Transportation agencies must balance safety, efficiency, and legal responsibility when designing and operating roadways. Flexible design principles and engineering judgement play a crucial role in meeting these obligations. These principles can also be an effective legal defense in tort lawsuits. TRB hosted a webinar on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern that explored the legal implications of using flexibility in engineering decision-making. Presenters discussed the engineering perspective on flexible design principles and engineering judgment, legal considerations related to their application, and how these concepts can be incorporated into traffic and traffic operations.

This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Standing Technical Committee on Tort Liability and Risk Management.

The slides are available. Please contact trbwebinar@nas.edu for a link to the recording. There may be a $90 fee.

Webinar agenda and presenters

1. Engineering perspective of principles – Tim Belcher, Virginia Department of Transportation

2. Incorporating engineering flexibility design concepts in traffic and traffic operations – Nicole Hood, Gannett Fleming Transystems

3. Legal perspective of principles – Terri Parker, Missouri Department of Transportation

4. Question and answer session moderated by Mike Fleming, Washington Department of Transportation

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants can:

1. Clarify the legal implications of engineering flexibility and judgement

Professional Development Hours

This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.

Continuing Legal Education Credits

TRB offered 1.25 CLE credits for this webinar. TRB did not seek approval for this webinar from the state board. Registered webinar attendees who signed in and viewed the entire webinar received a link to a certificate that they can fill out and provide to the appropriate MCLE Board(s) or Commission(s) within 30 days of activity.