Katie Johnson

The October/November 2024 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.

The Colorado Department of Transportation was lauded for its commitment to working with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms and implementing open-ended DBE performance plans, while the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Highway Construction Skills Training Program was praised for its efforts to build a diverse workforce through innovative recruitment and training initiatives.

California, Texas, Virginia and Utah DOTs were all recognized for their innovative pavement solutions. In California and Virginia, in-person workshops have helped to raise awareness of concrete overlays for asset management, while research conducted in Texas showed that asphalt overlays with crack-attenuating mix may reduce reflective cracking and slow the cracking process significantly. Utah used a highly modified asphalt overlay on a high-volume weigh station, potentially adding five more years to the pavement’s service life.   

Finally, Maine DOT was noted for its use of smarter work zone technologies that allow the agency to collect traffic data in real time and keep drivers informed.

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Image source: FHWA

Maintaining the vegetation along highway roadsides and medians is critical, but can be labor-intensive and hazardous work. Autonomous mowers have become more sophisticated and widely available in recent years and offer to reduce worker exposure and improve safety.

To learn just how safe, easy to use, and effective these remote-control mowers really are, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) conducted a research study to evaluate autonomous equipment in the field. The agency’s new video summarizes the project and Caltrans’ efforts to advance innovations in maintenance.

Watch the video and learn more about the research: Investigating Teleoperated Equipment for Use in Caltrans Operations, May 2024.

Image source: Caltrans

Maintaining a pavement’s friction is important for safe driving. Traditional high-friction surface treatments consist of applying a polymer resin to the existing road surface and topping it with high-quality aggregates to help drivers maintain control at existing or potentially high-crash areas. However, this type of treatment can be relatively expensive and not well-suited to all locations.

To identify alternative solutions, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) conducted a research study to evaluate the costs and performance of surface treatments made with asphalt-based binders. The results will help MoDOT maintenance crews select cost-effective treatments for the state’s roads.

Read the report: Friction Enhancements to Asphalt Pavement Surfaces, June 2024.

Image source: St. Louis County, Minnesota

As traffic volumes rise and new roads are built or widened across the country, concern toward the increase in stormwater runoff – and its effect on the environment – are also growing. Low impact development (LID) stormwater management systems offer a sustainable option for treating this runoff in urban areas.

The Virginia Department of Transportation launched a research project to assess the effectiveness of four LID systems, as well as the costs and associated tasks required to maintain them.      

Read the report: Evaluating the Effectiveness and Maintenance of Low Impact Development Designs for Stormwater Management: A Case Study Along Lorton Road in Fairfax County, August 2024.

Image source: Virginia Department of Transportation

Ensuring traffic signals and related infrastructure are in good working order is an important task for a transportation agency’s maintenance crews. However, evaluation processes and standards can vary depending on location and other factors.

To standardize its assessment procedures and criteria, the Illinois Department of Transportation conducted a research project that produced procedures for 34 different traffic signal components, as well as recommendations for putting the procedures into practice across the state.

Read the report: Optimum Traffic Signal Condition Assessment and Strategic Maintenance Planning, August 2024

Image source: Illinois Department of Transportation