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FHWA Documents for Mobile Barriers MBT-1®


Mobile Barriers MBT-1®
Accepted by FHWA for use on the NHS
Under Both NCHRP 350 & the New MASH Update
at TL-2 & TL-3 Levels


picture_as_pdf New FHWA Funding Options
FHWA Memo - HSIP, NHPP & STBGP Funds Now Available for Mobile Barriers MBT-1®.
“After the initial purchase of the equipment using HSIP funds, the State may use the equipment for its intended safety purpose on any public road (including local roads) for any project (e.g. Federal-aid or non-Federal-aid, capital improvement or maintenance, etc.)”

picture_as_pdf USDOT Life Value Memo 2016
Guidance on Treatment of the Economic Value of a Statistical Life in U.S. Department of Transportation Analyses:
"On the basis of the best available evidence, this guidance identifies $9.6 million as the value of a statistical life to be used for Department of Transportation analyses assessing the benefits of preventing fatalities and using a base year of 2015."


FHWA Repeals Patented & Proprietary Products Rule
The Federal Highway Administration has formally lifted a 103-year-old regulation that has banned the use of patented or proprietary materials in Federal-aid highway projects.

picture_as_pdf FHWA Acceptance Letter for Mobile Barriers MBT-1®

Background:
FHWA Policy,
NCHRP 350/MASH Guidelines &
“Movable Longitudinal Barriers”

The FHWA has clarified that Mobile Barriers MBT-1® qualifies for various types of federal funding. Mobile Barriers MBT-1® was tested and FHWA accepted under NCHRP 350 & MASH for use on the National Highway System (NHS). MBT-1® was accepted both for TL-2 use in low speed situations, where for example, vehicular traffic is moving at speeds of 43 mph (70 km/hr) or less, and for the even more challenging TL-3 use, such as for the much higher speeds typically encountered on interstates and in many situations.

From the crash video and report, it can be seen that MBT-1® not only met the NCHRP 350 & MASH criteria for high speed impacts - it did so very well. The crash vehicle’s occupant risk values were calculated at only a fraction of the allowable limits and there was no damage or intrusions into the passenger compartment.


"[The barrier itself] “did not experience any structural damage. The wall plates were not torn, punctured, or gouged. The test vehicle did not snag the wall panels and the vehicle impact did not create any snag points for future vehicle impacts. The only evident damage to the wall plates was aesthetic, where the test vehicle’s paint and tires made marks on the barrier. The wheels scratched the barrier, but the wall panels remained smooth.”



Mobile Barriers MBT-1® is what is known as a “highly mobile barrier’ which is a subcategory of movable “longitudinal barriers” as designated by the FHWA (B-178). Prior to the Mobile Barriers MBT-1® , what was classified as “movable” typically moved laterally from one side of a lane to the other and/or is typically installed for longer runs of long duration work. Mobile Barriers MBT-1® drives down the road like a semi-truck and is typically used to help improve work zone safety, minimize distractions to passing traffic, and help reopening the roadway as quickly as possible to restore normal traffic flows.


"There’s no better way to reduce work zone accidents and improve conditions for everyone than to safely complete the work as quickly as possible and reopen the roadway to normal traffic flow."

Former Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)