LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Your Monthly Bulletin from Louisiana LTAP Center
March 29, 2019 // Volume 2, Issue 3
A compilation of e-news, resources, tools and opportunities that help local public agencies enhance transportation innovation, mobility and safety efforts across Louisiana communities.


We have just updated our LTAP website. Check it out.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
LTAP to hold Roads Scholar #7: Pavement Preservation classes across Louisiana
LTAP will be holding a series of classes on "Roads Scholar #7: Pavement Preservation & Road Surface Management" beginning on April 9, 2019 in Benton. Class instructor is Nick Verrett, who currently serves as Parish Engineer for Parish of Natchitoches. Find out how you can sign up for a class near you.

Download the brochure here . For questions , email Courtney Dupre.
LTAP pilots webinar series on Local Road Safety Plans
LTAP recently hosted the first in a series of webinars outlining a process for developing Local Road Safety Plans. These webinars are in support of the nine Louisiana Regional Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Safety Coalition Coordinators who have been tasked with assisting priority parishes in their region to draft Local Road Safety Plans.


Municipal Day at the Capitol is on May 8
The Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) is pleased to announce its 42nd Annual Municipal Day at the Capitol and Crawfish Boil on May 8, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge. The Delegate registration fee is $75 and includes the crawfish boil. Download registration form here.

For questions, contact Nikki Samrow at [email protected] or call 225-344-5001.
LPESA Spring Conference
Registration deadline is on April 17, 2019.
 After this date, there will be an additional $25 charge per registration.
Registration is only accepted online. Click here .
To book a room at the L'Auberge Hotel, call 1-866-261-7777 or locally 225-215-7777.  
Hotel Group Name:  RLPESA1 Hotel block closes on April 24.

INNOVATION
Every Day Counts: Virtual Public Involvement
Webinar set on April 25 Register here.
One of LTAP’s focus areas is Innovation—at the local level.
A number of current initiatives including FHWA’s Every Day Counts (EDC),
provide opportunities to highlight successes and encourage innovative thinking.

This month, we feature an EDC-5 innovation, Virtual Public Involvement.
Innovative virtual public involvement techniques create efficiencies in how information is disseminated and how input is collected and considered. Read more.

2019 Build A Better Mousetrap Competition

Calling all local public agencies and innovators out there! Yo u can still submit your innovative gadget, tool or equipment as an entry for the Louisiana Build A Better Mousetrap Competition 2019 . Deadline is extended to April 1, 2019.


You may also complete a PDF version of the form and email it to r [email protected] .


Examples of entries may be found in this 2018 booklet developed by FHWA and NLTAPA.


ROAD SAFETY
Roadway departure crashes in Louisiana remain a concern

According to data compiled by the Highway Safety Research Group at LSU, year after year, about 60% of fatalities and over 40% of serious injuries on Louisiana roadways involve vehicles running off the road or leaving their lane of travel. Read full article on Volume 31, Number 1 (Spring 2019) Edition of LTAP Technology Exchange Newsletter.

Learn more about roadway departure issues in Louisiana on SHSP Summary and Overview document.


Celebrate Work Zone Awareness Week
April 8 - 12, 2019

Louisiana LTAP is encouraging you to show your support for the National Work Zone Awareness Week scheduled on April 8-12, 2019. This year’s theme is “Drive Like You Work Were”.

You can proudly show your support by wearing orange on April 10 and spreading the message of work zone safety with friends, family and community and by liking, commenting and sharing on social media using the hashtags #NWZAW and #GoOrange4Safet y.

To learn more about NWZAW and Go Orange Day, click here.
2019 National Roadway Safety Awards Program now accepting applications
Applications are due on May 31

The Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are now accepting applications for the 2019 National Roadway Safety Awards to recognize innovative and cost-effective projects and programs that have been shown to save lives. Read more.

In 2013, Louisiana's South Central Regional Transportation Safety Coalition (represented by South Central Planning and Development Commission) was an award recipient for their proactive data-driven regional plan that supported the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). It was featured on the 2013 Noteworthy Practices Guide.
TRAINING
Roads Scholar #4: Temporary Traffic Control for Local Agencies" Training held in Lake Charles
LTAP was at the Southwest region of Louisiana on March 19 to teach the "Roads Scholar #4: Temporary Traffic Control for Local Agencies" Training in Lake Charles.This course covered topics essential to improving work zone safety such as standards, traffic control devices, parts of a work zone, flagging and operations, and liability considerations. Read more about Roads Scholar Program .

This class was conducted at the request of Calcasieu Parish. Request for a training! Click here.
Work Zone Safety with Basic Flagger Training held in Lafayette
LTAP headed to the Acadiana region of Louisiana on March 20 to teach the Work Zone Safety with Basic Flagger Training in Lafayette. This class was conducted at the request of the Lafayette Utilities System (LUS).

LTAP provides any local agency an opportunity to get training on topics, including chainsaw safety, heavy equipment operator safety, and more. Request for training. Click here.
AASHTO's Transportation Curriculum Coordinating Council (TC3) offers training to local public agencies at no cost
If you are a transportation practitioner working for a local or tribal government and want to improve your construction, maintenance, and material selection processes and projects, FHWA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials have over training modules made o ver 190 web-based training (WBT) courses with additional courses planned through the Transportation Curriculum Coordinating Council (TC3). Read more.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
FEMA to hold a 4-day pilot training on Advanced Building Science Series
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will hold a pilot training course (E2460) on Advanced Building Science Series I on May 13-16, 2019 at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This training is f or engineers, architects, floodplain managers and building code officials.

 Application deadline is on April 1, 2019.

If interested, follow the instructions here . This includes filling out FEMA Form 119-25-1 and emailing the form to [email protected] . 

 
Louisiana Watershed Initiative Summit highlights best practices to address flooding challenges
At the Louisiana Watershed Initiative Summit held in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's LITE Center Theater last month, experts shared best practices and lessons they've learned from tackling flooding in areas of the country where it has had catastrophic effects.  Read more.
WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
ACROSS THE NATION
Toward Zero Deaths Road Map to Implementation Webinar Series
January 30 to June 5, 2019
To help traffic safety stakeholders understand the "Road Map Suite of Tools" and gain insight on implementing their own strategy, the TZD National Strategy development team is offering a free Road Map to Implementation Webinar Series beginning January 30, 2019. Read more.

Webinar: Innovation Exchange on Pavement Preservation and Road Edge Stabilization
April 4, 2019 at 12:00-1:30 PM
This is a webinar highlighting the National Park Service's work on preserving pavement and extending the overall life of a roadway. Learn some tools needed to preserve pavement such as ultra-thin lift, micro surfacing, slurry seals, and chip seals. Read more.
View a full listing of future Innovation Exchange Webinars here.

Webinar Series: EDC-5 Virtual Public Involvement - Extending Our Reach
Beginning April 25, 2019 at 2:00 - 4:00 PM
To help practitioners navigate this changing environment, FHWA is developing a series of 12 short videos highlighting innovative and proven virtual public involvement techniques for today’s transportation plans and projects that will also be featured in this webinar series. Read more.

2019 National LTAP-TTAP and NTTD Conference
August 12-15, 2019
This year's National LTAP-TTAP Conference will be held in conjunction with the National Transportation Training Directors Conference scheduled on August 12-15, 2019 at the Stoweflake Resort in Stowe, Vermont. Read more.

International Conference on Low Volume Roads
September 15-18, 2019
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is sponsoring the 12th TRB International Conference on Low Volume Roads on September 15-18, 2019 in Kalispell, Montana. This conference examines new technologies and new techniques in the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of low-volume roads. Read more.
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.