Last week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) submitted a proposal to modify regulations governing “new construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitating projects on the National Highway System.”
The revision would replace outdated or superseded versions of design standards and specifications with the latest corresponding versions of those standards. The proposed revisions will represent the current standards of design commonly adopted and practiced among professional organizations in the transportation industry. Among these organizations are the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Welding Society (AWS). Although many of these standards are already common practice, FHWA would like to officially adopt them for National Highway System projects.
The modifications will be incorporated via reference to documents published by professional organizations that establish design standards. For example, the proposed revisions will reference the most recent edition of A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (more commonly known as the Green Book), which was published by the AASHTO in 2011. Currently, FHWA regulations reference the 2001 edition of this handbook. The newer edition incorporates the most recent research and industry practices to set forth design guidelines for highways and roadways. Although many of the changes are minor, there are some notable changes such as “improved methods for determining stopping and passing site distance.”
For more information on the specific standards that the agency proposes to replace, revise or strike, you can view an at length discussion here. Additionally, full copies of the referenced documents are available to any interested parties. The public has 30 days to comment on the proposed changes before they go into effect.
