Utah Considers Future Maintenance Costs in Highway Design Decisions August 30, 2022 - While maintenance costs can add up over the course of an asset’s life, these costs aren’t routinely considered as part of the design process. To make better-informed design decisions, the Utah Department of Transportation investigated the long-term maintenance needs and associated costs of a variety of road, bridge and drainage infrastructure designs and features.
With a more comprehensive understanding of the life-cycle costs of different types of barriers, cross-section elements, temporary control measures and other features, the agency is better positioned to make cost-effective maintenance decisions during the design stage.
Minnesota Explores the Impacts of Deferred Maintenance August 24, 2022 - As a result of budget shortfalls, higher materials costs and the ongoing pandemic, many of Minnesota’s local governments have had to postpone their road maintenance work. But by delaying activities in the short-term, asset conditions will continue to deteriorate as maintenance and repair becomes more expensive.
To help local transportation agencies make better-informed expenditure decisions and understand the impacts of deferring maintenance on state roads, the Minnesota Department of Transportation investigated the road maintenance needs, challenges and funding gaps for 31 local agencies in the state. The effort led to a series of recommendations to help Minnesota’s local transportation agencies secure and maintain sufficient funding.
Webinar to Evaluate Work Zone Intrusion Alarms August 19, 2022 - Safety is a top concern for highway maintenance crews working alongside fast-moving traffic. Work zone intrusion alarms are designed to increase worker safety by detecting when a vehicle has breached the work zone and alerting crews.
With several systems available on the market, the California Department of Transportation will test the effectiveness of several options under real-world conditions. This will be discussed during a free webinar on Thursday, September 29 from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Pacific.
Florida Evaluates Interventions for Improved Work Zone Safety August 9, 2022 - Despite safety countermeasures, crews performing road maintenance and repair activities continue to be at risk near fast-moving traffic. To identify the most effective combinations of smart work zone strategies, the […]
FHWA Recognizes Innovations from No Boundaries Members August 3, 2022 - The July/August 2022 issue of Innovator, the Federal Highway Administration’s bimonthly newsletter, features innovations from a number of No Boundaries member states. The Michigan Department of Transportation was recognized for […]
No Boundaries Synthesis Identifies Strategies to Recruit and Retain Workers July 26, 2022 - Workforce shortages are a top concern for transportation agencies across the country. With maintenance workers needed year-round to keep roads clear and safe, No Boundaries member states are leading the way to identify recruitment and retention challenges and uncover noteworthy and effective solutions.
The recently published report, No Boundaries Synthesis: Responses to Staffing Shortages helps quantify staffing shortfalls and document mitigation efforts. Among member states, these include apprenticeship programs that provide on-the-job training, creative outreach efforts, innovative compensation and benefits packages, and more.
Tennessee Evaluates Traffic Speed Deflectometers July 19, 2022 - A falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is the most commonly used device for determining the structural strength of flexible pavements without taking core samples. However, the method can be time-consuming and disruptive, typically requiring lane closures and creating a potential hazard for workers. A relatively new alternative option is the traffic speed deflectometer (TSD), which promises to assess a pavement’s condition while moving with traffic for greater efficiency and safety.
To evaluate the reliability of data collected with a TSD, the Tennessee Department of Transportation partnered with a team of researchers to gather hundreds of miles’ worth of pavement performance data using traditional and traffic speed deflectometers. After analyzing the results, the team produced a list of recommendations for collecting and using TSD measurements.
FHWA Webinar to Highlight Use of Ultra High Performance Concrete July 12, 2022 - Looking for ways to integrate Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) into your agency’s bridge preservation and repair activities? Register now for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) free webinar, “Local Agency Implementation of Ultra High Performance Concrete” on Thursday, July 14 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central.
The event will begin with presentations from experts at FHWA and the University of Michigan, who will discuss practical issues for working with UHPC such as expenses, material availability and cost-effective applications. Representatives from three local agencies will then share their experiences with UHPC, including why it was chosen for their projects and lessons learned. Finally, a Q-and-A session will allow attendees to ask questions and gain even more insight.
No Boundaries’ Activities and Achievements Highlighted at National Showcase July 5, 2022 - Last week, AASHTO’s Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program (SICOP) and Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group held a virtual showcase to spotlight various organizations dedicated to all aspects of winter and year-round maintenance. Fifteen groups in all shared highlights of their activities over the past year during this session.
On behalf of No Boundaries, representatives Doug Gruver of Ohio DOT and Heath Patterson of Mississippi DOT provided an overview of No Boundaries’ recent accomplishments and resources, including its innovation database, a nearly-completed synthesis investigating staffing shortages and new federal CDL requirements, and the group’s recent peer exchange and technical sessions in Sacramento.
Michigan Prepares its Workforce for New and Developing Technologies June 29, 2022 - The transportation sector has experienced rapid technological growth in the last 10 years.
To prepare its workforce for the demands of the next decade, the Michigan Department of Transportation conducted a research study to predict the transformational technologies on the horizon and the skills workers will need. With a better understanding of where efforts should focus, the agency will be better positioned to train existing staff and recruit highly skilled workers to keep the agency on the cutting-edge of transportation management and operations.
View the video and read the two-page brief to learn more about the project’s findings.