California Evaluates Portable Snow Melter for Use in Maintenance Yards November 7, 2023 - Snow that accumulates in an agency’s maintenance yard can make it harder for vehicles to maneuver and reduces efficiency and productivity.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) typically removes snow from its maintenance facilities by loading it onto trucks and hauling it offsite, which can add up to significant time, labor and economic costs for the agency throughout a winter season.
Nebraska Evaluates Roadside Maintenance Practices for Maximum Biodiversity October 31, 2023 - Highway roadsides can offer valuable habitat for pollinators, but often lack the plant diversity required to attract a wide range of butterflies and insects.
To determine the seeding and mowing practices that effectively improve the health and variety of roadside plants, the Nebraska Department of Transportation implemented different treatments at sites in the southeast region of the state and monitored the results for two growing seasons.
Ideas and Insights Shared at No Boundaries’ Fall Peer Exchange October 24, 2023 - No Boundaries members convened in Suffolk, Virginia last week from October 17-19 for the group’s fall peer exchange. Hosted by Virginia 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.
Minnesota Develops Guidance for Maintaining Smart Warning Devices October 3, 2023 - As dynamic and intelligent warning devices become more common, the need for routine maintenance will become increasingly important.
To help the state's maintenance workers keep these different devices in good working order, the Minnesota Department of Transportation developed a reference guide that includes considerations for cleaning, testing and replacing various components.
FHWA Highlights Innovations From No Boundaries Members September 26, 2023 - The September/October 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.
Maryland’s Plan for Pink Plows Featured on New Podcast Episode September 19, 2023 - Snowplows have traditionally been operated by men. But as recruiting and retaining qualified operators becomes more challenging, No Boundaries member states and transportation agencies across the country are getting creative to change this occupational stereotype.
To market the profession and encourage more women to consider driving plows, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is hoping to paint the blades on its women-driven snowplows a bright shade of pink.
Evaluating “Smart Pedal” Systems for Vehicle Fleets September 12, 2023 - Rapid acceleration and deceleration reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy.
“Smart pedal” devices promise to smooth out a driver’s acceleration patterns and minimize the amount of fuel that’s wasted in the process.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these devices and identify potential fuel savings, the California Department of Transportation installed the technology on six fleet vehicles and monitored their performance.
After nearly two months of use under real-world conditions, researchers compared the fuel economy of the vehicles with “smart pedal” systems and those without. The findings could potentially help transportation agencies reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by their fleets.
Illinois Evaluates Smart Technologies for Work Zones September 5, 2023 - Despite advancements in signage, traffic-control measures and public awareness campaigns, highway work zones are often hazardous environments for maintenance crews. Inspired by recent research that showed that in-vehicle warning systems […]
Utah Pilots Pollinator Habitat at State Rest Area August 29, 2023 - Butterflies, bees and other pollinator populations are in decline, potentially affecting the quality, health and production of the United States’ agricultural resources.
To support these critical populations, increase the recreational and educational value of state-owned property and reduce the need for maintenance, the Utah Department of Transportation established a pollinator habitat at a rest areas as part of a pilot research project.
Ohio Evaluates Driveway Assistance Devices for Work Zones August 22, 2023 - When a work zone corridor includes driveways or other low-volume roads, accommodating vehicles entering the one-way flow of traffic can be challenging and potentially hazardous for maintenance crews.
Temporary traffic signals have historically been used in these scenarios, but as these devices stop mainline traffic they can add significant travel delays. Another potential option is driveway assistance devices, or DADs, which direct vehicles to join the existing traffic queue.