Every Day Counts or EDC, is a State-based model that identifies and deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations – saving time, money, and resources that can be used to deliver more projects.

In 2010, officials from Oklahoma attended the very first EDC Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The innovations that were introduced at this first Summit and some that Oklahoma adopted were: Safety Edge, Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil – Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS), Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES), and Use of In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Banking. 

The first innovation that Oklahoma implemented in the field was the Safety Edge technology in 2011.  Safety Edge is created by placing an attachment on to an asphalt paver and it bevels the edge of the asphalt at the shoulder.  The sloped edge makes it easier for a vehicle to recover from a roadway departure. 

Shortly after the first EDC Summit, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began establishing the State Transportation Innovation Council Network or STIC, and Oklahoma soon followed by convening it’s first STIC meeting.  The STIC is responsible for implementing and tracking the innovations that are introduced at the Summits.

The EDC and STIC models have been around for a decade now and we are currently in the 6^th round of EDC or EDC-6.  A new set of innovations are introduced every two years.  Regional Summits are held every two years and the new innovations are then presented by experts from all over the country to the state’s representatives.  At the end of each Summit, each state’s panel then meets to decide what innovations they would like to adopt and each state assigns the personnel to champion each innovation with a goal toward its implementation.

The FHWA is currently seeking the submission of ideas for the next round of Every Day Counts.  The Regional Summits or EDC-7 will be held in the Fall of 2022, and the process will continue.

Oklahoma has adopted over 40 of these innovations since the beginning of EDC.  Some of the innovations can be physically seen in the field in construction projects, but some involve processes and procedures. This program has been very beneficial to Oklahoma.  Some of the innovations have saved lives and some have saved time and money.  These ideas have helped us to be more efficient and we look forward to the next round of ideas that will help improve our transportation system.