Summer 2010 Vol. 18 No. 3
Maintenance Expo
Roads Scholars, ash borers, and more
Lean municipal budgets, road safety innovations, and the arrival of the emerald ash borer were some of the topics of discussion at this year’s Spring Maintenance Training Expo in St. Cloud.
The emerald ash borer is here — now what?
In a presentation at the 2010 Spring Maintenance Training Expo, Minnesota Department of Agriculture emerald ash borer program coordinator Mark Abrahamson said that communities need to start preparing now for the tiny insect invader.
Best practices for maintenance budgets
In a session at the 2010 Spring Maintenance Training Expo, two suburban public works directors described how they overhauled their budgets to get through the current recession and plan for a future of more limited city services.
State’s cooperative purchasing program offers savings
Minnesota’s Cooperative Purchasing Venture is a free service in which eligible organizations can purchase goods and services from more than 800 state contracts directly from vendors.
Rigging Fundamentals
Mike Colestock, safety instructor at Hennepin Technical College, reviewed some high-profile rigging accidents and discussed practices to help workers understand the risks and avoid the dangers of moving heavy loads in a session at the 2010 Spring Maintenance Training Expo.
Safety Research Innovation
Portable rumble strips, snowplow reflectors, a mud cannon, and a safer pavement edge treatment were among new technologies discussed at a 2010 Spring Maintenance Training Expo seminar led by Ryan Otte, research project manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Pavements
Washington County demonstrates cold in-place bituminous concrete recycling
Washington County was facing funding challenges when it needed to do something with a four-mile section of County Road 71, also named Neal Avenue.
Awards
Officials receive national awards
James N. Grube, director of transportation and county engineer for Hennepin County; Donald J. Theisen, public works director of Washington County; and Virgil Hawkins, assistant county engineer of Wright County, received national awards this spring.
Safety
The Traffic Corner: Snow on Traffic Signal Lights
Mike Spack highlights a low-tech solution to the issue of snow buildup on LED traffic signal lights.
Minnesota TZD helps provide safer ways home with new guide
The Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths program and the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety have published A Safer Way Home: the Minnesota Safe Ride Guide to provide critical information about alternative transportation or safe ride programs to individuals and communities.
Intersection case studies
Technical summaries and newsletter articles are available from the FHWA for nine intersection safety case study success stories.
LRRB Update
Get ready for winter with calibration guide
A new guide from the Local Road Research Board provides easy-to-use, illustrated steps for calibrating snowplow sander controllers.
OPERA Spotlight: Road Reclamation with and without emulsion
Counties run into a dilemma when the bituminous surface of older, narrow roads reaches failure but there are not sufficient funds to rebuild the road. Goodhue County Public Works plans to build strength down into the existing structure by adding an emulsion to the reclaimed surface materials.
OPERA funding proposals due September 20
The LRRB, in conjunction with Minnesota LTAP, is seeking research proposal summaries for FY2011 OPERA funding.
Information Services
Anti-icing resources
A new 32-page document published by Mn/DOT’s Office of Policy, Research & Innovation reviews 12 transportation agencies’ anti-icing guidelines and procedures to identify current patterns of practice.
Mn/DOT annual and biennial reports online
The 2009 Mn/DOT Research Services Annual Report and the 2007–2009 Statewide Biennial
Maintenance Operations Research Report are now available online.
Maintenance Research Corner
GPR is technology utilized to evaluate concrete bridge decks for delaminating concrete and overall deck condition; Internal Joint Seals are watertight compression seals that reduce groundwater infiltration and increase wastewater treatment capacity in underground pipes.
The Shelf
Facts sheets, guides, videos, and more.
Resources help agencies prevent pollution from stormwater
The University’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory has launched an online manual for the assessment and maintenance of stormwater treatment practices.
Mn/DOT and CTS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Mn/DOT’s Research Services Section and the University’s Center for Transportation Studies are now on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Training and Education
Hennepin Tech offers public works diploma and other training
Hennepin Technical College’s Public Works Technician Diploma program aims to prepare folks for entry into a public works position with local, county, or state government or private-sector utilities.
News from our coordinator
Thanks to all those who helped with the Spring Maintenance Training Expo.
Fall maintenance expo: October 6-7
Mark your calendars for the Minnesota Fall Maintenance Expo at the St. Cloud Public Works Facility, October 6 and 7.
Minnesota LTAP | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN 55455 | Location & Contact Information