Katie Johnson

The March/April 2025 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), highlights the efforts of several No Boundaries member states.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) was noted for its contributions to the California Road Sharing (CaRS) program, a collaborative effort that establishes a framework for local agencies to integrate road data into Caltrans’ records to create a statewide dataset. 

Ohio Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Highway Safety Improvement Program was lauded for its work to reduce the risks of serious and fatal crashes by identifying areas where these types of crashes are most likely and prioritize projects that mitigate the risks.

Finally, South Carolina, Missouri and Colorado were all recognized for putting innovations into practice. South Carolina DOT has worked to increase public engagement by developing a virtual reality public hearing room and offering other opportunities for community members to participate in transportation-related discussions and decisions. The Missouri DOT has developed a crowdsourcing tool that leverages public input to identify pothole locations so they can be located and fixed quickly. And Colorado DOT’s use of innovative project delivery methods, including project bundling and design-build strategies, has allowed the agency to complete a bridge construction project in less time and for less cost than planned.

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Image source: FHWA

An asset management plan (AMP) can help transportation agencies keep track of maintenance needs and prioritize investments.

To support Indiana’s local transportation agencies and ensure they manage their transportation assets effectively, the State of Indiana passed a law in 2016 requiring each local transportation agency to develop an asset management plan as a condition of special funding.

To evaluate the agencies’ progress, the Indiana Department of Transportation launched a research study to survey the types of asset management plans that have been created.

Read the report: Assessing the Asset Management Programs of Locals: Bridges and Pavement Conditions, January 2025.

Image source: Indiana Department of Transportation

Truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) are designed to protect workers in highway work zones by absorbing crashes.  

But as TMAs are being struck more frequently, the safety risks to TMA drivers have increased. To investigate ways to protect its TMA drivers and mitigate the hazards, the Missouri Department of Transportation initiated a research study that evaluated a variety of safety countermeasures.

Read the report: TMA Truck Safety, March 2025.

Image source: Missouri Department of Transportation

When crossing a roadway, small animals like amphibians and reptiles have a high risk of being struck and killed by passing vehicles.

To discuss strategies for helping these sensitive animal populations get where they’re going more safely, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will host a webinar, “Roadway Crossings for Sensitive Amphibians and Reptiles” on April 2 from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Central.

Learn more and register.

Image source: Caltrans

Paving a parking lot or other area with porous asphalt can be an environmentally friendly solution for absorbing and filtering excess stormwater, but proper maintenance is important to ensure the pavement remains permeable over time.

To help keep the surface unclogged and free of debris, the Vermont Agency of Transportation initiated a research project that identified effective cleaning strategies and a routine maintenance schedule for the state’s porous asphalt pavements.

Read the report: Maintenance and Performance Study of Porous Asphalt in Northern Climates at the Randolph Park & Ride, November 2024.

Image source: Vermont Agency of Transportation

Effectively managing a state’s roads, bridges and other transportation assets is a complex endeavor that requires balancing the costs and benefits of a variety of maintenance strategies and prioritizing the state’s investments.  

To help maintenance managers consider the full life cycle of their state’s assets, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Transportation Asset Management community will host webinar 74: Life Cycle Planning, on April 16 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

View details and register.

Image source: National Asphalt Pavement Association