The Transtec Group offers a free FHWA workshop series on the basics of tire-pavement noise.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, October 5, 2005—Under a sponsorship from FHWA and a coordinated effort with State DOTs, The Transtec Group has begun a series of free workshops dedicated to helping pavement engineers and noise practitioners understand the mutually acceptable solutions for reducing tire-pavement noise. The workshops, which are titled Tire-Pavement Noise 101, focus on teaching the fundamental issues surrounding tire-pavement noise.

After the successful completion of a pilot workshop in Baltimore, MD in June 2005, the FHWA approved 15 additional workshops to be held around the country. With this sponsorship from FHWA, the workshop is free to any host State DOT that can provide a meeting facility and is willing to extend invitations to their noise and pavement community. While several upcoming dates and locations for workshops have already been set, five additional workshops are still available.

The response from those who have attended the workshops has been extremely positive. “We are very pleased at the enthusiasm this workshop has received from the state highway agencies and industry. The positive feedback shows that this workshop has definitely filled the needs of our stakeholders,” said Mark Swanlund, FHWA Office of Pavement Technology.

The workshops, under the instruction of Transtec’s Dr. Robert Otto Rasmussen, P.E., and Purdue University’s Dr. Robert J. Bernhard, P.E., are designed to educate participants on the fundamentals of pavements and noise, and include a discussion on the various methods of measuring and interpreting noise. The instructors also give a detailed explanation on tire-pavement noise and how it fits into the bigger picture of highway noise. An overview of current research and policy directions, as well as current practices for designing and constructing quieter pavements, is a popular component.

For more information about hosting a Tire-Pavement Noise 101 workshop or for currently scheduled workshops, please direct calls to Mark Swanlund, FHWA Office of Pavement Technology at (202) 366-1323.

About The Transtec Group: The Transtec Group is a pavement engineering firm that provides expertise in pavement design, research, construction, rehabilitation, software development, Public-Private Partnership (P3) projects and technology transfer for the transportation industry. A DBE and MBE firm, Transtec is a leader in Design-Build transportation projects worldwide. Transtec is based in Austin, Texas and serves clients throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.TheTranstecGroup.com.