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LTAP/TTAP E-news
April 2007

We hope that you enjoy our first issue of the monthly LTAP/TTAP e-news and we welcome your comments and submissions. If you have not met the new LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse staff yet, you probably will soon. We will be exhibiting at major national conferences with our new exhibit booth and marketing materials, attending LTAP/TTAP regional meetings and we will be at the national conference in July.

Center News

  • The Utah LTAP center has a new website address www.utahltap.org and new e-mail address utahltap@cc.usu.edu
  • Pam Pyle from the Utah LTAP has been assisting in the development of a Utah Mutual Aid website with the Utah Department of Homeland Security. The website will bring together the First Responders with their Mutual Aid Agreements and Equipment Resources.
  • The North Carolina LTAP center has a new program manager, Bill Woods – (919)515-8033, bill_woods@ncsu.edu

Send us your news to lmccluskey@artba.org

Feature Articles

National Tribal Transportation Conference

The 9th Annual National Tribal Transportation Conference was held in Cabazon, Calif. this November. This was the first exhibit for the new LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse staff and the new Clearinghouse booth. The new LTAP/TTAP marketing materials were also unveiled. The conference had 381 participants and featured two new tracks – Transit and Contract Administration in addition to informational tracks for Elected Officials, Engineering, Planning, Equipment Operators and Safety. Another conference highlight was the Heavy Equipment Rodeo.

86th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Meeting, Washington, D.C.

The National LTAP/TTAP meeting was held January 21 during TRB. The meeting minutes as well as the NLTAPA meeting minutes are posted on the NLTAPA website. During the meeting Lisa Pogue was honored for her years of service to the LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse. FHWA's Office of Professional Development staff and AASHTO officials met with representatives from Brazil to discuss a partnership for transfer of technology.

Update on Work Zone Mobility and Safety Research from TRB

Jerry Ullman, Program Manager
Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, Texas

Work zone safety and mobility was a popular topic at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) held January 21-25, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Approximately 10,000 researchers, transportation agency personnel, educators, and studen gathered during this five-day event to hear more than 3,000 papers presented and to exchange ideas on all facets of transportation. Five sessions were devoted this year specifically to work zone safety and mobility issues.

Read the full article

This article may be reprinted with appropriate citation.

Build a Crashworthy Work Zone Sign Stand

Lloyd H. Rue, Design-Safety-Traffic Engineer
Federal Highway Administration, Helena, Mont.

Where there are cars, there will be collisions. When there are collisions, people will get hurt. How do we lessen the chances of injuries when there are collisions with sign stands in our work zones? We make sign stands 'crashworthy.' Once upon a time, work zone devices were not held to a crashworthy standard. Crashworthy work zone devices now, and for the last decade, follow an industry standard.

Read the full article

This article may be reprinted with appropriate citation.

Clearinghouse Website Survey Results

The recent LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse survey about the website, www.ltapt2.org had 59 unique participants and 87 unique visitors, a great response for our program that has 58 centers! Thanks to the high level of participation we have a lot of valuable information to guide our site navigation plans and to map out new content.

Read the full article

Articles and Reports of Interest

Meetings and Events

April

May

June

July

Send us your event to lmccluskey@artba.org

Regional LTAP/TTAP Meetings

  • Region 1: June 18-19, Storrs, Conn.
  • Region 2: June 12-13, Sitka, Alaska
  • Region 3: TBD
  • Region 4: May 6-9, Gainesville, Fla.
  • Region 5: May 23-24, Chicago, Ill.
  • Region 6: March 6-7, Texarkana, Texas
  • Region 7: June 5-6, Kansas City, Mo.
  • Region 8: May 14-16, Breckenridge, Colo.
  • Region 9: May 30-31, Boise, Idaho

Dates and location subject to change, meeting summaries and agendas will be posted on www.ltapt2.org.

Washington Update

Congress Moves FY 2008 Budget Debate Forward: Protects Transportation Funding Guarantees

The U.S. Senate March 23 approved an FY 2008 budget blueprint that, among other things, assumes full compliance with SAFETEA-LU's funding guarantees of $40.2 billion for the highway program (a $1.1 billion increase) and $9.7 billion for the transit program (a $700 million increase). The House Budget Committee approved its version of the FY 2008 budget resolution March 22, which also assumes strict adherence to SAFETEA-LU's investment commitments.

Read the full article

U.S. DOT Report Indicates Worsening Congestion Without Increased Highway Funding

Yearly government investment in the nation's highways and bridges must be increased or Americans will face worsening traffic congestion. This fact is based on the latest U.S. Department of Transportation biennial Report to Congress on the Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges and Transit: Conditions and Performance.

House Members Question Public-Private Partnerships

Members of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee questioned the public policy implications and viability of public-private partnerships, or PPP's, as a tool to meet the nation's transportation needs at a February 13 hearing.

Read the full article

LTAP/TTAP Center Directors: e-mail lmccluskey@artba.org to get your password to read ARTBA's Washington Update and Newsline anytime.

New Resources

Unless otherwise noted contact Sarah Crane, scrane@artba.org for information and assistance on the following resources.

Publications

  • Applications of Geophysical Methods to Highway Related Problems, FHWA.
  • Context Sensitive Roadway Surfacing Selection Guide, Federal Land Highways.
  • Developing and Implementing Transportation Management Plans for Work Zones, FHWA.
  • Guide to Risk Assessment & Allocation for Highway Construction Management, FHWA.
  • Guidelines for Temporary Traffic Control, Federal Land Highways.
  • Guidelines for Using Prime and Tack Coats, Federal Land Highways.
  • InSAR Applications for Highway Transportation Projects, Federal Land Highways.
  • Excavator's Manual, A Guide to Safe Excavation in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont Dig Safe System, Inc.
  • LTAP/TTAP general brochures and folders, newly updated materials for exhibiting and general program information.
  • Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety, FHWA.
  • Low Volume Roads Engineering - Best Management Practices Field Guide, U.S. Forest Service.
  • Ten Commandments for Snow Fighters poster, Colorado LTAP Center.
  • RSAs Making Roads Safer, a new Road Safety Audit Peer-to- Peer Program, FHWA.
  • Right of Way Operations Manual, 2006, UDOT.
  • Safer Sign Supports-Are Yours Breakaway Yet?, FHWA.
  • Subsurface Imaging of Lava Tubes, Roadway Applications, Federal Land Highways.

CD and DVDs

  • A Snowplow Operators Guide to Snow and Ice Equipment, Idaho Technology Transfer Center.
  • Driver Understanding of Red Retroflective Raised Pavement Markers, Federal Lands Highways.
  • Good Practices: Incorporating Safety into Resurfacing and Restoration Projects, FHWA.
  • Highway Safety and Trees, the delicate balance, FHWA.
  • Sand and Salt Spreader Calibration, Massachusetts LTAP Center.
  • The 3M Safe Routes to School, 3M.
  • Work Zone Impacts Assessment: An Approach to Assess and Manage Work Zone Safety and Mobility Impacts of Road Projects, FHWA.

Presentations

  • Asphalt Inspection (PowerPoint), David Grouchy.

Software Applications

Check out www.ltapt2.org for more resources.

New Training Instructors

A full list of training instructors can be found online under our Find a Trainer section.

  • Jim Green
    Area of expertise: tractor safety.
  • Bill Heiden, P.E., L.S. (retired)
    Area of expertise: gravel road maintenance courses, roadway and roadside drainage, pavement maintenance and slope staking and basic highway surveying.
  • Henry (Hank) Lambert
    Areas of expertise: mediation; meeting facilitation.
  • Bruce Landis and Theodore A. Petritsch, P.E., PTOE
    Instructors for the NHI Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Courses and state specific courses in bike/ped planning methods, design and/or safety for numerous states (some for LTAP Centers) including Wash., Colo., Ariz., Fla., and Ohio.
  • Bob Laramore
    Areas of expertise: Environmental safety hazards, safety auditing.
  • Omar Lopez
    Areas of expertise: Assisting with training for spanish speaking workers.
  • Brad Sant
    Areas of expertise: federal grant sponsored training.
  • Jerry Teeler
    Areas of expertise: OSHA ten hour and management center safety.
  • Dr. Yetkin Yildirim, P.E.
    Area of expertise: pavement preservation.

From the Federal Register

FHWA Offers Technology Grants for Innovative Projects

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is accepting applications to award grants under the Highways for LIFE Technology Partnership Program (TPP). The program seeks to adapt proven non-highway related innovations or to refine existing highway equipment, materials, practices, or processes that are not common practice. Submissions are due 4/15/07. More information

Exploratory Advanced Research Program Solicits Proposals for High Risk, High Pay-Off Research

On January 19, 2007, the FHWA issued a Broad Agency Announcement seeking research and development projects that could lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation in the United States. More information

About the LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse

The Clearinghouse provides program support to the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP). It is operated under contract to the Federal Highway Administration by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The Clearinghouse operates from ARTBA's Washington, D.C. office.

About the LTAP/TTAP E-news

The LTAP/TTAP e-news is published monthly by the Clearinghouse. Articles may be submitted to the editor, Lisa Kelley McCluskey, lmccluskey@artba.org. The e-news may also be accessed by visiting www.ltapt2.org.

Sign up for the LTAP/TTAP e-news by contacting Lisa Kelley McCluskey at lmccluskey@artba.org

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