NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

Road Chatter

From the New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

February| 2023

View from the Road - David Orr, P

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. - Neil Peart

We hear from folks all the time that if they train their crew, they will leave. But as our former Safety Technical Assistance Engineer, Jim Mearkle, PE (for many years now with Albany County) says, "what if they stay?" Not training yourself and your crew is a choice. We hope you make the choice to train. Even if folks do leave, they will leave as better employees.

As for opportunities, there are plenty of options. We offer webinars, workshops, the Highway School and Bridge Conference. We can come out to you with special training at your monthly meeting or a regional or statewide event. We can answer your questions at the teachable moment.

There are also statewide and regional events with plenty of sessions you can attend. There is training from BOCES, community colleges, or from the contractors you work with. Nationally, other LTAP Centers offer web-based sessions both short and long which are usually free. The AASHTO TC3 provides free access for local agencies to their library of online training. This training is free for local agencies using the following code upon checkout: D5X3-B3D9-52CB-4XCX. Your agency will need to set up an account with AASHTO. See the offerings available at: https://tc3.transportation.org/

Look for ways for everyone on the crew to learn something new on a regular basis. I figure it is a good day when I can learn something, teach something, and have some fun. When I can combine all three then it is truly a great day.

-David

Spring 2023 workshop registration is open!

or download the registration form.

2023 Build A Better Mousetrap!

A national competition where your idea

might be the solution to someone else's problem!

Entry Forms due March 17!

Not sure if your project/invention fits?

Reach out to us at clrp@cornell.edu

Foundational Webinars

Join us on Tuesdays at 9:00 am for our ongoing series of free Foundational Webinars focused on the important principles key to local highway agency operations and management. Each one-hour webinar offers a convenient way to learn the basics of a particular topic. Taken together, they cover the foundation of local highway issues.

PSAs to share with your community

These infographics were created to help the highway and DPW crews communicate effectively with the community on items of concern.

Click here to view our Community Corner Series

On the road and have a question?

Check out our new question submission section! Send us a picture, or drop us a note! Let us know what we can do to help you.

We are one click away!

Upcoming Events and Conferences

Traffic Calming Webinar

February 27 - March 1, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Do you need to know when, where, and how to place things such as speed bumps or signage to slow down traffic on your local roadways? Traffic calming uses physical design and other measures to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

This course discusses how a municipality can establish a traffic-engineered calming program for its roadways to increase safety and accessibility. Traffic calming is an engineering tool with the purpose of addressing excessive traffic speed and/or cut-through traffic on residential streets. We’ll explore the definition of traffic calming and review the various types of traffic calming devices. The class discussion will outline both potential positive and negative impacts on a neighborhood and will review a sample traffic calming program.

During the workshop, related issues such as impacts of traffic calming devices on liability, roadway maintenance, and emergency service will be discussed. Participants perform case studies and apply traffic calming measures to address traffic concerns.

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Other Webinars

Legal Liability Issues for Transportation Plans

February 16, from 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Liability is a major concern for local municipalities and highway departments. There is a lot of misunderstanding of how plans (and management of those plans) can increase or decrease local liability.

This session will cover critical issues for MPOs and their partners in counties, cities, towns, and villages.

Grant Writing

March 9, from 9:00 am - 10:00 am

During this webinar, learn the basics of how to tackle and complete a grant or funding application. Topics will cover reviewing and understanding what your application requires, organization to collect the application’s information, readability of your application, and considerations for strengthening your application’s chances of being funded. You won’t become a grant or application writing expert by participating in this webinar, but you will take away a method for approaching and completing applications.

Pavement Preservation Training

Nevada LTAP's free preservation treatment web conferences help you get the biggest bang for your buck.

Learn how to select and construct quality preservation treatments!

2.02 - Selecting the Right Pavement Preservation Treatments (4:00pm - 6:00pm)
2.14 - Constructing a Quality Crack Treatment (11:30am - 1:30pm)
2.23 - Constructing Thin Surface Asphalt Pavements (11:30am - 1:30pm)

The National Center for Rural Road Safety Webinar Library

Please look through these webinars for rural practitioners, they have amassed a great library of content for you.

It's organized by year for easy skimming on the webinar archive page.

The 13th TRB International Conference on Low-Volume Roads

4 Full Days, Sunday through Wednesday, July 23 – 26, 2023

The TRB International Low Volume Roads Conference will focus on issues that impact all aspects of life throughout the world, including the first and last mile of the roads where trips by people, produce, and resources start and end.

Click here for more information

New York State LTAP Center -

Cornell Local Roads Program nysltap.clrp.cornell.edu