AASHTO / ARTBA / AGC
Task Force 13 develops, recommends, and promotes standards and specifications
for bridge and road hardware used by highway and transportation agencies on
the nation's roadways. Task Force 13 is a committee of concerned and experienced
representatives from industry, academia, and state and federal transportation departments.
Task Force 13 serves the Joint AASHTO-AGC-ARTBA Subcommittee on New Highway Materials and
Technologies, whose mission is to develop guide specifications for new materials and
technologies identified for use in highway construction projects. The present Joint
Committee was established in 1972 uniting the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
committee with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association
(ARTBA). Task
Force 13 is the longest standing of all existing subcommittee Task Forces.
Standards are documented agreements containing technical specifications and criteria
to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions to ensure that material,
products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. For example, the construction
details of the guardrail barrier common on America's roadside are derived from a 1995
standard "A Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware." Adhering to this standard
ultimately means that highway barriers will perform consistently from State to State to
make roadsides safer for errant vehicles that leave the roadway. Standards thus contribute
to making life simpler, and to increasing the safety, reliability and effectiveness of the
goods and services we use.