Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH): Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) - Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 693JJ317NF000
Volume 1 - Technical Application
Appendix B. Letters of Support
May 24, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
Please accept this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
Agriculture is the heart of Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is committed to providing leadership for all aspects of agriculture in Iowa, ensuring consumer protection, and promoting the responsible use of our natural resources. We are passionate about the safety of our state's farmers.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project. We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and are interested in potentially cooperating with the UI and Iowa DOT on this life-saving project. Deploying AVLs into specialty vehicles such as tractors and having drivers throughout the community download an app that sends alerts is a simple way to implement advanced technology, with tremendous potential benefits.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our farmers, rural community, and all those who travel our roadways.
Sincerely,
/S/
Bill Northey
Secretary of Agriculture
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
BN:jds
May 23,2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
Please accept this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
The Iowa Department of Education endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and intend to partner with the UI and Iowa DOT however we can on this life-saving project.
The Iowa Department of Education is committed to the safety of our students and bus drivers. With a pilot project deploying A VL technology into tractors and buses and engaging in community outreach for rural drivers to download an app that alerts them to these special vehicles in the roadway ahead, REACH strives to protect everyone on our rural roadways. If the REACH project can prevent crashes from occurring and save lives, that is a tremendous success for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our rural co1U1Uunity and travelers.
Sincerely,
/S/
Ryan Wise, Ed. L.D.
Director
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes Office Building, 2nd Floor
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
Office: (515) 281-3436
Grimes State Office Building - 400 E 14th St- Des Moines IA 50319-0146
PHONE (515) 281-5294 FAX (515) 242-5988
www.educateiowa.gov
Championing Excellence for all Iowa Students through Leadership and Service
May 25, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
I am pleased to provide this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
Agriculture is fundamental to Iowa's economy and culture. I direct Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH) and our mission is to enhance the health and safety of Iowa's agricultural community by establishing and coordinating prevention and education programs. We collaborate with a statewide network of partners to develop programs that enhance the health and well-being of Iowa's farm community. Some of the most critical work involves decreasing the number of on-road fatalities involving tractors. Within the past month, at least two farmers have been killed while operating their tractors on Iowa roadways.
There is clearly a need to reduce rural roadway crashes in Iowa and I-CASH fully endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project. We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and are interested in potentially cooperating with the UI and Iowa DOT on this project. Deploying AVLs into specialty vehicles such as tractors and having drivers throughout the community download an app that sends alerts is a simple way to implement advanced technology, with life-saving benefits.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our farmers, rural community, and all those who travel our roadways.
Sincerely,
/S/
Brandi Janssen, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Occupational and Environmental Health
Director, Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
Institute for Rural and Environmental Health
UI Research Park, #124 IREH · The University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA 52242-5000
(319) 335-4229 FAX (319) 335-4225
Johnson County
3109 Old Highway 218 South
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
319 337-2145 Phone
319 337:7864 Fax
www.extension.iastate.edu/johnson/
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Extension and Outreach
May 25, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Depa11ment of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
Please, accept this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
Johnson County Extension is a part of the ongoing life of our community, committed to healthy people, healthy environments, and healthy economies. Our goal is to build a strong Iowa, where people, families, and communities can develop their talents and capabilities. We achieve this goal by providing education and partnerships designed to solve today's problems and to help people prepare for the future. In working toward a stronger Iowa, we recognize that there is a critical need to reduce rural roadway crashes, particularly those involving tractors.
Johnson County Extension endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project. We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and are interested in potentially cooperating with the UI and Iowa DOT on this project. Deploying AVLs in to specialty vehicles such as tractors and having drivers throughout the community download an app that sends alerts is a simple way to implement advanced technology, with life-saving benefits.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our farmers, rural community, and all those who travel our roadways.
Sincerely,
/S/
Gene Mohling
Regional Extension Education Director, Region 15
Johnson County ISU Extension
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.
May 18, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
Please accept this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
The Lisbon and Springville Community School Districts endorse the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project. We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and are interested in potentially cooperating with the UI and Iowa DOT on this life-saving project.
The Lisbon and Springville Community School Districts know firsthand the importance of making drivers more aware of school buses in our rural areas. In late October 2016, a car rear ended a Springville school bus on a four-lane rural highway. The crash resulted in the death of the car's driver and one of the six children on the school bus being taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. While we can attempt to make our buses more conspicuous to drivers, we cannot always combat issues like driver distraction, which may have played a part in this crash.
REACH addresses the safety of our students, bus drivers, and other drivers on rural roads with its pilot project deploying automatic vehicle location (AVL) equipment into school buses and tractors, which then provide alerts to drivers through a smartphone app. This project aims to prevent crashes like the one our district experienced this past October from occurring.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our rural community and travelers.
Sincerely,
/S/
Pat Hocking
Superintendent
Lisbon Community School District/Springville Community School District
May 18, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao,
Please accept this letter of support for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant application submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
The Lone Tree Community School District endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project. We are supportive of these efforts to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways and are interested in potentially cooperating with the UI and Iowa DOT on this life-saving project.
The safety of our students is of utmost importance to our school district. REACH addresses the safety of our students and bus drivers, as well as all drivers on our rural roadways, with a pilot project to deploy automatic vehicle location (AVL) equipment into potentially slow-moving or stopped special vehicles, such as school buses and tractors. With a simple app downloaded onto their phone, drivers in these rural areas would be alerted to nearby school buses and tractors equipped with the AVLs, potentially preventing crashes from occurring.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our rural community and travelers.
Sincerely,
/S/
Michael Reeves
Superintendent
Lone Tree Community School District
May 24, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative; University of Iowa and Iowa Department of Transportation REACH project
Dear Secretary Chao:
We are pleased to support the grant application for the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative grant, which is being submitted by the University of Iowa (UI), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), for the Rural Enhanced Automated Communication of Hazards (REACH) project.
The Department of Public Safety and the Iowa State Patrol have long been dedicated to the safety of all Iowans and all travelers through our state. The innovative TraumaHawk program fits with that mission. We have had the opportunity to grow with the TraumaHawk team at the UI since its inception in 2013, and we have witnessed the benefits of the program first-hand. TraumaHawk uniquely meets the needs of crash victims and trauma teams, by providing essential information faster and more effectively. We have seen the life-saving results in many cases. In a state that is predominantly rural, the TraumaHawk program improves the chances of survival for those who are injured on rural roadways.
Our Department strongly endorses the goals and technology applications envisioned with the REACH project and we strongly support efforts to continue to improve the safety of those traveling our rural roadways. Our Department is committed to continuing our relationship with the TraumaHawk program and team, based on the results we have seen. We will do whatever we can to expand the program throughout Iowa and across the country.
Thank you for your consideration of the REACH project grant request from the UI and Iowa DOT. REACH presents an important opportunity for our residents, rural community, and all those who travel our roadways.
Very Truly Yours,
/S/
Roxann M. Ryan, J.D., Ph.D.
Commissioner of Public Safety
/S/
Colonel Jeff N. Ritzman
Chief, Iowa State Patrol
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER • 215 EAST 7TH STREET• DES MOINES, IOWA 50319-0040 • PHONE (515) 725-6182 • FAX (515) 725-6195
Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Honesty, Courage, Compassion, Service
