September 6, 2022

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/B-367 

Kristin Langer 

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 

400 North St., 7th Floor, Harrisburg 

Pennsylvania 17120 

USA 

Dear Ms. Langer: 

We received your correspondence of February 16, 2022 requesting issuance of a reimbursement 

eligibility letter under the Federal-aid highway program for the roadside safety system, device, 

design, product, or hardware (collectively “device”) described below. This letter is assigned 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) control number B-367. 

ELIGIBILITY LETTERS 

The FHWA issues Federal-aid reimbursement eligibility letters for new roadside safety devices 

that are crash tested in accordance with the industry standard of the American Association of 

State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware 

(MASH). 

FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States (government) do not regulate 

roadside safety devices, crash test facilities, or the manufacturing industry. Issuance of 

eligibility letters is discretionary and provided only as a service to the states. FHWA may, at its 

discretion, decline to issue, revise, or rescind an eligibility letter. Eligibility letters are only 

issued by the FHWA headquarters Office of Safety. 

Eligibility letters are issued only as notice to the states that a device is eligible for reimbursement 

under the Federal-aid highway program. They do not establish approval or certification for any 

other purpose. Issuance of an eligibility letter is not a prerequisite or requirement for state 

transportation agencies seeking to use Federal-aid funds for roadside safety devices. State 

agencies may use a device for which an eligibility letter has not been issued and seek Federal-aid 

reimbursement. 

FEDERAL-AID REIMBURSEMENT 

The request for issuance of this letter certified the device was crash tested in accordance with the 

industry standard of AASHTO’s MASH. This eligibility letter is based on that certification and 

the material offered in support of its issuance. The device described below is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. 

1 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of system: MASH TL-3 Evaluation of PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier 

Type of system: Bridge Barrier 

Test Level: Test Level 3 

Testing conducted by: Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

Date of request: February 16, 2022 

Information about the device, including material such as the eligibility request, crash test reports, 

drawings, or images are included in one or more attachment(s) to this letter. 

Eligibility letter B-367 is inapplicable to devices, optional equipment, alternate materials, or 

other features that were not crash tested in accordance with AASHTO’s MASH. 

This letter is issued only for the subject device as crash tested under AASHTO’s MASH. Later 

modification(s) of the device are not eligible for Federal-aid reimbursement under this letter. 

Notice of later modification(s) should be given to transportation agencies, facility owners, and 

operators (collectively “agencies”). 

Agencies should be provided appropriate information about the device’s design, installation, 

maintenance, materials, and mechanical properties. 

Issuance of this letter is discretionary, and it may be revised or rescinded at FHWA’s discretion. 

This letter is not a determination of compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 

Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) or ownership of any intellectual property rights. 

This eligibility letter is not a determination by the government that a crash involving the subject 

device will result in any particular outcome. It is limited to only the device’s eligibility for 

Federal-aid reimbursement. 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

Issuance of this eligibility letter does not convey property rights of any sort nor any exclusive 

privilege. This letter is not authorization or consent by the government for the use, manufacture, 

or sale of any patented or proprietary system, device, design, product, or hardware for which the 

requester is not the patent owner. Eligibility letters are not an expression of any view, position, 

or determination by the government as to the validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual 

property rights to a specific device. These letters do not grant, impute, suggest, or otherwise 

establish any ownership, distribution, or licensing rights to the requester. The government 

expresses no opinion about the intellectual property rights relating to any device for which this or 

any other eligibility letter is issued. 

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE 

To prevent any misunderstanding, and as discussed above, this eligibility letter is assigned 

FHWA control number B-367. It should only be reproduced in full with its attachment(s). This 

letter and the material offered by the requester supporting its issuance is public information. All 

eligibility letters and supporting material are subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of 

2 
Information Act (FOIA). Eligibility letters are available to the public at 

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/countermeasures/reduce_crash_severity/. 

If you have any questions please contact Aimee Zhang at Aimee.Zhang@dot.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 

3 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 5 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility

of Highway Safety Hardware 

Submitter

 Date of Request: January 26, 2022 New Resubmission 

Name: Tom Macioce, P.E. 

Company: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 

Address: 400 North St., 7th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 

Country: USA

 To: Michael S. Griffith, Director 

FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

I request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program. 

Device & Testing Criterion - Enter from right to left starting with Test Level ! - ! - ! 

System Type Submission Type Device Name / Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'B': Rigid/Semi-Rigid Barriers 

(Roadside, Median, Bridge 

Railings) 

Physical Crash Testing 

Engineering Analysis 

MASH TL-3 Evaluation of 

PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier 

AASHTO MASH TL3 

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, I certify 

that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware and that the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the MASH. 

Individual or Organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Tom Macioce, P.E. Same as Submitter 

Company Name: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Same as Submitter 

Address: 400 North St., 7th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Same as Submitter 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA `Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) was contracted by Gannett Fleming, Inc. to perform full-scale crash 

testing of the PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier. There are no shared financial interests in the PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier by 

TTI, or between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and TTI, or between Gannett 

Fleming, Inc. and TTI other than the costs involved in the actual crash tests and reports for this submission to 

FHWA. 

**610481-01 -1, -2,** 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 5 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or Modification to 

Significant Modification Existing Hardware 

The test installation consisted of a steel reinforced concrete deck and curb, with HSS 4×3×3/16-inch steel rails 

supported by steel posts anchored to the top of the curb. The deck and curb were each 78 ft 73⁄4 inches long. 

The 11-inch-thick deck was cantilevered 72 inches outward from its support wall, with the field side of the 18-

inch-wide curb flush with the field side of the deck. The curb was 101⁄2 inches tall, and a 21⁄2 inch thick lift of 

TxDOT Type D asphalt was applied to the top of the concrete deck, which brought the curbs effective height to 

8 inches above grade. The three rails were mounted to the posts via wood blockouts, and oriented such that 

they were 4 inches tall, with their respective top surfaces located 153⁄8 inches, 23 inches, and 305⁄8 inches above 

grade. The 13 posts, were spaced on 75-inch centers, beginning at 193⁄4 inches from the upstream end of the 

deck. Between posts 3 and 4 and between posts 7 and 8, there were 1⁄2-inch expansion joints in the deck and 

curb and 1-inch-long sleeved joints in the rails. 

CRASH TESTING 

By signature below, the Engineer affiliated with the testing laboratory, agrees in support of this submission that 

all of the critical and relevant crash tests for this device listed above were conducted to meet the MASH test 

criteria. The Engineer has determined that no other crash tests are necessary to determine the device meets 

the MASH criteria. 

Engineer Name: D. Lance Bullard, Jr. 

D. Lance Bullard, Jr. Digitally signed by D. Lance Bullard, Jr. Engineer Signature: Date: 2022.02.04 13:36:20 -06'00' 

Address: 1254 Avenue A, Bldg 7091, Bryan, Texas 77807 USA Same as Submitter 

Country: USA Same as Submitter

 A brief description of each crash test and its result: 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-10 (1100C) 

Test 3-10 involves an 1100C vehicle 

impacting the test article at a target impact 

speed of 62 mi/h ±2.5 mi/h and a target 

impact angle of 25° ±1.5°. The target CIP 

was for the right corner of the front bumper 

to impact 3.6 ft ±1 ft upstream of the 

upstream edge of post 8. 

The results of the test conducted on August 

9, 2021, are found in TTI Test Report number 

610481-01. The test vehicle was traveling at 

an impact speed of 63.0 mi/h as it made 

contact with the rail 3.9 ft upstream of the 

upstream edge of post 8 at an impact angle 

of 25.0°. After loss of contact with the 

barrier, the vehicle came to rest 185 ft 

downstream of the impact point and 144 ft 

towards the traffic side. 

The bridge rail contained and redirected the 

1100C vehicle. The vehicle did not 

penetrate, underride, or override the 

installation. The 1100C vehicle exited within 

the exit box criteria. 

Working width was 19.7 inches. Maximum 

dynamic deflection was 2.5 inches during 

the test. Maximum permanent deformation 

was 1.25 inches. 

No detached elements, fragments, or other 

debris were present to penetrate or show 

potential for penetrating the occupant 

compartment, or present hazard to others 

in the area. 

Maximum exterior crush to the vehicle was 

9.0 inches in the side plane at the right front 

corner just above bumper height. 

Maximum occupant compartment 

deformation was 2.0 inches in the right 

front firewall/toe pan area. 

The 1100C vehicle remained upright during 

and after the collision event. Maximum roll 

and pitch angles were 11° and 9°, 

respectively. Longitudinal OIV was 20.4 ft/s, 

and lateral OIV was 35.0 ft/s. Longitudinal 

occupant ridedown acceleration was 3.0 g, 

and lateral occupant ridedown acceleration 

11.3 g. The occupant risk factors were 

within the MASH allowable limits. 

The PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier performed 

acceptably for MASH Test 3-10. 

PASS 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-11 (2270P) 

Test 3-11 involves a 2270P vehicle 

impacting the test article at a target impact 

speed of 62 mi/h ±2.5 mi/h and a target 

impact angle of 25° ±1.5°. The target CIP 

was for the right corner of the front bumper 

to impact at 4.3 ft ±1 ft upstream of the 

upstream edge of post 4. 

The results of the test conducted on July 2, 

2021 are found in TTI Test Report number 

610481-01. The test vehicle was traveling at 

an impact speed of 62.8 mi/h as it made 

contact with the barrier 4.3 ft upstream of 

the upstream edge of post 4 at an angle of 

25.0°. After loss of contact with the barrier, 

the vehicle came to rest 225 ft downstream 

of the impact point and 9 ft towards the 

traffic side. 

The bridge rail contained and redirected the 

2270P vehicle. The vehicle did not 

penetrate, underride, or override the 

installation. The 2270P vehicle exited within 

the exit box criteria. 

Working width was 19.5 inches. Maximum 

dynamic deflection during the test was 5.4 

inches. Maximum permanent deformation 

was 2.75 inches. 

No detached elements, fragments, or other 

debris were present to penetrate or show 

potential for penetrating the occupant 

compartment, or present hazard to others 

in the area. 

Maximum exterior crush to the vehicle was 

14.0 inches in the side plane at the right 

front corner at bumper height. Maximum 

occupant compartment deformation 2.0 

inches in the right front firewall area. 

The 2270P vehicle remained upright during 

and after the collision event. Maximum roll 

and pitch angles were 41° and 9°, 

respectively. Longitudinal OIV was 17.4 ft/s, 

and lateral OIV was 26.4 ft/s. Longitudinal 

occupant ridedown acceleration was 3.8 g, 

and lateral occupant ridedown acceleration 

9.2 g. The occupant risk factors were within 

the MASH preferred limits. 

The PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier performed 

acceptably for MASH Test 3-11. 

PASS 

3-20 (1100C) This bridge rail is not a transition system. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-21 (2270P) This bridge rail is not a transition system. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 5 

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the following accredited crash test 

laboratory (cite the laboratory’s accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports.): 

Laboratory Name: Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

Laboratory Signature: Digitally signed by Darrell L. Kuhn 

'Date: 2022.01.28 09:33:14 -06'00 

Address: 1254 Avenue A, Bldg 7091, Bryan, Texas 77807 USA Same as Submitter 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

ISO 17025-2017 Laboratory 

A2LA Certificate Number: 2821.01 

Valid To: April 30, 2023 

Digitally signed by Kristin L. Langer Submitter Signature*: 'Date: 2022.12.07 10:08:03 -05'00 

Submit Form 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form: 

1) Additional disclosures of related financial interest as indicated above. 

2) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support of this request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force-13 Drawing Specifications 

[Hardware Guide Drawing Standards]. For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing is 

usually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specifications, intended use, and contact 

information provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 format) showing details that 

are relevant to understanding the dimensions and performance of the device should also be submitted 

to facilitate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date Key Words
TR No.610481-01 1 2023-05-05 

0.000 s 0.100 s 0.200 s 0.400 s 

General Information

Test Agency....................... 

Test Standard Test No....... 

TTI Test No. ...................... 

Test Date........................... 

Test Article

Type .................................. 

Name................................. 

Installation Length.............. 

Material or Key Elements ... 

Soil Type and Condition ..... 

Test Vehicle

Type/Designation............... 

Make and Model ................ 

Curb................................... 

Test Inertial........................ 

Dummy .............................. 

Gross Static ....................... 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

MASH Test 3-11

610481-01-1A 

2021-07-02

Longitudinal Barrier—Bridge Rail

PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier

78 ft-73⁄4 inches

3 HSS 4×3×3

/16 inch steel rails on steel 

posts anchored to concrete curb on deck

Concrete bridge deck, dry

2270P

2015 RAM 1500 Pickup

5054 lb

5060 lb

No dummy

5060 lb

Impact Conditions

Speed ................................

Angle ................................. 

Location/Orientation........... 

Impact Severity....................

Exit Conditions

Speed ................................

Trajectory/Heading Angle...

Occupant Risk Values

Longitudinal OIV ................

Lateral OIV.........................

Longitudinal Ridedown.......

Lateral Ridedown ...............

THIV ..................................

ASI.....................................

Max. 0.050-s Average 

Longitudinal ....................

Lateral.............................

Vertical............................

62.8 mi/h

25.0° 

4.3 upstream of 

Edge of post 4 

119 kip-ft

52.1 mi/h

4.2°/10.7° 

17.4 ft/s

26.4 ft/s

3.8 g

9.2 g

9.5 m/s

1.8

−8.1 g

−13.5 g

2.9 g

Post-Impact Trajectory

Stopping Distance..................... 

Vehicle Stability

Maximum Yaw Angle ................ 

Maximum Pitch Angle ............... 

Maximum Roll Angle ................. 

Vehicle Snagging...................... 

Vehicle Pocketing ..................... 

Test Article Deflections

Dynamic.................................... 

Permanent ................................ 

Working Width........................... 

Height of Working Width ........... 

Vehicle Damage

VDS.......................................... 

CDC.......................................... 

Max. Exterior Deformation......... 

OCDI......................................... 

Max. Occupant Compartment 

Deformation........................... 

225 ft downstream

9 ft twd traffic lanes

41°

9°

46°

No

No

5.4 inches

2.75 inches

19.5 inches

63.3 inches

01RFQ5

01FREW3

14.0 inches

RF0010000

2.0 inches

Figure 4.1. Summary of Results for MASH Test 3-11 on PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier System. 
TR No.610481-01 2 2023-05-05 

0.000 s 0.100 s 0.200 s 0.400 s 

General Information

Test Agency....................... 

Test Standard Test No....... 

TTI Test No. ...................... 

Test Date........................... 

Test Article

Type .................................. 

Name................................. 

Installation Length.............. 

Material or Key Elements ... 

Soil Type and Condition ..... 

Test Vehicle

Type/Designation............... 

Make and Model ................ 

Curb................................... 

Test Inertial........................ 

Dummy .............................. 

Gross Static ....................... 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

MASH Test 3-10

610481-01-2 

2021-08-09

Longitudinal Barrier—Bridge Rail

PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier

78 ft-73⁄4 inches

3 HSS 4×3×3

/16 inch steel rails on steel 

posts anchored to concrete curb on deck

Concrete bridge deck, dry

1100C

2015 Nissan Versa

2420 lb

2448 lb

165 lb

2613 lb

Impact Conditions

Speed ................................

Angle ................................. 

Location/Orientation...........

Impact Severity....................

Exit Conditions

Speed ................................

Trajectory/Heading Angle...

Occupant Risk Values

Longitudinal OIV ................

Lateral OIV.........................

Longitudinal Ridedown.......

Lateral Ridedown ...............

THIV ..................................

ASI.....................................

Max. 0.050-s Average 

 Longitudinal ....................

 Lateral.............................

 Vertical............................

63.0 mi/h

25.0° 

3.9 ft upstream of

Edge of Post 8

58 kip-ft

54.2 mi/h

9.0°/12.8° 

20.4 ft/s

35.0 ft/s

3.0 g

11.3 g

12.4 m/s

2.8

−11.5 g

−21.3 g

3.8 g

Post-Impact Trajectory

Stopping Distance..................... 

Vehicle Stability

Maximum Roll Angle ................. 

Maximum Pitch Angle ............... 

Maximum Yaw Angle ................ 

Vehicle Snagging...................... 

Vehicle Pocketing ..................... 

Test Article Deflections

Dynamic.................................... 

Permanent ................................ 

Working Width........................... 

Height of Working Width ........... 

Vehicle Damage

VDS.......................................... 

CDC.......................................... 

Max. Exterior Deformation......... 

OCDI......................................... 

Max. Occupant Compartment 

Deformation........................... 

185 ft downstream

144 ft twd traffic

11°

9°

52°

No

No

2.5 inches

1.25 inches

19.7 inches

10.5 inches

01RFQ6

01FREW4

9.0 inches

RF0010000

2.0 inches

Figure 4.15. Summary of Results for MASH Test 3-10 on PA 3-Rail Bridge Barrier System. 
TR No. 610481-01 3 2023-05-05 

APPENDIX A. PENN DOT PA 3-RAIL BRIDGE BARRIER SYSTEM

PPENDIX B. PA 3-RAIL BRIDGE BARRIER
TR No. 610481-01 4 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 5 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 6 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 7 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 8 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 9 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 10 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 11 2023-05-05 
TR No. 610481-01 12 2023-05-05