Transportation leaders discuss the success of the PA  STIC during the EDC Roundtable event.
oneWhat is the STIC? 
The State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) is comprised of a multi-stakeholder leadership team co-chaired by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The STIC brings together a diverse team of transportation stakeholders to forge an environment of innovation, imagination and ingenuity to pursue specific initiatives and their rapid implementation to deliver a modern, high-quality transportation system to Pennsylvania.  The STIC newsletter features highlights from the STIC business meetings. Read below for the full details.

twoNew Leadership at the STIC 
At the September STIC Meeting, PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards announced the restructuring of the STIC from PennDOT's Bureau of Planning and Research (BPR) to the Bureau of Innovations (BOI) in the Administration Deputate, led by Deputy Secretary Suzanne Itzko. This decision aligns the STIC with PennDOT's strategic vision and programs to advance innovation. 
threeEvery Day Counts Showcase and STIC Roundtable  
Transportation leaders viewed displays of top STIC innovations.
 
FHWA selected Pennsylvania to host the Every Day Counts (EDC) Showcase and STIC Roundtable to share successful strategies the PA STIC has deployed to institutionalize innovation. The event was held on Aug. 4, 2016 at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, Pa. The gathering attracted leaders from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), including U.S. DOT Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez and FHWA Administrator Greg Nadeau, FHWA Chief Innovation Officer Tony Furst, along with PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and FHWA Division Administrator Renee Sigel. In addition, U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx provided a video message congratulating the PA STIC. Secretary Foxx announced "We want to multiply your work, your success and your impact all across the country." 
 
The event offered an opportunity for the PA STIC members and industry experts to showcase the STIC's top innovations through hands-on displays and demonstrations. Following the demonstrations, the attendees gathered for a roundtable discussion to share the elements that are critical to a successful STIC program. 
 
Interviews with the visiting dignitaries and STIC members were captured through video clips that will be shared with transportation agencies across the country to demonstrate the components that make up a successful STIC. Watch the first video released as part of this initiative,  https://youtu.be/TYUUnphp-TQ.
four
September STIC Meeting Highlights
The STIC September Business Meeting was held at the PEMA Building in Harrisburg, Pa.

The Traffic and Operations TAG presented the new initiative,   Lane Reservation System, which was approved by the STIC. The purpose of this initiative is to explore technological solutions to reduce conflicts that can create congestion and unsafe conditions in work zones. The initiative will support an approval process and system for maintenance, construction and utility crews to "reserve" a lane or shoulder prior to activating the work zone. 

The Environmental TAG provided updates on: 

The Design TAG provided updates on: 

The Safety TAG provided updates on:
fiveSTIC Innovation Day Outreach Highlights 
Design Consultant Innovation Day
Design Consultant Innovation Day was held on Aug. 30, 2016 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Approximately 150 attendees participated in the training that brought together professionals from consulting firms across Pennsylvania.
Workshop attendees listen to keynote presentation on Connected Vehicles .
Presentations were given by Renee Sigel, FHWA Division Administrator and PennDOT Deputy Secretary Jim Ritzman on the importance of innovation in the transportation industry. Rod Schebesch, Vice President of Stantec, delivered the keynote presentation on connected vehicles and the key role the consulting industry will play in moving this innovation forward. 

What's Next?  Local Government Innovation Day
The STIC will host a pilot Innovation Day workshop on Nov. 2, 2016 at the California University of Pennsylvania in Washington County. This pilot workshop will provide an opportunity for municipal officials and staff to learn about STIC initiatives and innovative products that can accelerate construction and enhance safety. Session topics include: funding and partnerships between local governments and PennDOT, the Salt and Snow Training Academy initiative, innovative stormwater management techniques, and case studies on modern roundabouts and smart signals. The pilot workshop is an important step in the STIC's effort to enhance engagement with local governments and will aid in the planning of future outreach initiatives. 

District 2-0 Innovation Day 
On Nov. 15, 2016, the STIC will host an Innovation Day Workshop in partnership with PennDOT District 2-0. This workshop will mark a major accomplishment to provide this training to all PennDOT Districts, the PA Turnpike and consulting industry. Following the completion of this workshop, the STIC will have successfully trained over 1,200 transportation professionals on STIC innovations. 

sixTAG Highlight -  Safety Symposium
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards provides the Safety Symposium keynote presentation.
PennDOT, FHWA and the Safety TAG hosted the second   Safety Symposium in Harrisburg on Sept. 28, 2016. This statewide event included distinguished speakers including Pennsylvania legislators and national safety experts to prompt discussion on pressing transportation safety issues, emphasizing the overall goal of zero deaths for motorists in Pennsylvania. The workshop included four concurrent tracks related to legislative awareness, behavior, technology and engineering. In addition, attendees were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the update to PennDOT's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. 
sevenFact or Fiction
Q: 
Is the Traffic Operations TAG different from the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) TAG? 
A:
No. The ITS TAG decided earlier this year to reorganize and rebrand the mission of the group to include traffic signals and operations to represent the traffic discipline. As a result the TAG renamed their group the "Traffic Operations TAG."
eightAsk the STIC
Q:
When will FHWA Every Day Counts 4 initiatives be announced? 
A:
FHWA hosted a summit for the Every Day Counts 4 initiatives on Oct. 18 and 19. The initiatives PennDOT will pursue will be decided following that summit. For more information please visit the FHWA Summit webpage.  

Submit your questions using the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASKTHESTIC
nineNext STIC Business Meeting will be held in January 2017 
Date and Location are to be determined 
Watch for the next edition of 
Innovation in Motion in February 2017 
For more information, please contact the STIC Team at  [email protected] .