MnROAD partnerships
Dave Johnson, manager of Mn/DOT's Road Research Section, reviewed accomplishments from the first 10 years of the MnROAD research facility and outlined plans for the future.
Initial funding for the facility came from the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB), Mn/DOT, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). With MnROAD's first phase coming to an end and budgets continuing to look tight, Mn/DOT realized there was a need to look at new governance structures and funding options, he said. As a result, it formed a task force in 2003 to investigate these issues. The result is TERRA—the Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance (see below).
Johnson then touched on a number of research activities at MnROAD:
- Tire/pavement noise testing. "This is an emerging technology that we will have some interest in," he said.
- A hot-mix asphalt (HMA) design tool for low-volume roads, posted on the MnROAD Web site. The tool was demonstrated at a special session throughout the conference.
- Taconite test sections—one asphalt, one portland cement—constructed in 2004. Taconite aggregate is the "hot topic of the day," Johnson said. The waste material—made of low iron content that wouldn't otherwise be processed—holds promise for reviving northern Minnesota's mining economy and reducing waste. MnROAD researchers will study taconite's chemistry and shape to determine its effectiveness.
- A low-temperature cracking pooled-fund study, due for completion in 2006. "The goal is to develop a testing protocol to sort out low-temperature problems," he said, and also to help calibrate a thermal cracking model for a new design guide.
Phase 2 of MnROAD is also expected to include studies of mechanistic/empirical design, pavement preservation maintenance, and nonpavement topics such as culverts, striping, and vehicle testing, he added.
Minnesota transportation leaders form research alliance
The Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance—TERRA—is a new research governance structure formed by Minnesota transportation leaders to foster a comprehensive road research program. TERRA was created after a task force of government, industry, and academic representatives investigated road research governing structures and evaluated ways to broaden use of the unique MnROAD facility and associated resources. The task force was formed at the request of Mn/DOT Deputy Commissioner Douglas Differt.
TERRA's mission is to develop, sustain, and communicate a comprehensive program of research on pavement, materials, and related transportation engineering challenges, including issues related to cold climates.
"Our vision," says Richard Stehr, Mn/DOT division director and TERRA Board chair, "is that TERRA will be a dynamic partnership of government, industry, and academia that continuously advances innovations in road engineering and construction." The co-chair of the TERRA Board is Fred Corrigan, executive director of the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association.
While the primary focus of TERRA will be to expand pavement-related research opportunities, other compatible research such as vehicle technologies and driver communications will be pursued in order to diversify funding.
Here's some of what TERRA will do:
- Expand productive research partnerships: attract funding and leverage research at the MnROAD facility.
- Provide effective transportation engineering and road research: develop short- and long-range research plans, provide direction on reconstruction of the MnROAD facility, and foster research partnerships that produce road innovations.
- Communicate research activities, benefits, and results: market findings to various audiences, engage stakeholders to discuss research results and implementation activities, and solicit input on future research needs.
Mike Sheehan from Olmsted County and Mark Maloney from the city of Shoreview represent the LRRB on the TERRA Board. You, too, can participate in TERRA, in one of three ways: as a TERRA Board member, through a commitment of resources over a sustained time period; as a potential TERRA research project partner; or as a friend of TERRA.
For further information, please contact Dave Johnson, manager, Road Research Section, Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Materials (651-779-5681, dave.johnson@dot.state.mn.us), or Laurie McGinnis, CTS associate director, (612-625-3019, mcgin001@cts.umn.edu)