"Let's use our collective knowledge to make our gravel roads better"
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Let's have a look-see
"Let’s have a look-see." My cousin likes to say this whenever he is trying to diagnose or assess a situation that he wants to solve. It's his funny way of saying, "let’s see what we have here and come up with a solution."
Low-volume roads expert Dr David Jones, of the University of California, recently shared that many times we miss this assessment effort as we manage our roadway networks. We forget to assess -- to take a step back to size up effects of our efforts. We need to evaluate how our projects and materials are performing. As my cousin would say, "Let’s have a look-see."
When projects are completed, the contractor, the public and the owner all celebrate a job well done. And for some of the team, that’s the end. But for those truly vested in the betterment of our roadway network, the completion of the initial project is just the beginning.
Gravel roads are a good example. When we fast forward from a gravel placement project what do we find? Washboarding? Raveling? Float? Dust? And the associated safety risks?
If so, step up to the plate and "have a look-see." Pull the original team back together and develop a plan to improve. Skip the excuses and forego the blame game. Instead invest that time and effort in developing a plan to improve.
A key element in that plan is making sure that you are specifying quality materials that will stand the test of time and the level of traffic on your roads. Use the gravel specifications developed in collaboration with the NDDOT. Then follow up with aggregate testing to make sure that you're getting what you are specifying (and paying for)! Join the growing number of counties across the state that are doing just that. As they assess their efforts in the future, they'll see that it was time, money, and effort well-spent.
Operation Prairie Dog and other revenue streams are providing us with the means to do better in providing better, safer gravel roads. Those gravel roads are the backbone of our township, tribal, county, and other local roadway networks.
So, as we look ahead to our 2023 roadway improvement plans, let’s use our collective knowledge to make our gravel roads better. Gravel roads, they’re worth a look-see.
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Updates to NDLTAP Road Scholar Program announced |
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NDLTAP's Road Scholar program is being updated to include new achievement levels, including Trailblazer (30 learning hours), Voyager (90 learning hours), and Road Pro (150 learning hours. The updated program will also include Certificates of Distinction in specialized areas of learning. Get a preview of the new Road Scholar brochure.
"Through their one-of-a-kind educational and training program, the NDLTAP team motivates our employees to be better operators and leaders," said Mountrail County Engineer Jana Hennessy. "The values of knowledge, teamwork and service to the public are combined with achievement and leadership to help our employees realize the power of their potential."
Local road staff can earn Certificates of Distinction by completing focused areas of learning that provide learners with opportunities to grow and attain key skills and knowledge that enhance their value to their employers. The first certificate to be offered is in leadership which will focus on leadership skills such as communication, motivation, ethics stress management, public speaking and many more. Other certificates are planned in asphalt, equipment operation, safety, signing, gravel, culverts and bridges, GRIT-- asset management, and trucking. Get a preview of the new brochure on the Certificates of Distinction.
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Show off your sign truck!
A "Sign Truck Show Off" will be part of a pre-conference event for the Northland American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) "How To" Conference, March 13-15, in Fargo.
At this must-attend event from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 13, sign trucks from across our region will converge on Fargo, to create the largest Sign Truck Show-N-Tell our region has ever seen. The event will begin in the classroom with an overview of traditional and innovative signing equipment and items that aid in field signing efforts. The focus will then shift to the parking lot, filled with trucks, trailers, pick-ups and included equipment and tools – a plethora of eye candy for any sign pro. Anyone who can spell signs will want to attend this incredible event!
If you want to show off your sign truck or trailer, sign up by contacting Dale Heglund at ndltap@ugpti.org or (701) 318-6893. Include the name of your department's sign lead, including cell number and email, and a brief description of your truck, trailer or other equipment that you'd like to exhibit.
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Sign Warrior Calendar Art Contest
We need your help to recruit sign warriors!
Signs provide important visual cues to drivers. Even the most attentive driver can encounter dangerous situations if signs are damaged or missing. We must RESPECT our signs. That’s why the local road agencies in your area are working with the N.D. Local Technical Assistance Program on a sign protection awareness program in schools across the state.
The program features a “Sign Warrior” cartoon superhero. The Sign Warrior’s motto, “SAVE OUR SIGNS!” encourages 4th-grade students to be alert to the four major dangers to North Dakota road signs: shooting, stealing, graffiti, and other damage. These activities do not RESPECT our signs. The program features a drawing contest so that young artists can help us illustrate these dangers and the Sign Warrior's efforts to protect the state’s signs.
Please recruit your 4th-grade students to become Sign Warrior artists. The submission deadline is February 24, 2023.
Click here to view contest guidelines, specifications, and contact information.
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Rolette County Highway Department wins state and regional innovation competition |
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Congratulations to the Rolette County Highway Department for earning state and regional recognition for designing and building an innovative motor grader attachment that improves operator safety while enhancing reclamation of gravel.
The hydraulic side disc, designed and fabricated by Oscar Haas and Mark Davis, won first place in the state and regional Build a Better Mousetrap competition sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to encourage innovation among local agencies and tribes. The Rolette County Highway Department received the regional award at the Regional Local Roads Conference in October in Rapid City.
The attachment, a hydraulic side disc, runs along the shoulder chopping vegetation and disking the shoulder. On a second pass, the disc does the same thing, but this time a moldboard pulls the shoulder onto the road. With the attachment, fewer passes are needed to lay the retrieved gravel back onto the road and gravel/vegetation clumping is significantly reduced.
The regional contest judges observed, “The hydraulic side disc is similar to manufactured devices but may not be available for counties to purchase because of budgetary restrictions. This innovation solves a problem utilizing repurposed items commonly available. It allows the motor grader to stay up on the road and avoid driving on the in-slope. It improves operational efficiencies, which translates to cost savings resulting from a reduction in time spent on maintenance efforts.”
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From L-R: Joe Conway of FHWA, Oscar Haas, Mark Davis, and Mark Allery of Rolette County, and Leanna Emmer of NDLTAP. |
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Superpowers make super NDLTAP team |
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During a recent NDLTAP staff meeting, members of the NDLTAP team focused on team members' "superpowers," -- they key strengths they contribute to our team. Of course they have other unrecognized superpowers, but we thought this whiteboard would give you, our clients, a glimpse into what makes our team function so well together. |
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New Tribal Transportation Center at UGPTI |
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The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU will head a consortium that includes South Dakota State University, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming in providing transportation outreach and technical assistance to tribes across the Upper Great Plains and Intermountain West.
As part of its Tribal Technical Assistance Program, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded a grant with a potential value of $2,250,000 during the next five years to the UGPTI at NDSU to create the Northern Tribal Technical Assistance Program. The program will work with American Indian tribal governments to build tribal capacity in program management, grow the tribal workforce, cultivate and coordinate partnerships, facilitate technology transfer and the implementation of innovations, and share results of similar initiatives across the country. The work will be conducted in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The initial grant is for just over $600,000 for two years with the potential for extensions and expansion over the next five years.
"Our focus will be to engage with the tribes to learn their needs and address those needs," UGPTI Director Denver Tolliver said. "The vision for this program nationally is to build capacity for tribes to administer and manage their own transportation programs and systems. That approach describes what we're already doing in our existing outreach."
Tolliver noted, "Partners in each of these states in the region puts us closer to each of the tribes and makes this effort much more cost effective." The Northern Tribal Technical Assistance Center will serve the BIA's Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Regions, which includes Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
The funds will be shared by the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Wyoming. Each of those universities, along with NDSU/UGPTI, already have an FHWA-funded Local Technical Assistance Program that provides transportation outreach to local units of government. Tolliver said that background and experience in transportation outreach will be invaluable to the tribal effort.
NDLTAP Director Dale Heglund and Ron Hall, a national expert in Native American transportation law and policy, will serve as co-directors of the Center.
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A list of 2023 classes can be found on the NDLTAP webpage by clicking on "Training Calendar" and then "Current NDLTAP Training Schedule." This schedule of training events is continually updated. NDLTAP also emails training announcements on a regular basis. If you are not receiving our announcements, join our email list today.
If you would like to host a class, plan a Motor Grader Operator training, a Boots on the Ground session, or request an on-demand class, please reach out to Denise at denise.brown.1@ndsu.edu or 701-220-0101.
New learning opportunities for 2023 include:
NDLTAP Roadway Foundations -- This pre-conference session offered at the NDACE County Road Conference covered roadway basics, frost heaves, soil testing, geotextiles, the contractor's perspective, local practices, and the county's perspective. Highway superintendents, road foremen, county engineers operators and others who work with the county road network should watch for the next opportunity to attend this event.
Leadership Path, Part II -- This new class is a follow up to Part I: You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader. Part II will provide exceptional leadership and guidance information that will jumpstart those who are soon to be or already are in leadership positions. Class instructors are seasoned professionals and pillars in our industry. Key reading material will be the books, The Art of Significance and The Speed of Trust. This class will launch in May or June.
The Customer's Shepherd Project -- The book, Legendary Service, will provide the foundational base for this course. The focus will be on how to deliver exceptional service to both internal and external clients. How do you provide exceptional service to all faces of the public, including those who are happy, sad, mean, mad, yelling, complimentary? How do you turn a defensive approach to a solution-focused, consensus-building approach? How do you become the smiley face that you meet at the front door or on the street or road? Instructors from the private sector and from state and local government will share their secrets. This class will also launch in May or June.
County, municipal, and tribal road crews are also eligible to participate in webinars offered via the Transportation Learning Network (TLN). On the TLN website you will see all the upcoming webinars and help guides for using TLN's Learning Management System (LMS). Having an LMS account will give you access to recorded webinars and self-paced learning modules. For questions about TLN, contact Shannon.l.olson@ndsu.edu or susan.hendrickson@ndsu.edu
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Snow and ice control resources |
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The Snow and Ice Control page on the NDLTAP website includes numerous resources for assisting with snow and ice control resources including:
- Anti-icing Flow Chart
- Daily Checks and Preventative Maintenance for Motorgraders
- Effective Snow Fences
- Evaluation of Snowplow Blade Systems
- How Deicing Chemicals Work
- How Road Salt Works
- Proper Plowing Techniques
- Snow Plowing Policies
- and many more.
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2023 ND Transportation Conference will be March 7-8 |
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The North Dakota Department of Transportation, in partnership with Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, will host the 2023 ND Transportation Conference March 7-8 at the Bismarck Event Center. This year's conference theme is Driving Change Together. The two-day event will feature:
- multiple tracks of presentations
- vendor/sponsor exhibit hall for networking
- interactive showcase featuring equipment, demos, and other hands-on resources
- sponsorship opportunities
- conference social with entertainment
For Conference Information Contact:
Jody Jones
701-328-9855
Dale Heglund
701-318-6893
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2023 Northland 'How to' Training & Education Workshop set for March 13-15 in Fargo |
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The Northland "How To" Conference is a must-attend event for roadway safety infrastructure industry professionals involved in the selection, inspection or maintenance of all types of pavement markings, traffic signs and temporary (work zone) traffic control. The 2023 event will be held March 13-15 at the Delta Marriott in Fargo. The event will include more than 20 sessions. Visit the ATTSSA website for more information.
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Register for the 2023 Asphalt Conference |
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NDLTAP, in partnership with Dakota Paving Association (DAPA), ND Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and Associated General Contractors of North Dakota (AGC) are pleased to announce the 2023 ND Asphalt Conference. The conference will be held at the Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center – former Ramkota Hotel -- April 11-12, 2023.
Topics and learning opportunities at the 2023 ND Asphalt Conference will help us meet the challenges of improving the state's road systems while initiating maintenance plans that preserve the recent dramatic investment in North Dakota's infrastructure. A focus will be on pavement performance curves which are a tool to help us select innovative projects with the best return on investment.
This conference will provide a unique opportunity for contractors, consulting engineers and state, county and local governments to share their experiences, network and keep abreast of changing and new technology in the asphalt construction industry.
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FHWA Launches Geosynthetics Mobile App |
The Geosynthetics Mobile App is a collaborative effort between FHWA and the Geosynthetics Materials Association to provide handheld, quick and easy access to information on the various types and functions of geosynthetic materials for use in road construction and maintenance projects. The Mobile App features include specification requirements and site inspection guides for walls, slopes, pavement, erosion control and drainage.
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National Center for Rural Road Safety offers webinar archive |
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The National Center for Rural Road Safety offers a webinar archive featuring presentations from the past seven years focusing on improving safety on rural roads. Topics include older driver safety, roundabouts, local road safety plans, speed management, motorcycle safety, road departure countermeasures, sharing the road with slow moving vehicles, unpaved road safety, and many more.
The National Center for Rural Road Safety provides and facilitates roadway safety technical assistance, information sharing, and training on rural road safety to local, rural, and tribal road owners and stakeholders. The RRSC is a National Center for Excellence funded through a cooperative agreement between the FHWA and Montana State University.
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FHWA Center for Local Aid Support
Self-paced Online Training
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Pavement marking retroreflectivity is focus of Revision 3 to 2009 MUTCD |
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Pavement marking visibility is an important safety measure for road users. When drivers can adequately see center lines, edge lines, crosswalks, and other pavement markings they can make safe and appropriate decisions. Faded, non-reflective markings can create a hazardous situation for all roadway users. On August 5, 2022, Revision 3 to the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), referred to as “Maintaining Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity,” was published as a final rule in the Federal Register. The effective date was September 6, 2022, and compliance is required by September 6, 2026.
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FHWA announces latest round of innovations under Every Day Counts program |
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“For over 10 years the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts program has rapidly deployed proven technologies and processes that can be implemented at the national scale,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack.
EDC-7 innovations will improve safety for all road users, build a sustainable infrastructure for the future and grow an inclusive workforce.
Projects and processes from Round 7 include: Nighttime Visibility for Safety, Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete, and Strategic Workforce Development.
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Local agency BIL infrastructure funding |
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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) created new transportation infrastructure funding sources and grants, many of which are available to local agencies, MPOs, and others. Focus is on safety, bridges, climate change, resilience, and project delivery. Learn more by visiting the FHWA BIL website and the links below.
We would love to hear from any North Dakota local agencies that receive funding from BIL to learn what your project involves.
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Dates to remember and upcoming conferences: |
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October 23-25, 2023 - North Central Regional Local Road Conference - Sioux Falls, SD
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On behalf of the NDLTAP team,
Thank you!
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Our Mission
To foster safe, efficient, environmentally sound, and cost effective North Dakota highway, road, and street systems by exchanging transportation technology with North Dakota's local units of government and transportation community through training, technical assistance, and information services as part of the US FHWA's nationwide LTAP network.
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NDLTAP and its programs are sponsored by FHWA, ND Department of Transportation, Western Dakota Energy Association, ND Insurance Reserve Fund, ND Township Officers Association, the Northland Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association, and ND chapter of the American Public Works Association. |
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Contact us @ NDLTAP 515 1/2 E Broadway, Ste 101, Bismarck ND 58501 -
NDLTAP Newsletter editor is UGPTI Communications Coordinator Tom Jirik
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NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to: Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu.
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