The University of Texas at Arlington's Public Works Institute in the Division of Enterprise Development received a $486,234 Texas Department of Transportation contract to train city and county work crews on working in traffic safety zones.
Institute Director Bryan Sims said work zone safety is crucial in Texas with the number of miles of roads that exist in the Lone Star State.
"These training courses will lead to safer work zones in Texas," Sims said. "Our focus will be to work with city and county departments that are in the road, traffic, water, sewer and telecommunications areas."
Ashley Mathews, newly hired deputy director of the Public Works Institute, said the newly funded courses also would benefit private companies whose employees need the training.
"As Texas continues to grow, it's imperative that those tasked with building and managing our aging, public infrastructure have the information needed to make safe and responsible decisions, Mathews said.
In addition to the five road and traffic safety training courses offered to local governments for free and at their convenience, the Public Works Institute also provides courses on workplace safety.
The five new courses include planning work zone traffic control, work zone construction site safety, work zone traffic control/qualified flagger, installation and maintenance of signs and pavement markings, update and work zone refresher and best practices for traffic incident first responders.
About the Public Works Institute
The Public Works Training Institute develops and facilitates training for professionals managing and maintaining the nation's infrastructure. The Institute delivers programs in traffic work zone management, utilities and alternative energy systems, environmental controls, state and federal regulatory requirements, infrastructure design and construction, heavy equipment, fire protection and emergency preparedness, disaster response, and various levels of professional engineering subjects.
About the Division of Enterprise Development
The Division for Enterprise Development at The University of Texas at Arlington supports the University's missions of public service, community outreach and lifelong learning. The Division maintains a central focus on improving employability, enhancing job skills and identifying career pathways for constituents.
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution and the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit http://www.uta.edu to learn more. Follow #UTAdna on Twitter.