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Information Technology Solutions

25 years of excellence in5 years of excellence in5 years of excellence inprofessional development androfessional development androfessional development andtraining current andraining current andraining current andfuture generations ofuture generations ofuture generations oftransportation professionals.ransportation professionals.ransportation professionals.

EELL PPUENTEUENTECommemorave 25Commemorave 25

ththAnniversary EdionAnniversary Edion

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EL PUENTE 25th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

In this commemorative editionn this commemorative edition

2

Page

Message from the Director .....3

Our beginnings: The Advisory Commiee ....4

Center Sta .......6

Local Technical Assistance Program ..8

T2 Center Fundamental Principles ..9

Seminar Program .......10

Training in Acon! Safety our Priority ...11

Program Assessment .... 12

Social Media ....... 13

Looking Back at 25 Years of Special Memories ... 14

Innovaon in Workforce Development in Transportaon .. 16

U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works ...... 20

Special Projects .... 24

Naonal and Internaonal Collaboraons . 25

Our Sponsors and Collaborators .. 26

University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez ... 27

A Look Ahead into the Future ... 28

Heres to the Next 25 Years and the Great Times! .. 30

This Special Edion of the Newsleer El Puente is prepared in celebraon of the 25th

anniversary

of the Puerto Rico Transportaon Technology Transfer Center and the 100th

anniversary of the

University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez. This commemorave issue presents the major

accomplishments of the Center and provides informaon regarding innovave professional

development programs, and other training related acvies that have promoted technology

transfer and enhanced educaon in transportaon, engineering, and associated disciplines in

Puerto Rico, United States, and Lan American countries.

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n April 1, 2011 the Transportaon Technology Transfer Center, also known as Puerto Rico Local

Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), T2 or simply El Centro, of the University of Puerto Rico at

Mayagez celebrated its 25th

anniversary in providing professional development, training and

technical assistance to local transportaon ocials from Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin

slands. Since 1986, the Center has been involved and parcipated in mulple acvies and projects

related to the professional development of many generaons of undergraduate and graduate

students and transportaon professionals, the planning and coordinaon of local, naonal, and

nternaonal conferences in the areas of highway safety, workforce development, infrastructure

management and the provision of technical assistance to Federal, State, Local and Municipal

agencies.

These contribuons have been accomplished with the excellent support from the Administraon of

the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez, which is celebrang its 100th

anniversary in 2011 of

serving the academic and research needs of Puerto Rico and the Hemisphere. Im grateful to the

Research and Development Center, the Oce of the Dean of Engineering, the Department of Civil

Engineering and Surveying, as well as other support oces, departments, and Centers that have been

nstrumental to the success that the Center has achieved.

acknowledged the Federal Highway Administraon, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportaon

and Public Works, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Municipalies and their

administrators, secretaries, commissioners, execuve directors, and majors for their funding and

connuous support, all the instructors that have parcipated in our seminar and professional

development programs and to the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyors for accreding our

seminars and other professional organizaons that have sponsored and contributed to the Centers

goals.

Special thanks to our outstanding supporng sta that have successfully contributed to the Centers

tasks and acvies throughout all these years with their leadership, managerial skills, bilingual

capabilies, their human relaons and sensibility. I also acknowledged the Centers Advisory

Commiees that have provided assistance and guidance in the operaon of the Center. Special

recognion to Sergio Gonzlez and Felipe Luyanda, who were pioneers with the subscriber in

establishing this professional development and training program.

This commemorave edion ofEl Puente provides an opportunity to look back at the major acvies

and contribuons the Center has had in this 25 year period. The Center sta is fully commied to

ook forward to the next years to meet the new emerging challenges and to connue addressing the

educaon and training needs of the community and the next generaon of transportaon

professionals.

Benjamn Colucci-Ros

Message from the Directoressage from the Director

PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER3

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4

The Advisory Commiee of our Center has been instrumental throughout the yein assisng us in idenfying potenal seminar topics for our program for Puerto R

and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as approving the budget for the annual opera

of the LTAP Program.

These professionals that represent the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department

Public Works, the Execuve Director of the Highway and Transportaon Author

the Execuve Director of Public Works, the Human Resources Area, the Oce

Municipal Aairs, and those oces that include planning, environmental, desi

construcon and operaons deserves a special recognion in this special edion

token of appreciaon to the Federal Highway Administraon and their liaisons

the advisory commiee throughout the years, which complemented nao

transportaon related emerging training needs such as Every Day Counts (ED

iniaves, and gave us the opportunity to adapt this training material to

stakeholders.

Our beginnings: The Advisory Committeeur beginnings: The Advisory Committee

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OOur partners in allocating training budget and in theur partners in allocating training budget and in the decision making process!decision making process!

To all of you that have signicantly contributed to the success of ourprofessional development and training programs during the last 25 years,

special thanks and gratude on behalf of the Center Directors and Sta for a

job well done.

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Center Staffenter Staff


6

Benjamn Colucci Ros

Director

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Professor of Transportaon Engineering at UP

since 1978 and is a founding member of the Center since its incepon in 1986

Professional Engineer and Juris Doctor. Hes a fellow and past president of

Instute of Transportaon Engineers, Puerto Rico Chapter and other professio

engineering and honor associaons. Spokesperson of the Decade of Acon for R

Safety in Puerto Rico. Married with Lizee and proud father of Iris Lizee and Be

III.

Educaon

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez, 19

Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, 1980

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, 1984

Alberto Figueroa Medina

Deputy Director

Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Alberto started working at the Center as a Resea

Assistant in the summer of 1996 and has parcipated as a Training Instructor si

2000. Became Deputy Director in August 2007. Alberto is a Professional Engin

and Associate Professor of Transportaon Engineering at the Department of C

Engineering and Surveying of the UPR-

Mayagez. He is member of the Puerto RCollege of Engineers and Surveyors, the American Public Works Associaon, the

Beta Pi Society and current President of the Instute of Transportaon Engine

Puerto Rico Chapter.

Educaon


Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez, 199

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, 2005

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PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

7

Gisela Gonzlez

Execuve Ocial

Born in Mayagez, Puerto Rico. She has been working as Program Manager at the

Center for the last nineteen years (19) in professional development and training

related aspects. She has worked as Coordinator in other research centers at the

UPRM such as Center for Cooperaon in Educaon and Research in Engineering and

Applied Science (Co-Hemis), and Center for Infrastructure of the Civil Engineering

Department (CIIC).Educaon


Grisel Villarubia

Administrave Ocial

Born in Mayagez, Puerto Rico. Started working at the Center in 2002. Has

obtained several professional development cercates. She also completed theTeaching Cercaon in Business Educaon, through the Teacher Preparaon

Program from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez. She has oered seminars

on Computer Introducon, as an instructor of the Centers training and professional

development program.

Educaon

Bachelor in Business Administraon, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez, 2001

Irmal Franco

Administrave Ocial

Born in Mayagez, Puerto Rico. Started working at the Center as a student in 2001,

was hired in 2003 and currently is Deputy Administrator. She has obtained several

professional development cercaons, such as Microso Cered Applicaon

Specialist and other related internet and web design soware that are currently

used at the Center.

Educaon

Bachelor in Business Administraon, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez, 2003

Student Sta and

EDC Research Assistants

Claudio Figueroa

Giana Zeno

Yari Babilonia

Josu Diego Orz

Freddie Salado

Carlos Calero

Our Executive and Administrative Staff

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OUR MISSION: To foster a safe, ecient,

and environmentally

sound surface

transportaon systemby improving the skills

and increasing the

knowledgeof the local and tribal

transportaon

workforce.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Mechanism by which

exisng research and

knowledge and new

technology are transferredinto useful processes,

products and programs.

U.S. Department of

Transportaon

Local Technical Assistance Program

The Puerto Rico Transportaon

Technology Transfer Center was created

on April 1, 1986 in the Department of Civil

Engineering of the University of Puerto

Rico at Mayagez as part of a network of

transportaon technology transfer

centers established throughout the

United States at universies, state

departments of transportaon or tribal

communies by the Federal Highway

Administraon (FHWA).

With the enactment of the Intermod

Surface Transportaon Eciency Ac

(ISTEA) in 1991, our training program

became known as the Local Technica

Assistance Program (LTAP), includin

technical assistance to urban areas an

with a network expansion to 58 Cente

which includes one LTAP Center in eac

state seven TTAP in tribal communie

and our Center for Puerto Rico and th

U.S. Virgin Islands.


8

The program was originally called the

Rural Technical Assistance Program

(RTAP) with the mission to provide

technical assistance to local

transportaon ocials in rural

communies. In Puerto Rico the

municipalies are considered local

communies. In 1986, our Center was

originally part of FHWA Region 1 that

included eight states in the Northeastern

United States. In 1996 our Center was

transferred to Region 4 with eight

states from the Southeastern United

States.

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T2 Center Fundamental Principles2 Center Fundamental Principles


9

Training Focus Areas

During our twenty-fiv

years of operation, th

Center objectives hav

evolved in a variety o

projects and activities, tha

includes short-term specia

projects, to complement th

Centers daily technolog

transfer activities an

others related to th

professional developmenof students, the plannin

and coordination of loca

national and internationa

conferences, and th

provision of internationa

technical assistance.

The initial objectives and fundamental principles of our program since itsinception in 1986, focus on three (3) strategic areas:

1. Transfer the significant findings and innovations of researchstudies conducted in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands(USVI), and abroad to local and state agencies in the Islands inconcise format.

2. Train personnel in highway-related areas such as new roadwayconstruction, maintenance, inspection, and rehabilitationtechniques, asset management, road safety, and sustainability.

3. Keep local, municipal, and state officials current with newregulations and technology available for the design, construction,programming, maintenance, safety, evaluation, analysis, andrehabilitation of transportation systems.

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Our seminar program for local, state, highway, and transportaon ocials from the 7municipalies of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportaon and Publi

Works, the Highway and Transportaon Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Departmen

of Public Works is the main acvity of the Center. The annual training program typical

includes approximately 50 seminar days in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, an

are oered at dierent locaons to maximize its accessibility to our stakeholders. Th

training program is accredited to registered engineers and surveyors that parcipate i

the program, by the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyors through IACET and it

connuous educaon program.

The training program includes seminars and workshops that covers:

Technical seminars that correspond to topics of technical nature related to planning,

design, operaons, maintenance and rehabilitaon of transportaon infrastructure

systems.

Supporng tool-related seminars include topics that complement roune

transportaon-related acvies.

UPR-MAYAGUEZ

INSTRUCTORS

Felipe Acosta

Edith Algreen

Beatriz Camacho

Benjamn Colucci

Jos Colucci


Poduru Gandhi

Antonio Gonzlez

Merbil Gonzlez

Sergio Gonzlez

Jaime Gurrez

Sangchul Hwang

Pedro Jimnez

Felipe Luyanda

Francisco Maldonado

Omar Molina

Ismael Pagn Trinidad

Miguel Pando

Jos Perdomo

Elmer Prez

Jorge Rivera Santos

Roque Romn

Walter Silva

Didier Valds

Linda Vlez

Thanks to all the UPRMfaculty, students, and invited

instructors that have provided

their me and experse in

benet of our stakeholders

throughout our rst 25 years!

Seminar Programeminar ProgramOur representation of quality and professionalism!Our representation of quality and professionalism!

A Sample of Technical and Supporng Related Tools

Seminars


Pavement design, construcon,

evaluaon and maintenance

techniques.

Management of transportaon

projects.

Road design and maintenance pracces.

Safety evaluaon and analysis of

highway facilies.

Trac engineering.

Asset inventory and management

systems.

Material tesng and selecon

procedures.

Introducon to computer soware for

administrave / technical support.

Introducon to spreadsheets and

databases.

Basic management concepts.

Ethics for engineers.

Basic stascs.

Basic supervisory skills.

Guidelines in technical wring.

Safety Edge

Warm-Mix Asphalt

Geosynthec Reinforced Soil

Prefabricated Bridge Elements

Adapve Signal Control

Enhanced Technical Assistance on

Stalled EISs

Flexibilites in Right of Way

Flexibilies in Ulity Relocaon

Design Build

1

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Training in Action!raining in Action!Our Commitment to Excellence!Our Commitment to Excellence!


11

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The main acvies of the PR LTAP/T2 Center are its seminar program, the publicaon of

the bilingual newsleer El Puente, the provision of technical informaon services, the

parcipaon in special projects, and the evaluaon of the training program eecveness

of the stakeholder parcipaon.

OUR SUCCESSOUR SUCCESS

During the 25 years ofDuring the 25 years of

the Center,the Center,

approximately 30,000approximately 30,000

transportaon ocialstransportaon ocials

of Puerto Rico and theof Puerto Rico and the

U.S. Virgin Islands haveU.S. Virgin Islands have

beneed from ourbeneed from our

training programtraining program..

Program AssessmentOur evidence of work accomplished!Our evidence of work accomplished!

2006-2010 Stakeholder ParcipaonEecveness liaison with our constuents...our representaon of our commitment, quality, profes-sionalism and credibility.

The seminars, workshops, symposiums,

conferences, summits, webinars and

eld demonstraons are oered at

dierent facilies across Puerto Rico

and the U.S. Virgin Islands to maximize

their accessibility to our stakeholders.

The Centers training program is accredited by the

Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyorsthrough IACET and its connuous educaon

program.


1

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Social MediaOur Connection to our stakeholders and the World!Our Connection to our stakeholders and the World!


13

El Puente

The news posted in our

new Facebook page

have been viewed a to-

tal number of 5,150

mes in the 6-month

period from February to

August 2011.

Our bilingual newsleer, published

quarterly and available in the internet,

serves as a bridge of informaon

between the Center and the local

transportaon ocials to keep them

informed about the latest transportaon

related technology, state and federal

regulaons, technical publicaons and

audiovisual materials available at our

library, and future training opportunies

sponsored by the Center.

Our Internet Website

Facebook

www.uprm.edu/prt2,

connues to be a

signicant informaon

outlet for our clients. More

than 31,000 page views

were made by visitors in

our website during the last

two years.

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Looking Back at 25 Years of Special Memories


1

1986 1996

PRLTA

P

Establishm

ent

Development of Microcomputer Programs in

Transportation, COPACA, PIH/IPC FoundersConference, Pan-American Congress of

Transportation/Traffic Engineers, Translation

FP85 Specifications FTA/UMTA, Regional andNational LTAP Meeting, FHWA-HIS

Eisenhower Fellowship, NASTO-CoHemisTransportation Research in the Americas,

Research Practice, Bridge and Pavements,

Rhode Island

International Technical Sup

(South Africa), ETTAP, Ga

Morgan Initiative, UPR/MIProfessional Developme

Program, Transfer to RegioRegion 4 Annual Meetin

EPICS, BTEP, PR-2 FreewConversion/Movement P

Development of Mayag

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15

2006 2011

SELRC, UPR/PUPR/ATIProfessional Development

Program, UPRM/URI

Research Exchange Program,

ACAA Summit of HighwaySafety in Puerto Rico

PR LTAP 20th Anniversary

Collaboration with Motorcycle Safety with the Traffic Safety Commission, FirstSummit of Highway Safety, Collaboration with International Conferences and

Programs, Partnership with professional and government organizations: CIAPR,

OCAM, MMPDO, Collaboration in the 2nd Encounter between the CIAPR & UPRM,

Region 4 Annual Meeting, Collaboration with the MMPDO at the Agency LeadersSummit: Towards the Success of Mayagez 2010 Central American and Caribbean

Games, Transportation Week, Collaboration with CoHemis at the Planet Earth Week,

PR LTAP 25th

Anniversary

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The Puerto Rico LTAP/T2 Center has parcipated in pioneering iniaves that have

enhanced the engineering educaon and the development of the transportaon workforce

at the local and internaonal level. These programs have been directed primarily to

educang university and K-12 students, and to promote transportaon as a future career.

TREN URBANO (TU)TREN URBANO (TU)

The Puerto Rico LTAPThe Puerto Rico LTAP

parcipated in the 1parcipated in the 1stst

ProfessionalProfessional

Development ProgramDevelopment Program

with the planning,with the planning,

design, construcon anddesign, construcon and

operaon of Trenoperaon of Tren

Urbano (TU), a 10.7Urbano (TU), a 10.7--milemile

heavy rail system thatheavy rail system that

serve the municipaliesserve the municipalies

of San Juan, Bayamnof San Juan, Bayamn

and Guaynabo in theand Guaynabo in the

San Juan MetropolitanSan Juan Metropolitan

Area. The construconArea. The construcon

of Tren Urbano startedof Tren Urbano started

in 1996, wasin 1996, was

inaugurated ininaugurated inDecember 2004 andDecember 2004 and

started revenuestarted revenue

operaon in June 2005operaon in June 2005

with its rst phasewith its rst phase

consisng of 16 staonsconsisng of 16 staons

in a single rail line.in a single rail line.

Innovation in Workforce Development in

Transportation

UPR/MIT/Tren Urbano & UPR/PUPR/ATIProfessional Development Programs

The focus of these innovave programs

was the development of futuretransportaon workforce and promote

research devoted to the planning,

construcon, and operaon of the Tren

Urbano and the eecveness of the

public transportaon system of the San

Juan Metropolitan Area.

Undergraduate and graduate students from

dierent disciplines and universies learned the

importance of analyzing and evaluang al

aspects of a transportaon project, such asengineering, architecture, social factors, urban

planning, safety, and management. The

programs were in operaon from 1994 to 2007

and fourteen groups of students developed over

380 research projects during these successfu

iniaves.


1

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17

The Fellowship Program has a component

directed at Hispanic Serving Instuons

(HSI). The Center has been administering

the program at UPR-Mayagez since

1994, beneng over 80 undergraduate

and graduate students, many of which

have become transportaon leaders at

the local or naonal level. The recipientsdevelop research projects in

transportaon topics and parcipate in

the Transportaon Research Board (TRB)

Annual Meeng held in Washington D.C.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportaon

Fellowship ProgramThis innovave program funded by the

Federal Highway Administraon aracts the

naon's brightest minds to the eld of

transportaon, enhance the careers of

transportaon professionals by encouraging

them to seek advanced degrees, and retain

top talent in the transportaon industry.

Research Topics of DDE Fellowship Recipients

TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATIONENGINEERINGENGINEERING

The applicaon ofThe applicaon of

technology andtechnology and

scienc principles tscienc principles t

the planning,the planning,

funconal design,funconal design,

operaon andoperaon and

management ofmanagement of

facilies for any modfacilies for any mod

of transportaon inof transportaon in

order to provide foorder to provide for

the safe, rapid,the safe, rapid,

comfortable,comfortable,

convenient,convenient,

economical, andeconomical, and

environmentallyenvironmentally

compable movemecompable moveme

of people and goodsof people and goodsOur Center hasOur Center has

emphasized theemphasized the

importance of makinimportance of makin

safer roads as part osafer roads as part o

all highwayall highway

transportaon relatetransportaon relate

seminar.seminar.


Transportation

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Transportation (cont.)

Summer Transportaon Exchange Programs with theUniversity of Rhode Island and Purdue University

The Center, as part of UPR-Mayagez, has parcipated of a Student Exchange Summer

Program with the URI since 2004 and with Purdue since 2011. This program allows the

exchange of students between UPRM and URI, and UPRM and Purdue. The students

develop or support research projects in

transportaon related topics during an 8-week

period with the assistance of faculty mentors and

graduate students at the three universies.

The exchange program provides a new arena to

learn from other faculty researchers, in a dierent

culture, tradions, and university seng, and help

the students to be independent and develop other

so skills that are required to become a successful

professional in engineering and transportaon

related disciplines. Thirty-eight students have

parcipated in the Exchange Program.


1

UNIVERSITY OF RHODEUNIVERSITY OF RHODE

ISLAND (URI)ISLAND (URI)

This program is implementedThis program is implemented

at URI by the Transportaonat URI by the Transportaon

Center, with theCenter, with the

collaboraon of the Rhodecollaboraon of the Rhode

Island DOT. Special thanks toIsland DOT. Special thanks to

Dr. Deborah Rosen, CenterDr. Deborah Rosen, Center

Director, and Mr. PhillipDirector, and Mr. Phillip

Kydd, RIDOT Deputy Director,Kydd, RIDOT Deputy Director,

for their connuous support.for their connuous support.

PURDUE UNIVERSITYPURDUE UNIVERSITY

This program is implementedThis program is implemented

at Purdue by the Indianaat Purdue by the Indiana

LTAP Center. Special thanksLTAP Center. Special thanks

to Dr. John Haddock,to Dr. John Haddock,

Director, and Eng. JohnDirector, and Eng. John

Habermann for their eortsHabermann for their eorts

in establishing this newin establishing this new

workforce developmentworkforce developmentiniave.iniave.

The Program is supported

with funding from the

Universies and Grants

Program (UP&G) of the

FHWA. Thanks to Mr.

Henry Murdauch, Program

Manager, and his sta for the connuous

support and collaboraon. Also, thanks to Dr.

Ilene Payne, former UP&G Manager, who had

the vision to start this innovave program.

Thanks to the students and theThanks to the students and the

faculty from the three universiesfaculty from the three universies

who make this program a success!who make this program a success!

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INSTITUTE OFINSTITUTE OF

TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION

ENGINEERS (ITE)ENGINEERS (ITE)

The Instute ofThe Instute of

Transportaon EngineeTransportaon Enginee

(ITE) is an internaona(ITE) is an internaona

educaonal and scieneducaonal and scien

associaon withassociaon with

transportaontransportaon

professionals who areprofessionals who are

responsible for meenresponsible for meen

mobility and safety neemobility and safety nee

It facilitates theIt facilitates the

applicaon of technoloapplicaon of technoloand scienc principlesand scienc principles

research, planning,research, planning,

funconal design,funconal design,

implementaon,implementaon,

operaon, policyoperaon, policy

development anddevelopment and

management for anymanagement for any

mode of groundmode of ground

transportaon.transportaon.


This innovave joint-venture between UPRM and Purdue University provides a unique

opportunity to undergraduate students and

non-for-prot local community organizaons

to solve engineering-based problems in the

community. During 2002-2003, worked in

EPICS community service projects in over 35

communies of the western region of Puerto

Rico.

19

Entrepreneurial Training and Technical AssistanceThis innovave program provided training in

transportaon topics to K-12 students through

the use of internships from 1997 to 2002. ETTAP

increased the skills and understanding of

technical issues and research skills of students,

promoted and encouraged the parcipaon of

students with disabilies in transportaon and

fostered interdisciplinary opportunies for civil

engineering students in the eld of

transportaon.

Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS)

Instute of Transportaon Engineers (ITE):

UPRM Student Chapter and Puerto Rico Secon

The Center supports the acvies and promotes the development of the ITE -UPRM Student

Chapter and the ITE Professional Chapter of the Puerto Rico Secon. The Center assists in

the organizaon of educave and professional

development acvies for the UPRM student

members, in parcular for the ITE-UPRM

Transportaon Week that is held annually in the

Spring at the UPR-Mayagez. The Center

Directors are acve members of the ITE and

have acvely parcipated in the Reacvaon of

the ITE Puerto Rico Secon since 2010.


Transportation (cont.)

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United States Virgin Islands (USVI)Department of Public Works!Department of Public Works!

Training Program and Every Day Counts IniavesThe PR LTAP provides training to ocials from the United States Virgin Islands

Department of Public Works (USVIDPW) in areas associated with highway safety,

construcon management, pavement evaluaon and management and related areas

associated with highway infrastructure. The training and professional development

program covers the four (4) islands,

namely St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.

John and Water Island. These

islands are considered a territory of

the United States and under Title

23Highways are eligible to receive

federal funding for the acvies

listed in 23 U.S.C. 215 (f)(1). The

government has recognized that in

order to eciently and eecvely

provide transportaon services to

the residents and visitors to the

territory, it is necessary that their

highway infrastructure be able to accommodate and support the various modes of

transportaon.

The PR LTAP provides training and technical

assistance to the Department of Public Works(DPW) since this is the administrave agency that

has been authorized by the Virgin Islands Code

and has the responsibility of designing,

construcng, and maintaining government

buildings, public roads and highways, as well as to

provide public transportaon services. The

Department is commied to providing mely,

ecient and responsive facility maintenance, infrastructure management and

transportaon services to the Virgin Islands Community in collaboraon with other

government departments and federal agencies. The department receives federal funds

from the Federal Highway Administraon (FHWA) andthe Federal Transit Administraon (FTA).

FHWA funds are used for road and highway

construcon, roadway safety improvements

including safety edge projects, transportaon

planning, and mul-modal transportaon facilies.

VI representave from the Department of Public

Works is a member of the Advisory Commiee that


2

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

DPW COMMISSIONERS

SINCE 1986

Darryl A. Smalls

(2007-Present)

George Phillips

(2005-06)

Wayne Callwood

(2000-05)

Harold G. Thompson, Jr.

(1999-2000)

Lindel A. Williams

(1997-99)

Ann E. Abramson

(1995-97)

Leo Francis

(1989-95)

James Savage

(1987-

88)

Cecil George

(1983-86)

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United States Virgin Islands (USVI)Department of Public Works!Department of Public Works!

St. John Route 10 and 107

Intersecon

St. John Route 10 Zootenval

East End Road

St. Thomas Route 42

Mahogany Road

denes the scope of work of the professional development and training program for each

alendar year. VIDPW is also part of the Every Day Counts iniaves sponsored by FHWA.

The Every Day Counts is designed to idenfy and deploy innovaon aimed at shortening

project delivery, enhancing the safety of USVI, roadways, and protecng the environment.

The U. S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works adopted three (3) of the Every Day

Counts iniaves to include the Safety Edge Pavement Edge Treatment, Warm-Mix Asphalt

and Adapve Signal Control. As shown, the Department implemented successfully the

Safety Edge Pavement Edge Treatment on several pavement rehabilitaon projects territory

wide.

The inspectors and maintenance crew sta has beneed from the training provided by PR

LTAP instructors in the area of roadside safety, temporary trac control in workzones,

guardrails installaons and warrants, and in praccal construcon management techniques.

The praccal training has been useful in their role as inspectors in the following ARRA

projects:

Also the VIDPW maintenance crew has beneed from the training associated with

praccal techniques for evaluaon and maintenance of exisng pavements, patching

procedures, safety apparel has been key topics that has assisted them in improving

producvity and improving safety to work crew and beer communicaon with local road

users and visitors that have to adapt driving us on the le side of the highway which

contrast to the driving paerns in connental US and Puerto Rico that is on the right hand

side.

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United States Virgin Islands (USVI)Every Day Counts Initiatives!Every Day Counts Initiatives!

Long Bay Road Project, St. Thomas, USVI Phase I, ARRA Phase II & Phase III

The Long Bay Road Projects extend

from the intersecon at the Lucinda

Millin Home east to the Mandela

Circle Intersecon. The projects

include widening the road from two

lanes to four lanes with a center

median, installaon of sidewalks,

new trac signals for the Yacht

Haven entrance and the installaonof landscaping and an irrigaon

system.

Queen Mary Highway Route 70 East, St. Croix, USVIARRA Project

The Queen Mary Highway Project

begins at the intersecon of Routes

70 and 682 adjacent to the Cool Out

Bar and connues east approximately

two (2) miles to Estate Contentmentnear the intersecon with the

Chrisansted Bypass. The project

includes pavement rehabilitaon and

reconstrucon, drainage improvements,

roadway striping and new trac control signage.

Red Hook Sidewalk Improvements, St. Thomas, USVI ARRA Project

This project includes sidewalk

construcon along Route 32 from west

of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School tothe ferry boat terminal, raised pedestrian

crosswalks and drainage improvements.

This project provides safe pedestrian

walkways for many students and

pedestrians that traverse the Red Hook

area.


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Route 104, St. John, USVI ARRA Project

This ARRA project includes

approximately 2.8 miles of pavement

rehabilitaon, drainage improvements,

pavement markings and trac control

signage. It begins at the intersecon of

Routes 102 and 104 and ends at the

intersecon with Route 10 in Estate

Susannaberg.

Queens Mary Route 70, St. Croix, USVI Safety Edge Experiment

Phase I of this ARRA project is part of the Every

Day Counts (EDC) iniave sponsored by the

FHWA with Virgin Islands Pavement (VIP) as the

primary contractor. It includes approximately 2.2

miles with an investment of $4.9 millions for

pavement rehabilitaon.

United States Virgin IslandsEvery Day Counts Initiatives!Every Day Counts Initiatives!


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The Center has parcipated in short-term projects of emerging interest to Puerto R

municipalies, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportaon and Public Works, the Pue

Rico Trac Safety Commission, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works

complement its technology transfer acvies. Representave special projects carried ou

the Center are:

Development of transportaon-related

microcomputer soware tools.

Translaon to Spanish of technical material of

transportaon-related topics and road

construcon specicaons for federal highway

projects.

Development of Guidelines for the Municipalies

on How to Prepare Request for Proposals (RFP) related to public transportaon proje

Development of technical videos regarding the proper use of asphalt, concrete, and s

materials in road and bridge construcon.

Development of technical guidelines for Temporary Trac Control (TTC) in highway

work zones.

Parcipaon in the USDOT-FHWA Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP)

Assessment Project regarding the documentaon of successful stories associated wit

the implementaon of safety products in highway construcon zones such as the sto

slow paddle, and the inventory of exisng pavement distresses using LTPP Distress

Idencaon Manual.

Idencaon of transportaon needs of municipalies through site visits and surveys

Feasibility study for the freeway conversion of PR-2 from Hormigueros to Aasco.

Direcon of an interdisciplinary mulcampus professional development programs in

Puerto Rico associated with public transportaon, the UPR-MIT-Tren Urbano and the

UPR-PUPR-ATI.

Idencaon of crash causes and safety countermeasures to migate motorcycle

fatalies in Puerto Rico.

Technical Assistance in the development of the trac study of the Sport Complex of t

Mayagez 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Analysis of the system connecon of the Tren Urbano heavy rail expansion to Caguas

Provide technical oversight to iniaves related to the FHWA Every Day Counts (EDC)

Program for the implementaon in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Develop local strategies for the United Naons Decade of Acon for Road Safety 2011

2020, and the FHWA Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) iniaves.

Special ProjectsProvide a balance between theory to practice on emerging technologies!Provide a balance between theory to practice on emerging technologies!


2

D ECAD E OFACTIONFOR R OADSAFETY2011 -2020

Every day, around 3,500

people die in the world as

a consequence of a road

crash.A coalion of countries

headed by the UnitedNaons General Assembly

that has set the goal for

the 2011-2020 decade: "to

stabilize and then reduce

the forecast level of road

trac fatalies around the

world". This iniave

looks to promote

strategies in engineering,

educaon, enforcement,

and emergency services to

improve safety for all.

TOWARDZERODEATHS

Is the Naonal Strategy on

Highway Safety in the

United States that looks to

develop a naonal

approach to eliminate

highway fatalies. TZD is

a data-driven eort

focused on idenfying and

creang opportunies for

changing American culture

as it relates to highway

safety.

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National and International CollaborationsA means of technology sharing and exchange of social and cultural experiences!A means of technology sharing and exchange of social and cultural experiences!

EVERYDAYCOUNTS

EDC is an FHWA iniave

designed to idenfy and

deploy transportaon-

related innovaons aime

at shortening project

delivery, enhancing the

safety of our naons

roadways, and protecng

the environment.

Naonwide, state DOTs

are implemenng some o

the 15 strategies idene

in EDC in order to improv

operaons and eciency

and promote a smarterway of doing business

managing the road

network.

The Center has planned and coordinated conferences of local, naonal and internaonal

signicance in areas associated with transportaon and professional development., such as: V Pan-American Congress of Trac and Transportaon Engineering in 1988 in

Mayagez, Puerto Rico.

Region 1 and Naonal Conference of Transportaon Technology Transfer Centers in

1993 in Mayagez, Puerto Rico.

CoHemis NSF Conference on Transportaon Research in the Americas in Fajardo,

Puerto Rico in 1995.

Symposium of Researchto-Pracce on Repair and Rehabilitaon of Bridges and

Pavements in Warwick, Rhode Island in 1996, and sponsored by Naonal Science

Foundaon (NSF).

Region 4 of the Transportaon Technology Transfer Centers Annual Meengs in 2002

and 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Peer to Peer Exchange was held in the 2009

meeng with representaves from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Hampshire

LTAP Centers.

The Center has collaborated with local, naonal, and internaonal organizaons and

governments to provide informaon on transportaon issues. A sample of these successful

collaboraons are:

Congreso Panamericano de Carreteras (COPACA) in 1988 in Buenos Aires, Argenna

provided informaon about the Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) and thetasks, organizaon and accomplishments of our Center to extend the transportaon

technology transfer concept throughout Lan America.

Founders Conference of the Pan-American Instute of Highways (PIH) in 1988 in

Phoenix, Arizona. Parcipaon in the development of by-laws that led to the creaon

of the PIH that extended the RTAP concept to 101 Centers in the Caribbean and South

America.

Federal Transit Administraon (FTA) in 1990 requested the Center assistance to provide

technical informaon on the Puerto Rico Pblico system to the government of South

Africa. Asociacin Lano Americana de Metros y Subterrneos (ALAMYS) Annual Conference.

Parcipaon in the Automobile Accident Compensaon Administraon (ACAA) Summit

of Highway Safety. The Centers Directors made technical presentaons on highway

safety topics emphasizing the behavior of local drivers and the characteriscs of the

Puerto Rico highway system.

Parcipaon in 2008, 2009, and 2010 in Infrastructure and Safety Summits in support of

in Mayagez 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games providing training and

technical assistance on trac control issues in mega sport events.


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The Center sta wants to acknowledge the connuous and uncondional support of t

Administrators, Secretaries, Commissioners, Execuve Directors and Majors

Municipalies from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during our journey in our rst

years of training and professional development to our stakeholders. Our deepest gratu

for your collaboraon and commitment to training local, state, and federal ocials.

PUERTO RICO DTPW

SECRETARIES SINCE

1986

Ruben Hernndez Gregorat

(2009-Present)

Carlos Gonzlez Miranda

(2007-08)

Gabriel Alcarz Emmanuelli

(2005-07)

Fernando Fagundo

(2002-04)

Jos M. Izquierdo Encarnacin

(2001-02)

Sergio Gonzlez Quevedo

(1999-00)

Carlos I. Pesquera Morales

(1993-99)

Hermenegildo Orz Quiones

(1989-

92)

Dario Hernndez Torres

(1986-88)

Our Sponsors and Collaboratorsponsors and Collaborators


2

FHWA PUERTO RICO

DIVISION

ADMINISTRATORS

SINCE 1986

Marn Knopp

Roberto Fonseca

Lubin Quionez

Jos Seplveda

Nelson Castellanos

Juan Cruz

Don Marnez

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27

The Center sta is honored of being part of

the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez

(UPRM), which was established on

September 23, 1911, as the College of

Agricultural and Mechanical Arts (CAAM),

with D.W. May, Jos de Diego and Carmelo

Alemar as founder members. CAAM became

part of the UPR system as Mayagez

Campus, and is currently the second largest with approximately 12,108 students, 1,924

regular sta members, and 1,037 members of educaonal sta.

The Center is part of the Engineering Faculty at the

Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the

UPR at Mayagez since its incepon in 1986. The

College of Engineering at UPRM is a world-wide

eader in research and development, and all its

engineering programs are accredited by the

Accreditaon Board for Engineering and Technology

ABET). Our engineering and supporng instructors

from other facules at UPRM are the best and brightest that provides a balance between

theory and pracce recognized by scienc and research organizaons such as DOD, DOE,

EPA, FHWA, FTA, NIH, NSF, USACE, and local administrave agencies that provides

recurrent funding for state-of-the-art research to address the emerging needs of Puerto

Rico, United States and Lan American.

A special recognion to the Chancellors, as well as

their Deans and Directors that have trusted in our

professional development and training program. A

special tribute to Prof. Ismael Pagn Trinidad,

Department Chair of Civil Engineering and Surveying,

as well as instructor in our beginnings, for his

uncondional support to the program throughout

the rst 25 years.

The Center sta is also proud of being part of the UPR Mayagez family in its celebraon

of its 100th anniversary of the ANTES, AHORA Y SIEMPRE, COLEGIO!

UPR MAYAGEZCHANCELLORS SINCE

1986

Jorge Rivera Santos

Miguel Muoz Muoz

Jorge I. Vlez Arocho

Zulma R. Toro Ramos

Antonio Santos Cabrera

Stuart J. Ramos Biaggi

Alejandro Ruz Acevedo

Jos L. Marnez Pic

Pablo Rodrguez

Fred Soltero Harrington

University of Puerto Rico at MayagezAntes, Ahora y Siempre,...COLEGIO!Antes, Ahora y Siempre,...COLEGIO! A special thanks and tribute to the Chancellors, Deans and Directors!A special thanks and tribute to the Chancellors, Deans and Directors!

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ALook Ahead Into The Future

Engineering educaon, training, technology

transfer, and professional development

must be based on the emerging needs of

our people that are our stakeholders.

Those that have the privilege of training

engineers play a vital role in movang and

preparing the emerging workforce to do a

job of excellence in addressing the

challenges and emerging needs of our

Naon and its built infrastructure.

The celebraon of the 25th anniversary of

our Center provides us a reecon to look

back and review the main Center

accomplishments; the essenal elements

that have allowed the Center to succeed;

and future and excing professional

development and training opportunies yet

to come.

The Center has played a key role during its

rst 25 years of operaon in providing

connuing educaon to undergraduate and

graduate students, praccing engineers,

transportaon, and top management

ocials, bridging with professionals from

North, Central, South America, and the

Caribbean Region in our mission of sharing

and adapng the latest technology in a

bilingual seng using the university a

the educaon backbone of the system.

A consensus among the Center founde

members of the most signican

contribuons accomplished during ou

rst 25 years are:

An acve and contribung role

innovave ways of training an

educang local, municipal, and stat

employees in transportaon technic

areas and pernent supporng areas

Educaon and economic support o

students from various disciplines an

at all educaonal levels

Employment and training fo

undergraduate and graduat

students, and administrav

personnel in the Center

Liaison between the Center and th

University of Puerto Rico wit

naonal and internaon

organizaons and universies fo

technology sharing and profession

development iniaves.

Liaison between the Center and th

University of Puerto Rico wit

professional organizaons an

government agencies.

Link with Federal Agencies

addressing emerging training need

of naonal signicance such as Ever

Day Counts.

Provision of a transportaon libra

with the latest technical publicaon


2

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29

and audiovisual material readily

available for students, in structure

and local transportaon ocials.

Liaison with other universies to

provide students the opportunity in

parcipang in summer internship

programs in transportaon related

research and contribuon to

workforce development in

transportaon.

The elements that have contributed in

the success of the Center are:

Stable economic support from the

Center sponsors

Support from local transportaon

agencies in Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands

Support from the University of Puerto

Rico, including its ocials, professors,

and students

Support from other universies, and

organizaons that have parcipated

in the dierent projects and programs

Commied administrave personnel

in performing their tasks in an

excellent manner and willing to tackle

new challenges and opportunies

The exisng and future condion of our

transportaon system depends upon the

use of innovave training and research

projects that will develop highly

competent engineers capable of working

in interdisciplinary teams. These

professionals will have to address

emerging local and naonal infrastructure

issues with emphasis on the

rehabilitaon, safety, and sustainability of

the built highway and transit networks,

and considering all users.

The Center is devoted to assist

transportaon agencies in deploying

iniaves such as Every Day Counts,

Toward Zero Deaths, and the Decade of

Acon for Road Safety: 2011-2020.

These programs will connue to be part

of the Centers top priories, along with

increasing the workforce to address the

future challenges. The Center will

connue its acve role in educang

engineers and other transportaon-

related professionals that serve local,

municipal and state transportaon

ocials with the latest technology to

contribute to the knowledge-based in

transportaon in Puerto Rico, the

Caribbean and the hemisphere. The

Center sta is fully commied to

professional development through

excellence in innovaon, quality, safety

and sustainability serving the local,

naonal and internaonal community in

emerging transportaon needs.

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Heres to the Next 25 Years


3

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31

And the Great Times!

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EL PUENTE is published by the Puerto Rico Transportaon Technology Transfer Center

located at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the University of Puerto

Rico at Mayagez.

PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez

Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying

Call Box 9000, Mayagez, PR 00681

787 834 6385 PHONE

ELPUENTE

NEWSLETTER

The opinions, ndings, or recommendaons expressed in this special commemorave edion

of the newsleer El Puente are those of the Center sta and do not necessarily reect the views of the University of Puerto Rico at

Mayagez, Federal Highway Administraon, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportaon and Public Works, the Puerto Rico

Highway and Transportaon Authority, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works and the Municipalies in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico LTAP Center Sta

Benjamn Colucci Ros

Direct


Deputy Direct

Gisela Gonzlez

Program Administrat

Grisel Villarubia

Administrave Coordinat

Irmal Franco

Adm. Coord. / Arts & Graph

Giana Zeno

Yari Babilonia

Josu Diego Orz

Claudio Figueroa

Students Inter

Freddie Salado

Carlos Calero

EDC Research Assistan

EL PUENTE Newsleer

Commemorave 25th

Anniversary Edion

VOL. 25, NO. 02, 2011

Documents

Vol26Aniv2012.pdf