Session 5A: Strategic Highway Safety Planning
Session Description: This session will cover safety planning and project selection aspects at the federal, state and local levels. Presenters will also discuss the 2017 Strategic Highway Safety Plan and ways that it supports various programs. The session will conclude with a 40-minute panel discussion with the various presenters so bring your questions and be prepared to participate in the discussion.
Moderator: Gavin E. Gray, P.E., Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- Overview of the 2017 Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Gavin Gray, PE, Highway Safety Section Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- Federal Perspective on Strategic Safety Planning and HSIP Utilization, Michael Castellano, PE, Safety Engineer, Federal Highway Administration
- A District’s Approach to Safety Planning, Ryan Collins, District Highway Safety Supervisor, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- A Local’s Approach to Safety Planning, Heather Bitner, Senior Planner, York County Planning Commission
Speaker Bios:
Gavin Gray was appointed to the position of chief of the highway safety section in August of 2015. Previously, Gavin served as a special assistant to the deputy secretary of highway administration in PennDOT’s central office, where he assisted the deputy with various aspects of design, construction, and maintenance related to more than 40,000 miles of roadway and nearly 25,000 bridges. Gavin has spent 20 years in the engineering field, including more than 13 focused in transportation design. Since joining PennDOT in 1995, he has held numerous positions, including statewide roundabout coordinator and highway design manager in the Bureau of Design. While in these positions, he managed the department’s scheduling program, assisted with the implementation of their Accelerated Bridge Program and was responsible for setting standards and performing quality assurance reviews of PennDOT’s highway activities. Gavin is a licensed professional engineer and holds a bachelor’s degree in structural design and construction engineering technology from Penn State.
Michael Castellano graduated in December 1992 from the University of Maryland at College Park with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. In January 1993, he joined the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and completed a two-year highway engineer training program. He was assigned to the Pennsylvania Division Office as highway engineer in January 1995. His responsibilities currently include program oversight of highway safety and related areas. Michael is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania.
Ryan Collins is the PennDOT Engineering District 2-0 highway safety supervisor. Ryan has significant experience in the highway safety arena, serving the past 14 years in the District Traffic Unit. Ryan is involved with managing the District’s yearly Low Cost Safety Improvement Program as well as coordinating the District’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). He is a graduate of South Hills Business School with an associate degree in business.
