Overview
Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW), taking place November 18 to 22, 2024, affords a unique opportunity for every Traffic Incident Management (TIM) professional to make a difference individually and jointly for roadway safety. To facilitate the sharing of CRSW ideas and strategies among State transportation, law enforcement, towing, fire, and emergency medical services representatives as well as agency public information or communications officers, FHWA hosts a series of three All-State Planning webinars.
This second CRSW webinar focuses on mass training and mass media outreach as well as the use of changeable message signs during CRSW to promote States’ Move Over Laws. CRSW efforts featured in this webinar include:
- Caltrans CRSW 2024 Focus - Srikanth (Sri) Balasubramanian, Deputy Division Chief of Traffic Operations, Caltrans
- New Jersey’s CRSW Successes and 2024 Plans – Elizabeth Falcon, Principal Transportation Analyst, New Jersey DOT
- Arizona’s CRSW Successes and 2024 Plans – Dr. David Harden, Arizona Department of Health, and Angela Roper, 3CE Consulting.
During each webinar, the FHWA TIM Team will also conduct an abbreviated “Roll Call” for agencies to share their evolving plans for CRSW. The FHWA TIM team welcomes even more State and local agencies to use CRSW this year to advance incident responder and road user safety.
Presenters
Srikanth (Sri) Balasubramanian
Deputy Division Chief of Traffic Operations, Caltrans
Srikanth “Sri” Balasubramanian has been a consistently impactful advocate for safety, efficiency, and accountability throughout his thirty-year Caltrans career, always looking for new ways to do our work better, faster, and cheaper without compromising safety and integrity. Since his early days as a Caltrans field engineer, to his current role as Division Deputy Chief in Traffic Operations, Sri has taken on leadership roles at the forefront of change and innovation.
At different points in his outstanding career, Sri was responsible for leading the Caltrans’ Department Operation Center, was the Caltrans representative to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and led the first implementation of contraflow for emergencies. Sri also established the Caltrans Office of Emergency Management that focuses on managing emergency response, winter operations, and hazardous materials.
In numerous instances, Sri has worked extensively with State, federal, and local partners to improve engineering processes that have reduced costs and expedited project delivery. For example, Sri led Caltrans’ strategic planning effort and the California Innovative Corridors Initiative that led to the rapid deployment of new ITS technology. He also advanced Caltrans’ efforts toward Zero Deaths on the State Highway System through numerous innovative and collaborative efforts.
Elizabeth (Liz) Falcon
Principal Transportation Analyst, New Jersey DOT
Eizabeth Falcon is Principal Analyst and Statewide Response Coordinator for NJDOT. Elizabeth has been instrumental in leading, regional teams, consultants and task forces in the successful execution of the New Jersey Traffic Incident Management (NJTIM) program. This program is central to advancing the mission of improving incident management and roadway safety for all roadway users. One of Elizabeth’s notable achievements includes spearheading outreach efforts that resulted increased awareness of training programs for emergency responders. Under her guidance, over 3,000 responders were trained statewide in 2023. This accomplishment underscores Elizabeth’s dedication to enhancing the skills and preparedness for first responders.
Further showcasing her innovative approach, Elizabeth developed and implemented a comprehensive "Slow Down Move Over" awareness campaign. Recognizing the critical need to educate motorists, she established a back-to-basics outreach strategy, bringing the message directly to the public at high-visibility events statewide. This campaign not only raised awareness but also reinforced the importance of roadway safety among motorists. In addition to these accomplishments, Elizabeth successfully led efforts to implement an online self-guided TIM training program. By directing consultants in this initiative, she ensured that responders could access essential training resources more conveniently, ultimately enhancing the overall effectiveness of TIM training across the state. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has consistently demonstrated an ability to lead with vision and purpose, driving forward key initiatives that have a lasting impact on First Responder Safety and Traffic Incident Management.
Angela Roper
3CE Consulting and Executive Director for Four Non-Profit State Towing Associations
Angela Roper is the Executive Director of the Arizona Professional Towing and Recovery Association as well as the Director for Connecticut and Georgia state towing associations. Angela has spent 27 years in the towing industry, owning two towing companies in Texas. She began teaching Incident Traffic Control through the American Traffic Safety Services Association in 2007. She has made it her passion keeping responders alive, aware, and in the conversations that are being had when it pertains to safety.
Angela has served in numerous positions and committees in her career at state and federal levels, including the National Towing Association, Responder Safety/ERSI, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Fire Protection Association, and most recently the Transportation Research Board.
Dr. David Harden, JD, NREMT
Strategic Planning & Communications Section Chief, Arizona Department of Health
Dr. David Harden works for the Arizona Bureau of EMS and Trauma System. He holds a Juris Doctor from Trinity University School of Law and a BS in Health Science from Cal. State Long Beach. He is a nationally registered EMT with 36+ years of public service in EMS care and administration as well as poison center service. Dr. Harden is also a published author.
Jim Austrich
TIM Program Team, FHWA Office of Operations
Jim Austrich is the Program Manager for the National TIM Responder Training Program and part of the FHWA Office of Transportation Operations. Mr. Austrich is as a national leader in the Transportation Systems, Emergency Management and Operations field. Prior to FHWA, Mr. Austrich worked in the District of Columbia, Department of Transportation (DDOT), the DC Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPDC) Homeland Security Bureau, and the FHWA. Mr. Austrich is known for his ability to bring people together and work collaboratively, a people and agency bridge builder who believes in the three Cs of TIM—Communication, Cooperation, and Coordination. His experiences with planned special events and special operations in the DC area are numerous, including Presidential Inaugurations, dignitary funerals, and practically every type of event on the Washington Mall. Mr. Austrich is a graduate of the 2009 UMD/I-95CC Senior Management Academy. He has many transportation projects, panels, and committees to his credit.