weather-savvy roads: pathfinder weather management stakeholder...the pathfinder workshop raised...

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WEATHER-SAVVY ROADS: PATHFINDER2019 Road Weather Management

Stakeholder Meeting

August 28, 2019

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2019 PATHFINDER WORKSHOPS

In 2019, TxDOT Traffic Safety Division co-facilitated two

Pathfinder Workshops:

April 2

▪ Houston

April 4

▪ Lubbock

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HOUSTON WORKSHOP – APRIL 2

The workshop focused on tropical weather and flood

events.

Approximately 30 participants:

▪ Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

▪ Regional National Weather Service (NWS) Weather

Forecasting Offices (WFOs) south Texas and Louisiana

▪ Stakeholders from other regional agencies

▪ TxDOT contractors were introduced to the Pathfinder

initiative to stimulate and expand information sharing

and generate discussion

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HOUSTON WORKSHOP – APRIL 2

▪ Provided an overview of the Pathfinder strategy, along

with examples of implementation in Utah.

▪ Attendees discussed how road weather conditions and

forecasts are communicated today among TxDOT,

NWS, and other stakeholders, as well as opportunities

for improved collaboration and messaging.

▪ Also provided an overview of research activities and

possibilities for enhancing current practices by

implementing Pathfinder in the Houston area during

tropical weather and flooding events.

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HOUSTON WORKSHOP – APRIL 2

Goals & Successes Achieved

▪ The Pathfinder workshop raised awareness of

Pathfinder.

▪ Introduced and advanced the concepts of Pathfinder

to TxDOT, NWS WFO, and other regional stakeholders.

▪ Workshop participants gained an increased awareness

and understanding regarding collection, dissemination,

and use of weather information by the entities

represented.

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HOUSTON WORKSHOP – APRIL 2

Experiences

▪ Participants shared their experiences and insights about current

collaboration and coordination, dissemination and use of road

weather information, and messaging during weather events.

Challenges

▪ Many TxDOT Districts are divided into more than one WFO area,

which can sometimes present a challenge to interpret weather

reports from two different WFOs that may have different

forecasts.

▪ A major challenge for NWS is maintaining the current points of

contact given general staff turnover that occurs at TxDOT.

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LUBBOCK WORKSHOP – APRIL 4

The workshop focused on winter weather events, in

addition to high winds, smoke, tornaodoes/hail.

Approximately 35 participants:

▪ Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

▪ Regional National Weather Service (NWS) Weather

Forecasting Offices (WFOs) in west Texas, Panhandle,

New Mexico, Oklahoma & Louisiana

▪ Stakeholders from other regional agencies

▪ FHWA Headquarters, Texas Division

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LUBBOCK WORKSHOP – APRIL 4

▪ Provided an overview of research activities specifically

dealing with winter operations and possibilities for

enhancing current practices:

–Continue the conversations among stakeholders to

implement Pathfinder processes in Lubbock and

surrounding areas

–During winter weather events

–Enhance communications between district PIOs

–Create better collaboration between district

maintenance staff

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LUBBOCK WORKSHOP – APRIL 4

Goals & Successes Achieved

▪ Collaborate with NWS to develop standard dynamic

message sign (DMS) messages for the TxDOT message

library for high winds, smoke, and other specific, short-

notice weather events like tornadoes or hail.

▪ Collaborate with NWS to identify specific ground

observations about road conditions that would be

helpful to NWS during winter weather events and

provide via NWSChat.

▪ Improve internal collaboration and DMS messaging

within TxDOT.

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LUBBOCK WORKSHOP – APRIL 4

Challenges

▪ Enhance existing practices and help formalize and

institutionalize Pathfinder processes in Lubbock and

surrounding areas

▪ Encourage opportunities for communication and

collaboration between TxDOT and NWS staff.

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EMBRACING PATHFINDER

▪ TxDOT hasn’t fully embraced Pathfinder yet, but is well

on its way

▪ Continue to move forward with takeaways from

workshops

▪ Continue collaboration between stakeholders

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Wade Odell, P.E.

wade.odell@txdot.gov

(512) 416-4737

Marco Cameron, P.E.

marco.cameron@txdot.gov

(512) 506-5151

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