LRRB, RIC to begin new round of projects
The Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and its Research Implementation Committee (RIC) announced the following new project plans as of January 1, 2007.
Participants for Technical Advisory Panels (TAPs) for these projects are still welcome. Participation would entail directing a project, attending three to five meetings (approximately one to two hours each) over a six-month to two-year period, and reviewing and approving products.
If you are interested in any of the RIC tasks, contact Mike Marti (marti@srfconsulting.com, phone 763-249-6779, fax 763-475-2429). If you are interested in any of the LRRB research projects, contact Alan Rindels (alan.rindels@dot.state.mn.us, phone 651-366-3779, fax 651-366-3789).
RIC tasks
Innovative Contracting Methods for Local Agencies. This task will look at several techniques recently approved by the FHWA and evaluate their applicability to local road agencies in Minnesota. The final deliverable will be a report identifying appropriate methods, implementation strategies for local agencies, and recommendations for pilot projects.
Rural Safety Synthesis and Workshop. Several reports recently completed by the LRRB focused on improving rural safety. This task will synthesize information from these sources and develop a workshop and a PowerPoint presentation.
Training Module for Pavement Rehabilitation Selection. The FHWA and the LRRB have developed many products relating to selecting the most effective pavement rehabilitation strategies. This task will develop a one-day workshop, including instructor’s notes and participant materials, for use by Minnesota LTAP.
Street Sweeping Best Practices. In the last few years, Washington County and the Metropolitan Council have produced several reports dealing with street sweeping and its environmental impacts. The objective of this task is to synthesize these reports in an easy-to-read technical document and develop a one- to two-hour PowerPoint training presentation.
LRRB research projects
Assessment of Underground Stormwater Management Devices under High Flow Conditions* (Phase II of a current LRRB project). This project involves further tests on four devices to determine whether they resuspend removed sediments under severe storm events (less frequent storms) and to develop maintenance schedules.
Statistical Methods for Materials Testing.* This project will evaluate current testing methodology to determine if it ensures high quality. (If it does not, cities and counties could stop unnecessary testing and save money.) The project will also test the feasibility of using dynamic testing protocols.
MnROAD Data Mining, Evaluation, and Qualification Phase I.* The objective of this project is to improve the effectiveness and quality of the MnROAD database.
Use of Foamed Asphalt Base Reclamation in Urban Areas of Minnesota. This project will look at jobs outside Minnesota in which foamed asphalt was used to determine the best mixture design and construction procedures for successful projects.
Best Preventive Maintenance Treatments for Recreational Trails. This project will determine strengths and weaknesses of current recreational trail treatments, create standardized special provisions and innovative treatments, and produce a draft manual on how to maintain recreational trails.
Development and Field Test of Advanced Dynamic LED Warning Signals for Unsignalized High-Speed Rural Blind Intersections Powered by Renewable Energy. This research proposes to develop and evaluate a new system that actively detects vehicles in the proximity of the intersection and notifies the approaching and crossing vehicles.
Porous Asphalt Pavement Performance in Cold Regions. The purpose of this research is to study the durability and hydrologic benefits of a porous asphalt roadway in a cold climate and quantify environmental effects.
Impact of Stream Geomorphology and Fish Passage Requirements on Construction Costs of Culvert Structures in Minnesota. This research will address alternative culvert designs and their construction cost and effectiveness.
(* 50% funded by the LRRB, 50% by Mn/DOT)
Check out what the RIC produced for you!
The LRRB Research Implementation Committee (RIC) 2005–2006 program delivered a bumper crop of valuable products. Some highlights are below; for a complete list of projects and products, please see www.lrrb.org.
- Training module for designing and constructing with geosynthetics. A pilot class was held in December 2006, and Minnesota LTAP will hold additional classes in October 2007.
- Seal coat handbook, training. The Minnesota Seal Coat Handbook (8.1 MB PDF), first published in December 1998, was revised. Minnesota LTAP offered a new workshop on seal coating in April 2007.
- Updated video: loads and roads. This 20-minute educational/training DVD, Loads and Roads: Finding a Balance, can be shown in its entirety for a comprehensive look at the subject, or it can be divided into about five-minute segments for viewing by different audiences.
- New manual: concrete pavement rehabilitation. The State Aid Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Best Practices Manual (1.0 MB PDF) was published by Mn/DOT State Aid in 2005. Minnesota LTAP produced an easy-to-use, 5-inch by 8-inch tabbed version in 2006.
- To Pave or Not to Pave PowerPoint, research synthesis. These training materials can help you decide when to upgrade a gravel road. They are used in CTAP and LTAP gravel road workshops.
- Minnesota Crash Data Analysis Tool. MN-CMAT—the Crash Mapping and Analysis Tool—allows users to easily access, comprehend, and display data about automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes. Minnesota LTAP helped coordinate 10 free training sessions in May and June 2006 for county engineers and other county engineering staff around the state.
- New roundabout DVD: This new DVD—How About a Roundabout? The Minnesota Experience—introduces the concepts behind roundabouts and explains how and why to use them. (See related article for more.)