**SPOTLIGHT**

National Public Works Week

May 17–23, 2026

National Public Works Week, sponsored by the APWA, is celebrated each May to recognize the professionals who plan, build, and maintain the infrastructure that keeps our communities safe, connected, and moving.

To help celebrate NPWW 2026, we invite agencies across California to share their public works photos and/or community events so we can help showcase the great work happening in agencies across the state.

Webinar: Improving Roadside Soil to Boost Stormwater Infiltration and Treatment

April 1, 2026, 10am–11am PT

Join Caltrans DRISI for this upcoming webinar as they share new guidance on how soil amendments can improve stormwater infiltration, remove pollutants, and help meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.

Learning Objectives:

• How soil amendments help water soak in naturally
• How improved soil can filter pollutants like heavy metals & microplastics
• Where these solutions can be used along highways
• What the new guidance means for Caltrans practitioners

Training: Preventing Falls

During Transportation Construction

April 2 & 9, 2026, 11am–1pm PT

Florida LTAP is hosting a free 2-part webinar providing a comprehensive overview of fall risks, OSHA requirements, and the full range of prevention and protection strategies used in active work zone environments.

Weinar Topics:

• Common fall hazards in construction environments
• The hierarchy of controls to fall hazards
• Components & criteria of fall restraint/fall arrest systems
• Basic fall hazard analysis & understand fall protection plans
• Procedures for inspecting & maintaining fall protection equipment
• Rescue considerations, suspension trauma, & proper response

Training: Practices & Innovations

for Queue Protection Trucks

March 31 & April 7, 2026, 11am–1pm PT

Florida LTAP is offering a free 2-part webinar that provides a comprehensive look at how Queue Protection Trucks (QPTs) are used to reduce end-of-queue crashes and enhance safety in work zones.

Participants will explore the hazards posed by unexpected queues, review national and state-level guidelines, examine emerging technologies, and practice decision-making through real-world scenarios.

Webinar Topics:

• Purpose & importance of Queue Protection Trucks
• Current state/national guidelines related to queue protection
• Available research, tools, & innovations
• Determine when/how QPTs should be used

Training: Tribal Transportation Program Refresher

April 8-9, 2026, 8am–5pm PT

The Center for Tribal Transportation is offering a two-day, in-person refresher on the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP).

Training Topics:

• The current TTP regulatory framework
• Roles & responsibilities of FHWA, BIA, & tribal governments
• Proper procedures for TTP planning, programming, & NTTFI
• Design standards, construction oversight, & QA requirements
• Compliance of contracts, agreements, & professional services
• Maintenance management strategies & safety programs 
• Proper financial management, reporting, & closeout procedures

Webinar: Preparing FY26 SS4A Program Applications

April 13, 2026, 9am–10am PT

Join the Safety Navigator for California Communities for a free webinar on how to draft and submit applications for the 2026 Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) fiscal year funding round program.

SS4A provides funding to help communities reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries. This webinar will cover the basics of the program, including eligibility, funding types, and what makes a strong application.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use SS4A funding to advance safer, community-driven transportation projects.

Webinar: Buy America

De Minimis Cost Waiver Workbook

Join Caltrans for one of three virtual sessions on the purpose and usage of its Build America Buy America (BABA) De Minimis Cost Waiver Workbook.

This set of Excel spreadsheets assists in the calculation and tracking of a project's allowable foreign materials.

Webinar Topics:

• How to use the De Minimis Cost Waiver Workbook (v1.1)
• Review of a Waiver Example
• How to Invoke the Small Grants Waiver

Session Dates:

• April 16, 2026, 9am - 10:30am PT
• May 6, 2026, 9am - 10:30am PT
• May 19, 2026, 9am - 10:30am PT

Training: CMV Safety in Work Zones

April 21, 28, & May 5, 2026, 11am–1pm PT

Florida LTAP is hosting a free 3-part webinar series to explore the Safe System principles, the Safe System Roadway Design Hierarchy, contributing risk factors, Transportation Management Plan components, enforcement strategies, educational outreach, smart work zone technologies, and the full Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) Safety in Work Zones Checklist.

Webinar Topics:

• CMV crash trends & overrepresentation in work zone incidents
• Characteristics that make CMVs vulnerable in work zones
• Key contributing factors affecting CMV safety
• Engineering, traffic control, & operations strategies
• The role of enforcement, education, & collaboration
• CMV Safety in Work Zones Checklist for decision-making
• Practical countermeasures and future-ready solutions

Webinar: CSSA Peer Exchange Series

April 23 & May 6, 2026, 2pm–3pm PT

As part of its 2026 Complete Streets Safety Assessment (CSSA), SafeTREC is hosting a virtual two-part Peer Exchange series in spring 2026: “Advancing safety through the CSSA.”

This series features two former participant communities reflecting on their experiences with the program – from their initial application to the real-world safety impacts of their comprehensive safety reports.

April 23: City of South San Francisco

• Join city officals for a deep dive into their Safe Speed Limits Assessment and how they are moving forward with their safety recommendations.

May 6: City of Wildomar

• Join city officals as they discuss their experience and the strategies they’ve used to apply CSSA findings.

Training: OSHA 30

April 27-30, 2026, 8am–5pm PT

Western TTAP is hosting an OSHA 30-hour safety training course designed for workers and supervisors in the construction industry.

This workshop, held in Happy Camp, CA, is part of OSHA’s Outreach Training Program to provide an in-depth understanding of OSHA standards and regs.

Topics Include:

• Introduction to OSHA, Managing Safety & Health
• Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment
• Health Hazards in Construction, Stairways & Ladders
• Falls, Electrocutions, Struck-By, Caught-In or Between

Other Upcoming Trainings & Events

Tech Tools Driving Safer Behaviors | April 2, 2026, 10am–11am

This webinar explores how impactful technology strategies are driving safer road behaviors and how communities can replicate them locally

ATSSA Flagger Certification | April 3, 2026, 10am–11am

The Western TTAP is hosting ATSSA Flagger Certification Training at the Chemehuevi Community Center in Havasu Lake, CA

SYNCHRO & SimTraffic for Traffic Studies | April 7-9, 2026, 8am–12pm

This two-session online course (8 hours) provides beginning-to-intermediate training in Synchro and SimTraffic software in reviewing traffic impact studies.

Curb Space Management | April 7, 2026, 1pm–2:30pm

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is hosting a free webinar on “Curb Space Management: Local Lessons.”

Turning CCTV Insp. into Asset Decisions | April 7, 2026, 11am–12pm

OpenGov's free webinar showcases how the City of Lakewood, Colorado, connects inspection data directly to asset management

Barrier Basics Training | April 8, 2026, 9am–11:30am

The Nevada Local Technical Assistance Program is hosting a 2.5-hour webinar to explore the basics of longitudinal roadside barriers.

Clearing Utilities on Highway Projects | April 9, 2026, 10am–11am

Ohio LTAP presents this research results webinar to address construction-related delays incurred due to utility conflicts

Subdivision Map Act & CEQA Updates | April 10, 2026, 11:30am–1pm

The APWA Sacramento Chapter presents essential updates on the Subdivision Map Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Labor Compliance for Local Agencies | April 14-15, 2026, 8:30am–4:30pm

This two-day live online course is designed to teach local public agency staff prevailing wage requirements and how to apply these skills in practice

2026 NACE Annual Conference | April 12-15, 2026, 8am–5pm

Join the National Association of County Engineers for their joint 4-day spring conference at the Loews Hotel & Convention Center in Arlington, Texas. 

PWX Radio: Fleet Preparedness

The latest edition of APWA's Public Works Radio Resiliency and Preparedness in Public Works for a Safer Tomorrow talks about fleet preparedness, resilience, dealing with unpredictable weather patterns, and public works agencies being crucial pillars for building resilient communities.

This episode was inspired in-part by Scott’s APWA Reporter article from September 2025, entitled, “Lessons Learned as a Fleet Manager During a FEMA-Level Event (Hurricane Helene).”

Funding Opportunity: FY26 SS4A Program

U.S. DOT has released the fiscal year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) program, which funds regional, local, and tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Almost $1 billion is made available by this NOFO.

Types of Grants Available:

• Planning & Demonstration Grants
• Implementation Grants

Upcoming Webinars:

• Implementation Grants - April 7, 2026
• Action Plans - April 9, 2026
• Planning & Demonstration Grants - April 14, 2026

Deadline Extended: Road Safety Institute

UC Berkeley SafeTREC has extended its application deadline for the California Safe System Institute for Road Safety to Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The Institute is an SSA training and technical support program that aims to train participants in the SSA framework, provide collaborative opportunities within its inaugural cohort, and create tangible next steps for institutionalizing SSA within participant organizations.

Recording: Effective Succession Planning

CALTAP and Caltrans DLA recently offered a free 2-part virtual Lunch 'n Learn to help agencies build and implement effective succession planning strategies.

A combined recording of both sessions is now available:

• Session 1: Planning to Succession Plan
• Session 2: Implementing the Succession Plan

Recording: Contract Change Orders for Public Works

On March 18, 2026, CALTAP and Caltrans DLA, in partnership with APWA Sacramento, presented a 1-hour Lunch 'n Learn on the Change Order (CO) process for public works construction projects.

This short training covered when and why to issue COs, how to write effective COs and memorandums, the proper use of standard clauses, the approval process, and documentation best practices including common high-risk errors. 

Webinar Topics:

• When & why to issue COs in your project
• How to write a CO & CO memorandum
• Use of Specification & CO standard clauses
• Review of the CO template & approval process
• Documenting, best practices, high-risk errors

Publication: Financing Stormwater Utilities

APWA’s Water Resources Management Committee has released an updated edition of Financing Stormwater Utilities, their recommended resource for the stormwater certification program.

Local officials need information and guidelines to make informed decisions about stormwater utility creation. This publication defines stormwater utilities and their potential for revenue generation, and covers most frequently asked questions about revenue generation, legalities, administration, and mgmt.

Other Recordings, Research, & Reports

Celebrating National Public Works Week

The latest edition of APWA's Public Works RAdio explores how communities across the country celebrate National Public Works Week (NPWW)

Recording: Contract Change Orders for Public Works

Watch the recording of this 1-hour Lunch 'n Learn on the Change Order (CO) process for public works construction projects

APWA National Talking Points

APWA presents National Talking Points, an essential communication tool that keeps public works professionals informed about the latest within APWA

Assessing the State of SoCal Mobility

SCAG released its latest Transportation Trends Report, a review of transit ridership, roadway performance, and commuting patterns across the region

APWA Reporter Magazine: March 2026

March 2026 issue focuses on Solid Waste Management and features the annual Buyer's Guide alongside practical insights from PWX professionals.

Maintenance of Complete Streets

NCHRP Synthesis 655 examines how state DOTs manage the maintenance and funding of Complete Streets projects.

Roving Reporter: It All Started With a Fountain

APWA's article explores how Kansas City's Southwest Boulevard went from a neglected, dangerous corridor to a model of community-centered revitalization.

From Breakdown Response to Fleet Readiness

This free eBook addresses the mounting challenges facing public fleets: rising costs, aging vehicles, and constant pressure to deliver reliable services.

Safety Navigator for California Communities

The SNCC mission is to help local public agencies successfully navigate federal discretionary transportation safety grants.

2026 SCAG Student Showcase

This competition offers students an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate their expertise to a large network of skilled practitioners and future colleagues.

More Training Coming Up in April

Need a closer look? Stop by CALTAP.org for a calendar view of upcoming training and events focused specifically on local agency project success.

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