ATSSA Signal September October 2019

The Signal | September/October 2019 23 Task Force 13 continues work on key initiatives Group discusses new traffic control device guides, MASH, and AASHTO’s MOU Innovation & New Programs ATSSA recently participated in the Task Force 13 (TF13) April 2019 meeting, where a number of key initiatives were discussed including the group’s organi- zational structure, hardware guides, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Memo of Understanding (MOU), and forthcoming updates to the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). TF13 is agroup that develops, advises, and promotes standards and specifications for bridge and roadway safety hardware on our nation’s roadways. “ATSSA’s presence and participation in the task force provides an opportunity for the association to ensure roadway safety is prioritizedwith bridge and road- way hardware by developing, recom- mending, and promoting standards that guarantee optimal function, aesthetics, and economy,” said ATSSA Senior Tech- nical Advisor Eric Perry, who added that TF13’s mission is accomplished through a series of eight active subcommittees, two of which Perry co-chairs. During TF13’s April meeting, it was announced the group is now a 501(c) nonprofit and the group is working to maintain its website to reflect the most recent systems and drawings that meet theMASH 2016 evaluation criteria. Addi- tionally, 15 new traffic control guidelines have been added to the group’s Hard- wareGuide, including two bridge railings, two crash cushions, two end treatment/ terminals, three transitions, and sixwork zone barriers. All of the guidelines have Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) eligibility letters, which recognize that the hardware the guides represent have been crash tested and meet the MASH crash test criteria. According to TF13 President JohnDurkos, of Road Systems, Inc., another key discus- sion focusedonMASHguidelines—which provideadoptedcrash-testingprocedures for use in assessing roadside safety hard- ware. AASHTO’sMOUwith Task Force 13 was also addressed. TheMOUpromotes collaborationbetweenAASHTOand TF13 in undertaking their respective tasks as they have shared goals. “With the onset of MASH hardware, the standardization of highway elements is evenmore important andusers of TF13’s hardware guides must maintain access to themost current information,” Durkos said. “Thiswill bekeyas statesupdate their design standards toMASH. An affiliation agreementwithAASHTO’sMOUwassigned in January 2019. The MOU reiterates the importance of TF13 and our continued relevance to AASHTO and to the indus- try as a whole.” TF13 Secretary Greg Neece, of Trinity Highway Products, LLC, said the nonprof- it’s subcommittees held progressive discussions overall. One highlight that he took away was the National Coopera- tiveHighway Research Program (NCHRP) 03-119 study, which focuses on small and mediumsign supports and crashworthy work zone traffic control devices. “Our subcommitteesandexecutivecommit- tee held important discussions about topics that will impact the roadway safety infrastructure industry,” Neece said. “Convening to talk about work being done like the NCHRP study on signs and devices is valuable and important. It’s information sharing. That’s amajor part of advancing roadway safety.” ThenextTF13meetingwillbeheldinCollege Station, Texas, September 26–27.  With the onset of MASH hardware, the standardization of highway elements is even more important and users of TF13’s hardware guides must maintain access to the most current information. This will be key as states update their design standards to MASH. An affiliation agreement with AASHTO’s MOU was signed in January 2019. The MOU reiterates the importance of TF13 and our continued relevance to AASHTO and to the industry as a whole.

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