1. Operation Lifesaver State Programs 2015 Report
Good afternoon, it’s great to have been able to be with you all this past week and hear what’s going on in your states. My name’s Bryan Hong and I’m a Program Coordinator for Policy at AASHTO. In this role I work with several economic analysis and data products being implemented through the second Strategic Highway Research Program. I also support the 514 Subcommittee, which is part of the Next Generation Equipment Committee. Today, however, I wanted to speak to you about a project done through the Rail Resource Center and completed this past spring.
Last year, AASHTO began a collaborative effort with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. to survey the coordinators leading its state-level programs. As you’ve already heard from Sally Tingle, OLI is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ending collisions, injuries, and deaths at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property. The program utilizes a public education and awareness model to carry its rail safety message through a national network of volunteers who speak to various audiences about the importance of rail crossing safety. 
Bryan Hong
Standing Committee on Rail Transportation
Fort Worth, TX | September 10, 2015

2. Background
Assist the work of Operation Lifesaver state programs and state DOTs
Look at qualitative aspects of state programs from the perspective of their coordinators
Deliver a written summary of survey responses
Provide a basis for further collaboration and partnerships
This effort began as a survey questionnaire meant to examine OLI’s state programs and find out how they are collaborating their respective DOTs. The goal was to encourage future partnerships with state DOTs and other rail stakeholders. The kinds of questions and information developed during the planning process made the survey more qualitative in nature. Therefore, the survey program used textboxes to capture responses, which I then reviewed and collated.
The final report was published on behalf of the AASHTO Rail Resource Center as a technical service to benefit the state departments of transportation rail and highway safety offices.

3. Timeline 2014 2015 Introductory Conference Call
Jul.
Introductory Conference Call
Aug.
Working Group Conference Call
Sep.
Survey draft circulated within Working Group
Survey published and sent to OLI
Oct.
Survey sent to state coordinators
Survey period closed
Nov.
Last day a response was received
Apr.
OLI State Coordinator Summit
2015
2014
This is just a broad overview of the process. (42 states total responded)
AASHTO & OLI: agreed to the partnership, and discussed the scope of the project in addition to ideas for the end result.
Working group included AASHTO staff, and four OL coordinators brought together by OLI to feature a diverse spectrum of experiences and years of service in the organization.
In between November and April we were reading through responses, figuring out how to best analyze them, and ultimately using that information to determine best practices. The report was then published and presented to OLI during its annual State Coordinator Summit in Orlando, FL.

4. Partnerships
The survey asked about partnerships state programs have with their communities. The results are shown in this chart. Rail organizations, understandably, were selected by nearly all coordinators. Schools, museums, and local and state governments also featured majorities.
In terms of what elements are looked for when establishing new partnerships, responses included the following: having an interest in rail safety, being near certain target areas such as railroad tracks, and providing either financial or volunteer/event support.

5. State DOT Partnerships
Event assistance
Funding
Communications
Board/DOT Participation
Data Sharing
Materials
Delving further into state partnerships reveals how the state DOT assists OL programs on projects and activities. The textbox answers were grouped into six general areas. The word cloud on the right shows the related phrases excerpted from coordinator responses, and their frequency across all answers is represented by size. Volunteers and presenters were mentioned often, along with DOT employees being involved in some fashion.
All programs have different working relationships with their DOTs, and so there was a range of responses submitted.
The first among the categories is…
Event assistance (31): meeting preparation, volunteers, locating venues and fixtures, event opportunities, planning and organizational support
Funding (12): grants, lines of credit, local contributions
Communications (11): spreading information to the public on websites and social media, press releases, community interactions
Board/DOT participation (11): state DOT involvement assisted through an OL program board member or other employee being employed in state government
Data sharing (10): exchanging technical information, providing updates and statistics
Materials (8): physical items (paper, brochure materials), administrative services (printing, copying)

6. Other Observations Coordinators’ opportunities for collaboration
Continuing to edify or maintain a working relationship with state DOTs is important
Data evaluation and information sharing can provide further insight and understanding
The survey received answers where this interaction led to new opportunities for the OL program. Conversely, some responses illustrated instances where losing state DOT support was a detriment to the program’s work.
Doing so can enable state OL programs with resources and knowledge to target communities with a more influential message.
39 states submitted enough financial information to analyze.
Other revenue streams = OLI grants, state agencies, non-profit contributions  avg. 58,000

7. Availability Copies are located at the Registration Table
Download a copy at the AASHTO Bookstore ( and search for item code OPLIFE-1-OL
For more detailed information you can pick up a copy of the report at the Registration Table outside this room. You can also access the report online through the AASHTO bookstore.
In the months since the report’s release, OLI staff followed up with its seven state programs that receive NHTSA Section 402 grant funds to obtain more information about the program. It developed a primer on whom to contact and what the application process entails.  This will be posted on the Rail Resource Center after this meeting for your reference.

9. Thank You