education of the busiest segments of I-81 in Virginia. The interstate travels through the Appalachian region’s valleys and mountains with winding roads and steep inclines. Weather — ranging from snowstorms to hurricanes — can affect safety, and safety is a major coalition concern. The Roanoke Times reported 266 fatal crashes on I-81 in Virginia from 1998 through 2008. “One of the first initiatives of the public safety committee established a protocol within the six states to establish communication standards when an incident happens that will last two hours or longer,” Cogburn says. “Transportation operation centers in adjacent states to the incident would be contacted. That gives them time to divert the traffic and take other measures to minimize the backup.” As part of its mission the coalition hosts workshops for first responders to train in the latest state
Construction on five miles of climbing lanes in Montgomery County should be complete before the year ends.
and federal safety regulations. “We bring together all types of first responders to work through imaginary incidents on the interstate,” Cogburn says. “It’s hard to get all those different agencies to work through that without being at an actual incident.” Feedback on the workshops has been promising. A police officer told Cole it was one of “the best things” he had ever attended. One of the leaders of the workshop is a former
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MARCH 2013
firefighter who lost his best friend in an accident on the interstate. “If the workshop saves one life, it has been worth it,” Cole says. The coalition is currently finishing up a truck parking inventory with data that includes information on the number of truck parking spaces at each rest stop along I-81. “We are getting ready to send that out to participants,” Cogburn says. “We are looking to find out if we are missing information.” The goal is to one day be able to provide truck drivers with crucial information regarding I-81. “Getting in touch with truck drivers is important,” Cogburn says. “We want to let them know about reststop parking and any traffic incidents.” The coalition’s website also provides important information, ranging from corridor statistics to safety data. “We want to be a resource for other agencies,” Cogburn says, noting that the first page of the site shows real-time incidents. “We also have a library resource that links to studies that have been completed on I-81.” Cogburn is pleased with the coalition’s progress to date. “We want to find ways to add value,” she says. “I have seen a great tendency for different agencies to work together and get information out to other states and other entities. That is valuable.” Photo by Alisa Moody