ORLANDO, Fla. – As cities in Florida adopt Vision Zero initiatives that aim to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roadways by a targeted date, DRMP’s engineers are taking an important step toward improving public safety and mobility.
Tampa Traffic Group Leader/Project Manager Bharathi Chigurupati, PE, RSP1, and Tampa Roadway Engineer Cali Bogan, EI, RSP1, recently earned level one Roadway Safety Professional certifications. Chigurupati and Bogan are two of many DRMP professionals seeking the certification.
The goals of the RSP certifications are to recognize road safety as a profession, to establish a recognized level of practice and knowledge, and to incentivize safety education, according to the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB).
“At DRMP we are lucky to have a core group of transportation engineers who have made safety their passion and mission,” DRMP Vice President/Traffic Division Leader Jim Highland, PE, said. “Every project we win gives us opportunities to increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists and to make changes to our communities. I am proud to see the RSP 1 certifications piling in at DRMP and next is RSP 2.”
The certification is offered at level one (RSP1) and level two (RSP2). Those achieving a level one certification must demonstrate proficiency in the foundations of road safety principles. The exam is for a broad audience of professionals who in the performance of their work make decisions or take actions that potentially impact the safety of the traveling public, the TPCB states. Level two is for professionals whose primary job functions are improving the safety performance of the surface transportation system. These professionals are responsible for developing and implementing engineering or behavioral programs aimed at reducing the number of fatalities and injuries due to road crashes, the TPCB states.
Bogan said achieving the RSP1 certification allows her to prioritize safety in all aspects of her career.
“During my work at DRMP, I use my RSP1 to ensure a safe systems approach to my design work, and in my work at FDOT District 7 as an in-house consultant in the Safety office, I use it to address the safety challenges across the district,” Bogan said. “I would absolutely encourage anyone to research this certification, as safety can be included everywhere from bid to design and is always a priority.”
Chigurupati said the RSP1 certification enhances her road safety knowledge and demonstrates her commitment to road safety.
“Having my RSP1 certification shows clients I am committed to safety and well trained in my area of expertise,” Chigurupati said. “It gives confidence in my abilities and knowledge in my designs of road safety projects.”
In Orlando, the home of DRMP’s headquarters, the City’s Vision Zero mission is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries within the city by 2040. The City’s strategy is to build and maintain smarter streets for improved driver behavior; engage communities to expand awareness through education and encouragement; and prioritize areas with high numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.
Target Zero is Florida’s statewide initiative to eliminate transportation-related deaths and injuries.
The Vision Zero initiative originated in Sweden in 1997 and has since spread around the world with a focus on improving safe mobility for all road users.
About DRMP
DRMP is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 500 professionals in 20 office locations spread strategically across our service area. Today, DRMP is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States. For more information, please visit www.drmp.com.
