NEWSLETTER

Puente
2021
EL

Volume 35
Number 2

UPDATED AUGUST 2022

2 PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER  prltap.org

Puente
EL

Vol. 35 No. 2, 2021

CONTENTS PAGES

Page 7
Message from the Director 3

35 Years of Excellence in Transportation Training and

4-5
Innovation in PR and USVI

Page 8
Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Puerto Rico
6
Transportation Technology Transfer Center: The Centro Staff

Memorable Accomplishments of LTAP 7-9

Page 9
A Walk Through Memory Lane:
10-11
Infographic

Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 12

The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center, PRLTAP/T2, is part of a network of 52 Centers throughout the
United States that comprises of a Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and one National Tribal Technical Assistance
Program (TTAP). The mission of the PRLTAP/T2 Center is to provide training and technical assistance to local transportation
officials in the 78 municipalities that comprises the Government of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Department of
Transportation and Public Works with emphasis on promoting highway safety and implementing the Every Day Counts (EDC)
initiatives of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
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Message from the Director

W
elcome to our second edition of the thirty-fifth anniversary of

the El Puente newsletter! In this historic volume, we take you

over the course of the Local Technical Assistance Program in

Puerto Rico (PR-LTAP), we share some questions I answered for the Federal Highway

Administration’s (FHWA) Center of Local Aid Support (CLAS) Newsletter, and demonstrate an

infographic equivalent to a calligraphy, covering the evolution of the programs since its inception in

1986, all the way until the present.

We celebrate 35 years of accomplishments in Puerto Rico with great pleasure. As the spokesperson of

the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center (T2 Center), I carry with grand honor the

responsibility to attend all matters of safety in the transportation community by providing technical

assistance and seminars, as well as participating in several different activities in Puerto Rico and in the

Virgin Islands (USVI), with the purpose to educate and protect the quality and safety of our citizens.

I have had the task of working endlessly in the Local Transportation Officials as the Director of the T2

Center, with my amazing team of administrative assistants, instructors, undergraduate and graduate

students. I have dedicated the past 35 years of my life to this initiative that I believe in and am

incredibly proud of. It is my life’s work and I will continue, for as long as it is necessary, to keep being

part of this workforce that is actively making a difference in many people’s lives.

I hope to continue bringing awareness and educating the public with my work as the director of the

National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA). I will continue to share the

history that has been made with the public and, of course, continue making content in the “El Puente”

Newsletter, for those of you who enjoy it as much as I enjoy creating it.

Benjamín Colucci Ríos

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Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Puerto Rico

Transportation Technology Transfer Center: The Centro Staff
In 1986, the Puerto Rico T2 Center was established by the time she retired on June 2014, she has moved

at the Civil Engineering Department of the to become the executive official of the Center. In

University of Puerto Rico at the Mayagüez Campus. 2002, Grisel Villarubia joined the Center as an

The Center begun with Dr. Benjamín Colucci, Dr. administrative assistant and Irmalí Franco joined her

Sergio González and Dr. Felipe Luyanda as co- for the position in 2003. In 2019, Ms. Ciara Toro

directors. Dr. González left his position shortly became the third administrative assistant in the

after, leaving Dr. Colucci and Dr. Luyanda as co- Center. They are still working in the Center until

directors, until Dr. Luyanda retired on the summer this day. During the years, students come to work in

of 2007. Dr. Alberto Figueroa-Medina joined the the Center, be it through work-study opportunities

Center as an associate director, and filled his role or with a special project scholarship.

from August 2007 until December 2011. As of

2011, the director of the Center has been

Dr. Colucci.

During this 35-year period, there have been

significant accomplishments involving training,

capacity buildings and special projects that have

impacted more than 40,000 professionals through

more than 4,000 seminars, webinars, workshops,

Ms. Emma López was the first administrative summits, conferences, peer exchanges and

assistant of the Center, and continued to work with profesional development programs associated with

the Center, until her retirement in 1992. In 1992, transportation. These could not have been possible

Eng. Gisela González stepped in as the new without the staff, who have been a part of the Puerto

administrative assistant of the Center, and by Rico T2 Center throughout all these years.
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Memorable Accomplishments of LTAP

For the past 35 years, the Puerto Rico Local Technical Each year, LTAPA gets together through summits and

Assistance Program (PRLTAP) has been working towards different activities with the purpose of coming up with road

road safety and in educating our community. Decreasing alterations to keep up with the evolution of technology and

road fatalities is one of the many accomplishments that can always consider the most important factor: safety. In 1986,

be attributed to PRLTAP. This workforce works year-round founders Dr. Benjamín Colucci, Dr. Sergio González and

to improve every aspect of Puerto Rican roads, with the Dr. Felipe Luyanda had their first meeting as directors and

collaboration of Federal Highway Association (FHWA) founders of LTAP in Puerto Rico.

initiatives over the years, some of which are the Dwight D.

Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program, Garrett

A. Morgan Initiative and Every Day Counts. Puerto Rico

LTAP Director, Dr. Benjamin Colucci, has worked

tirelessly to implement his knowledge in local

transportation and highways, saving hundreds of lives in

Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to this day.

However, the vision does not end here; PRLTAP plans to

During all this time, PRLTAP has had a range of
support initiatives from the near future, corresponding to
accomplishments that characterize their hard work
Every Day Counts 6, autonomous vehicles, and virtual
throughout the years. Each year it carries a goal that is met
training summits.
by the staff and duly celebrated.
In 1986, (N)LTAPA made its debut in Puerto Rico bringing

awareness and safety to the transportation community, In 1996, PRLTAP celebrated the 10th anniversary, which

partnering up with entities that came together to work with was one of the earliest milestones that PRLTAP has

strategies and innovations for Puerto Rican roads. In achieved. In 1999, the PRLTAP in conjunction with

addition, the relationship with other third parties that are students form the Massachussetts Institute of Technology

invested in the safety of the roadways (MIT University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

have been nurtured. (UPRRP, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Mayagüez

Campus (UPRM, for its acronym in Spanish) started plans

for the Urban Train Development in Puerto Rico heavy rail

transit system.
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The students from multiple disciplines gathered and has implemented the Every Day Counts initiatives,

conducted multiple studies on this development which including an innovative program to accelerate project

were under construction in the San Juan deployments, that are ready to be implemented to

Metropolitan Area. enhance safety and that are in-tune with the environment.

In 2004, PRLTAP moved from the Urban Train In 2014, Dr. Colucci, the spokesman on behalf of the

Development and started a new program called UPR/ Decade of Action, was invited to the Capitol of Puerto

PUPR/ATI Professional Development Program. This Rico in San Juan to be presented with the senate

program focused on research projects associated with proclamation and proceeded with the illumination of the

Alternatives of Integrated Transport—the public Capitol in its honor.

transportation system being envisioned for the San Juan

Metropolitan Area—that included Urban Train,

Metropolitan Bus Authority (MBA), and Public System.

It was a successful endeavor with multiple universities

from 2004-2008.

In 2011, PRLTAP had the opportunity to launch the

2011-2020 Decade of Action for Road Safety Initiative, During that same year, he State Transportation

which has been a big success. Between the years of 2011 Innovation Council (STIC) was first launched in Puerto

and 2020, PRLTAP moved to another level of excellence Rico and the PRLTAP Director was one of its founding

in addressing innovation and safety. The Federal members.

Highway Administration of the United States In 2016, PRLTAP celebrated the EDC Traffic Incident

Department of Transportation (FHWA-USDOT) Management (TIM) Train-the-Trainer Workshop, in

collaboration with the Puerto Rico Highways and

Transportation Authority, FHWA Division, including the

College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico.

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By August 2018, PR-LTAP was back on its feet to get plus the impact of EDC, STIC, and other innovative

things up and running again. PR-LTAP was able to initiatives implemented in Puerto Rico through the

celebrate the 1st United States Territorial Peer Exchange collaboration of the PRLTAP, during these 35 years.

(USTPE), with the participation of representatives from

American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern

Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and the USVI. In

2019, these representatives had the pleasure to get

together with the South Regional LTAP Centers, which

was also done in 2009.

During the years 2017-2022, the PR-LTAP had to

reinvent themselves amidst different setbacks, such as

Hurricane Maria, the earthquakes, and a global The plans that the PR-LTAP have for this anniversary

pandemic, which led knowing how fragile Puerto Rico’s starts with the iconic logo of the PR-LTAP.

infrastructure is. With an avant-garde vision, PR-LTAP Traditionally, the logo is a green and white octagon

implemented different trainings and workshops relating that has a T rural intersection and a green

to strategic implementations of inspection training; environment. For this special and unique occasion, the

namely road markings, traffic lights, and rapid repair logo will have the number 35 in gold and in the lower

techniques for roads and bridges. right hand side perimeter the word “Anniversary”.

From March 2020, PR-LTAP adapted again to these

extenuating circumstances to a complete online modality

for their meetings and trainings. The PR-LTAP have

used the online meeting spaces, such as go-to webinars,

in order to accommodate everyone who were not

available for in-person meetings. For this anniversary,

PR-LTAP wants to remember all of the

accomplishments and changes that have been made

in Puerto Rico and USVI. From seminars and webinars

all the way to the accomplishments and lessons learned,

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12 PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER  prltap.org

Decade of Action
for Road Safety 2021-2030

Together we can save millions of lives!

I, ___________________________, pledge to do my part to help save lives on the road.
I pledge to:
____ 1. Not text while driving.

____ 2. Obey the traffic laws applicable to drivers.

____ 3. Comply with the speed limits.

____ 4. Pass the key if I am under the influence of alcohol.

____ 5. Have no distractions while driving a motor vehicle.

____ 6. Share the road with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

____ 7. Always fasten my safety belt.

____ 8. Require my vehicle occupants to always buckle the safety belt.

____ 9. Always buckle my children with a safety belt.

____ 10. Use the protective safety devices while on a motorcycle,

bicycle or motor vehicle.

http://prltap.org/

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Luis A. Señeriz Foundation

Traffic Safety Automobile Accident

Commission Compensation Administration
 PRLTAP/T2 Center Staff
PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATON TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER CENTER Director & Editor
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Benjamín Colucci-Ríos
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681 Editor Assistants
Raquel Ramírez-Torres
787.834.6385 PHONE
787.265.5695 FAX Keryliz Pérez-Luciano
www.prltap.org
Marline Z. Pérez-Crespo

Puente
EL Mariana C. Marrero -Santana

Administrative Staff
Irmalí Franco-Ramírez
Ciara Toro-Rosario
Grisel Villarubia-Echevarría

El Puente Newsletter
Vol. 35, No. 2, 2021

EL PUENTE is published by the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer

Center at the Civil Engineering and Surveying Department of the University of
Puerto Rico at Mayaguez.

The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this edition of the El Puente newsletter are those of the Center Director and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and
Public Works or the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority.
Puerto Rico LTAP