Mission: To maximize safety, reliability, and accurate navigation of the highway system for all its users through a variety of proven and innovative traffic engineering methods and traffic control devices implemented with integrity and professionalism. The overarching principle is to make lives better through transportation.
Organization: The Traffic Engineering Division is responsible for all highway infrastructure that communicates with the driver. Similar to a Division of Highways (DOH) District Office, it has aspects of all DOH functions, planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The Traffic Engineering Division is composed of 5 Business Sections, each with multiple units. The specific duties and responsibilities of each of the Business Sections are as follows.
Program Delivery
Program Delivery prepares plans, specifications and estimates for construction or renovation projects involving traffic signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, highway lighting, crash cushions, or other traffic control devices. Program Delivery also prepares plan sheets and quantity tables, and reviews temporary traffic control plans for inclusion in projects which are being managed by other Divisions or Districts. Additionally, Program Delivery maintains and distributes many of the Traffic Engineering Division's Standards and Publications.
Contact: Rubina Tabassum, P.E., Assistant Director
Rubina.Tabassum@wv.gov
Traffic Signal & ITS Design
Key Responsibilities:
- Development of Traffic Signal and ITS Plans
- Review and approval of Consultant Developed Traffic Signal and ITS Plans
- Review and Approval of Traffic Signal and ITS Plans Related Shop Drawings
- Follow-up to the Construction of Traffic Signals and ITS Devices
Contact: Chris Williams
Chris.K.Williams@wv.gov
Work Zone Management & Delivery
Key Responsibilities:
- Development of Work Zone Traffic Control Plans
- Review and Approval of Consultant Developed Work Zone Traffic Control Plans
Contact: Currently Vacant
Publications and Information:
Signing, Lighting & Marking Design
Key Responsibilities:
- Development of Plans for Signing, Lighting and Markings
- Review and Approval of Consultant Developed Signing, Lighting and Markings Plans
- Review and Approval of Signing, Lighting, and Marking Related Shop Drawings
Contact: Currently Vacant
Publications and Information:
Safety Advancement
Safety Advancement works to integrate safety into everything WVDOT does. With the responsibility for developing and implementing West Virginia's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), Safety Advancement is responsible for leading the way for achieving WVDOT's established goal of achieving zero highway fatalities by 2050. The SHSP identifies the State's most severe highway safety concerns and establishes a plan for addressing them. Safety Advancement manages the State's Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which seeks to utilize data driven approaches to identify locations on the State's public streets and highways which could benefit from some type of highway safety improvement project. The HSIP also includes a program that seeks to improve safety at the State's many highway railroad grade crossings. In order to support data driven decisions, Safety Advancement manages several highway safety data sources, including the State Crash Records System, the State's Transportation Management Center, and West Virginia's 511 Travel Information System. Safety Advancement also coordinates WVDOT's highway safety improvement efforts with our many highway safety partners statewide by chairing West Virginia's Highway Safety Management Task Force. Additionally, Safety Management is responsible for the implementation, oversight, and maintenance of the Statewide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS); oversight and maintenance of the statewide highway lighting program; large scale safety studies; and conducting routine, spot location, and intersection safety studies.
Contact: Donna Hardy, P.E., Assistant Director
Donna.J.Hardy@wv.gov
Highway Safety Programs
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversees the technical and administrative implementation of the Highway Safety Improvement Program which encompasses both infrastructure and behavioral components
- Provides leadership to ensure that highway safety is integrated into the DOH design, construction and maintenance activities
- Actively coordinates with the District staff to develop highway safety projects and train staff on safety design concepts, standards and specifications
- Develops safety related design specifications and policies.
- Manages the Roadside Memorial Program
- Manages the School Zone Flasher Program
Contact: Currently Vacant
Publications and Information:
Strategic Traffic Safety Planning & Analysis
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversees the technical and administrative development and implementation of SHSP development and implementation which encompasses both infrastructure & behavioral components
- Prepares annual safety performance targets and conducts evaluation for strategic planning
- Develops, maintains and expands data systems and data integration to identify highway safety needs and priorities
- Develops and maintains the Safety Management System (Numetric) including crash data management and accessibility
- Conducts systemwide safety analysis and develops methodologies for safety context to support sound safety decision making
- Manages State Crash Records Database and WV Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
- Responds to Crash Data Requests
- Manages and oversees the statewide Traffic Monitoring Continuous Count Program, Short-Term Count Program, and Special Count Program to collect traffic volume, intersection turning movement, weight, classification, and speed information
Contact: Marsha Mays, P.E.
Marsha.K.Mays@WV.gov
Publications and Information:
Lighting, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) & Incident Management
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversees State's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program
- Manages the State's 511 System
- Monitors and Maintains all ITS Field Devices, including over 200 ITS Devices Statewide
- Monitors and Maintains approximately 60,000 Lights in Numerous Lighting Systems Statewide
- Develops and Coordinates Traffic Incident Management Planning and Training Statewide
Contact: Brandi Krofcheck
Brandi.G.Krofcheck@WV.gov
Publications and Information:
Transportation Management Center (TMC)
Key Responsibilities:
- Operates the Transportation Management Center
Contact: Jim Lambert
Jim.E.Lambert@WV.gov
Traffic Operations
Traffic Operations is responsible for ensuring safe and efficient travel on the State's highways. Traffic Operations' responsibilities include establishing appropriate speed zones on the State's highways; managing and maintaining the statewide traffic signal/systems program; reviewing traffic impact studies; conducting traffic operational studies; reviewing and recommending signing and marking plans on state-maintained streets and highways; and providing traffic operations expertise to District and Division personnel during the course of project development.
Contact: Currently Vacant
Traffic Signal Management
Key Responsibilities:
- Provides Oversight for Monitoring and Maintenance of Approximately 1300 Traffic Signals and Systems Statewide
- Develops Coordinated Signal Timing Plans.
- Manages Traffic Signal Repairs
- Manages Traffic Signal Specifications and Material Evaluations
Contact: Currently Vacant
Development & Special Event Coordination
Key Responsibilities:
- Administers the Scope, Review, and Approval of Development Related Traffic Impact Studies
- Coordinates Traffic Operation Plans for Large Scale Special Events
- Coordinates with The Commissioner's Office of Economic Development on behalf of Traffic Engineering Division
Contact: Currently Vacant
District Coordination, Operational Studies & Project Review
Key Responsibilities:
- Conducts and Reviews Traffic Operations Studies
- Conducts Speed Data Studies and Provides Speed Zoning Recommendations
- Recommends Roadway Improvement Projects Identified in Traffic Studies such as Traffic Signal Installation, Turn Lane Construction, & Corridor Widening
- Provides Operational Expertise for Plan Development including Intersection & Interchange Design as well as Maintenance of Traffic, Traffic Signal, Signing, and Pavement Marking Plans
- Coordinates with District Traffic Personnel to Provide Technical Assistance and Training
Contact: Currently Vacant
Publications and Information:
Traffic Services
Traffic Services performs such duties as coordinating contract work or internal maintenance relating to traffic control and safety; planning specialized signing for safety initiatives, rerouting of major routes, or renaming of roadways; maintaining approved product lists for traffic control products; maintaining open-ended purchase orders for traffic control products; assisting in development and implementation of policies relating to traffic control devices; operating of the Central Sign Shop and the Statewide and Expressway Sign Maintenance Crews; management of the statewide LOGO signing program; and specifications and oversight of the statewide pavement marking program.
Contact: Danny Young, P.E., Assitant Director
Danny.G.Young@wv.gov
Sign Manufacturing
Key Responsibilities:
- Manages the Central Sign Shop
- Oversees the annual manufacturing and delivery of more than 40,000 signs statewide for roadway system sign maintenance.
Contact: Allen Lippke
Allen.R.Lippke@wv.gov
Sign Shop Coordination
Key Responsibilities:
- Primary contact for District Sign Shops for coordination on sign needs, deliveries, and specialized projects/programs such as the fabrication and installation of roadway or bridge ceremonial naming signs as directed by Legislative Resolutions and Commissioner Orders.
Contact: Brian Adkins
Brian.L.Adkins2@wv.gov
Sign & Structure Management
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversees Maintenance & Management of Expressway Signing
- Conducts Research and Evaluation of Traffic Related Devices and Materials including Sign Sheeting Materials, Pavement Marking Materials, and Attenuating Devices
- Develops Contracts for Materials and Services
- Develops Specifications and Standards for Traffic Products
- Provides Technical Expertise in all Traffic Related Products/Devices
Contact: Currently Vacant
Pavement Markings & LOGO Sign Coordination
Key Responsibilities:
- Provides oversight of tourism and motorist service-related business signing programs – LOGO Signing
- Plans and delivers annual traffic striping and markings projects.
Contact: Josh Hemsworth
Josh.S.Hemsworth@WV.gov
Publications and Information:
Administration, Enforcement, and Reporting
Administration, Enforcement, and Reporting is responsible for performing administrative and support services for the Division. These responsibilities include managing all human resource functions for the Division such as, scheduling and managing training activities; developing and managing budgets; and conducting the financial, accounting, time, equipment, and payroll, travel management and record retention functions of the Division.
Additionally, Administration, Enforcement, and Reporting houses the State's Outdoor Advertising and Salvage Yard (OA/SY) regulatory functions for the State. OA/SY enforces federal and state statutes and regulations regarding the placement, appearance and physical characteristics of billboards and commercial signs along the State Highway System; issues licenses for outdoor advertising signs; and licenses and regulates salvage yards.
Contact: Michele Higginbotham, Assistant Director
Michele.D.Higginbotham@wv.gov
Outdoor Advertising & Salvage Yards
Key Responsibilities:
- Managing State's Outdoor Advertising Licensing and Regulatory Activities
- Managing State's Salvage Yard Licensing and Regulatory Activities
- Enforcing State and Federal Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Outdoor Advertising within the State
- Enforcing State and Federal Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Salvage Yards within the State
- Providing Expertise Regarding State and Federal Laws, Rules and Regulations Regarding Outdoor Advertising and Salvage Yards.
Contact: Pat Lehosit
Patrick.S.Lehosit@wv.gov
Outdoor Advertising & Salvage Yard Forms, District Contacts, and Additional Program Resources
Administrative Management
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinating the Division's Human Resource Functions
- Developing/Maintaining Division Administrative Policies and Procedures
- Managing Division Procurement and Purchasing Processes
- Managing the Division's CDL Program
- Preparing Consultant and/or Vendor Payments and Coordinating Audit Functions
- Assists with Project Management Functions
- Developing and Managing the Division's Annual Budget
- Scheduling and Managing Training Activities
Contact: Missy Bentley
Missy.R.Bentley@wv.gov
Director
Ted J. Whitmore, P.E.
Director, Traffic Engineering Division
West Virginia Division of Highways
Building 5, Room A220
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-3063
Division Contacts