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.
Louisiana Evaluates Modified Chip Seals June 21, 2022 - Chip seals are often applied to asphalt pavements to add skid resistance to the surface and increase the durability of the road. Many transportation agencies have found that adding crumb rubber to the mixture can increase performance, but the high temperatures required for application can pose a potential safety hazard for maintenance crews.
To achieve the desired performance results at a lower application temperature, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development conducted a research project to evaluate a modified asphalt emulsion using recycled tire rubber. With a cooler application temperature, the tire rubber emulsion may be a worker-friendly alternative to crumb rubber.
Webinar to Highlight Strategies for Preventing Roadside Fires June 14, 2022 - The Transportation Research Board’s Standing Technical Committee on Roadside Maintenance will host a free webinar, “Roadside Fire Risk and Prevention Strategies” on Thursday, July 7 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. Eastern.
Presenters will share roadway designs and vegetation management strategies that can significantly reduce the risk of fires from vehicles and discarded cigarettes without compromising stormwater quality or increasing erosion.
Learn more and register.
Florida Improves Bridge Condition Assessment Test June 7, 2022 - Inspectors charged with assessing the condition and maintenance needs of steel cables embedded in concrete bridges may employ the magnetic flux leakage (MFL) test, using strong magnets to detect corrosion in areas they can’t see directly. However, other metal components of the bridge can interfere with the test and affect the readings.
To improve the test and increase the accuracy of the MFL test results, Florida DOT partnered with university researchers to identify advancements in this testing method.
With the ability to detect issues early and more accurately, the agency will be better able to prioritize maintenance activities that will extend the performance of bridges across the state.
Read the research summary: Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) Method for Damage Detection in Internal Post-Tensioning Tendons, May 2022.
South Carolina Reevaluates its Pavement Performance Predictors May 31, 2022 - For decades, South Carolina DOT has relied on pavement performance models to anticipate future maintenance needs and budget accordingly.
Given changes in pavement materials and practices, as well as improved data collection technologies, the agency sought to determine whether the models still provide accurate predictions.
Finding that modern pavements are slower to degrade than previously thought, the agency will be better positioned to conserve its limited resources.
Read the report: Pavement Performance Curves: Modeling Pavement Deterioration for SCDOT, February 2022.
Missouri Investigates Effectiveness of Temporary Rumbles Strips in Work Zones May 24, 2022 - For crews performing road maintenance and repair activities, fast-moving traffic can pose a serious hazard.
Temporary rumble strips offer a flexible solution for slowing vehicles near work zones. To understand how well the devices improve driver behavior, the Missouri DOT evaluated different configurations of short- and long-term varieties and surveyed other state DOTs about their experiences.
The study found temporary rumble strips to be generally effective and revealed a variety of best practices to maximize their influence and durability.