Transportation

The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

The Greater Birmingham Regional Planning Commission hosted the Federal Highway Administration’s Designing Streets for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Workshop on February 20th and 21st. I had the opportunity to attend as a representative of Sain Associates, along with other consultants and individuals from local municipalities and organizations. The two-day workshop was centered on bicycle and…
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I-59/20 Bridge Opening in Birmingham

We have written previously about our work associated with the I-59/20 bridge replacement project in downtown Birmingham.  If you live or work in the area, you already know that the interstate bridges are back open!  Jeff Stephenson and I had the opportunity to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, January 17, and on the following Sunday, the bridges were…
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2019 Recap & Looking Forward to 2020

2019 was an outstanding year, and I’m grateful for our excellent clients and great staff. The most important item of the year was adding Alicia Bailey, P.E., as a shareholder. It was an award-winning year at Sain. Awards included: Other highlights included: In 2019, we continued to expand our work for municipalities, counties, and DOT’s…
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Sain Summit – 2019 Networking

Recently Becky White, Darren Hamrick, and Joe Meads represented Sain Associates at a lunch hosted by Brenda Phillips, President/COO of Sain Engineering Associates (SEA), and other key staff. We affectionately call this a “Sain Summit.” Sain Associates was founded in 1972 by Charles Sain, and Steve Sain founded Sain Engineering in 1988. Our founders were…
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Interstate Access Requests

Did you know the state departments of transportation oversee all construction and maintenance of our Interstate System, but the federal government maintains oversight to interstate access?  Therefore, any change of access to the Interstate System requires approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  I recently attended an FHWA workshop at the Tennessee Department of Transportation…
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Did you know? New Traffic Law in Alabama

Did you know a new traffic law went into effect in Alabama on Sunday, September 1st? The new law, also known as Act 2019-386 or SB 254, requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to use seat belts (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency). You read that right. Up until now, back seat passengers did not have…
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Time to Rebuild Alabama!

Alabama drivers saw a 6-cent state gas tax increase this past weekend starting September 1st. This was the first increment of the 10-cent tax approved this year by the legislature and Governor Kay Ivey. Alabama’s Fuel Tax of 18 cents per gallon on gas and 19 cents on diesel was the fifth lowest in the…
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Did You Know? Connected Vehicles

We sat down with Charles Cochran, P.E., PTOE, RSP, to learn about the ins and outs of connected vehicles. Q: What are Connected Vehicles? A: Connected Vehicles use communication technologies to “talk” to other vehicles, drivers, pedestrians, and infrastructure.  For example, as a vehicle approaches an intersection outfitted with connected vehicle technology, the traffic signal…
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New Traffic Signal Technology Coming to Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville

A project to implement new traffic signal technology for Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville is nearing completion. The project includes new traffic signal controllers and additional vehicle detectors for the nine signalized intersections along Cobbs Ford Road from Silver Hills Drive to I-65. These signals are also being connected to a database and interconnected with…
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National Work Zone Awareness Week

Created in 2000, National Work Zone Awareness Week  (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign dedicated to educating and encouraging safe driving through work zones. It also honors those whose lives have been lost due to a work zone accident. This year, the 20th annual campaign will take place April 8-12 with the theme: “Drive Like You Work…
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