Local technical assistance program

Abstract: The need to reduce fatal and injury crashes on tribal lands has been recognized for years. The United States has realized a decline in fatal crashes over the past several years, but fatal crashes continue to increase on tribal lands. Little progress has been made in improving safety on tribal lands. Limited resources, lack of coordination across jurisdictions, the rural nature of many of the roadways, and lack of crash data have made it difficult for tribes to implement an effective safety improvement program. A methodology that can address these challenges is presented in this paper. The proposed methodology has been implemented successfully in the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. Collaboration among safety stakeholders—state departments of transportation, tribal leadership, the Local Technical Assistance Program, the Tribal Technical Assistance Program, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and local and tribal law enforcement—is key to the success of such a process.

Abstract: This synthesis presents information on the use of technology transfer practices in the highway transportation community. It is intended to assist transportation agencies and other transportation research organizations in expediting innovation to practice, thereby increasing safety, enhancing performance, and reducing costs. The report documents successful practices, discusses challenges encountered, and identifies the needs of those responsible for sponsoring, facilitating, and conducting technology transfer activities and processes. It incorporates practices within state departments of transportation and other programs such as Local and Tribal Assistance programs' Technology Transfer Centers and the Resource Center and divisions offices of FHWA. Areas of interest include organizational structures, political and legal aspects affecting technology transfer, resources (financial, personnel, technology, facilities, and equipment), strategies and tools, and performance evaluation. Comparisons with practices from the private sector are included. This synthesis included three primary sources of information: surveys, a literature review, and interviews.

Abstract: Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) contains language indicating that State Department of Transportation (DOTs) agencies will be required to address safety on local and rural roads. It is important for state, county, and city officials to cooperate in producing a comprehensive safety plan to improve their statewide safety. This legislation provides an opportunity to implement a more cohesive and comprehensive approach to local road safety in Wyoming. The Wyoming Local Technical Assistant Program (LTAP) coordinated an effort in cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) as well as Wyoming counties and cities to identify low cost safety improvements on high risk rural roads in Wyoming. In this project, safety techniques and methodologies were developed to identify and then rank high risk locations on all rural roadways in Wyoming. What makes this project unique is the high percentage of gravel roads at the local level in Wyoming. The evaluation procedure developed is based on historical crash record and field evaluations. The main objective of this research was to develop and evaluate transportation safety techniques that can help Wyoming agencies in reducing crashes and fatalities on rural roads state wide. Three Wyoming counties were included in the pilot study. The statewide implementation is expected at the beginning of 2009. This paper describes the findings and recommendations of this research study which would be very beneficial not only in Wyoming but also to those states interested in implementing a High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) Program.

Abstract: This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Indiana LTAP Center at Purdue University in the interest of information exchange. Purdue University and the Indiana LTAP Center assume no liability for its contents or use thereof. Purdue University and the Indiana LTAP Center do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers names may appear herein only because they are considered essential to the objective of this document. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Purdue University or the Indiana LTAP Center. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Abstract: Interest in the use of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) pavement (RCCP) for local roads and streets has increased. The Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), which is a part of the Purdue University School of Civil Engineering, has developed this document to assist local agencies with the implementation of roller compacted concrete as a paving material. This manual is intended for those interested in planning, designing and constructing RCCP for local roads and streets. It provides design guidelines, construction guidelines, local case studies, guide specifications and paving plan guidelines.