Fall 2008 Technology Exchange
Preparing for disaster—the Hugo experience
Chris Petree, the former public works director for the City of Hugo, recommends preparing for the worst and following a plan to stay focused and eliminate panic.
LTAP can be player in emergency response
LTAP centers can help agencies prepare for and respond to disasters, said panelists at a plenary session of the National Local Technical Assistance Program Association conference held in July.
2008 transportation funding bill—what it means to your agency
The bill adds funds for bridges and roadways.
LRRB Update
OPERA project: Quick View Storm Sewer Camera
The camera saves time as well as eliminates the dangers associated with the confined space entry.
Safety
The Traffic Corner: When do you need a traffic study?
The Institute of Transportation Engineers recommends performing traffic studies for any development that will generate more than 100 trips during a peak hour.
CTS Research Conference
The Center for Transportation Studies 19th Annual Research Conference, held May 20–21 in St. Paul, featured many presentations of interest to local agencies. Several presentations are summarized on below.
Cost-effective maintenance of storm water best management practices
Joo-Hyon Kang described a study to suggest a cost-effective maintenance schedule and procedure, including how to diagnose a storm water BMP and determine the corresponding maintenance actions.
Snow trap inventory and prioritization
The Snow Trap Inventory and Prioritization Project provides a base model to prioritize locations for blowing and drifting snow control measures.
How the transportation industry can protect our lakes and rivers
Two new training and voluntary certification programs are available to state, county, city, and private contractor personnel.
Talking in circles: roundabouts in Minnesota
Two sessions addressed the challenges and implications of using roundabouts in the United States, and more specifically, in Minnesota.
Maintenance Research Corner
The demountable STRATOS 60 spreader and the Swift Hitch camera.
Information Services
The Shelf
Selected reports and other materials.
New tool maps out roadway fatalities across the nation...and in your community
The interactive maps on SafeRoadMaps.org, developed by University of Minnesota researchers, let you learn about every traffic-related fatality in the nation from 2006 by simply typing in your address.
Clearinghouse provides resources for rural highway safety
A new national clearinghouse is online with information to help make rural roads safer.
Truck-weight Web site rich with resources
Features include a clickable, county-level Minnesota state map for finding basic county-level truck weight information, including restrictions for bridges and seasonal loads.
TERRA publishes fact sheet on full-depth reclamation
The Transportation Engineering Road Research Alliance (TERRA) has published its third fact sheet.
Events & Training
LTAP Training & Events Calendar
Public works technician program begins; cities needed for intern opportunities
Classes began in August for the first semester of Hennepin Technical College’s new Public Works Technician Diploma.
Roads Scholar credit offered at ‘How to” conference
The Northland Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association will hold its 17th annual “How to” safety training conference March 17 and 18, 2009, in Fargo, North Dakota.
Click, Listen & Learn
Click, Listen & Learn is the American Public Works Association series of interactive Internet educational programs. The schedule through May 2009 is online.