PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS

Countermeasures improve pedestrian safety
The Federal Highway Administration is promoting pedestrian safety countermeasures through the fourth round of Every Day Counts.

MnDOT manual helps agencies count bike, pedestrian traffic
As part of an ongoing effort to institutionalize bicycle and pedestrian counting in Minnesota, MnDOT has published a new manual designed to help practitioners in their counting efforts.

ROAD MAINTENANCE & RESEARCH

Should you use recycled materials to melt ice and snow on your roads?
At the 2017 Road Salt Symposium, the manager of the Idaho Department of Transportation laboratory talked about using recycled products to deice roads.

Slurry for more sustainable road salt use
At the 2017 Road Salt Symposium, speakers presented information on how agencies can reduce both their road salt budgets and salt’s negative effects.

A primer: calcium chloride for stabilizing gravel roads
A common tool to stabilize aggregate surfacing is calcium chloride. This primer discusses how does it work, county experiences, and more.

Road research breaks new ground
The MnROAD road research facility has begun work on its third phase of research.

LRRB SPOTLIGHT

Local OPERA project: concrete form hook box
The City of Golden Valley Street Maintenance Division uses the SwapLoader system to switch between a dump body, debris box, and the form box, which saves mobilization time and allows the truck to have several uses.

Rehabbing roads with full-depth reclamation is cost-effective, durable
New research indicates that full-depth reclamation of asphalt pavement is a good option for rehabilitating urban and suburban roadways and most likely outperforms traditional mill-and-overlay in cost and durability.

Synthesis looks at local bridge removal policies and programs
A new Transportation Research Synthesis provides the results of a survey of state DOT bridge offices about bridge removal practices, criteria, and funding programs.

WEEDS & PESTS

Help eradicate dangerous plants from Minnesota
Thirteen plant species are currently on Minnesota's eradicate list.

Arrest the pest! Protect forests and crops
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has created guidelines and an app to help Minnesotans identify and report harmful pests.

HONORS

Congratulations to the 2016 Roads Scholars!
Graduates received their certificates at the Demo Day in May.

Leaders use best practices, training, outreach to reduce salt use
Recipients of this year’s Environmental Leadership Awards share how they reduced their road salt while maintaining safety.

Minnesotans receive national awards
The National Association of County Engineers honored several Minnesotans at its annual conference in April.

INFORMATION SERVICES

The Shelf
Recent publications from various sources

WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING

Unlock your potential at the Fall Maintenance Expo, Oct. 4–5
This year’s Fall Maintenance Expo includes two sessions by Erik Therwanger, coach, speaker, and author of The Think GREAT Collection.

Beat the heat: water, rest, shade
Read safety tips from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Puzzle: pedestrian safety
Help a pedestrian cross the street, stopping halfway in the pedestrian refuge and avoiding cars and bikes.