The Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center proudly celebrated a major milestone in transportation safety education with the graduation of Florida’s first cohort of the National Center for Rural Road Safety’s Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) Planning and Engineering Career Pathway.
During a graduation ceremony held July 9, 2026, at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Seven headquarters in Tampa, the Florida LTAP Center recognized 95 Road Safety Champions who successfully completed the program’s training requirements. Among the graduates, 73 represented organizations from across Florida, while 22 participants joined from other states, demonstrating the program’s growing national impact and reach.
The Road Safety Champion Program equips transportation professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to advance a culture of safety and implement proven roadway safety strategies in their communities. The success of this inaugural class marks the beginning of a growing network of professionals committed to making roadway safety a core value throughout the transportation industry.
Florida LTAP Center Director Dr. Pei-Sung Lin, P.E., PTOE, FITE, welcomed the graduates and recognized their commitment to advancing transportation safety. He commended participants for their dedication to professional development and their efforts to reduce crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities on the nation’s roadways.
“The graduation of our first Road Safety Champion cohort represents an important step toward building a stronger and more safety-focused transportation workforce,” said Dr. Lin. “These professionals are now equipped to serve as safety advocates within their organizations and communities.”
The Florida LTAP Center remains committed to providing high-quality training, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities that support local agencies and transportation professionals throughout the state. Through initiatives such as the Road Safety Champion Program, Florida LTAP continues to help develop the workforce needed to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a safer transportation future for all.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) established LTAP in the 1980s to help local agencies increase the quality and safety of their surface transportation system. Established in 1984, the Florida LTAP Center is part of a national program dedicated to transferring transportation technology and best practices through training, technical assistance, and customer services for local governments and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). Since July 2018, the Florida LTAP Center has been administered by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. Through its statewide programs and partnerships, the center continues to serve local agencies by providing state-of-the-art training, technical assistance, and other professional support services.
