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Minnesota LTAP

Center for Transportation Studies

University of Minnesota

200 Transportation & Safety Building

511 Washington Ave SE

Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone: 612-626-1077

Fax: 612-625-6381

E-mail: mnltap@umn.edu

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Home > About > Programs > OPERA

Local Operational Research Assistance (OPERA) Program

Overview
Apply for Funding
Contact
Program Purpose
Project Review Process
Project Funding Details
Project Examples
Annual Report
Partners

Overview

Have you ever dreamed that all of your tinkering, fussing, and fiddling in the shop and on the road could help improve every road in Minnesota? Do you need funding to develop innovations for roadside sign maintenance, work-zone safety products, or pothole-repair technology?

Well, now there's a way to help without becoming a pavement engineer or a University professor. Forget the classrooms and fancy degrees. Hang up those tuxes and put away the slide rule. Finally, there is OPERA for regular folks! With OPERA, you can share your ideas with other agencies and road crews around the state.

The Minnesota Local Road Research Board's newly established Local Operational Research Assistance Program, or the Local OPERA Program, helps to develop innovations in the construction and maintenance operations of local government transportation organizations. The Local OPERA Program encourages maintenance employees from all cities and counties to get involved in operational or "hands-on" research. In particular, OPERA helps to develop your great ideas locally and share those ideas statewide.

Apply for Funding

Local OPERA Program 2010 research funding proposals are due by September 14, 2009.

To apply for OPERA funding, complete and submit the project proposal form:

OPERA Project Proposal Form: Word version | PDF version
Proposals for 2010 must be received by Mindy Carlson at Minnesota LTAP no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2009. Late proposals will be accepted for any remaining funds after the initial RFP process is completed and timely projects have been approved. Please submit your proposals via email (in Word or PDF format). Electronic submission is preferred but not required. If you are unable to submit electronically, please mail or fax.
Innovative research proposals related to timely, relevant transportation topics are requested. Researchers are welcome to submit more than one proposal.
Research project selections will be made by the program selection committee following the RFP process, and each project will be funded in two parts. The local agency is immediately eligible for reimbursement of up to 80 percent of the total approved project cost, and the remaining 20 percent will be paid upon submission of a final report. Submitted reports should include professional evaluations and results as well as at least five pictures.

Contact

To find out more about the Local OPERA Program, please contact:

Mindy Carlson
Minnesota LTAP Program Associate
Center for Transportation Studies
200 Transportation and Safety Building
511 Washington Avenue S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0375
Phone: 612-626-1077
Fax: 612-625-6381

E-mail: mnltap@umn.edu

Program Purpose

OPERA is for everybody. OPERA's purpose is to:

Promote innovations in operations and maintenance relating to methods, materials, and equipment
Create an environment for intelligent improvements to maintenance operations with a safer, easier, and more efficient workplace
Provide a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation network

Project Review Process

The Local OPERA Program selection committee is composed of one city engineer, one county engineer, a representative from the Mn/DOT Maintenance Operations Group, and a representative from Mn/DOT State Aid for Local Transportation Groups.

The Local OPERA Program funds projects up to $10,000. OPERA project selections are made monthly or as projects are submitted. OPERA-funded projects also may receive support from other sources, including cities, counties, suppliers, or manufacturers.

The OPERA selection committee approves or rejects project requests under $5,000 based on the submitted proposal. However, funding between $5,000 and $10,000 can be approved only after a presentation to the selection committee.

Project Funding Details

Projects are funded in two parts. The local agency is immediately eligible for reimbursement of purchases up to 80 percent of the total approved project cost. The remaining 20 percent will be paid upon submission of a final report.

Project Examples

Winter Maintenance

Deicing and anti-icing methods, equipment, and materials
Salt storage handling
Snow fence (blowing snow) systems

Road and Bridge Maintenance

Pavement resurfacing options
Road striping performance and measurements
Bridge paint removal and handling

Roadside Maintenance

Roadside vegetation management
Roadside sign maintenance
Erosion control methods

Work-Zone and Employee Safety

Work-zone safety products
Field test and evaluation of other work-zone safety projects
Work-zone safety procedures

Maintenance Management

Maintenance management systems
Equipment management systems
Equipment tracking systems

Annual Report

Each year the Local OPERA Program compiles a summary report of the projects by local government transportation organizations receiving OPERA support during the fiscal year.