TEA-21 Listening Session: Highlights: Surface Transportation Safety

	TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century *Moving Americans into the 21st Century*

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Highlights of Fairfax, Virginia TEA-21 National listening Session

Safety

George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
September 18, 1998

OVERALL: This session included five panel discussions: 1) highway-rail grade crossing, 2) highway traffic and bicycle and pedestrian safety, 3) road construction safety and hazard elimination, 4) commercial motor carrier safety and, 5) safety planning, data and technology. There was general support for the fact that TEA-21 retains the basic ISTEA safety provisions.

Rep. Bob Franks (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Rail Subcommittee, indicated that he did not know when Congress would consider the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA)Reauthorization and that the discussions have been complicated by several controversial issues. However, Chairman Franks praised the rail provisions in TEA-21, including the safety items. Also, he indicated his support for the "one call" notification language to help reduce damage to underground facilities.

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety:

Speakers noted that the Railways, State Agencies, and Local Agencies must all work together to improve grade-crossing safety. Possible roles for the railroads include: donating property, improvement of frontage roads, installing concrete crossings, and enforcing trespassing programs.

Specific Suggestions:

DOT needs to ensure that states that serve as primary gateways for U.S. railroads shipping goods to Mexico (i.e. Texas and California), receive a fair share of the funds to be provided under TEA-21's new National Corridor Planning and Development Program and Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program.

Highway Traffic and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

There was overall support for the advanced air bags schedule, incentive program to improve safety belt use, air bag technology research, repeat offender laws, open container laws, and Reauthorization of NHTSA. The TEA-21 truck safety exemptions and lobbying restrictions were cited as losses to federal safety provisions.

Specific Suggestions:

DOT ought to strongly encourage the enactment of BAC legislation and seat belt programs in the implementation guidelines (.08 legislation and seatbelt program) to the states. Also, DOT ought to track how each state spends these funds.
DOT needs to make sure TEA-21 funds are getting to the local level for such programs as traffic safety boards. These boards would be able to better address aggressive driving, child safety seats, road DUI tests, etc.

Road Construction Safety & Hazard Elimination

Some speakers urged DOT to strongly recommend that TEA-21 safety program monies be used solely for road construction safety and hazard elimination even though states can use safety funds for other uses.

Commercial Motor Carrier Safety

There was general support for: pilot programs, carrier shutdown provisions due to failure to pass safety fitness guidelines, programs established to regularly check truck maintenance and driver regulation and, the provision allowing background investigations on prospective drivers.

A suggestion was made supporting the use of ITS technologies to reduce fatalities involving trucks by using on board computers so that the drivers cannot cheat on hours of road guidelines.
In implementing the motor carrier safety provisions, a speaker urged DOT not to overlook the concerns of smaller states.

Safety, Planning, Data and Technology

The AASHTO speaker indicated that safety is the primary responsibility of state DOT's.

One proposed approach to improving safety is to conduct comprehensive and focused research and analysis of automotive safety and related medical research issues, that includes pre-crash, crash, and post-crash events and effects on people, vehicles and the highway environment.
It was suggested that roadside hardware, case study investigations, vehicle structure and air bags & restraint systems all be studied in order to identify new ways to improve safety.

SAFETY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TEA-21 LISTENING SESSION
ON
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
SEPTEMBER 18, 1998
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, JOHNSON CENTER

8:00-8:45 am	REGISTRATION and COFFEE
8:45 - 9:15	GMU Welcome, Dr. Kingsley Haynes, GMU Institute for Public Policy DOT Welcome by Jolene Molitoris, FRA Administrator and Chair of DOT Safety Council NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez FHWA Administrator Kenneth Wykle
9:15-10:15	Congressional Speakers - Congressman James L. Oberstar, Minnesota; Congressman Bob Franks, New Jersey; Congressman James Moran, Virginia; Congressman Tom Davis, Virginia; Congressman Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin (Invited)
10:15 - 10:30	Break
10:30 - 10:40	Mort Downey, Deputy Secretary of Transportation
10:40 - 11:30	Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Panelists: Hon. Elizabeth Flores, Mayor of Laredo, Texas Thomas M. O'Leary, Executive Director, Ohio Rail Commission Brent Boggs, Political Affairs Coordinator, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Cliff Shoemaker, Director, Industry and Public Projects, Union Pacific Railroad
11:30 - 12:30	Highway Traffic Safety; Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Panelists: Judith Lee Stone, President, Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety Barbara Harsha, Executive Director, National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives Harry Teter, Executive Director, American Trauma Society Captain Stephen Sellers, Fairfax County Police Department Lauren Marchetti, Manager, Public Relations Programs, University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
12:30-1:15	Lunch Break
1:15 - 2:00	Road Construction Safety and Hazard Elimination Panelists: Richard Retting, Senior Transportation Engineer Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Kathy Hoffman, Executive Director, Road Safety Foundation William R. Buechner, Director of Economics & Research American Road & Transportation Builders' Association
2:00-3:00	Commercial Motor Carrier Safety Panelists: John A. McQuaid, Executive Director, National Private Truck Council Steven Izer, Parents Against Tired Truckers Norm Littler, Vice President, United Motorcoach Association Richard Henderson, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
3:00-4:00	Safety Planning, Data and Technology Panelists: David J. Hensing, Deputy Executive Director for Policy & Planning, AASHTO Richard D. Paddock, PE, Traffic Safety Analysis Systems & Services Dr. Azim Eskandarian, Director, National Crash Analysis Center Andrew Meese, Senior Transportation Engineer, Metropolitan Council of Governments
4:00-4:45	Audience Questions and Answers
4:45 pm	Adjourn

A docket has been opened to accept comments on the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in conjunction with a series of outreach sessions being conducted by the USDOT to consult with its partners and customers prior to implementation of the act. Send comments to Docket OST-98-4146, Walter Finch, Office of the Secretary, S-3, Room 10126, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century-Summary Report is available from the U.S. Department of Transportation Web Site (http://www.dot.gov/). To obtain a printed copy, call the Federal Highway Administration voice message center, telephone number (AC-202) 366-9899 or 1-800-240-5674, FAX number (AC-202) 366-3297.

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