TPF-5(193) Supplement 66

Many of MwRSF’s inquiries from members of the Midwest States Pooled Fund program can be answered based upon prior pooled fund or other research. Further, even though answers to pooled fund inquiries are normally routed to all pooled fund states in the quarterly progress report, there are numerous repeat questions every year. The quarterly summaries are helpful to member states, but they are temporary and not well organized by the type of question or specific topic. Many pooled fund inquiries could be answered through the development of a Center of Highway Safety web site. A dedicated and well-maintained Pooled Fund Center for Highway Safety web site would provide for all of these needs. It would provide for a searchable database of previous MwRSF inquiries and solutions, a searchable online listing of downloadable research reports, and a searchable archive of CAD details for crash tested and/or approved systems and features. This safety center would also be helpful to non-member states with problems or inquiries similar to those identified by the member states.

In Year 22, the Midwest States Pooled Fund states sponsored the development of a Pooled Fund Center for Highway Safety web site. This project allowed for the development of the first phase of the web site and archiving of materials on the web site. Previously, a web site for the Midwest States Pooled Fund consulting questions and responses was developed and made available. The web site is currently operational and provides functions for submitting questions and inquiries to MwRSF as well as posting of the responses. It also provides a searchable database of previous MwRSF inquiries and solutions. The website is located at http://mwrsf-qa.unl.edu/.

In addition to the consulting web site, a searchable online listing of downloadable research reports, and a searchable archive of CAD details for crash tested and/or approved systems and features has been created. MwRSF has distributed the research archive web site to the states for review and is currently in the process of uploading the archived reports and CAD. MwRSF anticipates that this archive will be fully functional in the near term. The report and CAD archive as well as the Midwest States Pooled Fund consulting web site will be integrated with the main MwRSF web site in the near future as well.

Through MwRSF’s relationship with the Nebraska Transportation Center (NTC), experienced personnel have been hired to perform website design, programming, as well as provide reliable website hosting facilities. The development, maintenance, operation, and hosting of the web site will require funding. In addition, MwRSF will be seeking input from the end users as to further improvements and additions they would like to see made to the web site. Additional features and content will be added to the site as funding is available. This content may include crash test videos, photographs, presentations related to Pooled Fund projects, and other items desired by the sponsors. It is anticipated that the costs to continue to develop, operate, maintain, and host the Pooled Fund Center for Highway Safety web site would be $11,519.00 in funding for FY 24.

The Pooled Fund Center for Highway Safety web site will provide immediate access to a wide library of roadside safety materials for designers and engineers, including reports, CAD details, etc. It would also provide a searchable database of previous solutions and responses to prior Pooled Fund inquiries and problems. The web site would also be available through controlled access to state DOT’s around the country which would promote improved roadside safety.

RPFP-14-PFCHS-Pooled-Fund-Center-For-Highway-Safety-3Q-2015.pdf