weather-savvy roads: pathfinder weather management stakeholder...the pathfinder workshop raised...
TRANSCRIPT
Footer Text Date
WEATHER-SAVVY ROADS: PATHFINDER2019 Road Weather Management
Stakeholder Meeting
August 28, 2019
Footer Text Date
2019 PATHFINDER WORKSHOPS
In 2019, TxDOT Traffic Safety Division co-facilitated two
Pathfinder Workshops:
April 2
▪ Houston
April 4
▪ Lubbock
2
Footer Text Date
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
3
Footer Text Date
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.
4
Footer Text Date
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.
5
Footer Text Date
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.
6
Footer Text Date
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
7
Footer Text Date
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
8
Footer Text Date
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.
9
Footer Text Date
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.
10
Footer Text Date
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
11
Footer Text Date
CONTACT INFORMATION
Wade Odell, P.E.
(512) 416-4737
Marco Cameron, P.E.
(512) 506-5151
12