Road Chatter

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

August 2025

View from the Road

Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often. - Mark Twain

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

- Albert Einstein

As a kid, I remember more than a few times that I took action and kept moving. And as I was about to crash, I realized that action is not always positive. I usually got into trouble because I did not have a plan or failed to account for something. We need to keep moving forward but remember that action without a plan might lead us into a place we don't want to go.

We are working on our 2026 training schedule and are submitting our plans for next year to NYSDOT. We expect to have a draft schedule of workshops and webinars by September. We know it may change, but we are moving forward with action.

For many of you, now is the time for chip seals and paving. Also, many of you are preparing your budget for 2026. Some days it feels like you need a crystal ball to know what is going to happen next year but make your best decision and move forward. Before you decide to make that leap it might be good to know how far you must fly.

- 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.

Webinars

Summer Foundational Webinars

Tuesdays - 9:00 am -10:00 am

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

Virtual Workshop

Combating Roadway Departure Crashes!

Proven Countermeasures for Roadway Departure Crashes

Aug 7, 2025

8:30 am - noon

The workshop is free to attend, unless you are seeking

3 Engineering PDH credits ($20 fee)

This course provides participants with some tools for addressing roadway departure crashes. Topics covered in this course include a discussion of engineering countermeasures as well as implementation strategies.

Click here to view the recording of An Introduction to Combating Roadway Departures (part 1 of this virtual workshop series)

Registration is now open for the

2025 Statewide Conference on Local Bridges

Online registraion

PDF Registration Form

The 2025 conference will be held at the Holiday Inn, Saratoga on

October 22 - 23, with the training day on the 21.

Training sessions run concurrently. (anticipated to be worth 4 (PDHs)
Draft - Engineering the Federal Aid Process
Draft - Bridges over Water: Navigating Wetlands and Scour Planning Agenda

Draft - Conference Agenda
The conference is anticipated to be worth 7.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

For more information, please visit our website.

Fall Workshops

Snow & Ice Control

9/30/25 - Ulster Co. (Kingston)*

10/1/25 - Oneida Co. (Oriskany)

10/14/25 - Cayuga Co. (Auburn)*

10/15/25 - Erie Co. (Clarence Center)*

Reducing Liability

10/7/25 - Franklin Co. (Malone)

10/8/25 - Saratoga Co. (Ballston Spa)*

10/9/25 - Rockland Co. (Chestnut Ridge)

*Workshop Sponsorship

The New York State LTAP Center – Cornell Local Roads Program thanks those groups who contribute to making our workshops successful by providing sponsorships.

Workshop sponsors generously contribute a flat fee of $1,800/workshop, which enables participants from all municipalities to attend the workshop at either a reduced rate or free of charge. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for one or more of our workshops please reach out to Amanda Caughey at ael234@cornell.edu / 607-255-5833. We look forward to working with you!

2025 Fall Workshop Sponsors

Cayuga County Association of Town Superintendents
Saratoga County Town Highway Superintendents Association
Ulster County Association of Town Superintendents of Highways
Town Highway Superintendents Association of Erie County

NYSLTAP-CLRP Annual Survey

CDL Training Results

We did a survey of the County Highway officials regarding Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) issues in their county.

Upcoming Events and Conferences

2025 Summer Conference

New York State County Highway Superintendents Association

Lake George, NY

September 14 - 17, 2025

96th Annual Conference

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

Niagara Falls, NY

September 23 - 26

NJLTAP - Grant Writing 101: How to get Started (Webinar)

September 23, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

If you are interested in learning how to tackle a grant or funding application, or would like a refresher, this webinar is for you!

During this webinar, learn the basics of how to tackle and complete a grant or funding application.

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