In 2005, a consortium of states joined together to pool resources to identify and address common roadside safety research needs. Research activities include the design, analysis, testing and evaluation of roadside safety hardware such as bridge rails, guardrails, transitions, median barriers, work zone traffic control devices, terminals, and break away support structures. Together, they have committed over $2.5 million in research funding over a 10 year period to fund over 35 projects. The program website (http://www.roadsidepooledfund.org) provides a historical perspective on the research performed by this program, including information on completed and ongoing projects. The implementation of the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) by State DOTs will necessitate the examination and evaluation of roadside safety hardware currently being used by the State DOTs. It is already known that some currently used roadside safety hardware will not meet MASH requirements. The compliance dates for MASH roadside safety hardware are: • December 31, 2017: W-beam barriers and cast-in-place concrete barriers • June 30, 2018: W-beam terminals • December 31, 2018: Cable barriers, cable barrier terminals, crash cushions • December 31, 2019: Bridge rails, transitions, all other longitudinal barriers (including portable barriers installed permanently), all other terminals, sign supports, and other breakaway hardware. • Also, temporary work zone devices, including portable barriers, manufactured after December 31, 2019, must have been successfully tested to the 2015 edition of MASH. Such devices manufactured on or before this date, and successfully tested to NCHRP Report 350 or the 2009 edition of MASH, may continue to be used throughout their normal service life. The research performed by this program has provided cost effective and timely information to participating states. This solicitation invites states to participate in the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund Program to address MASH implementation and other roadside safety needs. ORGANIZATION Washington State Department of Transportation is the lead agency for this study. Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) will conduct the research for the funded projects. A technical committee made up of a representative from each participating state will manage the program. TTI will report to and work under the guidance of the technical committee. Pooled fund contributions will be used to pay for travel expenses for a state representative to attend the annual pooled fund meeting. BENEFITS Each year state transportation agencies are faced with unresolved issues regarding roadside safety features. Research conducted under this program will enable participating states to leverage funds to address these important safety issues. The pooled fund program will be particularly valuable with regard to addressing needs associated with the implementation of MASH. The continuity provided by the multi-year format will permit research problems to be solved in much less time than would normally be required if each issue was individually contracted. Safety research needs of an individual participating state may be addressed through additional funds to the program. The benefits are reduced cost and expedited contracting. The result of this work will be a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries associated with run-off-road crashes in the participating states. Further, the participating states will save money through the development and implementation of more cost-effective roadside safety hardware and more efficient procedures and guidelines for their use.

The objective of the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund Program is to provide a cooperative approach to conducting research on roadside safety hardware. Emphasis will be placed on assisting State DOTs with their implementation of MASH and addressing other roadside safety needs of common interest. Another objective of this pooled fund research to provide each participating state an opportunity to send a representative to an annual meeting to collaborate with other state DOT safety engineers to assess best practices, new regulatory issues, risk management strategies, and other matters pertaining to roadside safety. Participation in this meeting is funded through the state’s annual program contribution.

This solicitation will create a consortium of states that will cooperatively fund and oversee MASH implementation and roadside safety research needs identified and prioritized by its representatives. The pooled fund research program will identify, analyze, and develop solutions for roadside safety problems with the goal of reducing the tremendous loss of life that occurs on our highways each year as a result of roadway departure crashes. Specific research activities addressed within the program will include the design, analysis, testing, and evaluation of roadside safety hardware, and the development of guidelines for the use, selection, and placement of these features. Research problem statements will be developed by participating member state representatives. The members will rank and select specific projects to be funded each fiscal year. Additionally, member states may independently develop and fund research projects through the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund Program through a reimbursable agreement with Washington DOT.

The suggested contribution for each participating state is $50k per year. NOTE: A complete report of the research completed or ongoing (2015-2016) by the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund may be found at this website: http://www.roadsidepooledfund.org/