EL PUENTE

Newsletter of the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center

University of Puerto Rico, Mayagez Campus

Volume 28, Number 3, 2014

Educating to Save Lives on the Highways

Putting Puerto Rico on the Map in Traffic Incident Management Training

More than 80 participants present representing the emergency response sector in Puerto Rico including Homeland Security, PR Fire Department, PR Police Department, Justice
Department, Metropistas, State Emergency Management Agency, Highway & Transportation Authority, and the Emergency Management Office o aarious municipalities

Successful Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Workshop

Three injury crashes occur every minute in the United States,
potentially putting police, fire, highway workers, tow truck
drivers, and other incident responders in harms way every day.
Congestion from these incidents can generate secondary
crashes, increasing traveler delay and frustration. The longer
responders remain at the scene, the greater the risk they, and
the traveling public, face. Every additional minute clearing a

crash increases the chance of a secondary crash by 2.8 percent.

The National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder
Continued on page 3

Content

Page

Successful Traffic Incident Management

(TIM) Workshop
Message from the Director

1 & 3-7
2

Get Ready for Every Day Counts 3!

8-10

Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan

2014-2018

11-12

Abertis Awards Graduate Research in

Transportation Infrastructure Management

13

Turner Fairbanks Federal Outdoor Impact

Laboratory Conducts Jersey Barrier Low
Friction Coating Crash Comparison Test

14-15

Decade of Action for Road Safety: ITE

Student Chapter and Metropolitan Bus
Authority Launch Art on Buses Competition

16-17

Meet your Instructor: Beatriz CamachoPadrn

18

PR LTAP Center Staff: Gisela Gonzlez

19

Puerto Rico LTAP

The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center is part of a network of 58 Centers throughout the United States that
comprise of the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP), which enable local
governments, countries and cities to improve their roads and bridges by supplying them with a variety of training programs, an
information clearinghouse, new and existing technology updates, personalized technical assistance, and newsletters.

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Welcome! Best regards to all our readers of our third edition of El Puente Newsletter for 2014. El Puente
has served as practical tool to share with our readers emerging technologies and innovative research
initiatives related to transportation, with emphasis on road safety, workforce development and
management of the built road infrastructure.
The feature article highlights the activities associated with our historic Train-the-Trainer Traffic Incident
Management Workshop in Puerto Rico. Essentially, TIM is a planned and coordinated multidisciplinary
protocol to follow in the event of any type of traffic incident on the roadway. The end result is a faster and
safer clearance of the incident area, saving travelers from an overbearing traffic delay, and getting firstresponders out of harms way as quickly as possible. The importance of this activity is inherent to its
objective as a train-the trainer style workshop. With the culmination of this workshop, Puerto Rico now has
80 first responders whom represent the best of the police, fire, emergency health and roadside assistance
sectors qualified to provide training to their coworkers in the field. Finally, Puerto Rico joins the other States
in the Union whom have conducted Train-the-Trainer workshops and takes an significant step forward in
attending the goals established in the Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2014-2018.
Our second article talks about the goals and benefits of the 3 rd edition of the Every Day Counts program
(EDC-3). On August 28, 2014 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the next round of
initiatives that will be promoted through this program and this article elaborates on these by explaining the
purpose and benefits of each initiative. Between October and December, FHWA will be hosting regional
summits for each of the 11 initiatives it is promoting through EDC-3; to shorten project development, and
delivery and enhance mobility, safety and quality of our highways. These workshops are open to all
transportation professionals and I encourage all transportation agencies to visit the EDC website to for
additional summit details.
The third article provides an overview of the recently approved Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
The emphasis areas and the specific countermeasures recommended in this document are the main focus
within this article. The fourth article documents the awarding of graduate research projects through the
Abertis UPRM Chair for Transportation Infrastructure Management. The fifth article highlights research
being conducted by the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) of Turner Fairbanks Highway Research
Center in McLean, Virginia. Our sixth article promotes an initiative as part of the Decade of Action for Road
Safety in coordination with the UPR Mayagez Student Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers
and the Metropolitan Bus Authority which consists of a contest known as Art on Buses. The objective of this
activity is to display educational messages through graphic designs which support road safety.
In this edition, the PR LTAP family recognizes Dr. Beatriz Camacho from UPRM for her excellence in training
municipal and state transportation officials in the area of geotechnical infrastructure. The collaboration of
Dr. Camacho with the Puerto Rico LTAP Center on gabion applications in road and public works
infrastructure construction.
Also, in this issue the PR LTAPs family is proud to recognize Eng. Gisela Gonzlez, Administrative Official of
the T2 Center. Her contribution during the last 26 years in different administrative aspects of the program
and her active role in the Decade of Action for Road Safety and Every Day Counts Initiatives in Puerto Rico
and US Virgin Island is worth to be recognized.
The electronic version of El Puente Newsletter is available at www.uprm.edu/prt2. You can contact us
directly to submit technical articles for the Newsletter, of interest to municipalities and oriented to
transportation with emphasis on road safety, workforce development and management of the built
infrastructure.
I hope that the selection of these articles in this third edition of Newsletter El Puente for 2014 are of benefit
to our readers and other professionals in local transportation agencies in the 78 municipalities of Puerto

Benjamn Colucci Ros

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Puerto Rico Conducts Successful TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

Training program is building teams of well-

consisted of classroom training and hands-on

trained responders who can work together in a

and outdoor activities. This historic event puts

coordinated manner, from the moment the

Puerto Rico on the map as being certified

first emergency call is made.

amongst 45 states across the United States that

As part of efforts to continually improve the

have hosted train-the-trainers.

quality of emergency response services across

The National TIM Responder Training Program

the Nation, Puerto Rico conducted successful

is a part of the Strategic Highway Research

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Train-the-

Program (SHRP2) solutions (L12 / L32). This

Trainer

of

SHRP2 solution promises to save lives, money

September 2014 in the CIAPR (Puerto Rico

and time by improving effective traffic incident

Association of Civil Engineers and Surveyors)

clearance

headquarters. The workshops, which are part

emergency response services including police,

of the National Traffic Incident Management

firefighters,

Responder Training Program, were held in

professionals, medical personnel and other

collaboration with Metric Engineering of

incident responders. Improved traffic incident

Puerto Rico, Public Safety Communications

clearance reduces the risk of secondary crashes

(PSC), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),

from the original incident, and reduces traffic

Department of Transportation and Public

delays, decreasing fuel waste and freight delays.

Works and Puerto Rico Local Technical

It also intends to improve responder safety by

Assistance

cross-training

workshops

Program

this

past

(PRLTAP).

24-25

Over

80

through

DOT

TIM

coordination

towing,

core

between

transportation

competencies.

representatives of the emergency response

This SHRP2 program solution has also been

sector attended the 1.5-day workshop, which

selected as an Every Day Counts 2 and 3

Responders who have received TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshops as of October 6, 2014

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Puerto Rico Conducts Successful TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

and the Muvete pa la derecha (move to the

right) laws in Puerto Rico. Later, case studies of

significant incidents were used to detail lessons
learned in TIM. Among the topics covered
include:

Fundamental

TIM

concepts

including

terminology ,

Notification and the importance of public

safety communication,

Responders who received workshop by discipline

vehicle

positioning

including

the

initiatives. The program is intended to provide

concept of Lane +1 Blocking and safe

course participants (trainers) the knowledge and

practices in avoiding or working around the

materials necessary for them to conduct TIM

zero buffer,

training quickly thereafter, within their local

jurisdiction or agency. The states with the most

10,330,

followed

by

Virginia

with

Scene safety including emergency vehicle

markings, lighting and high-visibility safety

emergency responders trained is Ohio with

apparel,

5,988

responders trained, and California with 4,335.

Command

responsibilities

including

The chart presented above indicates that 70% of

describing the need of Incident Command

responders

Systems (ICS) and Staging Areas

trained

were

part

of

law

This programs curriculum was developed using

and

appropriate use of Unified Command,

enforcement (37%), and fire or rescue (33%).

Traffic Incident Management Area and the

a common set of best practices and advanced

concepts of establishing advance warning

standards that branch out to all the disciplines.

area, taper and types of buffers that may be

This training is delivered through interactive

used,

seminars, case study analyses, and tabletop role

-playing scenarios. These scenarios consisted of

spill and crash investigations,

narrative of the case study being studied.

The 1st day kicked off with definitions, National
Unified Goals (structures and protocol), and

Special circumstances including a vehicle fire,

hazardous material transport, vehicle fluid

incident site plans, scaled-down vehicles, and a

Safe

Clearance and termination including quick

clearance strategies.

pertinent laws and regulations. The importance

As a result of the topics discussed, participants

of Quick, Safe and Clear laws were established

learned of the best strategies to use to avoid a

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Puerto Rico Conducts Successful TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

Participants of the TIM Train the Trainer workshop perform exercises with models that simulate traffic incidents to apply concepts
learned in the classroom.

second incident at the emergency response

approximately 12 feet in length by 4 feet in

site. The future trainers of the program

width. These exercises were intended to

were able to clarify the person in charge of

provide responders from all the represented

jurisdictions,

groups an opportunity to demonstrate TIM

and

cases

of

conflicting

protocols between fire and police.

competencies, help promote communication

During the second day, the participants

and interaction among disciplines and help

were divided into representative groups and

responders

they

complexity and possible actions applicable in

explored

potential

solutions

or

better

understand

the

treatments to clear the scene, quickly and

the traffic management scenario.

safely, through teamwork and the strategies

Finally, in the afternoon hands-on activity

they had studied the day before. Emergency

that took place on the fronting street of the

Response vehicle placement and scene

CIAPR headquarters, they were able to

safety strategies were practiced using a

complete

model scenario to be solved visualized

components of the fire trucks, and the

through paper plans and miniature vehicles

placement of fire trucks, signage, and cones

on 4 rectangular tables that measured

in the appropriate manner. They practiced

the

training

identifying

the

MUTCD compliant signs typically used for Traffic Incident Management Areas

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Puerto Rico Conducts Successful TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

that aims to address critical transportation

programs by making highways safer, fixing

deteriorating infrastructure, and reducing
congestion. The TIM workshops apply 2 out
of the 4 focus areas: Safety and Reliability.
The

TIM

Training

program

has

been

endorsed by key agencies involved in

incident response, including the International
Participants
Figure 6. Participants
applied the
learn
TIMthe
signparts
placement
of a fireconcepts
truck inin
hands-on
the field

Association of Chiefs of Police, State and

the setup of a temporary traffic control

Providential Divisions (IACP); International

(TTC) zone using Part 6I of the 2009 Manual

Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); American

on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Association

which deals specifically with the control of

Transportation Officials (AASHTO); National

traffic through traffic incident management

Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC); and the

areas. These signs are distinctive for their

Towing and Recovery Association of America

background color: a fluorescent pink. The

(TRAA). More than 66,000 responders have

groups

been trained across the country using this

practiced

establishing

advance

warning areas under 4 scenarios. At the end

of the activity participants will have
acquired the capacity to describe how to
safely exit an emergency, describe how to
properly set up a taper, describe different
devices that can be used to provide
advanced warning, and describe general

of

State

Highway

and

curriculum.
The

results

have

been

very

positive.

Washington State cleared one crash five

hours faster than expected using the training
techniques. Indiana reported that a multivehicle crash on Interstate 70, west of
Indianapolis, was cleared in 5.5 hours

safety considerations for responders.

The Strategic Highway Research Program
(SHRP 2) is a collaborative effort of the
American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO), FHWA
and Transportation Research Board (TRB).
Percent capacity available after lane closure. References:
Guidelines for Emergency Traffic Control of the Kentucky
Transportation Cabinet, and Highway Capacity Manual 2010

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Puerto Rico Conducts Successful TIM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

eliminating six additional hours of potential

Incident Management Responder Training

road closures by applying the TIM training.

Program.

Several states are now requiring their state

A special thanks goes out to those people

police or highway patrol officers to take the

who made this workshop a reality including

TIM training in order to be prepared to

but not limited to engineers Felipe Luyanda

manage traffic in emergency incidences.

Andino of Metric Engineering Puerto Rico,

Emergency Response is identified as a core

Andrs Alvarez Ibaez, Bruce Varner of BH

emphasis area in the Puerto Rico Strategic

Varner and Associates and Maribell Prez of

Highway

This

the Federal Highway Administration Puerto

workshop is a step forward in meeting the

Rico Division, as well as Josue Cruz and Jose

goals established in this document of

Pagn from the Office of Traffic Engineering

reducing emergency response times. With

and Operations of ACT, Highway and

the participation of all emergency response

Transportation

sectors in this train-the-trainer exercise,

information and photos of the workshop,

Puerto Rico has taken a leap forward in

please visit our FB page under PR LTAP.

Safety

Plan

2014-2018.

Authority.

For

more

expanding the reach of the National Traffic

From
left
right:
Felipe
Luyanda
(Metric
Engineering), Andrs
lvarez
(FHWA),
(PRLTAP),
Maribell
From
left
toto
right:
Felipe
Luyanda
(Metric
Engineering-Puerto
Rico),
Andrs
lvarezBenjamn
(FHWA), Colucci
Benjamn
Colucci *****,
(PRLTAP),
BrucePrez
Varner
(FHWA)
and Grady
CarrickPrez
(FHWA).
Coordinators
collaborators
of the TIM Train-the-Trainer
Workshop.
(BH Varner and
Associates),
Maribell
(FHWA)
and Gradyand
Carrick
(FHWA). Coordinators
and collaborators
of the TIM Train-theTrainer Workshop.

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Get Ready for Every Day Counts 3!

3rd round of EDC through consultation with

transportation

agencies

and

industry

stakeholders:
1. Shortening Project Development and Delivery
A. Regional Models of Collaboration
B. Improving
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
continues developing the success of the EDC-3
program announcing a new series of funds

Collaboration

and

Quality

Environmental Documentation
C. 3D Engineered Models: Schedule, Cost and
Post-Construction

available for the implementation of the selected

technology under this program. On December 9
& 10, 2014, ACT, DTOP, USVI, FHWA-PR Division,
ITE, CIAPR and LTAP officials will participate in
the regional exchange in North Carolina as part
of the implementation of EDC-3. Every Day
Counts, or EDC, is an initiative that began in
November 2009 that encourages the use of
proven technology that highlights the 4 Is:
Innovation,

Ingenuity,

Imagination

and

Invention. The goal is to solve transportation

problems in less time, and for a reduced cost.

D. e-Construction
E. Geosynthetic Reinforced SoilIntegrated
Bridge Systems
F. Locally-Administered Federal Aid Projects:
Stakeholder Partnering
G. SHRP2-R16: Improving DOT and Railroad
Coordination
2. Mobility
A. Smarter Work Zones
3. Safety

Every 2 years, a set of innovations are identified

and showcased across the Nation and each State
is allowed to select which ones to implement.
The resounding success of these programs has
been the adoption across the United States and

A. Data-Driven Safety Analysis

A. Road Diets: Roadway Reconfiguration
4. Quality
A. Ultra-High

Performance

Puerto Rico of technologies previously limited

Connections

to a few States. Such has been the case with

Elements

for

Concrete

Pre-fabricated

Bridge

technologies such as Geosynthetic Reinforced

Soil-Integrated Bridge Systems, Safety Edge, and
Warm-Mix Asphalt. The EDC initiative also
promotes enhanced project delivery methods

Some initiatives that have the potential to be

implemented in Puerto Rico or United States
Virgin Islands will be elaborated.

and more effective stewardship agreements.

Within the interest of Shortening Project

The following innovations were selected for the

Development

and

Delivery,

EDC

fosters

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Get Ready for Every Day Counts 3!

coordination between stakeholders and the use

of technology within construction engineering.

Regional Models of Cooperation provides a
framework for collaboration across agency
boundaries while Locally Administered FederalAid Projects ensures smarter and faster
delivery of transportation projects through

Example of Smarter Work Zones. Photo by Texas A&M

stakeholder partnering which clarifies State and

different phases of project development. 3D

Federal

Locally

modeling can contribute to better decision

Administered Federal-Aid Projects supports

making in the construction phase and can

strategies designed to allow Local Public

positively

Agencies (LPAs) to manage federal-aid projects

maintenance and asset management. While 3D

in

Transportation

engineered models were a part of EDC-2, in EDC-3

Agencies (STAs). The most significant of these

this innovation will focus on: using raw data for

are certification and qualification programs,

roadway inventory and asset management,

flexibility towards consultant services, and

incorporating schedule, and cost information into

stakeholder

be

models and using post-construction survey data

Stakeholder

to correct the design model and create an

project

requirements.

partnership

with

State

partnering,

implemented

through

which
a

may

Committee. Improving the efficiency of these

types of projects is significant since 15-20% of
Federal Aid program dollars are directed
through LPAs.

impact

safety,

project

costs,

accurate as-built record drawing.

The innovations in the area of Mobility consist
of promoting Smarter Work Zones. This considers
a number of strategies including improved

The concept of e-Construction focuses on

interagency

transitioning from paper to electronic filing

coordination as well as technological applications

which provides a number of benefits including:

in speed and queue management.

(1)

decreased

communication

delays,

(2)

and

corridor-level

road-project

Better inter-agency road-project coordination

allowing concurrent document reviews and

results in cost savings, and a greater ability to

electronic approvals, (3) increased transparency

reduce and manage traffic disruptions, ultimately

and audit control, all which combined to

improve partnering and reduce project delivery
time. One of the most technologically relevant
innovations within EDC 3 is 3D Engineered
Models: Schedule, Cost and Post-Construction.
This

technology

engagement

and

can

foster

stakeholder

communication

between

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Example of Smarter Work Zones. Photo by Texas A&M.

Get Ready for Every Day Counts 3!

providing a better experience for drivers.
Variable speed limit (VSL) systems and queue
management strategies can be used to improve
driver expectancy and increase safety within
work zones.

Road safety is a top concern for Puerto Rico. .

Roadway reconfigurations, also known as Road

Diets, are strategies that are often used to
update an existing roadway design to create a
complete streets environment, often times by

The goal of Data-Driven Safety Analysis is to

incorporating facilities and safety enhancements

provide a more scientifically sound, data-driven

for vulnerable users (cyclists and pedestrians)

approach to allocating resources that results in

and/or

fewer fatalities and serious injuries on the

speeding through a community. Dan Burden and

Nations roadways, according to FHWAs Every

Peter Lagerwey of the Walkable and Livable

Day Counts website. This would be accomplished

Communities, Inc. originally championed this

through the deployment of predictive and

solution, as far back as 1999, as a means of

systemic analysis approaches to highway safety

improving

investment decision-making. Roadway inventory,

accessibility without sacrificing capacity. The

crash and traffic volume data are considered

strategies are named Road Diets because they

when employing a predictive approach of an

trim excess travel lane width and typically

existing

safety

involves substituting a passing lane with a turn

performance. Moreover, systemic approaches

lane, which helps provide additional capacity at

identify high-risk design features associated with

intersections. These innovations will serve as

severe crashes over a broad area. While the

opportunities for states to work in partnership

predictive approach focuses on spot safety

with

improvements, the systemic approach can tackle

deploying innovations that shorten project

a certain crash type more exclusively. This state-

delivery while reducing costs. Many communities

of-the-art effort builds on the past two decades

have already benefited from this program

of collaborative research conducted by the

through the implementation of the latest and

American Association of State Highway and

greatest transportation technology.

or

proposed

Transportation

Officials

roadways

(AASHTO),

Transportation Research Board

addressing

roadway

Federal

concerns

safety,

Highway

of

motorists

mobility

and

Administration

FHWA,

(TRB), and

industry partners.

(a)

(b)

Cross Section (a) Before and (b) After the application of Road Diet, Daaid Soto UPRM

10

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

in

Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2014-2018

The preceding figure is taken from the PR-SHSP

and illustrates the role of each emphasis area in

the percentage of crashes in Puerto Rico from the
year 2007-2009 and 2012.

Signing of Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Introduction
This articles summarizes the findings and
recommendations of the Puerto Rico Highway

Safety Plan (PR-HSP) for 2014-2018.

The

presentation of the PR-HSP on July 30, 2014 in

the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de
Puerto Rico (CIAPR) headquarters in San Juan,
Puerto Rico was instrumental in the compliance
to MAP-21 requirements for State Highway
Safety Plans (SHSPs). The document represents
a multi-sectorial collaboration between Federal

Contributing Circumstances. Graph from PR-SHSP

The ranking magnitude of percentages was

influential in establishing these emphasis areas.
The strategies being pursued through the PRSHSP along with performance measures include:

Emphasis Areas
1. Vulnerable
Users
Integrated
Approach Zone

and State government agencies, including

2. Alcohol Impaired Driving

Department of Transportation and Public Works

3. Aggressive Driving

(DTOP), Highway & Transportation Authority

4. Young Drivers (15-20 yrs.)

(ACT), Traffic Safety Commission (CST), Puerto

Rico Police Department (PRPD), State Health
Department as well as Federal Highway

5. Roadway Departure
Concrete
6. Parapets
Intersections

Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carrier

Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The goals for the 5-year plan are to achieve a
reduction in serious crashes, injuries and
fatalities on Puerto Rico roadways. Emphasis

areas were determined based on an analysis of

fatalities and injuries from available crash data.

Strategic Emphasis Area Goals

Performance Measure

Traffic Records and Information

Time for crash data entry

Systems
Improve EMS Response Capabil-

PREMS Annual Average Time

ities
Reduce fatalities and serious

to Crash Scene
Unrestrained occupant fatali-

injuries of occupants unre-

ties

strained
Reduce alcohol impaired driver

Alcohol-impaired driver fatal-

fatalities
Reduce speeding fatalities

ities
Speeding fatalities

Reduce fatalities and serious

Young driver fatalities, Young

injuries of fatalities involving

driver serious injuries

young drivers
Reduce vulnerable road user

Vulnerable user fatalities,

fatalities and serious injuries

Vulnerable user serious inju-

Reduce roadway departure

ries
Roadway departure fatalities

fatalities
Reduce traffic fatalities at inter-

Fatalities at intersections

Within these core emphasis areas, (1) Traffic

Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC), (2)
Emergency Medical Response (EMS) and (3)
Occupant Protection, the following emphasis
areas were established.

sections

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

11

Puerto Rico Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2014-2018

Each Emphasis Area has a team
each of the 4 Es: Engineering,

Moaing Forward or Less

Fatalities on Sa er Roadways
Some areas that have been

Enforcement, Education and

the target of historic road

Emergency

safety campaigns, such as

assigned to it representing

Management

Systems (EMS). Among their

fatalities

responsibilities, they must:

alcohol-impaired driving, have

years, suggesting the success

A. Identification of specific

of

using

of

responsible

parties

category, for instance, some

FigureCover
15. Cover
of PR-SHSP
of PR-SHSP
2014-2018.
2014-2018.

crash types such as pedestrian

for

C. Establishment of project schedules

3.

awareness

will work for every fatality

implementation

2.

these

campaigns. Not all solutions

outcome based objectives

B. Identification

with

been on the decline in recent

1. Prepare Action Plans

countermeasures

associated

Identify Best Practices in Highway Safety

Ensure integration with existing and future

transportation plans

fatalities

may

enhancements

in

require
addition

infrastructure
to

educational

awareness campaigns in order to be effective.

The PR-SHSP reflects this need and to that end
promotes the implementation of solutions that
require low to medium implementation efforts
(minor changes to public policy or regulations)

In order to ensure that the PR-SHSP is

successfully implemented and its objectives are

met, its action plans must be continually
assessed and adjusted as needed. To successfully
measure this progress, the report recommends
utilizing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities

and medium to high effectiveness (proven

strategies that significantly reduce injuries) in
reducing fatal crashes. With the ratification of
the PR-SHSP, the coming years promise to be full
of interesting road safety projects and initiatives
in Puerto Rico.

and Threats (SWOT) analysis, Evaluation Process

Model (EPM), Implementation Process Model
(IPM), and performance assessment to track the
progress of emphasis area goals. The findings of
such an analysis as well as all relevant Emphasis
Area team actions must be presented in an
Annual Report.
FigureStrategies
16. Strategies
Prioritization
Prioritization
Matrix
Matrix

Fatality counts by category for Puerto Rico (2007-2011)

12

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Abertis Premia a Investigaciones en Transportacin

Students received their awards in a ceremony in Foundation for Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras

The Abertis UPRM Chair for Research in Transpor-

tation Infrastructure Management. Winners of the

tation Infrastructure Management was created by

local awards contest were Doctor Luis E. Zapata Orduz

the Abertis Foundation in 2003. The objective of

and Yeritza Prez Prez, both graduates from the Uni-

this program is to promote the study of economic

versity of Puerto Rico Mayagez Campus. Dr. Zapatas

and social development resulting from the partici-

winning entry was titled Rheological and Mechanical

pation of the private sector in transportation man-

Characterization of Portland Cement Mixes Containing

agement. The main activity of this program is the

Micro and Nano Amorphous Silica Particles while Ms.

call for papers which has two (2) awards, one for

Prez was awarded for her thesis Development of an

students in Masters and the other in Doctorate

Application to Assist in the Value for Money Deci-

level. The Abertis Chair program is present in

sion Making Process for Highway Projects in Puerto

Spain, France, Puerto Rico, Chile and Brazil.

Rico (title translated to English) On the international

In Spring 2012 an agreement of collaboration was

signed by Abertis Chair and University of Puerto
Rico to bring this research awards to the Island.
Professor Benjamin Colucci from the University of

stage Dr. Aida Calvio Martnez from Spain and Pierre

Antoine Laharrotte from France both received this
years recognitions by Abertis Awards for best research.

Puerto Rico Mayagez Campus was selected to

Students who are interested in participating in this

manage the program. The jury is composed of pro-

years call for papers must apply by this years dead-

fessors of transportation from the University of

line, 1st of December 2014, to qualify for the grant.

Puerto Rico Mayagez Campus, representatives

They must present a project that was researched or

from the General Contractors Association (AGC by

completed within the last year. The awards are open

their Spanish acronym) and directors from Abertis

to all masters and doctoral students of the University

Foundation. Winners of the national Abertis

of Puerto Rico. Students must present a bounded

Awards contests are automatically entered to par-

physical copy of the work, a digitial copy, and an offi-

ticipate in the International Abertis Awards.

cial letter demonstrating interest in participating in

Last year Puerto Rico hosted the 1st National Aber-

the UPRM Abertis to the Puerto Rico Transportation

tis Awards Ceremony. The Island also served as the

principal forum to honor winners of the 3rd International Abertis Awards on Research in Transpor-

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

Technology Center of the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the University of Puerto Rico
Mayagez Campus. For more information, please contact 787-834-6385 or reach out to the email

13

FOIL Conducts Jersey Barrier Low Friction Coating Crash Comparison Test

Still from video recording of crash comparison test showing moment of impact Federal Highway Administration on Youtube

14

Jersey barriers are the most widely used form

This reaction in an unstable manner is due to the

of concrete traffic barrier. The tendency of

friction with the concrete barrier and reducing

small cars to roll over is a concern to the

the friction forces could minimize the tendency

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and

to rollover.

previous research has yielded the F-Shape

The first phase consisted of proving the

barrier design, which limits the potential for

feasibility of deploying a low friction coating

rollover. From September 10-12, 2014 the

existing barriers across the countrys roadways.

Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) of

The coating design must withstand the repeated

the Turner Fairbanks Highway Research

impact

Center conducted a crash comparison exercise

durability, be easily applied on the field to

on the application of a low-friction coating to

existing barriers and reduce friction with the

Jersey barriers.

impacting vehicle as to avoid rollovers. Chemical

Research into the low-friction coating is being

experiments and component level tests were

conducted

conducted

through

the

Small

Business

of

with

crash,

show

previously

environmental

used

concrete

Innovative Research (SBIR) program. The

barriers with the aid of the 4500 lbs pendulum of

objective

the FOIL.

is

to

establish

the

technical

foundation to enable the rapid integration of

The results of the first phase were refined in

low friction coatings to concrete barriers for

phase 2. The coating developed shall be fine-

the reduction of vehicle rollovers. Under

tuned, crash-tested and equipped for its rapid

certain crash scenarios outside of what the

deployment. In order to identify the critical case

concrete barriers are designed for, impacting

that would be studied in the crash tests, vehicle

vehicles might have the tendency to roll over.

dynamic simulations of varying scenarios were

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

FOIL Conducts Jersey Barrier Low Friction Coating Crash Comparison Test
conducted. Two (2) full-scale crash tests have

limit for this type of Jersey barriers. Other

been conducted at FOIL. Beforehand a test was

concerns include the maintenance of these

conducted to ensure that the method of rigidly

facilities and whether the vehicle climb can be

fixing the barriers was going to work during the

reduced. The results demonstrate the impact of

crash tests. Once this had been completed, a

this improvement on roadway safety by reducing

second test with a small sedan weighing 2600 lbs

the likelihood of rollover crashes.

with the weight of 4 passengers impacted a row

of J-hook jersey barriers at a speed of 60mph
and at an angle of 10 degrees. This crash test
resulted in the vehicle climbing and lunging with
a high rolling angle eventually causing the vehicle
to roll four (4) times. The subsequent test was
identical to the last except the yellow coating
had been applied to the Jersey barrier. This
resulted in the vehicle once again climbing the
barrier but in a stable manner, which did not
induce any roll.

This is one of many different innovations that

are being studied at Turner Fairbanks Highway
Research Center. Turner Fairbanks is located in
McLean, Virginia and houses more than 20
laboratories, data centers and support facilities
where

applied

research

in

structures

and

exploratory

safety,
and

advanced

pavements,

bridges,

highway

human-centered

systems, operations, intelligent transportation

systems and materials is conducted. The
research center provides the world highway

Further tests will be conducted before the study

community

with

advanced

concludes next year including what the forces

development with the goal of maintaining a

perceived by the occupants of the vehicle were

safer,

and whether these were within the allowable

transportation system.

longer-lasting,

research

more

and

reliable

Still from video recording of crash comparison test showing rollover. Federal Highway Administration on Youtube

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

15

Decade of Action for Road Safety: Art on Buses Competition

The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-

Spanish acronym), announced an initiative

2020 is a proclamation from the United

as part of an existing alliance with the

Nations to stabilize and decrease the number

Institute of Transportation Engineers

of road fatalities around the world. In Puerto

University of Puerto Rico Mayagez Student

Rico there is a special concern for vulnerable

Chapter (ITE-UPRM) as part of the Decade of

users since the pedestrian fatality rate is

Action for Road Safety. The competition is

higher than any other jurisdiction in the

part of a new road safety awareness

United States. The initiative has become a

mutual cause between members of the

transportation field to work together for the

common goal of reducing traffic fatalities.
The central themes of the Global Plan for the
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020
are the 5 pillars: (1) Road Safety
Management, (2), Safer Roads and Mobility,
(3) Safer Vehicles, (4) Safe Road Users and (5)

Safety Awareness ad on Bus in Maryland.

Post-crash response.

campaign that promotes local artistic talent.

As another example of successful

The 4 winning artworks would be

partnerships for the Decade of Action on

incorporated into the available

Monday, September 22, 2014, Alberto

advertisement spots displayed on 16 new

Figueroa Medina, President and CEO of the

buses that are operated by AMA. This

Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA for its

historic alliance will serve to create

awareness among the students and also
create an impact to the communities served
by the transit agency. This will also serve to
strengthen collaboration between academia
and the public sector. This initiative will help
enhance the behavior of road users, the 4th
pillar of the Decade of Action for Road
Safety.
The competition will be open to students of

Art on Buses Competition logo.

16

the University of Puerto Rico Mayagez

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Decade of Action for Road Safety: Art on Buses Competition

Transportation). Winners will be

announced shortly after the submission

deadline has closed.
Puerto Ricos Decade of Action for Road
Safety campaign has used various advocacy
mediums to promote road safety among
organizations, government agencies and

Historic
Historic
alliance
alliance
for the
to promote
promotion
road
of road
safety.
safety.

Campus and submissions will be accepted

nd

nd

professionals. Examples of such outlets

from September 22 through October 22 ,

include this periodical, press events such as

2014. The suggested themes for the

Work Zone Awareness Week, a facebook

competing submissions are:

page and the Pledge to Save Lives, a

Public transportation
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

commitment to operate motor vehicles

with the highest standards of integrity in
road safety. 56 lives have been saved on

Roadway safety

roadways as of October 2014, when

The competing submissions will be evaluated

comparing fatal crash statistics from this

by an Awarding Committee composed of

year-to-date to last years through

representatives from the Metropolitan Bus

collaborative efforts made by the Decade of

Authority, ITE-UPRM, FIESTA Colegial,

Action for Road Safety, the Commission for

Professor Claudia Torres (Department of

Road Safety, Department of Transportation

Humanities - Art), and Professor Enrique

and Public Works and others to reduce

Gonzlez (Department of Civil Engineering

fatalities on the road.

UPR Mayagez Civil Engineering Department gathered to announce and support this historic alliance.

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

17

Meet your Instructor: Beatriz Camacho-Padrn

Dr. Beatriz Camacho Padrn was born in Ponce and

Dr. Camacho has also served as a consultant in

raised in Yauco. She completed her Bachelor OF

various projects in Puerto Rico. Among these is soil

Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Puerto

studies for a water treatment plant project in Yauco.

Rico

Mayagez

Campus

(UPRM).

During

her

undergraduate years she was a member of the Tau

Beta Pi Honor Society and graduated Magnum Cim
Credit: Hernn M. Daz

Laude. Early in her career, she worked in the

Waterway Experiment Station of the United States
Army Corp of Engineers in the environmental
laboratory conducting research on the effects of
chloride reduction on the turbidity of water in the
Texona Lagoon as part of the Red River Chloride
Control

Project.

When

she

completed

her

undergraduate studies she was offered a scholarship

opportunity from the University of Puerto Rico to
complete her Masters and Doctorate as part of a
faculty position offer in the Department of Civil
Engineering and Surveying.
She took this opportunity to do her postgraduate
studies abroad in the United States. In 1999, she
completed her Masters degree at the University of
Florida at Gainesville. Afterwards she was accepted to
the Doctorate program in Civil Engineering at the
University of Texas at Austin. From 2002-2003 she
was a recipient of the Wilda and Raymond Dawson
Endowed Presidential Scholarship, one of the most
prestigious awards that can be obtained by students

Amongst her principal publications include Effects of

Compaction in the Shear Strength Resistance of Silty
Sand for the International Magazine of Natural
Disasters, Accidents and Civil Infrastructure. She is
credited as a contributor in the publication Effect of
Particle Cementation on the Mechanical Properties of
a Granular Material: A Fundamental Study and
Comparison

of

the

Dynamic

Properties

and

Undrained Shear Strength of Offshore Calcareous

Sand and Artificially Cemented Sand. She has also
participated in research related to the Experimental
Evaluation

of

Mechanical

Properties

of

Sand

Specimens Mixed with Crumbled Rubber. Currently

she is working on a research paper titled Stiffness
Measurement of Artificially Cemented Uniform Sand
as Measured with Stress Wave Velocities.
Since 2006 when she began working as an associate
professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and
Surveying of University of Puerto Rico Mayagez
Campus, she has conducted 11 courses including
Measurement of Soil Properties, Deep Foundation
Design, Geoenvironmental Aspects of Waste Disposal,
Introduction to Geotechnical, Ground Improvement
Engineering, Soil Behavior y Slope Stability.

at the University of Texas. During both Masters and

Doctorate studies she served as a laboratory
instructor and in the University of Texas she served as
a research assistant in the Rock and Soil Testing
Laboratory and the Soil Dynamics Laboratory.

In May 2009 Dr. Camacho began collaborating with

our Center in the short course titled Basic Concepts
of Soil Mechanics and Slope Stability with Gabions
Applied to Road Construction and Public Works. Her
latest collaboration was in August 2014 in a related

She completed her Doctorate at the University of

Texas in 2006. Following this, she returned to her
alma matter in Mayagez to serve as an associate
professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and
Surveying with a special focus in geotechnical

course that focused on pile driving.

In this third

edition of 2014 of El Puente Newsletter we recognize

the valuable contributions and quality of excellence of
Dr. Beatriz Camacho-Padrn as a member of our
family of instructors of the Center.

engineering.

18

TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

Puerto Rico Local Technical Assistance Program Center Staff: Gisela Gonzlez
Eng. Gisela Gonzlez natural from Mayagez,

has also been instrumental in carrying out initiatives

completed

Civil

like the Decade of Action for Road Safety and other

Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico

initiatives with student and professional organization

Mayagez Campus (UPRM) in 1978. She married Dr.

such as the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).

her

Bachelor

of

Science

in

Mario Rivera, who is now a professor at UPRM.

Her positive attitude, intention of solving and

Between 1978-1990, she moved to Blacksburg,

addressing the challenges and opportunities to the

Virginia where she supported her husband in his

next level, have been a key element to the success

graduate studies and during that time she dedicated

stories of the Center. Her ability to identify the

herself to raising their children. In 1991, she started

appropriate resources for the challenging tasks of the

working with the development of the Center for

Center, has been impressive.

Hemispherical

and

responsibility to perform all administrative tasks and

Education in Engineering and Applied Sciences

the distribution of funds to provide a balanced

(COHEMIS), recently founded with grants from the

program for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Cooperation

in

Research

National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the

Civil Infrastructure Research Center (CIRC).
Eng.

Gonzlez

began

collaborating

She also had the

Throughout the years she has demonstrated to be

able to manage her time between her work and her

in

the

family. Eng. Gonzlez is a model of inspiration,

Transportation Technology Transfer Center (T2) in

providing

1992 at a moment in which the Center was involved

professional development and human aspect, to the

in a historical process. By then, the Center had just

staff who have worked with her over the years.

received the monumental responsibility of hosting

the National Local Technical Assistance Program
Association Meeting, in which the Directors and the

wisdom

and

knowledge,

both

the

The T2 Center family gratefully welcomes her great

contributions, efforts and dedication as a professional
and as a human being during these 22 years.

Personnel of all the Centers across the United States

We hope she enjoy her well-deserved retirement with

were expected to attend.

her husband Mario, her children Mario Alfredo,

Eng. Gonzlez began as an Executive Official at the

Camille, Kathia and Marah, and her grandchildren

Transportation Technology Transfer Center (T ),

being the right hand of the directors during projects

Angel Toms Jr., Mario Alfredo, Alejandro Xavier, Maia

Alexandra, and Omar Antonio. Congrats!

of great magnitude, to complement the training

program of the LTAP Center.

Examples of such

innovative initiatives includes Every Day Counts

(EDC) of the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), the Professional Development Program
UPR/MIT/Tren

Urbano,

the

Professional

Development Program UPR/PUPR/ATI, congresses co

-sponsored with NSF, COHEMIS as well as other
engineering projects and community services. She

EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 28, NO. 2, 2014

19

PR LTAP Center Staff

NOT FINAL

Director & Editor

Benjamn Colucci Ros
Administratiae Staff
Irmal Franco Ramrez
Adlin Santos Vlez
Grisel Villarubia Echevarra
Editor Assistant
David R. Soto Padn
Student Staff
Yari L. Babilonia Obregn
David R. Soto Padn
Yanira Rivera Matas
Gretchen Avils Pieiro
Marivic Hernndez
Anne M. Mndez Ramrez

EL PUENTE is published by the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology

Transfer Center located at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying

EL PUENTE Newsletter
VOL. 28, NO. 03, 2014

EL PUENTE
NEWSLETTER
PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Call Box 9000, Mayaguez, PR 00681
787.834.6385 PHONE
787.265.5695 FAX

www.prltap.org
The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the Center Director and Editor and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Federal Highway Administration, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, or the
TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public
Works.

20