We’re excited to share that Sain Associates recently received an ACEC Tennessee Excellence in Engineering Award for our work on the 2025–2029 Tennessee Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). This project plays an important role in improving roadway safety across Tennessee, and we’re grateful to play a part in that effort.
In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, our team led the update of the statewide plan, which is required every five years. The SHSP is a big undertaking, involving crash data, federal guidelines, evolving safety strategies, and a wide range of community needs. Over the course of the project, our team coordinated with more than 50 statewide stakeholders through surveys, workshops, in-person meetings in Nashville, and bi-monthly Core Team sessions to make sure the plan reflects the realities and priorities of people across Tennessee.
One of the most meaningful parts of this update was helping Tennessee take a major step forward by fully integrating the Safe System Approach (SSA). This is a newer U.S. safety model that acknowledges something simple but important: people make mistakes, but those mistakes shouldn’t cost someone their life. The SSA shifts responsibility from just the individual driver to everyone who designs, maintains, and operates the transportation system. Our team helped weave SSA principles throughout the plan, making this the first time the approach has been used so comprehensively in a statewide strategy in Tennessee.
We also leaned heavily into data and technology to support TDOT’s goals. Tools like AASHTOWare Safety and the USDOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer allowed us to bring together crash data and community vulnerability data in new ways. These tools helped highlight where underserved communities are more heavily impacted by serious crashes and where targeted safety strategies can make the biggest difference.
The project touched on key issues, including vulnerable road users (VRU), driver behavior, infrastructure improvements, operational needs, and motor carrier safety. Each emphasis area includes detailed strategies and action items, such as exploring Intelligent Transportation System solutions for work zone safety or addressing median barriers and wrong-way driving concerns. These real-world strategies came directly from feedback and conversations with TDOT staff, local partners, and community voices.
Beyond the technical work, one of the most rewarding aspects of the project was seeing how the planning process helped shift the conversation around roadway safety. Stakeholders began talking more about shared responsibility, vulnerable users, behavioral factors, and how engineering connects to people’s daily lives. This broader understanding, and the collaboration that came with it, is a big part of what makes the SHSP special.
The final product is an implementation-ready plan that includes performance tracking, quarterly stakeholder meetings, federal compliance updates, and clear strategies TDOT can put into action right away. We’re proud to support a plan that aims to save lives and strengthen communities across Tennessee. This award is an honor, but the real impact will come from seeing the SHSP guide meaningful safety improvements in the years ahead.