RAC Region 1 Conference Call: September 3, 2009

The RAC Region I teleconference was held on Thursday 9/3/09. The following individuals participated.

Dale Peabody (Chair)Maine DOT

Camille Crichton-Summers (Vice Chair)New Jersey DOT

Gary FrederickNew York DOT

Bill CarrDistrict of Columbia DOT

Jennifer FitchVermont AOT

Kim FerroniPennsylvania DOT

Laine HeltebridlePennsylvania DOT

Steve PepinMass. EOT

Ken KobetskyAASHTO

Chris JollyFHWA- Vermont

1. Minuets of June conference call approved.

2. Steve Pepin- 2 issues raised at RAC summer breakfast meeting. 1. Encouraged everyone to talk to Task Force managers to see if they need additional participation. 2. Need to share information on how states are evaluating research projects.

3. Regional Focus Areas:

NCHRP 20-83-Long Range Strategic Issues Facing the Transportation Industry - How can we get involved? SCOR Task force assigned to this. Nothing new from SCOR Task Force. September 15, 2009 deadline for problem statements.

Peer Exchanges- Gary to participate in Mississippi. Bill participated in Oregon’s. Mn. Looking for participants for peer exchange on “Communicating the Value of Research” in early Nov. let dale know if interested. Note: Dinny Oliveria from ConnDOT going.

“Show N Tell” on conference calls. Logistical problems. Does not seem to be much interest.

TRBState Visit Program- No recent visits. Usually every otheryear. Camille was hosting every year but skipped hers this year. Gary has one scheduled at end of October. Mass. finds visits useful but also skipped this year. Vermont TRB rep. scheduled to come 9/15 and 16.

Cooperative Research Programs– Questions- Are NCHRP projects/reports being implemented ? Are DOT’s using these reports ?

4. Bill Carr- Group Peer Exchange’s - Peer exchange Task Force looking at doing group peer exchanges with focus on a specific topic which group would agree on. FHWA has agreed to in concept. Need FHWA to recognize this would meet current peer exchange requirements. Possible new format with 3 options. 1. traditional with 1 state. 2. electronically/video conference 3. Group multi state. Bill Carr offered to host and fund a regional pooled funded project to conduct a group peer exchange.

5. Administrative Task Force- Need to get new members on this Task Force. If anyone is interested let Steve P. know. Looking at combining this with the Educational Task Force. Also if anyone wants to change Task Force’s or join a new one let Sandra and/or Rick Collins know.

6. Leadership call last call was 8/13/09. Dale on call- not much new.

7. Ken Kobetsky- Brief update on reauthorization. Need new Bill and FY 2010 appropriations. Most likely will see a continuing resolution.

8. Next call 10/1/09 1:30