Project Updates

No Boundaries members met in Portland, Maine last week from April 29 – May 1 for the group’s spring peer exchange, hosted by MaineDOT. Members shared their latest innovations and best practices for getting maintenance work done faster, better and cheaper.

The peer exchange also featured roundtable discussions on what states’ maintenance crews use for their sign repair and replacement work and hauling skid steers, as well as hot-button transportation topics such as how changes at the federal level are affecting maintenance activities for states.

Featured presentations included an overview of Maine’s innovation program and the Federal Highway Administration’s Strategic Workforce Development program, and a demonstration of an innovative culvert adaptation designed to increase flow capacity and reduce maintenance.

Finally, No Boundaries’ always-popular Innovation Show-and-Tell provided a forum for members to share the new tools and practices their agencies have found for making maintenance work easier and safer in the field.

Additional information, photos and the full agenda are available on the meeting page.

Image source: No Boundaries

No Boundaries is in the news!

Innovation reigns supreme in the new issue of TR News, the Transportation Research Board’s quarterly magazine. And as No Boundaries is all about making maintenance work better, safer and more efficient, it’s only fitting that this pooled fund – an innovation in its own right – features prominently in the issue.

The article “No Boundaries: A Pooled Fund for Sharing Transportation Innovations“ describes the successful strategies the group has developed and refined to help members learn from each other, as well as insight into what makes the pooled fund’s methods so successful.

Get the full issue: TR News, October-December 2024

Image source: TR News

No Boundaries members convened in Fargo, North Dakota last week from September 10-12 for the group’s fall peer exchange hosted by the North Dakota DOT. Members shared their latest innovations and best practices and participated in demonstrations of tools and equipment designed to get maintenance work done faster, better and cheaper.

The peer exchange also featured roundtable discussions on hot-button transportation maintenance topics such as using outside vendors for maintenance training, and strategies for complying with the new federal requirements for roadway retroreflectivity markings.

Featured presentations included an overview of North Dakota DOT’s innovation program, a summary of No Boundaries’ newly published synthesis report on using virtual reality for maintenance training, and a synopsis of Front Range Community College’s Highway Maintenance Management degree program.

Finally, No Boundaries’ always-popular Innovation Show-and-Tell provided a forum for members to share the new tools and practices their agencies have found for making maintenance work easier and safer in the field.

Additional information, photos and the full agenda are available on the meeting page. Details about No Boundaries’ next peer exchange, which will take place in the spring of 2025, will be coming soon!

Image source: No Boundaries

Keeping an agency’s maintenance staff up-to-date on skills, procedures and policies is critical. Virtual reality (VR) technologies – including driving simulators, headsets and desktop computer applications – offer a range of options to ensure staff members have the skills and knowledge they need to safely and effectively operate heavy equipment or conduct maintenance tasks in the field.

The recently published report, No Boundaries Synthesis: Maintenance Training with Virtual Reality Technologies, details specific states’ experiences and interest in VR technologies for maintenance training, including the benefits and challenges. Four case studies provide additional detail of selected states’ experiences using these advanced training tools, with “points of practice” summarizing strategies or findings of particular interest.

Find this and other No Boundaries publications on the Publications and Presentations page.

Image source: No Boundaries

With its current phase coming to an end, the No Boundaries Transportation Maintenance Innovations pooled fund just released a new solicitation for members to join its next phase to begin in 2025.

The No Boundaries pooled fund is a community of practice dedicated to identifying and sharing innovations that help states save time and money on all aspects of their maintenance-related activities. The group promotes adaptation, implementation and broader use of successful tools, technologies and practices, and facilitates opportunities that encourage collaboration.

This new fourth phase will build upon No Boundaries’ previous work to support successful tech transfer. The group hosts two in-person peer exchange each year where member representatives can meet and discuss their challenges and innovative maintenance solutions. No Boundaries also supports a variety of additional opportunities for learning and exchanging knowledge, and maintains a searchable online database where maintenance innovations can be found and showcased by transportation agencies at all levels of government. 

A three-year commitment of $13,000 per year is encouraged, and single-year commitments are welcomed as well.  

Learn more at maintainroads.org.

No Boundaries members gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from May 7-9 for a peer exchange on maintenance issues. Hosted by the Louisiana DOTD, the event included a showcase and demonstration of the innovative maintenance tools and equipment developed by the agency’s field staff, as well as a visit to a state-owned bridge that’s being replaced by a Louisiana DOTD maintenance crew.

The peer exchange also featured roundtable discussions on hot-button transportation maintenance topics such as balancing vehicle idling with battery drain, and alternative ideas for configuring and maintaining a public right of way.

Featured presentations included an overview of the role of artificial intelligence in public works by the No Boundaries subject matter expert, while Indiana DOT shared insights for encouraging an agency’s culture of innovation.

Finally, No Boundaries’ always-popular Innovation Show-and-Tell provided a forum for members to share the new tools and practices their agencies have found for making maintenance work easier and safer in the field.

Additional information, photos and the full agenda are available on the meeting page. Details about No Boundaries’ next peer exchange, to be hosted in the fall of 2024 by North Dakota DOT, will be coming soon!

Image source: No Boundaries