Transportation

Essential Traffic Safety Tips

Every time we get behind the wheel or step onto a roadway, we become part of a complex system where safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, understanding and practicing fundamental traffic safety habits is key to reducing crashes and protecting lives. Below are three tips to help everyone stay…
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Success through On-Call Traffic Engineering

At Sain Associates, we understand that every state DOT and municipality faces unique traffic challenges. Their leaders often require flexible and efficient solutions, and that’s where on-call traffic engineering contracts come into play. An on-call contract is a partnership between a state DOT or municipality and our engineering firm. Instead of procuring services for each…
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Designing the Interchanges You Drive Every Day

When you drive on the interstate, you may not think twice about the entrance and exit ramps, overpasses, or flyovers that guide your route. However, behind every one of these features is a carefully engineered interchange – a vital structure that connects roadways, keeps traffic flowing, and promotes safety. Interchange design is a critical part…
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Veronica Ramirez Named 2025 ITE Young Leader to Follow

We are proud to announce that Veronica Ramirez, P.E., RSP1, Project Manager and Auburn-Opelika Office Lead, has been selected as one of the 2025 Young Leaders to Follow by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)! The 2025 Young Leaders to Follow class is comprised of 20 transportation professionals under 35-years-old who have demonstrated leadership and…
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Understanding a Turbo Roundabout’s Design

Turbo roundabouts are an innovative intersection design developed in the Netherlands in the late 1990s. Unlike traditional multi-lane roundabouts, where vehicles can change between lanes within the roundabout, turbo roundabouts use raised lane dividers and lane markings to guide vehicles into specific paths before entering the roundabout. This eliminates lane changing within the roundabout itself,…
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Sain’s First SS4A Safety Action Plan

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) has successfully completed its Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan (SAP). Sain Associates assisted the RPCGB with the SAP’s development through collaborative efforts with local stakeholders and public involvement. The primary goal of the SAP is to enhance transportation safety across the six-county…
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TAP Funding 101

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a federal initiative that provides funding to municipalities for projects aimed at enhancing non-motorized transportation, improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and promoting safe routes to schools. As of 2025, there have been several updates and considerations for municipalities seeking TAP funding in Alabama. Application Process Applications must be submitted…
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Asphalt vs. Concrete: Which is Better for Your Next Project?

When it comes to choosing the right material for your paving projects, the decision between asphalt and concrete can be tough. To help shed some light on the benefits of each, we’ve invited two industry experts to share their insights. Dalton Magdon of Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc. discusses the advantages of asphalt, and Shadrack Mboya,…
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Update to the Tennessee Strategic Highway Safety Plan

On behalf of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Sain Associates recently completed the update to the Tennessee Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The SHSP is a five-year document required by the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which is the primary federal funding source for transportation safety projects. The…
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Wrong-Way Driving at Partial Cloverleaf Interchange Terminals

In recent years, my research has focused on enhancing traffic safety at partial cloverleaf (parclo) interchanges, particularly addressing the persistent issue of wrong-way driving (WWD). Parclo interchanges, designed to manage traffic flow between highways and arterial roads, unfortunately exhibit a higher incidence of WWD events compared to other interchange types. Wrong-way driving poses significant risks,…
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