Welcome to the February edition of the UFTI T2 Center Newsletter. Feel free to call (352-273-1670) or email (t2assist@ce.ufl.edu) with any ideas, questions, or concerns. Thanks for reading!
In This Newsletter:
- Director’s Message
- Upcoming Courses and Training
- Center News
- Florida Occupant Protection Resource Center (OPRC) Update
- Join the Florida Occupant Protection Coalition
- Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center (SRC) Update
- UF T2 Center to Host Roundabout Symposium
- Other Opportunities
- APWA Florida Public Works Expo
- Center Resources
- Searching for Safety or Technical Training?
Director’s Message
We have been expanding our webinar offerings and would welcome insights about our approach. We currently have over twenty courses that range from a half day (three hours) to a full day (six hours) with some at two days (twelve hours) on a variety of subjects as listed here: https://www.techtransfer.ce.ufl.edu/engineeringwebinars.
Upcoming Courses and Training
Registration for upcoming UFTI T2 training courses is online! Get your PDHs before biannual renewal. The full UF T2 Center training calendar for the first quarter of 2019 will be available on the Web soon!
Engineering Interactive Webinar Training Courses
Construction Training Qualification Program (CTQP)
Maintenance of Traffic / Temporary Traffic Control Training Courses
Pilot Escort/ Flagging Training Courses
Request Exclusive On-Site Training
If you don’t see a class that fits your needs and have a group of interested students, please contact Jasper Masciocchi at j.masciocchi@ufl.edu or (352) 273-1685 to discuss the opportunity to bring a class to your location. T2 has a pool of qualified, experienced, professional instructors capable of traveling to your location.
Center News
Florida Occupant Protection Resource Center (OPRC) – February 2019 Update
The 2019 Latch Manual & Simple Steps to Child Passenger Safety (CPS) DVDs are in stock for CPS professionals. Car seats are available year-round for FDOT focus counties.
Scholarships are available through OPRC for CPS technician certification, re-certification, and instructor candidacy. Fill out the scholarship application with the CPS class of your choice. Need help finding a class? We can help!
CPS professionals report car seat checks to OPRC. The stats for 2018 car seat misuse in Florida, as reported to OPRC by Florida’s CPS Professionals, have been posted to the OPRC website. According to a state-wide survey in 2018, the youngest children–those using child restraints–surveyed were found to be restrained 94% of the time – which is great! However, in 2018, Child Passenger Safety professionals reported 87% of car seats were found to be used incorrectly upon inspection, with the biggest misuse being installation of the car seat. The importance of CPS professionals in Florida is apparent, especially in view of the variety of car seats available for purchase and even more car models on the market. Schedule an appointment at a car seat fitting station near you to be sure you have the skills and knowledge to install your seat correctly, every time in your vehicle.
Need help with reporting requirements for OPRC Materials or Tangible Items? Download, print, distribute, & collect signatures (signatures are only required for items listed as “Tangible”). Report using the signature form, Put it Down pledge, Safety Belt Pledge, or your own version of sign-in sheet listing items distributed. Give us a call or email. 352.273.1685 floridaoprc@ce.ufl.edu. We are happy to help.
Join the Florida Occupant Protection Coalition (FOPC)
Join the Florida Occupant Protection Coalition (FOPC) to contribute, share ideas and guide the future of Occupant Protection in Florida. The FOPC meets quarterly in Gainesville. Travel reimbursement is available for members, if needed.
The next FOPC meeting is coming up March 13-14 at the Gainesville Police Department. Plan ahead to attend the future meeting, scheduled for March 13-14, May 22-23, and August 14-15. Contact FOPC at FloridaOPCoalition@ce.ufl.edu or call at 352-273-1670 for more information about joining the coalition and attending the in-person meetings, where your contributions will be greatly appreciated for improving the safety of occupants along Florida roadways!
Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center (SRC) Update
Helmet News
The Helmet Store is open! We currently have helmets available in a range of sizes, and we are able to provide helmets for big or small events. For information on how to order bicycle helmets, please visit https://www.pedbikesrc.ce.ufl.edu/pedbike/Bike_Helmets.asp.
March is Florida Bike Month
Now is the time to start thinking about Florida Bike Month and coordinating your events! The weather is great for bike riding so we should see lots more people on two wheels. Whether you have a school-based event or a community event, we have safety literature and materials that could help you spread the news about bike safety. If you need assistance or just have questions, send an email to the PedBike Team (pedbikesrc@ce.ufl.edu) for help.
For Law Enforcement Only
If you are in one of the 25 Focus Counties for pedestrian and bicycle issues, we have a front and rear bike light combo that is available only for law enforcement officers to distribute.
Follow this link for more info: https://www.pedbikesrc.ce.ufl.edu/pedbike/Resources.asp
Event Support
SRC staff are available to assist state safety advocates at events. If you have a safety event that you would like PedBike SRC to support, please email pedbikesrc@ce.ufl.edu with your request. Please make contact as early as possible to avoid conflicts with other events.
Please help us evaluate and improve our services by answering a few questions. You may contact us directly by calling 352.273.1694 or filling out this survey: http://www.pedbikesrc.ce.ufl.edu/pedbike/Evaluation_Form1.asp.
UFTI T2 Center to Host Roundabout Symposium
UFTI T2 Center will host the Roundabout Symposium through the FDOT-funded FHWA Accelerating Safety Activities Program. The symposium will feature professionals who will share expertise in roundabout design and safety. The symposium is scheduled to be held in Bradenton, FL, and will promote safety improvements offered through implementation of a proven countermeasure. This is a free educational workshop sponsored by FHWA and hosted by UFTI T2 Center. This workshop is intended to educate local agencies on the various topics of roundabout, which is a FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasure. Travel funds are available for eligible participants. Register for the free Roundabout Symposium, and apply for travel reimbursement, or contact our team at t2cttassist@ufl.edu or 352-273-1670.
Other Opportunities
UFTI T2 is pleased to share the following announcement from the Florida Chapter of the APWA:
APRIL 15-19, 2019
Ocean Center
Host Hotel: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort
The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort is the host hotel for the 2019 Florida Public Works Expo, and it’s just across the street from the Ocean Center.
We have some VERY exciting events planned for you!
The Florida Public Works Expo attracts hundreds of Public Works professionals from the State of Florida and the Southeast. Join us in Daytona Beach, and take time to network with your peers, boost your motivation, and gain powerful new tools for success!
You will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of Technical Sessions designed to sharpen your skills, maximize production, and keep you on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and products. Be sure and join us for the Trade Show where you can acquire new tools, tips, and techniques from the leading suppliers and manufacturers in your industry!
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND:
NETWORKING — APWA Florida Chapter Public Works Expo is expected to bring more than 500 attendees.
EDUCATION — Inspiring Keynote Speaker, NEW Technical Sessions, Innovative Techniques, Leadership Training, Public Works Directors Roundtable, and more…
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT — Earn CEUs and PDHs.
TRADE SHOW — Featuring state-of-the-art equipment, products, and services from leading suppliers and manufacturers. The Exhibit Show will feature close to 100 Vendors!
RODEO COMPETITION — Over six events will be hosted by APWA-approved equipment dealers for this year’s Equipment Rodeo. Challenging and innovative events are aimed to test the skills and safety of the competitor.
RECOGNITION — Awards Banquet honoring Public Works Professionals.
Questions? Call Plan Ahead Events at 727-544-1400 OR email at info@pae-tampabay.com
Early Bird Discount ends March 1st, so register today! http://www.floridapublicworksexpo.com
Center Resources
Searching for Safety or Technical Training?
T2 can work with you to meet your training needs. Whether it is heavy equipment, project management, Traffic Engineering Fundamentals, or countless other topics, T2 is positioned to help bring the trainings of interest to your location.
We can also provide an array of webinars geared to provide you with the most relevant information without the need to travel. Let us know your areas of interest, and we can work with our experts to provide training, either in instructor-led or webinar formats.
Many of our courses are approved for Professional Engineer (PE) credits.
Contact Jasper Masciocchi at j.masciocchi@ufl.edu or 352.273.1685 to discuss your training needs.