1. FHWA Update for the Virtis Opis User Group Meeting Thomas Saad, P. E. FHWA Resource Center Phone: 708.283.3521 E-mail: thomas.saad@dot.gov

2. FHWA Key Bridge Program Initiatives NBIS Oversight and Compliance – Roll out of new procedures for uniformity/conformance ARRA Every Day Counts (EDC) - ABC and PFBE Gusset Plate Evaluations Scour POAs

3. Changes in FHWA NBIS Program Oversight OIG and GAO reviews of FHWA Oversight (2007-2008) for inconsistency and weaknesses in NBIS Oversight Seven new full-time positions in FHWA Office of Bridge Technology Four (4) Bridge Safety Engineers Load Rating Engineer Scour Engineer Bridge Preservation Engineer New procedures in place for FHWA Division Offices to review NBIS compliance and achieve uniformity

4. Pilot Truck Weight Study Maine and Vermont Allow States to increase GVW on Interstate to 100,000 lbs One year pilot program in each State FHWA Office of Freight Management to evaluate and report impacts to Congress Evaluation to cover economic benefits and impacts on safety, pavements and bridges in Vermont Study vehicles: 6 axles (42 foot and 51 foot wheelbase in Maine and Vermont, respectively)

5. NHI Course 130081: Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Highway Bridge Superstructures 2 to 5-day training courses on steel and concrete superstructure design NHI Course 130082: Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Highway Bridge Substructures and Earth Retaining Structures 1 to 5-day training course on LRFD foundation, pier and wall design NHI Course 130092: Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) for Highway Bridges 2 to 5-day training courses on rating and analyzing concrete and steel bridge superstructure and substructure elements FHWA/NHI Bridge Design and Analysis Training Courses

6. NHI Course 130093: LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Highway Bridges 5-day training course on LRFD Seismic Design of Bridges NHI Course 130094: LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Tunnels, Walls and other Geotechnical Features 5-day training course on LRFD Seismic Analysis of retaining walls, earthworks and buried structures NHI Course 130095: LRFD: Design and Analysis of Skewed and Horizontally Curved Steel Bridges 4-day training course with Reference Manual FHWA/NHI Bridge Design and Analysis Training Courses

7. Specific thoughts for Bridge Owners and Managers No better time to make improvements in bridge management and operations and to acquire resources to get the job done V-O users should be harnessing the power of technology Spend $$$ and time efficiently – make program changes for the future as you update design and load rating procedures

8. Virtis-Opis Training and Marketing Formal training available through Service Units Other Training and/or Marketing needs??? Need to consider VOTF budget Need for product training? Showcases? Who needs training? Level of expertise?