LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Your Monthly Bulletin from Louisiana LTAP Center
May 1, 2019 // Volume 2, Issue 4
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
LTRC shares transportation research highlights at the Parish Engineers and Supervisors Spring Conference
At the recently held Louisiana Parish Engineers and Supervisors Association (LPESA) Spring Conference at the L'Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Transportation Research (LTRC) Associate Director for Research Dr. Tyson Rupnow presented some valuable information on transportation research projects that the local engineering workforce might potentially consider for future roadway initiatives in their respective parishes.

To find a full list of LTRC's active research projects, click here.

LPESA holds their Fall and Spring conferences to bring together engineers and road supervisors from across 64 parishes in Louisiana to discuss best practices and address issues on road construction, asset management, road maintenance, emergency preparedness and other topics that concern the local public agencies. Visit lpesa.org for updates.
Elected officials encouraged to attend Module 1
of LTAP's Roads Scholar #7 Class on Pavement Preservation
LTAP continues to hold its series of Roads Scholar #7: Pavement Preservation & Road Surface Management" classes which successfully piloted in Benton early this month, and happening in New Orleans today. Class instructor is Nick Verrett, who currently serves as Parish Engineer for Parish of Natchitoches.


Elected officials are also encouraged to attend the first module (morning only) of the class.

Download the brochure here . For questions , email Courtney Dupre.
INNOVATION
Ouachita, Terrebonne recognized as winners
in Build A Better Mousetrap for their
latest transportation innovations
In this year's Louisiana Build A Better Mousetrap Competition 2019, Ouachita Parish Public Works Department's entry, the Catch Basin Lid Assist Tool, was selected as the Louisiana winner. This gets them an opportunity to be the official representative of Louisiana at the national level competition which will be held in time for the National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) Conference on August 12-15 in Stowe, VT.
Terrebonne Parish, on the other hand, bested the "People's Choice Award" for having earned more "LIKE" clicks on Facebook for their entry, the In-a-Pinch Salt Spreader.

Both Ouachita and Terrebonne developed these transportation maintenance tools to respond to their everyday problems as transportation professionals. Click here to view the Louisiana entries.

Other examples from other states may be found in this 2018 booklet developed by FHWA and NLTAPA.
Every Day Counts: Unmanned Aerial Systems
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, Unmanned Aerial Systems .
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), sometimes referred to as drones, are multi-use aircraft controlled from a licensed operator on the ground. The benefits of UAS are wide ranging and impact nearly all aspects of highway transportation—replacing boots on the ground, increasing accuracy, speeding up data collection, and providing access to hard-to-reach locations. Read more.

ROAD SAFETY
June 30 is cutoff date for Local Road Safety Program applications

Although project applications to the Local Road Safety Program (LRSP) are accepted year-round, those submitted by the next cutoff date, June 30, 2019, shall be given priority for project selection. Eligible projects include curve delineations, rumble strips, high friction surface treatments, pavement markings, mini-roundabouts and other proven safety countermeasures.  
 
Contact LRSP Manager Leo Marretta for more information. 
Webinar on Engaging with Elected Officials to implement zero-fatality goal program scheduled on May 22

As part of the Road Map for Implementing the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) National Strategy at the local level, a webinar on "Engaging with Elected Officials" will be held by UM Center for Transportation Studies on May 22 at 11 AM to 12 PM (CST). This webinar will share strategies for communicating with elected officials as well as offer ways you can help elected officials learn what they need to know about your zero-fatality goal program. Read more.
Louisiana LTAP promotes Click It Or Ticket campaign to remind locals to wear seat belt behind the wheel
May 20 to June 2, 2019

Louisiana LTAP supports the national campaign called "Click It Or Ticket" from May 20 to June 2 as a way to remind the local motoring public to drive safely by wearing their seat belt behind the wheel 24 by 7. In a recent press release, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) stressed the importance of buckling up. "It is absolutely the number one thing you can do to protect yourself from serious injury or death in a crash," LHSC Executive Director Lisa Freeman said. Visit Destination Zero Deaths to download some materials for this upcoming campaign. Click here.
TRAINING
LPA Qualification Program Training set on May 21-23 in Baton Rouge
LTAP is scheduled to conduct another round of Local Public Agency (LPA) Qualification Program classes on May 21-23, 2019 at the TTEC building at LSU campus in Baton Rouge.

The primary goal of this training program is to increase the efficiency of project delivery for local transportation projects that utilize state and federal funds. For more information on all course, click here.
Work Zone Safety mini-workshop held in Raynville
LTAP was at the Town of Raynville in Richland Parish to conduct a Work Zone Safety mini-workshop last April 10, the same day as the "Go Orange Day" in celebration of the Work Zone Awareness Week. Safety practitioners, including our LTAP Program Manager Steve Strength and local partners from Raynville showed their vested interest in safety by wearing their safety vests.

LTAP offers mini-workshops on Work Zone Safety with Basic Flagger and other topics. To 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.

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: Taking Action to Reduce Rural Roadway Departure Systematically
May 16, 2019 at 12:00-1:30 pm (CST)
Learn why it is important for you to take action in reducing roadway departures and what you can do.  Read more.

Webinar: Virtual Public Involvement
May 30, 2019 at 12:00 - 1:30 PM (CST)
Virtual public involvement techniques, such as telephone town halls, online meetings, and social media, offer convenient, efficient, and low-cost methods for informing the public, encouraging participation, and receiving input . Read more.
Click here for a full list of Innovation Exchange webinars.

Webinar: Unmanned Aerial Systems
June 27, 2019 at 12:00 - 1:30 (CST)
Unmanned aerial systems can benefit nearly all aspects of highway transportation - from inspection to construction to operations - by collecting high-quality data automatically or remotely. Read more.
Click here for a full list of Innovation Exchange webinars.

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.
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Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program


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