Appalachian Transportation Institute

10/14/2022

ATI Receives $586,965 federal grant for commercial vehicle crash reporting

The Appalachian Transportation Institute (ATI), housed in the Marshall University Research Corporation, is the recipient of a $586,965 federal grant to improve crash report analysis in the state of West Virginia. ATI’s primary goal with the award is to develop partnerships with commercial motor vehicle (CMV) stakeholders in West Virginia to improve the accuracy and accessibility of CMV crash data so that more efficient enforcement activities and geometric improvements can be executed in priority locations.

According to ATI, some vehicle crash reports lack the requisite accuracy for performing hot spot analysis to identify problem areas along the state’s roadway network. This is often attributed to the crashes occurring in rural locations without a unique reference landmark, such as a business or intersection.

With the $586,965 grant, ATI will develop a tool to better locate crashes based on crash report information across all types of vehicles, as well as a dashboard for reporting and analyzing CMV crashes and safety hot spots to inform stakeholders that can target enforcement or roadway improvements.

Michael Vaughn is with the West Virginia Division of Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration.

“Accurate crash data is critical to identifying emerging CMV safety concerns and developing effective countermeasures to reduce the number of crashes and associated injuries and fatalities. This tool will provide analysts with new insights into CMV crashes to better target resources to improve highway safety.”

The WVDOT manages the statewide vehicle crash database on behalf of all state agencies and these new tools will benefit all entities utilizing the data.

“The value of this work is really twofold,” said Robert Plymale, chief operating officer for ATI. “The project sets out to improve the underlying data and systems available to stakeholders. But most importantly, this represents an indispensable partnership between ATI and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT), the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the West Virginia State Police. Through this collaboration, we aim to further reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle crashes, particularly in the state’s many rural areas.”

For more information on the Appalachian Transportation Institute and their other projects throughout Appalachia, visit https://www.muati.org.

09/26/2022

PROACT will host its inaugural Race Toward Recovery, presented by Mosaic Group, at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Barboursville Park.

01/12/2021

Severe weather can happen at anytime. Remember to have an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Keep a full tank of gas. It is important to have multiple ways to receive warnings from local officials.
For more information visit: https://www.ready.gov/be-informed

09/09/2019

Sept. 12, 2019, at Lavalette Elementary School LAVALETTE. W.Va. — A community meeting to obtain public comments concerning a feasibility assessment for a proposed 75-room lodge and conference center near the Beech Fork Dam and Recreation Area near Huntington is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12, 20...

08/30/2019

Once the cost of living is factored in, workers can get a bigger bang for their buck in smaller metro areas

08/29/2019

Good News Mountaineer Garage helps get low income families on the road to independence by providing them with a safe, reliable car.

Please consider purchasing a ticket to their upcoming Garage Ball on Thursday, October 10. Tickets can be purchased on their website at https://www.goodnewsmountaineergarage.com.

08/22/2019

Yesterday, Governor Justice launched a fleet of 13 vans that will be used to transport disabled or injured West Virginia veterans to their appointments at VA medical facilities across the state.

The program will be operated through the Volunteer Transportation Network within the national organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

The Huntington hospital will receive four of the 13 vans.

08/08/2019

West Virginia Port Authority gives Wayne County Commissioners until August 30 to submit proposals to save the $32 million Heartland Intermodal Gateway in Prichard

CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Public Port Authority board, during a meeting Wednesday, gave Wayne County officials until the end of the month to submit proposals to save the $32

07/31/2019

For some, transportation can be as key as the decision to seek treatment.

This story from WCHS & WVAH TV shares more information about the Appalachian Regional Commission pilot project aimed at increasing access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery.

Michael Jeude has been in recovery for nearly two months. He says if someone didn't bring him to the treatment facility he would be living a life of drug addiction. One of the barriers in getting people struggling with addiction to treatment is actually getting them to treatment. "I would say transp...

07/30/2019

We are honored to be a part of this pilot project aimed at identifying effective, sustainable, and replicable solutions to transportation challenges. There is no easy solution to the substance use disorder epidemic, but we are committed to reducing transportation as a barrier to recovery.