Teen Driver Work Zone Safety Course

The 2023 STIC Incentive Program funding will be used in partnership with PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and the American Traffic Safety Services Association, for the development and implementation of a Pennsylvania-specific teen driver work zone safety course. The training will help teens better understand common types of work zone crashes and which driving habits can be used to better prevent these incidents.

Construction CMS Queue Protection Corridor Integration

The 2023 STIC Incentive Program funding will be used to purchase and install PennDOT-network 4G cell modems and/or SIM cards into contractor project work zone Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS). This will allow Regional Traffic Management Centers to view and change the work zone signs, and the work zone signs to be added to the corridor management tool in PennDOT’s Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS). Signs can then be set up to operate as a queue detection system. 

​Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags Test Usage

The goal of this project is to investigate the potential use of RFID Tags for various PennDOT assets. By scanning an RFID Tag, limitless data about the product to which it is attached becomes accessible. For example, a precast concrete tag could display the manufacturer, date cast, test results, material certification, etc. Onsite material samples could be tagged and sent for testing where the tag is scanned to receive details about the sample. Once completed, data could be deleted, and the tag sent back out for use. Tags could also be used by maintenance forces when permanent items are tagged like signs, structures, guiderail, etc. 

Bridge Deck Link Slabs

Bridge deck joints have been one of the leading causes for premature bridge deterioration. Link slabs are an economical way to eliminate bridge joints by connecting adjacent deck sections with a specially designed slab composed of either traditional or Ultra-High Performance Concrete. The 2021 STIC Incentive Program funding will be used to support the development of the design procedures and design tools for using Bridge Deck Link Slabs in Pennsylvania.

Augmented Reality in Transportation​

Augmented reality is an emerging technology for the transportation industry. With PennDOT moving toward digital delivery in 2025, augmented reality will assist inspection staff in the field. Inspection staff will be able to view 3D models through a HoloLens and communicate and troubleshoot with the project team at multiple locations. Augmented reality tools are currently available in handheld and handsfree devices.  Each option providing benefits to transportation projects. PennDOT envisions these tools to assist with construction inspection, structural material shop inspections, bridge inspections and incident management, as well as training and certifying bridge inspection staff. STIC Incentive Program funding will be used to develop a task force to research the various options available to determine which product or products would meet the need of PennDOT moving forward.  Once the research is complete and recommendations are made, PennDOT would like to pilot the recommended tools to further determine a selected option moving forward.  This project supports Every Day Counts Round 3 (EDC-3) e-Construction and 3D Modeling innovations.

Using Drones (UAS) for Crash Reconstruction

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, is an EDC-5 innovation that can impact nearly all aspects of transportation, including roadway incident management. Using drones for crash reconstruction can result in significant time savings. The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) has not been able to expand their UAS crash reconstruction program due to funding constraints. As a result, PSP and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) have partnered to identify funding opportunities, including the 2020 STIC Incentive Fund Program, to deploy more UAS throughout PSP troops across Pennsylvania. The 2020 STIC Incentive Program funding will be used to purchase UAS equipment for PSP Troops G (Bedford, Blair, Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin, Centre and Juniata Counties), H (Adams, Perry, Dauphin, Cumberland and Franklin Counties), and K (Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties).

Stormwater Training and Field Guidebook

The Stormwater Management Training and Field Guidebook helps maintenance crews at PennDOT, other state agencies, and local governments care for stormwater facilities. The Stormwater Management Training and Field Guidebook innovation received the FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding to fully complete the development of the training modules and guidebook materials, including planning and organizing training events. The training component provides maintenance employees with the necessary education and tools to correctly install and maintain Stormwater Control Measures.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Strategic Plan

FHWA's STIC Incentive Program funding is being used to develop the UAS, or drone, program and associated policies in Pennsylvania in a partnership between PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation,  and the Highway Administration Deputate. The developed program and policies will help standardize the use of UAS in Pennsylvania for PennDOT and other state agencies.

PennSTART

The Pennsylvania Safety Transportation and Research Track (PennSTART) will be a state-of-the-art facility supporting traffic incident management training and the testing of new Intelligent Transportation Systems, tolling, and signal equipment that will foster a culture of innovation and help to standardize innovations in the future. PennSTART received FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding to complete a system engineering analysis of the facility by developing a concept of operations, use cases and a business plan on facility requirements and operations. This project received STIC Incentive Program funding in 2017 and  2018. 

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) Specification Update

GRS­-IBS is an Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method that allows PennDOT and municipalities to build bridges quickly and cost effectively. Using 2017 and 2018 FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding, PennDOT partnered with the Pennsylvania State University to assist with updating and enhancing the GRS-IBS specifications. The success of GRS-IBS has PennDOT investigating the expansion of the specification to include longer spans and higher average daily traffic, and to increase GRS-IBS bridge projects across the state.

e-Construction and Partnering Workforce Preparedness

e-Construction is the creation, review, approval, distribution, and storage of highway construction documents in a paperless environment. Construction Partnering builds relationships and connections among stakeholders to improve outcomes and successful completion of quality projects that are built on time and within budget, focused on safety, and profitable for contractors.

PennDOT and FHWA, in cooperation with the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), used STIC Incentive Program funding in 2018 to study the level of workforce preparedness for e-Construction and Partnering (eCP) between the public and private sectors. As part of the study, a statewide survey was distributed to APC members, American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) members, PennDOT and PTC construction management staff and others to gauge their understanding with e-Construction and Partnering. The study helped to create a strong foundation for making eCP a standard among Pennsylvania's transportation stakeholders.  

PennSTART (see 2018)

GRS-IBS Bridge Specification Update (see 2018)

​Local Government Safety Seminar

FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding was used by the PennDOT Safety Division, FHWA and the STIC, to host a virtual and in-person Local Government Safety Seminar. The event was designed to educate local government officials about roadway safety planning, proven safety solutions and funding sources for programs to address safety issues on local roadways. The seminar helped to foster a culture of innovation with local governments and PennDOT as it relates to roadway safety. The FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding also helped the Local Technical Advisory Program (LTAP) coordinate and facilitate two High Friction Surface Treatment demonstrations and develop new safety training courses for the LTAP program. 

​Salt and Snow Management Course

FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding was used to develop a Salt and Snow Management Course for local governments. The course included on-site classes with hands-on training and was designed to help foster a culture of innovation with local governments and PennDOT as it relates to winter maintenance. Additionally, the Local Technical Advisory Program (LTAP) team developed a webinar and workbook to make the training information more widely accessible to interested municipalities on LTAP's website. LTAP continues to offer this training as part of their regular curriculum.

​Rumble Strip Installation on Thin Pavement Overlays Compendium

PennDOT used FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding to prepare a synthesis of best practices from various state transportation state agencies and stakeholders regarding the installation and re-installation of rumble strips on pavement treated with thin pavement overlay. These best practices helped provide a standardized, cost-effective process for PennDOT to effectively install or re-install rumble strips in conjunction with thin pavement overlays.

High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) Binder Evaluation

High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is an innovative technique to improve the safety of motorists at high-priority crash locations. Using FHWA STIC Incentive Program funding, PennDOT in coordination with Pennsylvania State University, evaluated the construction performance of HFST through several pilot projects. Three different epoxies were used as the binding material covered with bauxite to provide high friction. The road condition before placement was surveyed and the placement process was documented. Approximately 30 days after placement, the projects were evaluated for performance.  The evaluation led to development of specifications for HFST use and the standardization of the innovation.