U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
| Fiscal Year | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Compacted Concrete Pavement AID-PT | Hollow Avenue Project using compacted concrete pavement ($1,000,000) |
| 2017 | Prefabricated Bridge Element Systems and Slide-In Bridge Construction | Structure # 046-0152 (Illinois Route 115 over Gar Creek in Kankakee County, Illinois) to be replaced using prefabricated bridge elements and lateral slide methods. ($ 475,020) |
| 2017 | Ultra-High Performance Concrete | Campground Road Bridge over I-57. The Illinois Department of Transportation will incorporate prefabricated deck panels with Ultra-High Performance Concrete connections in the reconstruction of the bridge located on Campground Road over Interstate 57 in Jefferson County, Illinois. The project includes replacement of the bridge superstructure utilizing innovative technologies such as prefabricated bridge elements and systems and high performance materials. The new structure will be a deck on beam system with full depth prefabricated deck panels with ultra-high performance concrete connections. The reconstructed bridge will have increased load carrying capacity and will enhance safety by providing a wider roadway and increasing the clearance to the interstate highway below. ($344,000) Read AID Demonstration 2017 |
| 2016 | Warm Mix Asphalt | Construction Management System Project - The Williamson County Highway Department will resurface Saravile Road with warm mix asphalt. ($ 1,000,000) Read AID Demonstration 2016 |
| Fiscal Year | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | e-Ticketing | Implementation of e-Ticketing Statewide ($100,000) |
| 2022 | pavement, HFST | Deploy a Pavement Texture Scanner and train staff on operation ($16,000) |
| 2022 | Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Traffic Incident Management | Expand use of UAS for Traffic Incident Management Statewide ($80,000) |
| 2021 | Vehicle measuring | Implement 3D Vehicle Classification and Measurement System ($100,000) |
| 2020 | 3D Mapping | Develop 3D Mapping of Underground Utilities ($30,000) |
| 2020 | Pavement | Portable Laser Texture Meter for Chip Seal Quality Assurance Testing ($25,784) |
| 2020 | Pavement | Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) Handheld Thermal Imaging to Reduce Thermal Segregation ($32,000) |
| 2019 | CHANGE | Implement CHANGE 2-D Hydraulic modeling initiative including guidance manual, 2D quick checks, and pilot use of on a bridge crossing project. ($100,000) |
| 2018 | CHANGE | Establish 2D hydraulic modeling capacity statewide through training, pilot projects, developing standards, and peer exchanges. ($64,000) |
| 2018 | 3D Modeling | Advance 3D Modeling Program, through training and equipment purchases. ($36,000) |
| 2017 | Collaborative Hydraulics: Advancing to the Next Generation of Engineering | Develop 2D Hydraulic modeling capacity and implement supporting processes ($92,000) |
| 2017 | Data-Driven Safety Analysis | Provide training of Safety Analyst software for use on safety management projects ($4,800) |
| 2016 | 3D Engineered Models | Procure equipment, develop training, and provide training to facilitate the implementation of 3-D modeling statewide ($100,000) |
| 2015 | 3D Engineered Models | Development of 3D civil cell libraries and training to advance 3D modeling ($60,000) |
| 2014 | 3D Engineered Models | Advancement of 3D Engineered Models ($100,000) |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 5/1/2022 | TOPS | More than two decades since it was installed, a concrete overlay added to the asphalt surface of County Highway 9 in Richland County, IL, is performing exceptionally well and has no failures, according to the county engineer. "This project provided Richland County with competitive bids, rapid construction, minimum inconvenience to residents, and a smooth-riding, long-lasting pavement," said Richland County Engineer Danny Colwell. In 2010, Richland County chose to place a thin concrete overlay over a 22-foot-wide asphalt road that serves as a trucking route servicing oil fields and grain elevators. At the time, pavement distress included transverse cracks due to shrinkage of the soil-cement base, with no rutting or ride issues. Richland County decided to place the overlay for several reasons. The county had previous experience with premature oxidation of asphalt overlays, and unbonded concrete overlays had proven successful in nearby counties. Specifying a concrete overlay also enabled more competition for the work—past projects indicated that only one contractor typically bid on county asphalt projects while multiple concrete contractors were available. Crews milled the existing asphalt/seal coat pavement to a 1-inch depth and constructed a 5.5-inch concrete overlay with macrofibers. Read More |
| 9/1/2020 | Virtual Public Involvement | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and city of Joliet conducted virtual public outreach over the summer to gather input on the proposed Interstate 55 at Illinois 59 access project. The purpose of the project is to address congestion and provide safer, more efficient travel on I-55 and regional and local roadway networks. Instead of holding an in-person public meeting, IDOT invited the public to visit the project website to learn about and comment on preferred project alternatives and next steps of the project study. This virtual public involvement effort complemented earlier public meetings to explain the study process and solicit feedback. In addition to the website, outreach included a mailed newsletter and the opportunity to ask questions and leave comments for IDOT staff by phone. |
| 05/01/20 | AID Demonstration | The Illinois Department of Transportation and city of Jerseyville will use compacted concrete to improve road surface conditions on Hollow Avenue, a major route for school buses and business traffic. Using compacted concrete—which allows pavements to be reopened to traffic faster than traditional concrete—will enable Jerseyville to limit the road closure to the summer months while producing a paved surface that is durable under heavy loads. |
| 11/01/19 | AID Demonstration | The Illinois Department of Transportation and Williamson County will use warm-mix asphalt (WMA) on a Saraville Road resurfacing project. WMA provides benefits such as lower paving costs and improved working conditions because of reduced exposure to fuel emissions. |
| 11/01/18 | AID Demonstration, Warm-Mix Asphalt | The Illinois Department of Transportation and Williamson County will use warm-mix asphalt (WMA) on a Saraville Road resurfacing project. WMA provides benefits such as lower paving costs and improved working conditions because of reduced exposure to fuel emissions. Read Innovator Issue 69 |
| 07/01/18 | Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections for PBES | The Illinois Department of Transportation is using prefabricated deck panels with UHPC connections on an AID Demonstration project to reconstruct the Campground Road Bridge over Interstate 57 in Jefferson County. The bridge will have increased load-carrying capacity and will enhance safety by providing a wider roadway and more clearance over the interstate. Read Innovator Issue 67 |
| 11/01/17 | Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections | The Illinois Department of Transportation will use prefabricated deck panels with UHPC connections on a project to reconstruct the Campground Road Bridge over I-57 in Jefferson County. The bridge will have increased load-carrying capacity and will enhance safety by providing a wider roadway and more clearance over the interstate. Read Innovator Issue 63 |
| 11/01/16 | National Environmental Policy Act | The Illinois Department of Transportation is collaborating with FHWA to develop templates for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to help those who produce the documents make them clear, concise, consistent and legally sound. The Illinois DOT also updated the environmental policy chapters of its Bureau of Design and Environment Manual to include IQED principles and processes. Read Innovator Issue 57 |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 09/15/14 | National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training | The Illinois traffic incident management training program now includes an online component. The course—offered for all disciplines involved in incident management—provides emergency responders with information to improve safety at crash scenes. It features 11 modules of 15 to 30 minutes each narrated by experts. It’s followed by an in-class session that runs half a day. Read Innovator Issue 44 |
| 11/01/13 | 3D Engineered Models | A county official from Illinois who picked up the idea of 3-D modeling at an Every Day Counts seminar is now using the technology to save time and money on a road reconstruction project in his state. Read Innovator Issue 39 |
| 09/01/13 | 3D Engineered Models | In Illinois, the Knox County Highway Department will try three-dimensional modeling technology to finish construction faster on a Highway 4 alignment project near Galesburg. The 3D technology is also expected to save money, reduce lane closures and increase safety for construction workers. Read Innovator Issue 38 |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 10/03/24 | Project Bundling | In 2021, The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) faced an issue of having over 3.400 bridges that were over 50 years of age, the design life of the bridges, with over 10 percent of them being structurally deficient. Over 1,000 bridges were load posted, constraining freight movement within the State.
At a virtual workshop in fall of 2021, IDOT learned about bridge bundling from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. In late 2022, IDOT advertised its first culvert bundles and awarded them in early 2023. These culvert bundles were advanced as Design-Bid-Build (DBB) projects and were similar in design, materials, and geographical location. Since then, IDOT has advertised additional bundle contracts for culverts and bridge projects, which can be viewed as part of IDOT’s current bundling plan for 2023 – 2028... |
| 05/04/23 | STIC | Learn about the Illinois Department of Transportation's Solar Site Feasibility Study, which is helping Illinois evaluate potential solar array sites to create a list of sites suited for solar production. IDOT is one of the largest landowners in Illinois, and thus has the potential to lead the State in its transition to renewable energy... Read More |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 09/29/22 | A-GaME | Measurement While Drilling (MWD), a featured A-GaME geotechnical method, is a site exploration technique where geotechnical drilling operations are continuously monitored. Instrumentation added to a standard drill rig along with data recording provides real-time and continuous measurement of drilling parameters. Down-hole drilling performance can be used to characterize hard soils, intermediate and large-particle sized deposits and variable rock formations where more common sampling methods are not well suited. Continuous data produces profiles of drilling parameters to reveal soil layers and other subsurface features and to estimate material properties and strength assessment of soil and rock. While MWD does not replace sampling, it can reduce the number of physical samples needed and complement other subsurface exploration activities. Montana and Illinois DOTs added monitoring instruments to drill rigs and showed data obtained at project sites in their respective States. Montana outfitted their drill rig in May of 2020 and Illinois has been working with a research team, with members from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Florida, installing system components on a drill rig this summer. Both States are using a combination of research and program delivery projects to implement MWD and develop relationships between MWD parameters and geomaterial strength and condition. Interest in MWD and opportunities for collaboration are growing rapidly. Several State DOTs are in the process of purchasing, deploying, training, and using MWD. Adding MWD capabilities to an existing drill rig is comparatively inexpensive, usually less than $50,000 including equipment, labor, and training. MWD also works well with other new high-tech geotechnical data analysis practices that require robust datasets and provide a foundation for artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. Read More |
| 02/03/22 | TOPS | In 2010, Richland County, IL, chose to place a thin concrete overlay over a 22-foot wide asphalt road that serves as a trucking route servicing oil fields and grain elevators. At the time, pavement distress included transverse cracks due to shrinkage of the soil-cement base, with no rutting or ride issues.
Richland County decided to place the overlay for several reasons. The county had previous experience with premature oxidation of asphalt overlays, and unbonded concrete overlays had proven successful in nearby counties. Specifying a concrete overly also enabled more competition for the work—past projects indicated that only one contractor typically bid on county asphalt projects while multiple concrete contractors were available. Crews milled the existing asphalt/sealcoat pavement to a 1-inch depth and constructed a 5.5-inch concrete overlay with macrofibers. More than a decade after the County added the concrete overlay to the asphalt surface of County Highway 9, the roadway has no failures and performance is exceptional according to the county engineer. Read More |
| 01/20/22 | VPI | The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) wants to engage with its constituents in meaningful and inclusive ways. For their MPO's long-range plan, On To 2050, they used tablet kiosks as one tool in their comprehensive approach to public engagement. During the scenario planning stage, they proposed several "Alternative Futures" and conducted live audience polling with keypads during in-person workshops. The survey questions on the alternative futures were also repeated in kiosks that were stationed in twenty-five places throughout the region, enabling participation from members of the public who did not participate in the in-person meeting, or who would not otherwise have access to an online survey.
Read More |
| 06/24/21 | Crowdsourcing | Crowdsourcing turns transportation system users into real-time sensors on system performance, providing low-cost, high-quality data on traffic operations, roadway conditions, traveler information, and more. This technology also enables proactive operational strategies and applications to optimize the use of existing roadway facilities and save operator staff time. An on-demand Crowdsourcing webinar features seven successes in the use of crowdsourced data presented in a rapid-fire format. Representatives from Missouri, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, and Indiana DOTs, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the Lake County (Illinois) Division of Transportation highlight how their agencies benefitted from using crowdsourced data for traffic incident, road weather, traffic signal, maintenance, traveler information, and project prioritization functions. View the webinar on-demand to learn more about the business case for Crowdsourcing. If you have additional questions on Crowdsourcing, contact James Colyar, FHWA Office of Operations, Greg Jones, FHWA Resource Center, or Ralph Volpe, FHWA Resource Center. Read More |
| 05/06/21 | Crowdsourcing | The Lake County Division of
Transportation (LCDOT) in Illinois has been archiving travel time data every
two minutes for 600 directional road segments from a free navigation app
provider. Beyond using this data in real-time for traveler information and
incident management, LCDOT found this data valuable as a selection criterion
in prioritizing their capital investment projects. Using this data, traffic
engineers can better balance the congestion score, reflecting both
intersection and route levels of service. Crowdsourced data helps LCDOT deliver the best possible transportation system for residents and local commerce. Read More |
| 05/06/21 | STIC | Are you interested in homegrown
innovations being used by your peers in other parts of the country? Check out
the National STIC Network Showcase, a component of the EDC-6
Virtual Summit. Over 200 innovations, submitted
by State DOTs, Local Agencies, and other STIC members, are grouped into eight
topic area categories for easy navigation. This site features a convenient
one-time registration that will allow you to continue accessing information
throughout 2021. The showcase prominently features several innovations focused on pedestrian planning. Learn about the Florida DOT Safe & Accessible Pedestrian Inventory Model (SAPFIM), a low or no-cost web-based geospatial tool for data collection, assessment, mapping, and programming of pedestrian facilities needing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or safety improvements; Illinois DOT ADA Sidewalk Templates, which use automated spreadsheet templates to aid in ADA sidewalk ramp design, reducing time and design iterations; and the Michigan DOT Gateway Treatment for Pedestrian Crossings, an inexpensive signing strategy which saw driver yield rates for pedestrians increase from less than 10 percent to greater than 90 percent, and drivers reduce speed by an average of five miles per hour at crossings. Read More |
| 3/11/21 | STIC | Are you interested in homegrown innovations being used by your peers in other parts of the country? Check out the National STIC Network Showcase, a component of the EDC-6 Virtual Summit. Over 200 innovations, submitted by State DOTs, Local Agencies, and other STIC members, are grouped into eight topic area categories for easy navigation. This site features a convenient one-time registration that will allow you to continue accessing information throughout 2021. The showcase prominently features several innovations focused on workforce development and knowledge sharing. Learn about the Illinois DOT's District Resource for Informative and Voluntary Exchange (DRIVE) program, which offers weekly training and group discussion sessions to help train new employees and minimize loss of knowledge for retiring employees; University of New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center's "Tuesday Top 10 at 10 with T2" series, which, weekly, featured 10 items for public works agencies to be “in the know” on; and the Idaho DOT heavy equipment operator training program, which helped 20 men and women receive multiple certifications including forklift, maintenance and service, and heavy equipment operator. Celebrate the ingenuity of your peers and read about these innovations–developed and deployed in–house at transportation agencies nationwide. Additionally, we invite you to watch the one-hour presentations on-demand that feature several of the highlighted innovations. Read More |
| 06/11/20 | Value Capture | In Chicago, IL, the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program used this form of Value Capture to help fund a $4.6 billion multimodal project including freight and passenger rail and highway improvements. The Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation, the freight railroads, Metra, and Amtrak selected this project collaboratively. Thus far, private freight railroads have contributed $375 million to the project. The program represents a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation, the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak and the nation's freight railroads. Read EDC News 06-11-20 |
| 03/26/20 | Crowdsourcing for Operations | Crowdsourced data can help agencies quickly identify the impact of demand changes on transportation system performance, and efficiently adapt traffic management systems to improve travel. In response to Covid-19 school, event, and food-service closures in Illinois, the Lake County Department of Transportation (LCDOT) analyzed their advanced traffic signal performance measure (ATSPM) demand data with their free crowdsourced corridor travel time data. For example, before State mandates, travel time along State Route 21 North was 12-minutes or less for demand up to 1200 vehicles per hour. After State mandates, the evening peak demand (3 PM - 6 PM) decreased to 800 vehicles per hour, yet, travel time averaged above 13-minutes. LCDOT defined and implemented systemwide changes to all LCDOT owned traffic signals within two days of State Covid-19 mandates taking effect. The agency is coordinating with the Illinois DOT to modify the timing on State signals in their region and continuing to monitor evolving traffic demand and performance. For more information on the use of crowdsourced data to improve operations, please contact James Colyar or Paul Jodoin, the FHWA EDC-5 Crowdsourcing for Operations Co-Leads. Read EDC News 03-26-20 |
| 01/31/19 | Pavement Preservation (When, Where, and How) | The Illinois Department of Transportation implemented a requirement that 5 percent of its fiscal year 2019 budget be dedicated to pavement preservation projects. IDOT is integrating pavement preservation into its asset management efforts and revising guidance on selecting preventive maintenance treatments for inclusion in its design manual. Read EDC News 01-31-19 |
| 08/16/18 | Pavement Preservation (When, Where, and How) | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration to host a pavement preservation workshop for participants from IDOT, local agencies, a metropolitan planning organization, and the private sector. Attendees participated in exercises to evaluate the impact of pavement condition on project selection, identify the cause of various pavement distresses, and determine the best preservation process to solve specific problems. IDOT will use the workshop information to enhance its pavement preservation treatment guidance and identify treatments to add to its toolbox. Read EDC News 08-16-18 |
| 07/19/18 | Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections | The Illinois Department of Transportation is using prefabricated deck panels with UHPC connections on an AID Demonstration project to reconstruct the Campground Road Bridge over Interstate 57 in Jefferson County. The bridge will have increased load-carrying capacity and will enhance safety by providing a wider roadway and more clearance over the interstate. Read EDC News 07-19-18 |
| 03/29/18 | Pavement Preservation (When, Where, and How) | As part of its deployment of pavement preservation (when, where, and how) strategies, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) collaborated with FHWA to host an "Integrating Pavement Management to Selecting Pavements for Preventive Maintenance" workshop. As IDOT implements Transportation Performance Management, the agency recognizes pavement preservation as a cost-effective way to sustain infrastructure through whole-life investments. Workshop participants from IDOT, local agencies, a metropolitan planning organization, and the private sector worked on examples to evaluate the impact of pavement condition on project selection, identify the cause of various pavement distresses, and determine the best preservation process to solve specific problems. IDOT will use the workshop information to enhance its pavement preservation treatment guidance and investigate treatments to add to its pavement preservation toolbox. Read EDC News 03-29-18 |
| 04/27/17 | National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training | The Illinois Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) held a train-the-trainer session April 12 and 13. Fifty people participated including nearly 20 new trainers. Master trainers used a simulated multi-car crash to show how quickly TIM vehicles can remove disabled cars from the roadway. On the second day, new trainers presented short segments of the TIM training so the master trainers could evaluate them and provide feedback. All of the new trainers were accepted into the training program. The Illinois TIM TAG is comprised of staff from the Illinois Department of Transportation, FHWA Illinois Division, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, fire departments, and the towing industry. Read EDC News 04-27-17 |
| 12/08/16 | Improving Collaboration and Quality Environmental Documentation | The Illinois Department of Transportation is collaborating with FHWA to develop templates for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. The templates are designed to help those who produce environmental documents make them clear, concise, consistent and legally sound. Read EDC News 12-08-16 |
| 05/05/16 | National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training | Leaders of the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation signed a revised joint operational policy agreement on April 19. The new agreement—which updates a 2004 agreement—fosters greater cooperation by clearly establishing each agency’s jurisdictional responsibilities. It strengthens the framework and components of traffic incident management responder training to prepare the state’s first responders to clear traffic incidents quickly and safely. It also clarifies public notification procedures for crashes and adverse weather conditions. Read EDC News 05-05-16 |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 11/19/15 | 3D Engineered Models | About 70 participants from eight states attended a 3D engineered models workshop hosted by the Illinois Department of Transportation and FHWA in Springfield on October 28 and 29. Participants learned about using 3D modeling, automated machine guidance and geospatial information systems in designing, building and maintaining highways. Feedback from participants indicated that the information provided and roundtable discussions with peers were informative and the opportunity to discuss issues and ideas with people dealing with similar issues was very good. Read EDC News 11-19-15 |
| 10/29/15 | Programmatic Agreements | The Illinois Department of Transportation and FHWA executed a new programmatic agreement for categorical exclusions on October 14 to streamline the environmental review process on highway projects. The agreement describes the two agencies’ responsibilities in the decision-making process for categorical exclusions, actions that don’t involve significant environmental impacts. It uses regulatory provisions that provide the Illinois DOT with additional capacity to approve categorical exclusions on FHWA’s behalf. Read EDC News 10-29-15 |
| 08/13/15 | Intersection and Interchange Geometrics | An August 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Marion celebrated the opening of the first diverging diamond interchange in Illinois. The city of Marion and Illinois Department of Transportation coordinated with FHWA to use the innovative design to build the interchange at Hill Avenue and I-57. The $15.5 million project, designed to improve safety and operations, was built with state and local funds. Read EDC News 08-13-15 |
| 08/06/15 | High Friction Surface Treatment | The Illinois Department of Transportation completed three high-friction surface treatment projects and has three more underway. Finished projects include interstate interchange ramps, an interstate mainline section and various curve locations identified through crash analysis. On July 30, Illinois DOT and FHWA staff observed application of a high-friction surface treatment on a project on Illinois Route 71 near Starved Rock State Park. The project involved applying the treatment on multiple curves totaling 2.16 miles. Read EDC News 08-06-15 |
| 07/23/15 | Smarter Work Zones | The Illinois Department of Transportation and FHWA are partnering to improve work zone safety and mobility. On July 14 and 15, multidisciplinary staff from both agencies conducted work zone traffic control reviews of 14 active projects in the state for compliance with policies and best practices. FHWA provides instructors for the Illinois DOT’s state and local agency staff work zone safety training program. The Illinois DOT is working to incorporate EDC smarter work zone practices on highway projects, with an emphasis on queue detection and motorist warnings to decrease end-of-queue crashes in work zones. Read EDC News 07-23-15 |
| 05/21/15 | Construction Manager/ General Contractor | The Chicago Department of Aviation is using the construction manager-at-risk contracting method, also called construction manager/general contractor, to build a consolidated facility for rental car operations and public parking at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The construction manager-at-risk project, scheduled to start June 15, is the first of its kind for the city of Chicago. It’s part of an overall $782 million project, which will also extend the Airport Transit System to serve the new facility. Read EDC News 05-21-15 |
| 04/16/15 | 3D Engineered Models | Knox County, Illinois, used GPS and 3D modeling to eliminate the need for grading stakes and real—time surveying on projects, trimming the time it takes equipment operators to complete the grading process. Using the technology on the County Highway 4 project saved 20 percent on time and $50,000 to $100,000 on the cost of the cut-and-fill work. Read EDC News 04-16-15 |
| 02/27/15 | High Friction Surface Treatment, Smarter Work Zones, Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections for Prefabricated Bridge Elements | The Illinois Transportation and Highway Engineering Conference included several presentations on EDC innovations, including high-friction surface treatments, smarter work zones and ultra-high performance concrete connections for prefabricated bridge elements. Held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on February 24 and 25, the conference is the largest annual highway community event in Illinois with an attendance of more than 1,000. Read EDC News 02-27-15 |
| 12/05/14 | National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training | In Illinois, the incident management training program combines an online course and a multiagency in-class session. The online training features 11 modules of 15 to 30 minutes each narrated by experts. The in-class session runs a half day. Read More |
| 10/24/14 | Regional Models of Cooperation | An October 23 dedication ceremony was set for the Englewood Flyover in Chicago, Illinois. The $142 million project, a component of the Chicago Region Environment and Transportation Efficiency Program, will carry the north-south Metra Rock Island rail line over the east-west Amtrak/Norfolk Southern line. The CREATE Program is a partnership involving FHWA, the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads to cooperate on regional projects to improve the rail and roadway transportation network. Read EDC News 10-24-14 |
| 10/03/14 | 3D Engineered Models | The Illinois State Transportation Innovation Leadership Team recently supported an application for $100,000 to aid implementation of 3-D modeling at the Illinois Department of Transportation. Funds from FHWA’s State Transportation Innovation Council Incentive program have been approved for training and equipment to implement 3-D modeling into processes associated with the design, construction and operation of the Illinois transportation infrastructure. Read EDC News 10-03-14 |
| 10/03/14 | High Friction Surface Treatment | The Illinois Department of Transportation developed a special provision and is working on three high-friction surface treatment projects. Two more are scheduled for procurement. Read EDC News 10-03-14 |
| 10/03/14 | Regional Models of Cooperation | The Federal Highway Administration has approved a combined final environmental impact statement and record of decision for the 75th Corridor Improvement Project, the largest project in the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program. The CREATE Program is a partnership involving FHWA, the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads to cooperate on regional projects to improve the rail and roadway transportation network. The purpose of the 75th Corridor project is to reduce highway-rail crossing and local mobility problems and improve rail transit passenger service. Completion is set for 2021. Read EDC News 10-03-14 |
| 07/25/14 | 3D Engineered Models | Illinois Department of Transportation and FHWA staff reviewed three-dimensional modeling technology use on a Knox County highway reconstruction project. At the July 15 demonstration, participants met with staff of Knox County, the contractor and the design consultant. They heard presentations on the development of the 3-D model and how it helped the contractor bid on the project and learned how 3-D software was being used to build the project. The Illinois DOT is planning a scanning tour in Iowa to explore 3-D technology further. The Knox County project received an FHWA Highways for LIFE grant for its innovation use. Read EDC News 07-25-14 |
| 06/20/14 | National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training | The Illinois Department of Transportation now offers an online version of the state’s traffic incident management training program. The online course is offered for all disciplines involved in incident management and provides emergency responders with information to improve safety at incident scenes. The incident management training program combines the new online course and a multiagency in-class session. The online training features 11 modules of 15 to 30 minutes each narrated by experts. The in-class session runs a half day. Read EDC News 06-20-14 |
| 04/11/14 | 3D Engineered Models | The Illinois State Transportation Innovation Leadership Team agreed at its March 31 meeting to pursue FHWA State Transportation Innovation Council incentive funds to support deployment of three-dimensional modeling. The group formed a team to work with consulting and contractor industry representatives to develop a funding proposal. The group also discussed FHWA Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration grants and reviewed status reports on implementation of Every Day Counts innovations in the state. Read EDC News 04-11-14 |
| 03/21/14 | Intersection and Interchange Geometrics | About 60 Illinois Department of Transportation and FHWA staff turned out for two workshops on intersection and interchange geometrics. Held March 4 in Collinsville and March 5 in Springfield, the workshops covered applicability criteria, safety performance, basic design considerations, access management and pedestrian accommodation of roundabouts, U-turn intersections, displaced left turn intersections and diverging diamond interchanges. Several diverging diamond interchange, displaced left turn intersection and U-turn intersection projects are under construction or in the planning or design phases in Illinois. Two more workshops are planned for the Chicago area for participants from the city and surrounding counties. Read EDC News 03-21-14 |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | CHANGE | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) used a multiyear process to retool from 1D to 2D hydraulic modeling. IDOT used STIC Incentive funds to pursue 2D hydraulic modeling training and develop three 2D courses to further the agency’s knowledge base on the technology. IDOT’s initial 2D modeling efforts have improved scour design recommendations at several major river crossings. Read EDC-4 Final Report |
| 2019 | Data-Driven Safety Analysis | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) developed State and local "5 percent" lists of top severe safety locations that can be used to prioritize safety efforts. IDOT developed a guidance document to perform systemwide safety analysis on roadway segments, intersections, and curves. IDOT created heat maps for emphasis areas in the Illinois Strategic Highway Safety Plan and data trees to target systematic safety efforts. The agency also developed heat maps and data tables State and local agencies can use to identify high crash locations and better allocate resources for conducting enforcement activities on major holidays. Read EDC-4 Final Report |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Data-Driven Safety Analysis | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) developed SPFs to perform system screening for all State routes and intersections. Between July and December 2016, the agency redeveloped the models to better reflect current crash data. The resulting potential for safety improvement values are ranked into safety tiers (critical, high, medium, low) to consider during project planning, programming, and development. The ratings are useful when setting project limits and improvements to adequately account for operations, maintenance, and safety needs. All sites with critical values are evaluated for potential improvements. IDOT calibrated Illinois crash data, developed SPFs that can be used to predict crashes for various roadway improvement types, and modified its prediction tool to include the SPFs. The predictive methods are used routinely in IDOT District 1 in the Chicago area and are becoming more common in other districts. At the local level, IDOT developed about 40 safety plans in counties experiencing the majority of traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Read EDC-3 Final Report |
| 2017 | Smarter Work Zones | IDOT awarded on-call contracts using smarter work zone ITS in three agency districts. The agency used the ITS contracts to deploy smarter work zones in a variety of scenarios, including emergency maintenance, bridge inspections, and construction projects. IDOT completed a research project to improve the effectiveness of its smarter work zone technology deployments. The agency plans to evaluate and validate the research findings and incorporate them into future deployment of smarter work zones. Read EDC-3 Final Report |
| Date | Innovations | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3D Engineered Models | Knox County, Illinois, used GPS and 3D modeling technology to eliminate the need for grading stakes and real-time surveying on projects, significantly reducing the time it takes equipment operators to complete the grading process. Using the technology on the $4.9 million County Highway 4 project saved 20 percent on time and $50,000 to $100,000 on the cost of the cut-and-fill work. Read EDC-2 Final Report |
| 2015 | Intersection and Interchange Geometrics | The Illinois DOT has 10 DDIs in planning, design or construction. In one project, the number of lanes required was reduced from 10 to six, resulting in significant cost savings. The DDI configuration was selected as the preferred alternative on another project because it provides 20 percent more capacity and 60 percent less delay and costs 50 percent less than the next best alternative. IDOT is studying restricted crossing U-turn intersections for northwestern and southern areas of the state. About two dozen roundabouts are in operation in Illinois, with many more planned. Read EDC-2 Final Report |
