Minnesota Explores Feasibility of Solar Power for Highway Signs and Lights in Remote Areas June 6, 2023 - Illuminating highway signs, lights and traffic signals usually requires power from a commercial electrical grid. Remote areas, however, may not have access to this power source.
To better understand the costs and other considerations associated with solar-powered systems, the Minnesota Department of Transportation initiated a synthesis project to evaluate products and their effectiveness and costs, as well as a case study detailing a Minnesota county’s experiences with solar-powered traffic control devices.
Utah Develops Culvert Inspection Manual and Method for Estimating Deterioration May 30, 2023 - Routinely inspecting and maintaining culverts are important for keeping infrastructure performing well. As part of a new statewide culvert management system, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) developed a culvert inspection and asset management manual, as well as an algorithm for predicting the maintenance and repair needs of the 47,000 culverts across the state.
Minnesota Synthesizes Guidance and Best Practices for Treating Asphalt Cracks May 23, 2023 - Of the many practices available to preserve asphalt pavement service life, crack filling and sealing treatments are among the most commonly used. Understanding which treatments are appropriate for different types of cracks, however, as well as best practices for applying the right treatment, can be challenging.
To help inform and simplify the decision-making process for its maintenance crews and other agencies, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota Local Road Research Board published a compilation of several technical documents and interviews with industry experts into an easy-to-use resource.
FHWA Recognizes Innovations From No Boundaries Members May 16, 2023 - Several No Boundaries member states are featured in the May/June 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Colorado, Missouri and Indiana DOTs are featured for their use of crowdsourced data to improve transportation system operations. In Colorado and Indiana, vehicle probe data can be used to automatically post and update travel times on dynamic message signs to give travelers real-time traffic and safety information. Missouri DOT uses reports from a free public app to identify potholes quickly and efficiently.
Webinar to Discuss New Federal Pavement Marking Rule May 9, 2023 - Highway maintenance practices can vary significantly by location, affecting the retroreflectivity of lane lines and other pavement markings in different ways. A new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule aims to standardize the quality of these markings across the country. To discuss details and methods for complying with the new rule, TRB will host a webinar on May 24 from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
No Boundaries April 2023 Peer Exchange Highlights May 2, 2023 - No Boundaries members gathered in Missouri on April 25 and 26 for the first peer exchange of the year. Hosted by the Missouri DOT, a visit to the agency’s annual Innovations Showcase allowed No Boundaries members to see demonstrations of innovative tools, materials and processes, and learn best practices for implementing similar programs in their home states.
No Boundaries Spring Peer Exchange Planned for April 25-26 April 24, 2023 - This week, No Boundaries members will gather in Missouri for the first peer exchange of 2023. Hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the two-day event offers an exciting variety of activities, presentations and round-table discussions.
FHWA Highlights Innovations From No Boundaries Members April 18, 2023 - The March/April 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.
To demonstrate the power of using data to improve safety, FHWA has developed case studies featuring 20 different states. Among these are South Carolina and Indiana DOTs, which have leveraged data to identify crash-prone roadways in need of improvement as well as appropriate solutions for making these areas safer. South Carolina DOT was also recognized for its innovative use of asphalt overlays to reduce hydroplaning on high-traffic roads.
Ohio Improves Highway Visibility While Reducing Long-Term Maintenance Costs April 7, 2023 - If you attended the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts (EDC) Virtual Summit in February, you no doubt learned about Ohio DOT’s massive LED highway lighting conversion project.
New Videos and Webinars Feature State Innovations March 9, 2023 - To help Midwestern state departments of transportation (DOTs) understand how and where to share their research results for maximum effect, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) launched Project 20-44(28), which identified several high-impact research projects and innovative strategies to disseminate the research and findings.