NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

Road Chatter

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

April 2025

View from the Road

Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety. - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands. - Jeff Cooper

We just finished our nine work zone workshops that were part of our grant from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to provide full work zone packages to 30 municipalities across the state. Congratulations again to the winners. The cost per package including shipping was less than $2,000!

A challenge when working on the road is the balance between getting the work done and the safety of everyone involved. A simple work zone pays for itself by not only keeping everyone safer, but by making everything more efficient and effective. If the crew can concentrate on the work and not worry about traffic, they get more done, and the quality is better. Next time someone wants to take a short cut with a work zone, remember it is you that might be the person hurt if the traffic does not properly go around your work zone. Stay safe out there.

- 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.

Webinars

Roadway Departure

Webinar Series

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

April 17 - Introduction to Roadway Departure Issues and Review of Call for Funds*
April 24 – Proven Countermeasures – Signing, Delineation & Lighting*
April 29 - Proven Countermeasures – Pavement, Geometric*
May 1 – Proven Countermeasures – Improve Chances of a Safe Recovery & Minimize Crash Severity*
May 6 – Use of the Ball Bank to Determine the Proper Advisory Speed for Curves*

*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

New York AOT 2025 Town Finance and Personnel School

April 22, 2025

Join NYAOT this spring in beautiful Saratoga Springs as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of Town Finance School with a special, expanded program –this year it’s the NYAOT 2025 Finance and Personnel School.

New Jersey LTAP Center Upcoming Webinars

April 1 & 2 - 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Federal-aid Responsible Charge Training*

*Not PDH worthy in NYS

Upcoming USDOT Funding Resources and Opportunities

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning March 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET. The application portal will close on April 3, 2025, at 4:59 p.m. ET.

New Hire Orientation – Public Works Highway Maintenance

This orientation plan consists of on-demand, web-based modules that ensure new hires start with a strong foundation in safety, ethics, equipment operation, and core maintenance skills. It provides real-world training directly from AASHTO and FHWA experts, preparing employees for safe and effective work in highway maintenance.

Total Training Time: ~20 hours plus

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT ROADMAP

April 17, 2025, 2:00 pm Eastern

This webinar is the final webinar in a four-part series for the Pavement Management Roadmap Theme 2: Pavement Management Analysis Tools and Other Applications. This webinar will focus on Performance Planning.

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? Or want to pass on your knowledge and experience to others?

Visit our website for more information!

New York State LTAP Center -

Cornell Local Roads Program nysltap.clrp.cornell.edu