advertisement

---

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently appointed Joseph Sussman as chairman of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Advisory Council. He is a professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Engineering Systems Division.

The USDOT also named Robert Peter Denaro, vice president of NAVTEQ Corp., as the council's vice chairman. The council advises the U.S. Transportation Secretary on issues concerning the study, development and implementation of intelligent transportation systems.

Meanwhile, USDOT agency the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently began distributing two resource guides on the types of safety devices available to prevent grade crossing collisions. The Compilation of Pedestrian Safety Devices in Use at Grade Crossings focuses on pedestrian safety, such as pedestrian-only crossings, signs, signals, pavement markings and other treatments.

The "Guidance on the Use of Traffic Channelizing Devices at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings" outlines several types of traffic-separating devices designed to keep motor vehicles in their lane and prevent them from driving around lowered gates.

The guides would be useful to grade crossing designers, local and state governments, and railroad officials who plan to improve crossings or establish quiet zones, the FRA said.