Spring 2008 Technology Exchange
Professional organizations present annual awards
Tools available for coordinating
transportation projects with utilities
Coordinating with utilities early in the design of a transportation project minimizes the amount of effort needed later in the design life or during the construction of a project and helps avoid costly, unexpected issues.
Policy
Guidelines help agencies with ADA-required transition plans
All public agencies—including county and municipal government—are required to develop and implement a transition plan for meeting accessibility standards.
Tool kit offers ADA best
practices for state, local
government
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S.
Department of Justice is developing
a tool kit to help state and local officials
improve compliance with Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).
LTAP announces Steering
Committee changes
Minnesota LTAP would like to thank
departing steering committee member
Dave Robley, the county engineer
of Douglas County.
New rule published for sign retroreflectivity
The final rule for maintained sign retroreflectivity was published
in the Federal Register on December 21, 2007, and went
into effect January 22, 2008.
LRRB Update
Maintenance
Road Salt Symposium in review
About 200 people attended the
Seventh Annual Road Salt Symposium to learn how to decrease the impacts
of winter maintenance on the environment
and infrastructure while
maintaining safety.
Pavement Conference
Is ‘green’ the new look of pavement?
Asphalt is black and concrete is gray, but “green”
is becoming the new look of pavement as environmental
concerns grow in importance. Speakers at
the 12th Annual Minnesota Pavement Conference
described emerging areas such as “green” roads,
warm-mix asphalt, and sustainable innovations in
concrete pavements.
Safety
Crisis management: When bad things happen to good engineers
“There are two key words for dealing with bad news: one is readiness, the other is process,” said Jim Lukaszewski, an expert in crisis management and founder and head of the Lukaszewski Group, Inc.
The Traffic Corner: Traffic Audits
Government agencies have a lot of staff, elected officials, and volunteers who drive their streets getting from point A to point B. Typically, drivers are zoning out, often just listening to the radio.
Information Services
Learn about degree scholarships
Scholarships and fellowships for degree students interested
in a transportation-related field are described on
the Center for Transportation Studies Education Web
page
Findings published from collaborative leadership initiative
Findings are available from a pilot initiative designed to provide training and facilitation skills for local agencies.
Events & Training
LTAP Training & Events Calendar
Public works technician program introduced
Hennepin Technical College is introducing a new Public Works Technician Diploma to prepare individuals to begin or advance a career in public works with local, county, or state government or privatesector utilities.
MPWA, Hamline University offer leadership academy
The Minnesota Public Works Association (MPWA) launched a Leadership Academy program several years ago to train future engineering and public works leaders.
Civil technology program offered in Mankato
South Central College in Mankato is offering a new program in civil technology. The program prepares individuals for entry-level employment as engineering technicians.