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In addition to making roadsides more attractive, turfgrass can help control erosion, provide road base stability, reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality.

But not all grass varieties perform equally, roadside conditions may change over time and vendors sometimes introduce new selections. To ensure its list of approved seed varieties is consistently up to date with high-performing options, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) initiated a research project to evaluate seed varieties and improve the agency’s processes for adding and removing options from the list in the future.

The results will help MnDOT’s maintenance workers keep roadsides healthy through droughts, harsh winter conditions and deicing treatments with less mowing and re-seeding.

Read the two-page technical summary: Evaluating MnDOT’s Turfgrass Seed Variety List and Approval Process, June 2023.

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are brighter, more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than traditional bulbs, making them a cost-effective choice for many state departments of transportation. However, how these lights affect animal behavior is not well understood.

To learn how insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and other wildlife are affected by LED lighting, the California Department of Transportation initiated a research synthesis of published literature. With more than 300 relevant studies identified, the results offer a valuable compendium of resources highlighting the known or probable effects of LEDs on wildlife.

Read the report: Effects of LED Lighting on Terrestrial Wildlife, April 2023

Image source: Michigan Department of Transportation

In June, AASHTO’s Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program (SICOP), Maintenance Committee and Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group jointly held its 4^th National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather to showcase the activities of the various organizations dedicated to winter and year-round transportation maintenance.

On behalf of No Boundaries, representative Heath Patterson of Mississippi DOT provided an overview of No Boundaries’ recent accomplishments and resources, including its innovation database, a nearly completed synthesis investigating challenges and solutions related to equipment acquisition and management, and the group’s recent peer exchange in Missouri.

Watch the video of No Boundaries’ presentation and learn more about the other featured maintenance organizations on the SICOP Talks Winter Ops podcast page.

Image source: SICOP

The July/August 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.

Open-ended performance plans, an innovative strategy used by the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT), allow greater flexibility when working with subcontractors.

Two innovative work zone initiatives developed by Missouri DOT – the iTrain virtual reality training simulator and a semi-autonomous truck-mounted attenuator pilot program – recently won awards from FHWA’s Accelerating Market Readiness program. The agency was also recognized for its increased use of Federal Share flexibilities to save money on a variety of projects.

Indiana DOT leverages crowdsourced data to estimate travel times and program traffic signals, while Utah DOT has expanded its use of accelerated bridge construction methods across the state.

Ohio DOT’s practice of upcycling bridge beams also earned a shout-out in the issue – the agency removes steel beams that are no longer needed and provides them to counties to help them save costs and reduce waste.

Sign up to get the next issue of Innovator delivered to your inbox.

Image source: FHWA

Common techniques for removing stripes from roadway surfaces, such as hydroblasting and flailing, can damage surfaces and leave residual marks that may confuse drivers.

To discover alternative methods, the Texas Department of Transportation surveyed other states about their current practices and developed and tested a new device that uses lasers to remove stripes without damaging pavement surfaces.

Read the report: Develop Improved Methods for Eliminating Striping on Roadway Surfaces, February 2023.

Image source: Texas Department of Transportation

Many bat species — including those that are threatened or endangered — make their homes in bridges and culverts, which can affect maintenance and repair activities.

To learn strategies for detecting, deterring and relocating bats from these structures temporarily, the Missouri Department of Transportation initiated a research study aimed at better understanding sensitive management tactics.

The research compiled knowledge about the habits of different kinds of bats, and the tools, technologies and best practices that other states and federal transportation agencies use when performing maintenance on structures with bat populations.

Read the report: Bats Use of Bridges and Culverts, April 2023.

Image source: Missouri Department of Transportation