University of Minnesota Driven to Discover

Local Operational Research Assistance (OPERA) Program

A program of the Minnesota Local Road Research Board

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 Local Operational Research Assistance Program helps to develop innovations in the construction and maintenance operations of local government transportation organizations and share those ideas statewide. OPERA encourages maintenance employees from all cities and counties to get involved in operational or “hands-on” research. The program funds projects up to $10,000 through an annual request-for-proposal process.

Contact

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

Mindy Carlson
Minnesota LTAP Program Coordinator
Center for Transportation Studies
200 Transportation and Safety Building
511 Washington Avenue S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0375

612-626-1077
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.

Apply for Funding

The Local OPERA Program is now accepting research funding proposals for FY 2013.

To apply for OPERA funding, complete and submit the project proposal form. (Word version (50 KB DOC) | PDF version (69 KB PDF))

Please send proposals (in Word or PDF format) to Mindy Carlson at Minnesota LTAP at carlson@umn.edu. 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.

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-funded project supporters/champions are encouraged to leverage dollars and seek out 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

Publications

As of 2010, the Local OPERA Program began publishing fact sheets on each of the projects completed by local government transportation organizations receiving OPERA support. The fact sheets are published on an ongoing basis as project reports are submitted. Each year the Local OPERA Program also compiles an annual report featuring all of the project fact sheets completed during the fiscal year.

Fact Sheets

2012

2011

2010

Annual Report

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Minnesota LTAP | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN 55455 | Location & Contact Information