OACES Newsletter for April 27, 2023 |
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Upcoming OACES Meetings:
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OACES Spring Conference - Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Welches, May 22-24 [Register Here]
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2023 OACES Spring Conference to be held May 22-24 at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort |
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The Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) 2023 Spring Conference will be held Monday, May 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m. through Wednesday, May 24, ending at 1 pm. This year’s conference is at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort (formerly known as Resort at the Mountain), located at 68010 E. Fairway Ave, Welches Ore.
To reserve your hotel room, please call the hotel directly at 503-622-3101 and reference the OACES Conference. The Reservation Department/Front Desk is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Room rates are Kings/Queens: $159.00; Fireside Rooms: $189.00; plus taxes and fees.
Click [Here] to register. Registration deadline: Friday, May 12.
The draft conference agenda includes many topics of interest, legislative issues, NACE, and surveyor representation along with OACES networking events.
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OACES Members Attend NACE in Orange Beach, AL |
Oregon members gained valuable technical information on federal legation, trending bridge and road engineering topics, as well as networking with fellow county engineers, vendors, and experts. OACES members were even able to take a leadership-building trip on an ecological airboat ride up the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta—without a single alligator attack!
OACES hopes you can join the Oregon delegation at next year's NACE Conference in Palm Springs California, April 14-17, 2024. As a reminder, if you or your county need financial support to attend NACE or other training events you are encouraged to apply or nominate fellow OACES members for the Education & Leadership Scholarship Program.
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Meet Your AOC Team: AOC County Road Program IT Trainer & Communications Specialist Robert Yde |
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Robert Yde joined the AOC team in February of 2023 as IT Trainer & Communications Specialist. In his role, Robert primarily supports the public affairs and communication needs of the County Road Program (CRP). He also serves as the first point of contact and trainer for CRP’s Integrated Road Information System (IRIS).
After graduating from college, Robert spent five years in the U.S. Army as a public affairs specialist, including a 15-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. Following his time in the army, he relocated to Oregon and continued to work in public affairs, first at the Oregon State Hospital, then at Samaritan Health Plans in Corvallis. In 2018, Robert changed careers and began his first year of teaching middle school language arts and social studies courses in Albany, which he continued to do until joining AOC in early 2023.
Robert holds a Bachelor’s degree in sociology from North Carolina State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in education from Oregon State University. ...[Read More]
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Final Roadway Fatality Report Shows Fatalities Rose Broadly, Sharply in 2021 |
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its annual
In conjunction, NWTSA also released its Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2021, an analysis of 2021 fatal roadway crash data, which underscores the risk of distracted and other forms of risky driving. NHTSA reported that fatalities in distraction-affected crashes increased by 12 percent from 3,154 in 2020 to 3,522 in 2021, a total of 8.2 percent of all fatalities reported.
Among the report’s key findings:
- 42,939 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways during 2021, a 10 percent increase from 39,007 fatalities in 2020, and the largest number of fatalities since 2005.
- The estimated number of people injured on our roadways increased in 2021 to 2.5 million, rising from 2.28 million in 2020, a statistically significant increase of 9.4 percent.
- The estimated number of police-reported traffic crashes increased from 5.25 million in 2020 to 6.1 million in 2021, a statistically significant 16 percent increase.
- Speeding-related fatalities increased by 7.9 percent, alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities increased by 14 percent, and seat belt non-use fatalities increased by 8.1 percent.
- Urban fatalities increased by 14 percent; rural fatalities increased by 4.7 percent.
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USDOT Announces Upcoming Funding Opportunities |
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Technical Assistance Resources:
Please contact AOC County Road Program Director Brian Worley with any questions about USDOT grant funding opportunities.
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Grant Funds to Replace and Retrofit Diesel Equipment |
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The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is providing approximately $8 million in grant funding for diesel equipment owners to replace older and more polluting diesel engines with new, cleaner technologies and exhaust control retrofits. The Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grants Program is designed to help address health and environmental impacts from diesel emissions in Oregon.
Business, government and tribal diesel equipment owners across the state are invited to apply for funding for projects that reduce diesel emissions. Owners of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles requiring retrofits under DEQ’s Diesel Retrofit Compliance Program may also apply for funding to support the installation of diesel particulate filters.
Submissions must be received by DEQ no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6. This will be the only opportunity to apply for a Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grant in 2023. For more information on the grants, please contact DEQ Program Manager Gerik Kransky.
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The Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) Program helps local jurisdictions plan for streets and land to lead to more livable, sustainable, and economically vital communities. This planning increases opportunities for transit, walking, and bicycling.
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Category 1: Transportation System Planning, to give Oregonians a range of transportation choices and meet requirements of the Oregon transportation planning rules.
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Category 2: Integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning, to promote communities that meet the needs of all Oregonians to live, work, and move about.
Please contact AOC County Road Program Director Brian Worley with any questions about TGM grant funding opportunities.
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Funding Available for Transportation Projects Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
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The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These funds are available through an ODOT-managed competitive grant program, with federal funds coming from the new federal Carbon Reduction Program.
Oregon will be receiving $82 million over five years, with $13 million available in 2023 for “small urban and rural” projects. Eligible projects must reduce emissions from transportation and be in urban and rural areas of the state with a population of less than 200,000. Examples of eligible projects include public transit, bike infrastructure improvements, low-emission vehicles or fuels, and intelligent transportation systems. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, tribal governments, and local and state transportation agencies. More details are available [HERE]. The application window runs from Feb. 28 to May 31.
Please contact AOC County Road Program Director Brian Worley with any questions.
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Join New FHWA NHI Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation Courses
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The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) is now offering five new, exciting environmental courses addressing climate change through adaptation and resilience.
The target audiences for the courses are primarily transportation personnel who work in engineering, design, and project development/NEPA units in transportation agencies.
New courses include:
If you would like more information about any of these courses, please contact Rob Kafalenos at (202) 366-2079. Visit NHI's website for more information on the best methods to address climate resilience for highway projects in your community.
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FHWA Local Road Technical Assistance Webinar |
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FHWA's upcoming webinar, Local Road Technical Assistance, is scheduled for May 3, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The webinar will focus on how local agencies have benefited from FHWA roadway safety technical assistance, and will showcase the benefits realized by two county agencies, one city agency, and one tribal transportation agency.
The webinar will provide information on accessing available technical assistance, the different format technical assistance can take, and feature the benefits realized by the participating agencies.
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Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol Training, May 9, 11, and 18 |
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The Department of State Lands (DSL) is hosting a 3-day Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol Training May 9, 11, and 18. The trainings on May 9 and 18 will be virtual, while the training on May 11 will take place at the Fairview Wetlands in Salem, Ore.
Over the course of the 3 days, participants will:
- Build an understanding of the principles, guidance, and process used to develop ORWAP.
- Build an understanding of all aspects needed to accurately complete an ORWAP.
- Learn how complete the ORWAP Calculator’s Office Form, including how to use the online ORWAP Map Viewer to answer Office Form questions.
- Learn methods to accurately answer questions for the Field Form.
- Gain confidence in understanding how the method works and confidence in correctly completing an ORWAP.
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2023 Forth EV Roadmap Conference Program, May 15-17 |
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Save the date for May 15-17, in Portland, for the nation's premier electric transportation conference, where leaders convene to transform how people and goods move.
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2023 PNW SnowFighters Conference, June 6-7 |
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The 2023 Pacific NW SnowFighters (PNS) Conference is in Portland this year, June 6-7. The PNS is a nonprofit organization that focuses on bringing winter maintenance conferences to the Pacific Northwest.
More than 350 transportation maintenance professionals from around the Pacific Northwest are expected to attend, including city, county, and DOTs from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, and Montana. More conference info can be found [HERE], registration is now open.
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County Engineering, Road Department, and Surveyor Jobs
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The AOC job posting page provides counties and other government organizations with a method to advertise job opportunities while also providing a resource for job seekers looking for a new challenge.
Current engineering, road department, and surveyor postings include:
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Jackson County is Hiring Engineers! |
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Jackson County Roads, Engineering Division is recruiting for several engineering positions, including:
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County Road Program Director
Legislative Director
Transportation Policy Analyst
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Senior Administrative Manager
IT Trainer and Communications Specialist
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