LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Your Monthly Bulletin
from the Louisiana LTAP Center
January 27, 2020 // Volume 3, Issue 1
A compilation of e-news, resources, tools and opportunities that help local public agencies enhance transportation innovation, mobility and safety efforts across Louisiana communities.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Local Public Agency Employees
Invited to Attend for FREE!

ATSSA's Traffic Expo Public Officials Day
Tomorrow at 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, January 28, 2020 in New Orleans, LA

On be half of the American Traffic Safety and Services Association (ATSSA),
we, at the Louisiana LTAP Center, would like to invite all local public agency officials and employees to attend their Traffic Expo's Public Officials Day for FREE on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. 
The entire expo runs from January 24 to 28, 2020.

Registration is easy. Upon arriving at the convention center, proceed to the on-site registration area and show your official public agency ID to receive a complimentary pass to the Traffic Expo.
Register for the PJAL Convention and
Visit the LTAP Booth

Police Jury Association of Louisiana (PJAL) Annual Convention
February 12-14, 2020 in Shreveport, LA

Please consider attending the Annual Police Jury Association of Louisiana (PJAL) Convention on February 12-14, 2020 at the Shreveport Convention Center. If you'll be there, please stop by our LTAP Booth and ask any of our staff members what opportunities we have to offer this year .

Exhibits will open on February 12 at 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and February 13 at 7:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
LTAP CLASSES

"Basics of a Good Road"
classes ongoing until March

From January 22 to March 12, Louisiana LTAP is getting back to basics by presenting our newly revamped “Roads Scholar #1: Basics of a Good Road” course at eight locations around the state. It will be instructed by Nick Verret Jr. who currently serves as Parish Engineer for the Parish of Natchitoches and City Engineer for the City of Natchitoches. 
All local road employees and supervisors with all levels of experience are invited to attend.

For questions, email Olivia Phelps .
Local Public Agency Training
June 23-25, 2020
in New Orleans

S ave the date for the Local Public Agency (LPA) Training Program scheduled on
June 23-25, 2020 at the New Orleans Regional Transportation Management Center located at 10 Veterans Blvd. Registration link will be up soon.
 
The training aims to educate local agency personnel to understand the process and procurement requirements associated with implementing local transportation projects funded with federal and state funds.
Other LTAP Classes (Dates & Locations TBD)

Chainsaw Safety, Precision Felling and Maintenance Classes
Spring 2020
Roads Scholar #15: Safety for Public Works First Responders 
April-May 2020 (Dates & Locations TBD)
 
Roads Scholar #13: Inspection of Local Bridges
Summer - Fall 2020 (Dates & Locations TBD)  
 
Roads Scholar #3: Drainage: The Key to Roads That Last
Fall 2020 (Dates & Locations TBD)
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Autonomous Vehicles, Innovative Technologies Highlighted at TRB Annual Meeting

Autonomous vehicles (AV) took center stage at the Chair’s Luncheon of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) annual meeting this month.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said, “The potential appeal of AVs is its ability to save thousands of lives every year,
and they could also restore mobility for millions of people who face transportation challenges,
such as the elderly and people with disabilities.”
Innovation of the Month:
Weather Responsive Management Strategies


LTAP encourages local public agencies to deploy underutilized yet proven effective transportation innovations through FHWA's 
This month, we feature one of the innovations under EDC-5, Weather Responsive Management Strategies, which aim to help agencies respond to adverse weather conditions by providing traffic advisories and warnings to travelers and controlling the flow of traffic on the highways during inclement weather. 
LTAP ON THE GEAUX
Louisiana LTAP presents at NLTAPA's
Winter Business Meeting in Washington D.C.


LA LTAP Director Steve Strength spoke as one of the panelists in a "state sharing" session at the National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) Winter Business Meeting. This meeting was held in conjunction with the Annual TRB Meeting this past January 12-16 in Washington, D.C.

Steve serves as NLTAPA's liaison to the National Association of County Engineers (NACE).
ROAD SAFETY

Pedestrian Safety Relative to
Traffic Speed Management

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) recently released  NCHRP Synthesis 535: Pedestrian Safety Relative to Traffic-Speed Management .  Although there are typically many factors that effect pedestrian safety, higher speeds (not necessarily just people speeding) lead to higher injury severity.
FHWA shares "Reducing Rural Roadway Departures" video

FHWA shares this five-minute video capturing what happens when 30 people die each day when their car leaves its travel lane on a rural road.
This video helps with ways to save the people behind those numbers.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
LPESA Spring Conference
May 6-7, 2020
Natchitoches, LA

Network with parish engineers and learn from technical sessions on various transportation topics at the LPESA Spring 2020 Conference on May 6-7, 2020 in Natchitoches, LA. More details will follow.
APWA's Public Works Expo
August 30 to September 2, 2020
New Orleans, LA

Join thousands of public works professionals from all over the world at the Public Works Expo (PWX) 2020 on August 30 to September 2, 2020 at the N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA

Learn from 125 technical and professional development sessions. Network with industry exhibitors and peers. Hone your leadership skills and build lifelong friendships at the same time.
OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Louisiana Transportation Conference
March 1-4, 2020
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This conference will be at the Raising Cane's River Center in downtown Baton Rouge. Transportation professionals at the state, federal and local levels are encouraged to attend.
National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Conference
April 19-23, 2020
Baldwin County, Alabama

The largest gathering of local infrastructure officials and engineering professionals will take place in Alabama next year. Louisiana LTAP invites parish engineers and supervisors to consider attending.
How May LTAP Assist You?
At Louisiana LTAP, we strive to provide local public agencies the necessary technical assistance and training opportunities that will enhance transportation project delivery and improve traffic safety in local communities. We value your feedback, so tell us what specific training and/or materials you want us to offer in the future.
Connect with us on Facebook.
Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program


LTAP is a division within the Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC), a collaborative effort between the DOTD and LSU.