lost, especially when it involves very young children-our precious cargo that travel to and from schools daily. With emotional pleas from school administrators and parents, the results can be quite volatile. Clearly, the more effective way to solve school traffic problems is to address them before they happen. When working together, what a unique program to implement and build strong partnerships that can help decrease traffic safety problems.
TxDOT has taken great strives to ensure the safest possible traffic environment for its schools located along or adjacent to state highways. More than 160 schools in more than 50 school districts statewide have seen traffic safety improvements around their schools or future school sites as a result of the Precious Cargo program.
The Precious Cargo program has won numerous awards such as:
- National Quality Initiative - Silver Award
- Texas Quality Initiative Award - Partnering
- AASHTO Presidents Award
- Transportation for Livable Communities Award - Best in State
- 2000 Communication Award
- And many more.
Also, this program has been endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and supported by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 6.
If you would like to implement or learn more about this successful program, please contact one of the following:
Mark Ball, Public Information Officer, TxDOT Dallas District, Dallas, Tx at 214-320-4480, David Bartz, FHWA Texas Division Safety Engineer, Austin, TX at 512-536-5906, or Jerry Jones, FHWA NHTSA Safety Liaison, SRC Fort Worth, TX at 817-978-4358
SUCCESS FLASH
Arkansas Receives Safety Awareness Award
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) receives Award from American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) & National Safety Council (NSC) 2001 International Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award: AHTD's Pave The Way information campaign developed to improve safety during Arkansas's approximately $1 Billion dollar interstate rehabilitation program won 2nd place in the first annual 2001 Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award program under the State/Regional Government Outreach category. The award is designed to honor outstanding efforts to reduce roadway work zone construction accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Congratulations!
TRAINING
What's New
