Roadmarking News Edition 161

Roadmarking News

NZRF Update

Dear Members

In addition to bringing you updates from around the world, we will also include an update of our activities from the NZRF Executive

Firstly I’d like to thank the highly skilled and dedicated members of the Executive for their input and follow through playing to their strengths this year It’s truly a pleasure to see how we all work for the common cause, putting aside our company alliances. I would also like to thank our respective companies for allowing the rather significant time commitment required by the Executive Members to keep the NZRF functioning.

Website refresh

Our current website has outlasted its' design life and it is no longer economical to maintain in its' current state so we have commenced the refreshing processes which will also include increased functionality for lodging T8/T12/T18 certificates

We hope to have the new website ready for launch by the conference in August 2023.

Industry training

Over the last 3 years we have been assisting Connexis review and update existing units and develop new units for the Level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications May 2023 marks the end of this process with the third and final qualification going live for applicants to signup for. We have a further initiative to increase uptake of the Level 4 qualification by using Recognition of Current Competency to allow experienced operators to gain this qualification with significantly less paperwork. This option is now available and we encourage experienced operators to look into this method as a way of formalising your years of experience with a qualification!

Waka Kotahi NZTA T8

The current 15 year old T8 specification is not keeping up with advancements in roadmarking equipment technology. Waka Kotahi agree and have commenced the writing of a draft revised version Once this is completed a combined NZRF/NZTA working group will work through the draft to create the final version. The expected time frame to complete this is mid 2024

During the upcoming T8 testing officer workshop we will have more details to share and gain feedback on the current sticking points that need improvement – watch this space

Our thoughts to those who have been effected by the seemingly endless run of weather events We hope for a swift recovery and a better forecast next season

This update is brought to you by Dominic Elder (Executive Chair)

Dominic Elder (NZRF Chair)......looking for the white lines as he competes in the Coast to Coast 2023 Well done on an awesome achievement

Waka Kotahi Updates

Charges for using New Zealand’s three toll roads will increase from 1 July 2023.

Tolls on Auckland’s Northern Gateway (SH1), Tauranga Eastern Link (SH2) and Tauranga Takitimu Drive (SH29) will increase by 20 cents for cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles, and by 40 cents for trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles

Rock stabilisation programme on the Nevis Bluff on the outskirts of Queenstown has been completed.

North Island state highway recovery – road status

Waka Kotahi has developed a new dashboard with a GIS (geospatial) map that presents a visualisation of the status of North Island state highways impacted by weather events in early 2023 –Northland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne The new tool, released on 20 March 2023, includes a dashboard (with the same information from our pdf maps), and an interactive GIS map with various layers and links for more information

The maps show what state highway access is available for the regions that have been affected by severe weather events together with the status of some key local authority roads

https://www nzta govt nz/traffic-and-travelinformation/north-island-state-highway-recoveryroad-status/

The stabilisation work follows an increase in movement in late 2021 and initial work in early 2022 on a large rock mass weighing more than 12,600 tonnes

https://www nzta govt nz/media-releases/rockstabilisation-programme-nevis-bluff-queenstownlakes-district-completed-autumn-workunderway/

Creating a good impact report means being transparent with your audience Back up your claims with relevant data Keep your sentences concise when necessary, but dive into detail when it comes to qualitative and quantitative evidence Remember: an impact report is a combination of understanding your mission, your work, and your audience, and communicating that clearly with the rest of the world.

Waka Kotahi Updates

Consent has been lodged for the Waikare Gorge realignment project to bypass six kilometres of the existing State Highway 2, which includes the slip- and rockfall-prone Waikare Gorge, between Wairoa and Napier.

The realignment project will include 3 9 kilometres of new road and a 160 metre long arch bridge, approximately 60 metres above the Waikari river

Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says the devastation caused by the cyclone and the destruction of the gorge bridge has shown just how crucial the realignment project is

A new Bailey bridge has now been installed and the road has reopened to day time traffic between Wairoa and Napier. Roading contractors are continuing to work on other damaged sites, as Waka Kotahi works towards opening the road 24/7

“This project will make this section of the road resilient, safer and lead to more consistent travel times.

“We’ve been working on this project since before the cyclone and funding to date has come as part of the Provincial Growth Fund, first announced in 2020 Progress on this project has been made possible in a large part thanks to the continued support from local communities.

“The past three months has shown us that whenever this section of SH2 is closed, for whatever reason, the impact on both Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay is huge. Even before the cyclone, this area has been prone to slips and rockfall, so a safer and more resilient journey over the gorge should help with more consistent and reliable journeys.

“An added benefit of the realignment project is that there will be minimal disruption to the existing road and road users, something I’m sure the communities in this area will welcome after the past few months,” says Mr Partridge.

To learn more about the project visit our project page or check out the realignment simulation video

SH2 Waikare Gorge safety realignment

SH2 Waikare Gorge: White Alignment option

Waka Kotahi Updates

5A package of proposed bilingual traffic signs will be released for consultation

The consultation is part of the He Tohu Huarahi Māori bilingual traffic signs programme led by Te Mātāwai and Waka Kotahi to enable the use of te reo Māori on traffic signs across Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Mātāwai is the independent entity that works on behalf of Iwi and Māori for the revitalisation of te reo Māori Driving this programme is a vision to see te reo Māori restored as the first language of Aotearoa New Zealand, by ensuring that te reo Māori is seen in everyday environments and heard and spoken more often

“Using te reo Māori on traffic signs will contribute to an Aotearoa New Zealand where: te reo Māori is visible at a community level where our whānau live and play, and the mana of te reo is affirmed and recognised. Affirming the status of te reo and enabling community engagement are critical drivers of language revitalisation so we celebrate this moment,” said Reikura Kahi.

“Bilingual signage is an important step towards affirming the indigenous status of te reo Māori in Aotearoa Increasing awareness and access to te reo Māori in

our communities and cities is also a launchpad from which new iwi language initiatives targeting new generations can grow together.

”The proposals cover 94 signs and are grouped by type:

Destination signs

Public and active transport signs

Walking and cycling wayfinding signs

General advisory and permanent warning signs

Motorway and expressway advisory signs

Temporary warning signs.

Consultation on the proposed package of bilingual traffic signs closes at 5pm, Friday 30 June 2023

https://www nzta govt nz/media-releases/nextset-of-bilingual-signs-released-for-publicconsultation/

New Zealand

Work gets underway in May on making SH51 safer between Awatoto Road, in Napier, and Waitangi Bridge.

Source: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Work to improve the safety along SH51 will now begin with the installation of flexible side and median barriers between Awatoto and Waitangi Roads from Monday 15 May

A blessing ceremony will take place this Monday (8 May) as scheduled, officially marking the start of stage one of the safety improvements project This will be followed by site preparation work for the project. Senior Project Manager Jacob Laird says ultimately Waka Kotahi wants to minimise any potential disruption to traffic during the safety improvements project

“We will be monitoring peak traffic flows while the barriers are being installed, to enable planning for future phases, including the possibility of a temporary roundabout “This project is funded under the Road to Zero Activity Class so it is separate to funding allocated to the cyclone recovery ”

During the construction period for this first stage, which is expected to be complete by late July, there will be traffic management in place, with crews working between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday

Because of the width of the highway, we are able to keep two lanes of traffic open and we anticipate minimal impact on traffic flow

This project is a really important priority for Waka Kotahi, alongside the cyclone recovery work The work beginning this month is stage one of the project. Construction of stage two is expected to begin later this year with side and median barriers to be installed between Awatoto Rd and Ellison St

In 2024, a new permanent roundabout will be constructed at the SH51/Awatoto intersection.

“We want to improve safety in the area, and quickly. These safety improvements will save lives and prevent serious injuries on this section of highway The project builds on previous work done in this area to date to make this road safer for everyone ”

New Zealand

New guide signals a new era for temporary traffic management

A new era of how road work sites are managed has arrived with the release of the New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management, which sets out how road work sites should be managed, replacing the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management

Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard said the changes from the new guidance meant road work sites would be managed based on assessed risks, rather than the previous compliance-based approach.

“The way we manage traffic around road work sites is changing to be based on managing specific risks for each site The new approach has the potential to be more efficient and cost effective, at the same time as keeping road workers and road users safe ”

Vanessa Browne, National Manager Programme and Standards for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, said the new guidance aimed to drive a culture change to improve safety for road workers and road users to work towards our vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand’s roads. “People continue to die and be seriously injured at TTM sites and this needs to change Between 2017 and 2021, there were 43 fatal crashes and 287 serious injury crashes at worksites. This is compelling evidence that a new approach is needed to temporary traffic management across New Zealand ”

Mr Pollard said there was a strong case for change, and the new Guide followed on from WorkSafe guidance for road and roadside workers issued late last year, which set out how to manage health risks, safety risks, and practices when setting up and operating traffic control around road work sites

The existing Code of Practice is intended to be gradually phased out of contracts, with transition to the new Guide anticipated to be largely completed by July 2024

Mr Pollard said Waka Kotahi NZTA had listened to industry throughout the past years in triggering these systemic changes, reconciling more than 1,200 submissions and pieces of feedback as part of a Code of Practice review in the leadup to the creation of the new Guide and acknowledging the role industry must play in taking responsibility for safer outcomes.

Cont next page...

New Zealand

“Road workers are used to working in the road corridor and are well-placed to understand and manage the direct risks This is a fundamental shift to the way we think about traffic management, so it’s not going to happen overnight. But companies are used to managing road work sites, and this change comes down to how we interpret new requirements in a practical sense.”

Despite the case for change, Mr Pollard said these were significant updates and would take some time to embed, with the shift in thinking and practice requiring time and effort from civil construction companies.

“He said collaboration with clients in both the private and public sectors would be needed going forward, and CCNZ would be supporting members in addressing any transitional challenges with good technical guidance and advice, alongside a new Industry Steering Group stood up in March 2023 to support the implementation of the Guide, which had its first meeting on 18 April.

The New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management is available at https://wwwnztagovtnz/roads-and-rail/newzealand-guide-to-temporary-trafficmanagement, alongside FAQs for contractors and other documents

New Zealand

Traffic Management on O Mahurangi – Penlink

Source: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport AgencyLinked in

We bleat on about it a lot, but traffic management is there to protect you whether you’re on two wheels, four wheels, or four legs.

Our teams working on O Mahurangi – Penlink, the new state highway between Whangaparāoa and State Highway 1 at Redvale in Auckland, have been helping a local farmer safely move his sheep along the narrow and windy roads where we ' re doing site preparations

O Mahurangi – Penlink straddles both urban and rural areas. We’ve been working closely with the community and adapting to their needs to help minimise the impact of construction.

As you can see, we’ve been ewe-sing (haha) traffic management to briefly shut the road to guide the flock past the site to another paddock to graze.

Machinery is now arriving and vegetation clearance is in full swing all important steps to prepare the project area for main construction works in October 2023.

New Zealand

Cyclone Gabrielle aftermath: Piha cordon to be lifted on Friday 5th May

Auckland Council has announced the cordon restricting access into Piha will be removed at midday on Friday 5th May

Several homes were damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle and several roads within the Piha area were damaged and remain closed A cordon remains in place for the worst-affected areas.

The council's deputy group recovery manager Mace Ward said all necessary safety and roading assessments and community consultation have been completed, and there was no longer a need for a cordon to remain on Piha Road, the main road into the suburb

"The Piha cordon was put in place immediately following Cyclone Gabrielle to minimise the risk to public safety, maintain the integrity of Piha Road and reduce community distress while the immediate aftermath of the extreme weather was assessed.

"Work has since been undertaken by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport to assess the ongoing risk to the community and wider public in relation to land and road stability, and we are now confident that the cordon can be removed without any risk to public safety," Ward said

Piha Road suffered extensive damage during the cyclone and is down to one lane in a section near the main lookout

To manage this, temporary traffic lights are in place for the short one-lane stretch Scenic Drive will also continue to be down to one lane in a section near Elevation Brasserie.

Auckland Transport chief engineer Murray Burt said recent geotechnical assessments showed the road could safely cope with increased traffic when the cordon was lifted. "It's been a really tough couple of months for Piha residents and I want to assure the community that we are doing everything possible to get things back to normal as soon as possible," he said.

"We're asking for everyone ' s patience when they're travelling to and from Piha because journey times will be longer than what people were used to before Cyclone Gabrielle." Ward said the decision to remove the cordon considered public safety, the resilience of the main road into Piha, mitigation measures, active environmental monitoring, sustainability of local services and the wellbeing and security concerns of affected property owners

"We know that many Aucklanders have been frustrated at being excluded from Piha and we are very pleased to be removing the cordon so Piha can once again welcome visitors, friends and whānau "

He also acknowledged how difficult it had been for businesses that relied on visitors. Plans were being drawn up for permanent repairs to Piha Road and the community would be informed once technical assessments and initial design work had been completed.

Cont next page

New Zealand

"An inner cordon will remain on Rayner Road and Marine Parade to prevent access to the most affected areas While the removal of the main cordon on Piha Road is a great milestone to reach, there is still a lot of work ahead to support the community through recovery, " Ward said

"Unfortunately, most of our walking tracks around Piha, including the popular Tasman Lookout / Tasman View, Lion Rock, Liard Thomson and Kitekite Falls tracks, and Marawhara Walk, sustained significant damage and remain closed."

Ward said the public needed to respect the barriers and fencing on closed tracks because they were in place for safety reasons.

Cordons remain at Muriwai and Karekare

Cordons remain in place at Muriwai and Karekare and access is limited to residents and emergency personnel only. Both communities have suffered extensive landslips and road damage which continue to present a risk to public safety

In addition, there is no water supply to Muriwai Regional Park due to the damage at the water treatment plant Work is underway by Watercare to assess alternative options to restore water to the park.

New Zealand

Road Safety Week: Northlanders urged to do their bit for safety on our roads

With Road Safety Week looming in mid-May, Northlanders are being asked to get behind the event to honour our road safety heroes and help lower the road toll.

Thirty-eight people died on Northland roads last year the highest number in 22 years with many of those deaths avoidable, according to Northland Road Safety Trust (NRST) and Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA)

NRST’s Ashley Johnston is urging locals to become road safety heroes by adopting safer driving habits, driving to the conditions, wearing seatbelts and not driving distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs

“I want drivers to pay more attention to what is ahead of them on our roads and I would love to see hundreds of locals join us on a walk of the Hātea Loop, so we can talk about just what road safety means and how we can all play a part in making our roads safer through our own actions,” said Johnston.

“Slowing down, being courteous and considerate to road users, making safe and sensible decisions and not being in a rush are really good starting points along with putting phones away.“People often drive too fast for the conditions, drive while distracted and fatigued, do not wear seatbelts or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We can all contribute to safety on our roads whether we are driving, walking or riding. “Poor decisions can have a massive impact on a lot of people and create heartache for years to come.”

Northland Transportation Alliance’s Nicole Cauty says safety is everyone’s responsibility and we need everyone to do their bit to keep the people we care about safe on Northland roads

“Anyone can be a road safety hero, whether it is taking one for the team and sober driving, or reminding a mate to put their seatbelt on,” said Cauty.

“The RIDS (restraints, impairment, distractions, speed) message is one I want people to take home. Especially important to me is the restraints reminder, not only for adults but making sure every child is in an appropriate size range restraint

“It is also okay to speak up when friends and family are not being responsible in the car particularly for those young males as when we workshopped with them, they admitted they would feel uncomfortable asking a mate to put a seatbelt on. But that is what saves lives.”

Whangārei District Mayor and long-time road safety advocate Vince Cocurullo believes it is important the Northland community acknowledge Road Safety Week.

“It is an opportunity for us all to celebrate those road safety heroes keeping us safe in Northland, and it is also a good reminder to not drive distracted, drive to the conditions and get home safely,” said Cocurullo

The theme of Road Safety Week 2023 (May 15-21) is “Be a road safety hero” by recognising everyone who helps to make our roads safer and supporting people after a crash, while also explaining how we can all play a part in making journeys safer for everyone.

HTTPS://WWW.ROADSAFETYWEEK.ORG.NZ/

NZRF Conference

Commodore Hotel, 449 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch 8053

Day 1 - Wednesday 23 August 2023

Delineation Industry Liaison Group (Waka Kotahi / NZRF

NZRF Testing Officer Workshop

NZRF AGM

Dinner & Drinks

Day 2 - Thursday 24 August 2023

Introduction to Conference

NZRF TTM Practice Note

Slot 1 for topic based on membership feedback

Slot 2 for topic based on membership feedback

NZRF Executive - Panel Q&A

Accommodation is based on availability at time of booking:

Premium rooms (Single or Twin-share) @ $234.00 or Business Level rooms @ $279 00 inclusive of GST per room per night

Please reference the New Zealand Roadmarking Federation (Group Reservation Number: 1045810) when booking your accommodation

Book ASAP to avoid disappointment

Australia

New fuel efficiency standard in federal government's electric vehicle strategy

The federal government will set a fuel efficiency standard for new cars as part of its national electric vehicle strategy announced today

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the strategy would help provide Australians with a greater choice of electric cars and encourage the driving of cleaner, cheaper-to-run vehicles

Australia and Russia are among the only developed countries without fuel efficiency standards

Details will be finalised in the coming months after consultation with industry but research suggests a fuel efficiency standard could save motorists $519 per year in fuel costs

On average, new cars in Australia use 40 percent more fuel than the European Union, 20 percent more than the US, and 15 percent more than New Zealand

Australia lags far behind other countries in electric vehicle sales, with the country's uptake of the technology about four times lower than the global average

The Albanese government aims to encourage greater ownership by new measures such as improving recharging infrastructure in Australia

"This strategy delivers on our commitment to provide greater choice for Australians to drive cars that are cleaner and cheaper to run, " Bowen said.

"This strategy provides the coordination and leadership to drive down costs and improve infrastructure so that we get more affordable and accessible electric vehicles on the market "

Last year the federal government cut taxes on electric vehicles, saving up to $11,000 a year on a $50,000 electric vehicle.

Transport Minister Catherine King said a fuel efficiency standard would "send a strong message to the global car industry that when it comes to transport technology, Australia will no longer settle for less"

"More than 85 percent of all cars sold in the world are subject to fuel efficiency standards," she said.

"It's time Australians were offered the same choice "

Australia

The National Roads and Traffic Expo is back for 2023!

The National Roads & Traffic Expo, taking place on 11 and 12 October 2023 at ICC Sydney, serves as a significant event in Australia’s road and traffic industry, where experts, stakeholders, and industry leaders come together to discuss the latest innovations and technologies that shape the sector’s future

The event offers a rare opportunity for attendees to connect with industry leaders and experts, participate in insightful seminars and discussions, and explore the latest products and services from leading manufacturers and suppliers.

The National Roads & Traffic Expo caters to the diverse needs of key stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, transport professionals, engineers, planners, and suppliers.

The expo’s key feature is its high-quality speakers who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the road and traffic sector from different backgrounds.

Here are some of the key speakers who will be presenting at the 2023 event:

Jim

Betts, Secretary, Department of

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Kurt Brissett, Executive Director

Connected Journeys, Transport for NSW

Monique Williams, General Manager Partnering and Transport, Transurban William Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Aurecon

Hugh Eriksson, Councillor, Willoughby City Council

Peter Curl, Chief Executive Officer, Fulton Hogan Infrastructure Services, Fulton Hogan

The expo will cover various topics, including sustainability, emerging technologies, transport planning, and road safety, to name a few.

The expo will also feature fireside chats and panel discussions that will offer valuable insights into the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Apart from seminars and discussions, the National Roads & Traffic Expo also offers the opportunity to explore the latest products and services from leading suppliers and manufacturers

Exhibitor’s will showcase everything from intelligent transportation systems and road safety equipment to traffic management systems and road construction materials A few of the exhibitors who are participating in the event are:

Art Craft

Boylan Group

Infrastructure Australia

Innov8 Equipment

Traffio

To stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the road and traffic sector, be sure to attend the National Roads & Traffic Expo, which will take place on 11 and 12 October 2023 at ICC Sydney, and with over 4,000 attendees, the event presents an excellent opportunity to showcase your products and services

Australia

Australia’s rising road toll: how the pandemic and a love of big cars are putting lives at risk

Decades of gains in road safety are being set back by the rise in SUV ownership and impatient drivers used to empty lockdown streets

fter decades of progress that made Australian roads considerably safer, fatalities have been steadily increasing in recent years – and research suggests the pandemic, as well as a love affair with large four-wheel drives, may be to blame

Data released by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) on Sunday to mark national road safety week painted an alarming picture Not only are all states – bar New South Wales – unlikely to meet long term safety targets, road fatalities are increasing

There were 1,204 deaths on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 March, an almost 6 percent increase. Of the total deaths, 557 were drivers, up 2 2 percent, while 189 were passengers, up 3 8 percent Pedestrian deaths increased by 22.6 percent, rising to 163, while motorcyclist deaths climbed 7 percent to 246.

The rise in deaths puts Australia further away from meeting targets in the National Road Safety Strategy, which in 2021 set out an ambition of reducing road deaths by 5 percent by 2030 The target also includes no deaths of children seven years or under

Prof Stuart Newstead, director of Monash University’s Accident Research Centre, said that early indications from research his centre had conducted in Victoria suggested the Covid pandemic was contributing to more road trauma across the country.

He explained that researchers see two broad categories of factors that influence road danger – exposure, which is how much people are driving, and risk, which is driver behaviour, vehicle choice and road design

During the pandemic travel exposure went down, particularly in cars, by about 70 percent, while road trauma only dropped by 20 percent, said Newstead

“What that shows you is that those people have developed a vastly different approach to risk, that the pandemic fundamentally changed people’s attitudes,” he said

“That’s partly what happens because when you take traffic off the road, you can speed more easily more often, and with police focused on other things, perhaps people thought they wouldn’t get caught ” Additionally, he points to something he calls “low-mileage bias”.

“A lot of people, after being locked up and confined for so long, wanted to get out and travel, and people who have driven less lose their skills about how to interact with traffic.”

The pandemic also led many Australians to ditch public transport permanently, whether that be because they can now work from home and have more time to drive for leisure, or because they grew accustomed to the comfort of driving to work during the

Australia

pandemic. Public transport patronage of about 80 percent of pre-Covid levels appears to be the new normal in Sydney and Melbourne, according to University of Sydney research.

Another potential cause that is widely observed by academics studying car safety is the strong link between road trauma and the strength of the economy.

“Road trauma tends to increase when there is more economic activity and unemployment is low,” Newstead said. “Not only do you have more goods and people moving around, but people have more money to spend, so they feel some financial security and their fear of fines could be lessened because they have the capacity to pay for it.”

In NSW, data shows the number of mobile digital speed camera fines issued when the speed limit was exceeded by 10km/h or less increased from 3,222 in October 2020 to 27,855 by February 2021, however this coincided with the removal of warning signs

Newstead said early data for Victoria also showed the level of speeding and running red lights went up significantly

“People have less patience with traffic now after the roads were much quieter for years.” More capacity for discretionary travel, and the surge in domestic holidays in recent years, could also be contributing to the increased death toll.

People in regional Australia were almost five times more likely to die in road crashes than those living in cities last year, the latest statistics show.

“The standard of our rural road network is pretty poor, the infrastructure really doesn’t support the speeds people are allowed to drive on them,” Newstead said “So when people make mistakes, if they drift out of their lane, lapse in concentration or fall asleep, the ramifications are horrific.”

Then there is vehicle choice There has been an enormous surge in popularity of SUVs and four wheel drive utes, and transport experts have been scathing about the tax perks that encourage their uptake.

Global

USDOT announces US$21.8m in grants for 30+ projects as part of National Scenic Byways Program

The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced US$21.8m in grants for 33 National Scenic Byways Program projects, including five grants awarded to Tribal applicants

The grants, which recognize outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural resources and archaeological sites, will deliver on the US president’s Investing in America agenda to help improve facilities, make safety upgrades, and provide interpretive information along roads in 29 states.

This announcement adds to the list of more than 3,200 National Scenic Byways Program grants since the start of the program. “FHWA is proud to award these grants that will help make travel safer, provide more enjoyable access, and support local businesses along scenic byways across the country,” said Federal Highway administrator, Shailen Bhatt “Scenic routes provide myriad ways to explore the United States, and it’s no wonder that since its inception in 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has received broad support from members of Congress, state and local officials, and the public ”

The awards include the following grants:

The California Department of Transportation will receive US$96,000 to fund repairs at Sierra County’s Kentucky Mine Historical Park (site of the only full-scale gold mine stamp mill machine on the West Coast)

along the Yuba River State Scenic Byway to sustain and promote the byway’s tourism economy, preserve it for future generations, and improve the habitat of a threatened bat species.

The Iowa Department of Transportation will receive approximately US$714,000 to install 51 thematic kiosks at key entry points and high use areas on the state’s 14 scenic byways. The grant will help to provide traveler-focused interpretation, maps, and information to welcome visitors, orient them along their route, and help them understand, appreciate, and experience the intrinsic qualities, resources, and attractions of each byway

The Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribe in Wisconsin will receive approximately US$302,000 to enhance the Tribe’s biking and pedestrian trail by designing and constructing four culturally interpretive rest areas along a path which parallels the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway, adding cultural artwork to the biking/pedestrian underpass and installing wayfinding signage

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will receive a US$1m grant to improve safety by adding a turn lane and 8-foot shoulders along roughly 1 3 miles of the Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway in Oklahoma County, which also will increase recreational opportunities and generate economic activity from cyclists traveling along Bicycle Route 66 The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will receive US$750,000 in funding to repair a badly damaged sea wall, improve drainage, and replace sidewalk and curbing as part of the Hope Street Pedestrian and Resiliency Enhancements project at the Revolutionary Heritage National Scenic Byway.

Elaborate Zebra crossing (which doesn't actually count as a pedestrian crossing)

Jazzy... This crossing outside a primary school in Bristol is an accident waiting to happen, say locals

40mph in a 30mph zone

Confusing ... These baffling markings were quickly changed by red-faced contractors in Essex

Lazy... Council workers in Birmingham chose to paint a pothole, rather than repair it

Embarrassing... Well, this message isn't clear

Painted Pothole

Keer Cleap

Global

In-vehicle signage delivered direct to car head unit without mobile phone interface

A group of data experts have successfully delivered live, dynamic in-vehicle signage into a vehicle’s head unit using the car’s own connectivity rather than a tethered smartphone.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and KL Systems transmitted real-time road signs into a Polestar vehicle during tests at Warwick University. The demonstration proves that connected cars can automatically receive location-specific information and safety “virtual” messages, reducing and eventually doing away with the need for roadside variable message signs (VMS).

This builds on previous demonstrations undertaken by the Transport Technology Forum and RAC Foundation using smartphones.

The work is part of a wider project between TfWM, Midland Connect, National Highways, M6 Toll Ltd and the Department for Transport looking at delivering in-vehicle messaging for the M6 Toll TfWM created several messages around Warwick University using its in-vehicle messaging system created by Sterling Allied Services & Amey in conjunction with KL Systems. These were displayed in the Polestar as the vehicle drove past the virtual VMS sites

“With Android Automotive, there is no need to pair your phone to receive in-car messages,” explained George Brown, ITS consultant at KL Systems. “Essentially it replaces the infotainment unit and more in the car, and you download the apps directly into the car not your phone, which opens so many possibilities to reach the driver with critical messages at the right time and place and a better user experience.

“Polestar assisted with testing the app and brought a car to Warwick with the app installed on its Android Automotive head unit supporting both static and live drive demonstrations around the campus,” Brown added

“We see this as a very exciting opportunity to manage driver behavior to make our network more efficient,” Matthew Shelton, future transport services and technologies lead at TfWM, continued “For example, we cannot justify putting in an expensive network of physical VMS around Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham for a handful of busy matchdays, but the virtual system would allow us to reach all drivers with correct advice and keep traffic in the area flowing. This is just one obvious example of how this technology can make a real difference ”

The next step of the project is to use a group of selected people in vehicles with access to the technology to test it in real-world conditions on the M6, M6 Toll and other roads in the West Midlands. The trial will not only look at technical solutions but also how messages should be phrased to best influence driver behavior

British road safety; a small improvement

British road safety is showing a small but encouraging improvement

The latest official figures for road safety in Great Britain show small but encouraging improvements over previous years In 2022 there were 1,695 road fatalities from crashes, a drop of 3 percent from the figures for 2019. There was also a 3 percent drop in those killed or seriously injured (KSI) for 2022 compared with 2019, dropping to 29,795 And there were 136,002 casualties of all severities, a decline of 11 percent compared to 2019.

Looking back a further 10 years however does reveal the overall improvement in road safety in Great Britain. Road deaths for 2009 stood at 2,222. And going further back to the early 1970s when road deaths peaked in Great Britain, around 5x as many people were killed every year in road crashes

This improvement in road safety in Great Britain contrasts strongly with the situation in the US, where road safety continues to decline

There was a significant gain in road safety for pedestrians in 2022, with 20 percent fewer fatalities than in 2019 Car occupant deaths meanwhile dropped by 16 percent for 2022 compared with 2019, while there were 15 percent fewer deaths of cyclists in 2022 compared with 2019 However, motorcyclist casualty numbers slightly increased compared to 2019

For 2022, 46 percent of fatalities were car occupants, 22 percent were pedestrians, 21 percent were motorcyclists and 5 percent were pedal cyclists. Meanwhile in 2022, 55 percent of total casualties (including those suffering serious and minor injuries) were car occupants, 14 percent were pedestrians, 12 percent were motorcyclists and 12 percent were pedal cyclists.

Overall, in 2022, 75 percent of fatalities and 62 percent of casualties of all severities were male while 3 percent of fatalities and 10 percent of casualties were aged 16 years old and under. In addition, 25 percent of fatalities and 29 percent of casualties were aged 17 to 29 years old while 23 percent of fatalities and 7 percent of casualties were aged 70 years old and over.

Overall, 75 percent of fatalities were male in 2022 In 2022 the age group with the most male fatalities was 30 to 49 year olds with 366 fatalities, a decline of 3 percent compared to 2019. For females the age group with the most fatalities in 2022 was 70 year olds and over with 155 fatalities, a decline of 16 percent compared to 2019 The largest reductions are seen in females in the older age groups when comparing to 2019, however when comparing to 2012 these age groups have seen an increase Overall, 62 percent of casualties of all severities were male in 2022. In 2022 the age group with the most male casualties of all severities was 30 to 49 year olds with 27,539 casualties For females the 30 to 49 year old age group also had the most casualties of all severities in 2022 with 16,341 casualties.

Global

Costa Rica’s Ruta 27 deploys AI data analytics platform for enhanced road traffic management

Spanish multinational transport infrastructure company, Globalvia, which operates Ruta 27 in Costa Rica, has announced the deployment of a new AI data analytics platform to monitor road traffic in real-time to help improve safety and reduce incident response times

The platform, Lanternn by Valerann (LbV) – a provider of intelligent advanced traffic management systems – has been deployed on Ruta 27, a 76 8km-long motorway, which connects the capital of Costa Rica, San José, with Caldera, a major port in the Central Pacific Region.

Since it opened in 2010, traffic on the Ruta 27 motorway has quadrupled, now reaching 100,000 vehicles a day. Today, the road is one of the most important arteries in the country and is known as the “Green Route of Costa Rica,” according to Globalvia, as it is an exemplar of sustainability and innovation projects.

LbV is a data analytics platform, providing road traffic authorities with a comprehensive overview of real-time road traffic situations for efficient road traffic management.

It ingests and processes, in real time, data from a range of unrelated sources including Waze, Google Maps, concessionaire units, cameras, vehicle GPS, etc.

The use of advanced analytics and AI results in accurate road incident detection and identification. In addition to timely incident alerts, having accurate real-time information allows the concessionaire to assign their resources more accurately and efficiently, thus improving road safety and reducing road incidence response times, Valerann noted.

The project included the deployment of LbV alongside Ruta 27 roadside infrastructure –33 mobile and 22 fixed cameras, critical to road traffic management on one of the busiest motorways in the country The integration enhances the concessionaire’s situational awareness and provides information on real-time road traffic situations for the areas outside the cameras’ vision coverage

“Ruta 27 introduced smart transport systems to Costa Rica,” said Andrés Viveros, director of Ruta 27 operations. “We are the only route in the country to be monitored by a holistic system and now with the introduction of this new technology what we are looking to do is continue at the cutting edge of transport systems, allowing Ruta 27 to continue as a road of international standard ”

“We are delighted to announce the success of this project and to see Lanternn by Valerann deployed on Ruta 27 in Costa Rica,” added Ran Katzir, chief technology officer at Valerann “This deployment is another step in our mission to improve road safety and operations performance all around the world ”

The T 8 and T 12 applicator testing programme is a key component of industry selfregulation.

NZTA P 22 specification states in Section 6:

At the time of tender contractors shall forward copies of current T/8 certificates for the plant they propose to use on the contract. The applicator(s) certification is to be kept valid for the period of the contract.

There is a .pdf version of the applicator certificates associated with each registration line.

Originals of certificates are no longer being mailed to contractors and the website register is evidence of registration

These can be accessed via a hyperlink from the certificate registration number.

The certificates include a photograph of the applicator

T 12 certificates include schedules setting out the scope of certification covering plain flat markings, structured markings and audio-tactile markings or any combinations of these.

From the Archives

Road Toll New Zealand