Examples of RC Customer Services and Technical Assistance Delivered in FY 2019
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Program Review in Puerto Rico
RC Civil Rights provided technical assistance to review ADA program in Puerto Rico. From left to right: Axel Carrasquillo Cuevas, Project Administrator for PRHTA; Rhoda Cannon, Former FHWA Employee HCR; Barbara Young, FHWA Florida Division; Grace Diaz-Estrada, FHWA Puerto Rico Division; Jorel Lopez-Villamil, ADA Program Coordinator, Consultant; Maria Thomas, FHWA HCR; Patrick Gomez, FHWA Resource Center. Source: FHWA
The RC’s Civil Rights Team and the FHWA Florida Division Office were asked to conduct an ADA review of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Administration (PRHTA) to verify program compliance and provide feedback. Working with partners in the FL Division, PR Division, and the ADA Coordinator in PRHTA, the RC began by examining all preliminary ADA information. The review team met with officials from PRHTA to understand current processes and reference materials. Over the course of the review, the team conducted more than 20 interviews and visited 5 different projects. Members from the FHWA Office of Civil Rights ADA Team also participated in the review. At the end of the review, the PRHTA received a report with feedback and improvements for the program, including numerous suggestions to move PRHTA’s ADA program forward such as a proposal for a future ADA train-the-trainer workshop provided by the RC Civil Rights Team. The FL Division staff commented on “FHWA’s willingness to help build and grow an interdisciplinary ADA program” and noted that “it also brought a variety of backgrounds and ideas to the table, something that PRTHA appreciated.”
Financial Management Boot Camp
This year, the Financial Management Discipline saw a need to efficiently and quickly equip employees who were new to the discipline—new hires or those promoted—with the tools and knowledge necessary to successfully perform financial duties. Discipline members reached out to the RC Finance Team for help. The RC’s solution was to create the Financial Management Boot Camp—a virtual-classroom training course designed to introduce the basic and most common laws, regulations agency polices, and procedures governing the FHWA Financial Management program. Additionally, the Boot Camp course exposed participants to FHWA’s history, mission, vision, and the unique financial management roles and responsibilities within the Federal-aid Highway Program (FAHP). Developing the Boot Camp required coordination with subject matter experts and instructors from the RC, the Office of Innovative Program Delivery, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Program Management Improvement Team, Human Resources, the Office of Chief Counsel, and more. Beginning in February, the Boot Camp’s 21 expert instructors presented 40 hours of training in 23 finance modules over the span of 8 weeks.
Twenty-four FHWA finance professionals from Divisions across the country successfully graduated from the Boot Camp. Source: FHWA
The National Dialogue on Highway Automation
Chris Dipalma, RC Operations, leads a Discussion Group at the FHWA National Dialog for Automated Vehicles. Source: FHWA
The Resource Center Operations Team contributes to the agency’s efforts to deploy Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology. CAV represents a groundbreaking change in future transportation, and there is a need to prepare for and ensure its safe use on public roads. If implemented well, CAV promises significant reduction in the number of crashes on the roads and time savings for travelers. Additionally, CAV could provide expanded access to transportation for portions of the population currently experiencing mobility issues such as the elderly or persons with disabilities. The RC Operations Team collaborated with the Office of Operations and the Volpe Transportation Center to sponsor the National Dialogue on Highway Automation, a series of meetings held across the country to collect feedback on the issue of CAV. The comments received during the National Dialogue will help inform FHWA research, policies, and programs. In addition to gathering input, the National Dialogues raised awareness about FHWA initiatives in automation and positioned the agency as a resource for the transportation community. The dialogues successfully engaged partners and stakeholders from across the Nation in multiple industries and disciplines.
Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
The RC Construction and Project Management Team provided technical assistance to the FHWA Colorado Division Office, Colorado DOT (CDOT), and the Denver Water Authority (DWA) with what may be a first of its kind undertaking in the United States. The Gross Reservoir Expansion Project will raise the height of a dam by 131 feet and relocate an intersection and section of roadway. The project is a part of DWA’s long-term plan for continuing to provide safe, reliable water to the more than 1.4 million residents in its service area. This undertaking presents a tremendous challenge because of the need for multiple high-risk operations and an aggressive schedule (construction is estimated to start in 2020). In support of this effort, the FHWA Resource Center led the development of a highly-interactive Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) project delivery training. The Team tapped experts from the Resource Center, Colorado Division, CDOT, and DWA to design and facilitate the workshop. This collaborative approach proved extremely beneficial and was well received. As a result, 25 people were trained and the project team was set up for success, ready to use the CM/GC Alternative Contracting Method (ACM).
An informational poster to feature the Gross River Dam was used during the Construction CM/GC project delivery training. Source: FHWA
Course attendees participate in discussion during workshop training for Denver Water Authority and their contractors. Source: FHWA
Emergency Repair in Puerto Rico
The RC is continuing ongoing technical assistance and support to Puerto Rico. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the FHWA Puerto Rico Division was inundated with emergency repair (ER) projects. The sheer number of ER projects exceeded the capacity for the Division to inspect emergency repairs on the roadways. The Division staff also needed to address slope failures, along with help reviewing designs and repair plans. Facing these challenges, Puerto Rico Division reached out to the RC Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering Team for reinforcement.
Failed slope in the aftermath of a landslide caused by Hurricane Maria. This slide cut off access of this mountain road for local and commercial traffic, which included school busses and emergency vehicles. This section of road was deemed too dangerous to remain open and was closed by PRHTA to design and construct a new embankment at this location. Source: FHWA
Newly repaired roadway. Source: FHWA
The Team put together a three-part plan for assisting the Division. The strategy included inspection of ER sites; technical assistance in the design and construction of reinforced soil slopes; and providing specially tailored training for erosion control and slope maintenance and repair. The RC Geotechnical and Hydraulic engineers worked with staff from the Division, the Puerto Rico Highway Transportation Administration, and the RC Pavement and Materials Team to successfully complete inspections, review designs, and deliver training. Along the way, the RC took steps to minimize identified risks by effectively communicating Buy America Act regulations to State and highway construction stakeholders. Going forward, the RC staff will continue to provide technical assistance to the Puerto Rico Division with reviewing designs and improving the standard approaches for the reconstruction of slopes. The Division expressed its appreciation for the dedication the Resource Center professionals gave to the projects.
Reconstruction of a bridge failure, which occurred during Hurricane Maria. A temporary Acrow bridge structure was placed over the abutments and new scour countermeasures installed to protect the bridge abutments. Gabions and grouted rip-rap have been used as the scour countermeasure. Source: FHWA
Sustainable Pavement Webinars
Sustainable Pavements Program logo
Specialists from the RC Pavements and Materials Team, along with the Office of Preconstruction, Construction and Pavements (HICP), created a Sustainable Pavements Ambassadors group in support of FHWA’s Sustainable Pavements program. The group includes members from the Division Offices and Federal Lands Highway Divisions and is a demonstrated example of how FHWA uses cross-unit collaboration in an emerging area. The group organized the Sustainable Pavements Webinar Series. It debuted in October 2019 with a discussion of sustainability basics. Other sessions covered design approaches; materials; construction; and maintenance and preservation. Even before it began, more than 500 external and 100 internal transportation professionals registered for the popular workshop series.
Southern Air Quality Summit
In August 2019, the Air Quality Specialists of the RC’s Environment, Air Quality and Realty Team helped to host the Southern Air Quality Summit in Louisville, KY. Approximately 100 people attended in person, while others who could not make the trip participated by webinar. RC Air Quality partnered with the FHWA Office of Natural Environment; FHWA Kentucky and Indiana Division Offices; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Kentucky DOT, and other Metropolitan Planning Organizations to organize the conference. They brought in expert speakers and arranged roundtable sessions to address current issues and trends; discuss reporting requirements; and provide tools for participants. This assembly of transportation stakeholders provides valuable opportunities for information exchange. The Northern and Southern Air Quality Summits (held in alternating years) allow State and local transportation and air quality agencies to address transportation and air quality issues with a regional perspective.
California Centennial Corridor Early Acquisition Project
At the request of the FHWA California Division and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), the Realty Specialists of the RC’s Environment, Air Quality and Realty Team performed a compliance review for the California Centennial Corridor Early Acquisition Project. This request involved establishing Right-of-Way compliance for the local public agency project. The RC Team worked closely with the FHWA Office of Real Estate Services, and the FHWA California and Washington Division Offices to complete the assessment. RC Realty staff led this collaborative effort, conducting a comprehensive evaluation of acquisition, appraisal, and relocation files to determine compliance with Federal laws and regulations. In addition, when problems were identified, the RC Team shared best practices as solutions. The California Division and CalTrans were appreciative of the subject matter expertise and outside perspective the RC provided.
Back to top ▲
