Wrapping Up Two Years of Innovation Successes: Four Outgoing TAG Leaders Review The Ongoing STIC Progress

Coordinating the details of much needed innovations in transportation is a challenging responsibility, and four key players in the success of innovations developed and deployed through the State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) have many important insights to offer. 

Four Technical Advisory Group (TAG) leaders are wrapping up their two-year tenures and recently shared their thoughts about their experiences. They oversee the four STIC innovation categories: Design, Construction and Materials, Maintenance, and Safety and Traffic Operations. 

They are: 

• Rachel D. Duda, P.E., Assistant District Executive-Design in PennDOT's District 12 in southwestern Pennsylvania, heads the Design TAG  
• Steven L. Fantechi, P.E., Assistant District Executive-Construction in PennDOT's District 2 in north central Pennsylvania, heads the Construction and Materials TAG. 
• Dean A. Poleti, P.E., Maintenance Services Engineer in PennDOT's District 11 in the Pittsburgh region, heads the Maintenance TAG, and 
• Ashwin Patel, Senior Manager for the Traffic Engineering and Safety Division in PennDOT's District 6 in the Philadelphia region, heads the Safety and Traffic Operations TAG.  

Duda, who started her tenure a year early because her predecessor retired, noted that dealing with the impact of COVID "was the biggest challenge and getting some of the innovations to progress. Some stalled because people were trying to get their jobs done, and the innovations involved extra time and extra work.

'Some of the things we were working with had to be delayed," Duda noted. "That was the hardest thing. We wanted to keep going, but sometimes there was not a whole lot of progress." 

Regardless, overall progress was made, and Duda is most proud of the Design-Build Traffic Control Plan innovation she and the Design TAG championed. 

This innovation allows highway contractors and the designers to work closely on the final design of the Traffic Control Plan to keep drivers moving as efficiently as possible through construction areas.  

A conceptual plan, rather than a finalized plan, is provided in the project's bid package. The innovation allows the contractor flexibility in selecting materials, construction methods and available resources. The need for change orders is reduced because the construction team will be responsible for the completeness and quality of the final Traffic Control Plan. In addition, the construction team can explore cost savings, respond to schedule changes and receive input from other members involved in the construction of the project. 

"I took pride in that the most," Duda said. "District 12 piloted it, and we used it on our big interstate projects. It saves the contractors time and saved PennDOT time and money. It was one of the things I thought was one of the greatest accomplishments for the Design TAG over the last three years." 

Fantechi, Construction and Materials TAG leader, cites the Geosynthetic Stabilized Bridge Approach (GSBA) and Certified Concrete Finishers Course as his and the TAG's proudest achievements.  

GSBA involves enhancing roadway backfill with layers of geosynthetic material adjacent to a bridge abutment, which significantly reduces pavement settlement. This addresses the long-standing issue of severe bumps drivers experience approaching bridges. Dennis Q. Neff, P.E., regional geotechnical engineer in the Bureau of Construction and Materials, was the process owner. 

The Certified Concrete Finishers Course, now offered statewide, includes classroom and practical, hands-on work, and is intended to help improve the durability and extend the service life of concrete and eliminate mistakes in concrete finishing that can result in costly repairs or reconstruction.  Jim Casilio, P.E., director of Technical Services for the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA), played a leading role in implementing the innovation. As of April 2022, 60% of concrete finishers on PennDOT projects have to be certified. 

"My experience with GSBA and the Certified Concrete Finishers Course, it was a feeling of achievement, not just for me but the whole TAG," Fantechi said. "It was nice, and I appreciated it."

Poleti, the Maintenance TAG leader, was happy his team finished two innovations started by the previous Maintenance TAG owner Rich Roman, now the district executive in PennDOT's District 4 in northeastern Pennsylvania: Hot Pour Mastics (HPM) and the Stormwater Training and Field Guidebook. 

HPM is intended to supplement crack sealing operations, which are used for gaps up to an inch. HPM is used to better address larger pavement cracks two inches or bigger and go deeper than routine crack sealing operations can address. The innovation is a pourable, self-adhesive asphalt binder that is applied hot and extends pavement life across PennDOT's nearly 40,000-mile road network. 

PennDOT owns and operates 2,800 Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs), a variety of catch basins with vegetation to manage pollutants and keep water clean and safe. Each requires different types and levels of maintenance after initial construction, which led to the development of the Stormwater Management Training and Field Guidebook.  

SCMs help prevent flooding, reduce downstream erosion, and reduce pollution to surface and groundwater. Regular maintenance preserves SCM functionality and extends the service life. The training and guidebook provide education and preparation on specific maintenance duties and ensures compliance with permitting requirements. 

"Those are great innovations out there that we will be able to utilize," Poleti said.