Session No. 8A
State and Federal Perspectives and Policies
This session is designed to provide updates to changes to safety policies and programs at both the federal and state levels.
Moderator: Gavin Gray, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
PennDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program — What Works?
- Jason Hershock, Safety Engineering & Risk Management Unit Manager, PennDOT
Proven Safety Countermeasures
- Phillip Bobitz, Safety Engineer, Federal Highway Administration
Bios
Jason Hershock is a graduate of Penn State. Over the last 21 years Jason has worked for the Army, an engineering consultant, PennDOT’s District 8-0 office and Central office. Most of his career with PennDOT has been in traffic and highway safety. Hershock currently manages the Safety Engineering and Risk Management Unit in PennDOT’s Highway Safety & Traffic Operations Division (HSTOD). He manages Pennsylvania’s HSIP, Low Cost Safety Improvement Program, safety research including countermeasure effectiveness, highway safety training committee, and Risk Management programs. He serves as a member to national pooled fund study groups which include the Evaluation of Low-Cost Safety Improvements, TPF-5(317), and the Highway Safety Manual Implementation pooled fund group, TPF-5(255). Hershock is a current member of the AASHTO HSM2 steering committee and is a NCHRP 17-71A, Highway Safety Manual, Second Edition, panel member.
Phillip Bobitz is a Safety Engineer in FHWA’s Office of Safety. He is responsible for leading their Safety in Federal-Aid Cross Office Work Group and is involved with various safety design activities and initiatives. He has technical experience in safety and operations program areas, and prior to joining the Office of Safety in October 2019, served as a Senior Transportation Engineer for the Pittsburgh area and oversight of various safety related activities in the Pennsylvania Division Office. Bobitz has been with FHWA for more than 11 years and has held various positions in the Maryland and Pennsylvania division offices. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Penn State in 2010 and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Pennsylvania.
