ATSSA Signal March/April 2020

American Traffic Safety Services Association 40 Member Engagement Transportation Conversations Paul C. Ajegba, P.E., Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation Ajegba is a 30-year veteran of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) who was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January 2019. He is a member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials and serves on the boards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, M-City, University of Michigan College of Engineering, the Engineering Society of Detroit, and the Mackinac Bridge Authority. He has a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a master’s in construction engineering. Paul C. Ajegba, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation Q A & Q: What are Michigan’s biggest roadway safety challenges and how are you addressing them? A: All construction-based decisions must balance the safety of motorists and road workers with the mobility of roadusers.Wemaximizeproject budgets to build and maintain state trunk lines while protecting workers. MDOT and contractors created the Michigan Work Zone Safety Task Force to eliminatework zone injuries and deaths by focusing on setting the direction and enabling the implementation of work zone safety recommendations, ensuring timely closure of work zone safety issues, being a catalyst for changing work zone safety culture, removing barriers to implemen - tation, and providing suggestions for other options. We created the task force in response towork zone deaths and are usingmembers’ experience to plan safer work zones and instill theMDOT culture with a deep passion for safety. Our Local Safety Initiative (LSI) helps address the 55 percent of crashes that take place on the local road system. It provides a free service to local agencies, including crash analysis, field visits, and help applying for safety funding through MDOT’s Local Agency Program. What do you consider your biggest successes in roadway safety infrastructure policy or changes? A: MDOT is constantly eyeing new safety initiatives and has implemented several in recent years. Among the high - est profile efforts was the installation of cable median barrier and non-free - way rumble strips. Both are proven to reduce the severity of run-off-the-road crashes. We also require a Road Safety Audit on various MDOT road projects. We usewet reflective pavementmarking beads in our annual re-striping of free - ways. While themarking is not intended as a multi-year application, we want to ensuremotorists can see and be guided by a line even during inclement weather.