NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

Road Chatter

From the New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

May 2025

View from the Road

I'm high maintenance, but I'm worth it.

- Lara Logan

This winter and early spring I have been on the road quite a bit providing training. From Long Island to Gouverneur to Clarence and points in between, I purposely take local roads and streets when I can to see places in New York State I have not seen before. Around every corner is a new vista and a new sight.

People say road maintenance is expensive. What is expensive is not doing road maintenance. It is costly for vehicles, it is costly for commerce, it is costly for your community. As I drive around, I see the towns and villages that value road and street maintenance. Roads and streets are an essential part of every local community. They are definitely worth it.

- David Orr, PE

Stay up to date with the NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program.

Click here to be added to our mailing list.

Highway School registration is open!

Highway School brings together over 700 local roads professionals

to Ithaca College on June 2 - 4 for two and a half days

of training, networking, and education.

Fee increases to $165 after May 16

Conference details
Online registration / download a registration form
Topics covered at the 2025 Highway School
Communication with the Board
Grants & Other Funding Sources
Legal Panel
ROW By Use
and much more, see the full lineup here - draft agenda

Webinars

May 22 from 9:30 am - 2:45 pm, the webinar is free to attend and worth 3.5 Engineering PDH credits ($20 PDH fee)

Local Federal Aid 101: An Overview of the Process

Virtual Workshop

Getting federal aid is only the first step in the process to complete a local project. To make a project successful, the local agency needs to understand the steps and the federal and state requirements. During these three morning webinars, David Orr, P.E., will walk through the federal aid process from start to finish. As needed, the NYSDOT Local Projects Manual will be cited & discussed. Attendees will learn the roles and responsibilities & various critical issues to allow them to complete their project successfully and reduce stress for themselves & the agencies overseeing the work

Roadway Departure

Webinar Series

Tues/Thurs - 9:00 am -10:00 am

*Anticipated to be worth 1 Engineering PDH credit

Summer Foundational Webinars

Tuesdays - 9:00 am -10:00 am

June 10 - Erosion, Ditches, & Storm Sewers*
June 17 - Asset Management*
June 24 - Guiderail*
July 8 - Planning Process*
July 15 - Equipment (Large & Small)
July 22 - Pavement Types & Materials including Asphalt*
July 29 - Shop Safety and PPE
August 5 - Complete Streets and ADA*
August 12 – MUTCD*
August 19 - Bridge Basics*
August 26 - Employee Handbooks (panel)
September 9 - Snow & Ice Overview*

*Anticipated to be worth 1 Engineering PDH credit

Upcoming Events and Conferences

Funding Opportunities

Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan – Local Call for Projects

A total of $90M of HSIP funding is available under this local call for projects.

$10 million for Local Road Safety Plans. Due June 13, 2025

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), in conjunction with all of our safety partners, has a vision for zero highway deaths. As part of our effort to achieve this vision, NYSDOT released the New York State Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan (RwDSAP).

More details at: Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan (RwDSAP)

FY25 SS4A Notice of Funding Opportunity

Planning and Demonstration Grant and Implementation Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on June 26, 2025.

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to solicit applications for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants.

Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructural, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators.

Making Rural Roads Safe for All

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

1:00pm - 3:00PM EST

Rural roads are a key part of towns, villages, and Tribal reservations across the United States. However, rural roads may face transportation safety challenges. During this webinar, you will learn about strategies, tools, and resources to: 

Implement low-cost safety improvements on rural roads, 
Conduct a Road Safety Audit on rural roads,  
Develop State-local partnerships to accelerate project delivery to improve road safety, and
Identify available programs and resources to improve safety and transit services in rural communities.

2025 Responding to Stress

Thursday, May 29, 2025

12:00PM - 1:00PM EDT

Intended Audience: frontline workers, administrative staff, supervisors, managers, engineers, technicians, anyone who deals with stressful situations

Life and work are full of stressful situations. Join us for about an hour to learn about the potential impacts of stress on our health and hear about various strategies and techniques from the area of mindfulness that may help us in these situations. We will apply one or more of these strategies during the hour.

New York State County Highway Superintendents Association

Save the date

September 14 - 17, 2025

New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc. Annual Conference

Save the date

September 23 - 26

NYS LTAP Center - CLRP Resources

On the road and have a question?

Check out our new question submission section! Send us a picture or drop us a note! Let us know what we can do to help you.

We are one click away!

Quick and Easy Social Media Posts

If you are looking for seasonally relevant topics to post, check out our carefully curated posts related to spring!

Flagger Tutorial

Looking for something to help your crew freshen up for flagging? Check out the revamped NYSLTAP-CLRP flagging tutorial. Broken down into 4 lessons; the MUTCD, Work Zone Safety Responsibility, the Work Zone and Flagging, Equipment and Procedures.

Check out the tutorial.

Community Corner Infographics

These infographics were created to help highway and DPW crews communicate effectively with the community on items of concern.

Click here to view our Community Corner Series.

Instructors needed!

The New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program is looking for seasonal or part-time instructors.

Do you have a passion for public works

or highway management, and want to pass on your knowledge and experience to others? Contact us!

Visit our website for more information!

New York State LTAP Center -

Cornell Local Roads Program nysltap.clrp.cornell.edu