Spring Meeting Summary

KYSITE held their Spring Meeting on Friday, March 18^th. Over forty attendees gathered to hear some exciting updates on the state of affairs throughout the Commonwealth.  KYSITE President Lindsay Walker kicked it off with a brief update on several KYSITE activities past and present. 

 

Following Lindsay, Stacy Timol and Telma Lightfoot provided an update from KYTC Division of Traffic. Their focus was on the implementation of TransPHAT, which is a software package developed in house to manage signal systems statewide.

 

Next, Jill Asher with KYTC Division of Planning, provided an overview of a Data Needs Analysis (DNA) Study. Previously known as a First Look Study or Pre-Design Scoping Study, Jill walked through an example project to help illustrate the components of a DNA Study. Jill also invited Charlie Spalding to talk briefly about the new automated Project Identification Form. This is used to maintain the unscheduled needs list.

 

After a short break, Tracy Nowaczyk and Greg Garner with KYTC Division of Maintenance provided an update on how they are meeting new sign retroreflectivity requirements. They are currently using a photolog van as one tool to inventory signs statewide. They have also developed a procedure to test sign retroreflectivity. This will help determine which signs need to be replaced and what is the typical life cycle. 

 

Ashley Sells, with Louisville Metro, followed with an update on their signal systems migration from Pyramids to Centracs. She noted ongoing efforts to retime several systems throughout the Louisville Metro system.  Steve Cummins
followed Ashley providing a similar update for Lexington.  He talked about the adaptive signal control project that will take place along Limestone Street. He talked about his interest in testing InSync, another type of adaptive control, on four uncoordinated signals. He also discussed the process of converting to Centracs, similar to Louisville Metro.  

 

Following a short break, the meeting concluded with a traffic bowl practice round. Two students who plan to participate in the Southern District Traffic Bowl in Lafayette, LA challenged Lindsay and Brad Johnson, current Vice President and Treasurer. The hard-fought round ended in a tie.

 

The presentations and a couple of photos have been uploaded to the website.

March Webinar Summary

KYSITE members and others had opportunities to view two webinars in March.  Both programs were presented at the LFUCG Phoenix Conference Room.

 

On March 9, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet sponsored a  webinar which reviewed NCHRP Report 672, titled "Roundabouts: An Informational Guide - Second Edition."  The review was followed by commentaries from two engineers, one with a Washington state-government perspective and the other from the City of Austin.

 

The NCHRP report discusses planning, operations, safety, design, traffic control devices, illumination, landscaping and construction and maintenance of roundabouts.  The two engineers showed strategies for implementing roundabouts at specific sites.  There were 21 signatures on the attendance sheets.

 

The second webinar, on March 16, was titled "Understanding the Highway Safety Manual," but it was not a duplication of last fall's four-webinar series on the HSM.  This webinar was designed to promote understanding of the HSM in general, with particular emphasis on the benefits for pedestrians and cyclists.  Thirteen people signed the attendance sheets.   The LFUCG provided refreshments. 

 

Thanks to Andy Terwilleger for providing summaries yet again.

Golf Outing Reminder

The KYSITE Golf Outing will be on June 6, 2011 at Juniper Hills in Frankfort, KY.  The outing will start @ 1:00.

More information will be provided in upcoming newsletters. In the meantime, we are looking for hole sponsorships.  Please contact Bill Seymour and/or Tony Lewis for details.

HCM 2010 Webinars Update

ITE: 2011 Elections!

Get to Know Your Officers (Part 7)

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