Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-07-011
Date: March 2007

Articles in this Issue

Life Cycle Cost Analysis: Learning from Your Peers

Transportation professionals from the United States and Canada came together to share their experiences and best practices in using life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) at the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) 2006 LCCA Peer Exchange. Held October 17-18, 2006, in Kansas City, Missouri, the conference provided a forum for practitioners to discuss lessons learned from implementing LCCA in their State programs and to identify future LCCA needs. Conference attendees included State department of transportation design, construction, and materials engineers.

California Pavement Preservation Center Offers Fast-Track Technology Transfer

State and local transportation agencies and industry in California can now tap into the expertise and fast-track technology transfer capabilities of the new California Pavement Preservation Center. Located at the California State University (CSU), Chico, the center opened in July 2006. "The center will provide a significant boost to pavement preservation activities in California," says Technical Director R. Gary Hicks. "It will act as a credible third party to provide technical advice and assistance throughout California, to local agencies, State agencies, and industry," notes Shakir Shatnawi, Chief of the Office of Pavement Preservation at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). "There is a lot of interest from local agencies in learning more about pave-ment preservation."

National Work Zone Awareness Week 2007: Moving into a Better Future

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) 2007 will be observed April 2-6 across the country. Kicking off the week will be a media event on April 3 near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge outside of Washington, DC, hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). This year's theme is "Signs of Change," highlighting that today's work zones produce tomorrow's improved roadways, resulting in smoother rides, better traffic flow, and safer travel. At the same time, motorists are reminded that they should slow down and be alert to signs indicating changing conditions as they travel through work zones. In 2004, 1,068 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in work zones.

Materials Reference Library Provides Aid to Researchers

A wide variety of highway materials are available to State transportation departments and other highway researchers through the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Materials Reference Library (MRL). Maintained by FHWA's Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program, the MRL is a storage facility for loose and core forms of highway materials, including asphalt cement, portland cement, natural aggregates, or a combination of materials. A climate-controlled room at the MRL also houses images of the LTPP test sections on 35-mm film.

FHWA's New Exploratory Advanced Research Program: Transforming Highway Transportation

Innovative infrastructure solutions and advances in highway safety are among the goals of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) new and cross-cutting Exploratory Advanced Research Program. Now soliciting proposals, the program will fund research and development projects that could lead to transforming advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation in the United States. The new program was established by the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). It is managed by FHWA's Office of Corporate Research and Technology.

Highways for LIFE Introduces Technology Partnerships Program

The development and application of innovations in highway technology will receive a boost this month with the introduction of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Highways for LIFE (HfL) Technology Partnerships Program. The program brings the highway construction industry together with partner organizations and companies to accelerate the adoption of promising technologies. These technologies should support the HfL mission of providing "Long lasting, Innovative, and Fast construction of Efficient" and safe highway infrastructure. FHWA anticipates awarding as many as 12 grants at the $200,000 level and 3 grants at the $500,000 level. Applicants are required to provide a minimum of a 20 percent match to the total cost of the project. The solicitation for applications will be posted on www.grants.gov in early March 2007. The expected closing date for applications is April 15, 2007.

Highway Technology Calendar