Road Chatter

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

February 2026


View from the Road


Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to maximizing the time we have. - John C. Maxwell


Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?x=0&y=0&q=time+management


So, what are your priorities? Trying to balance family, friends, work, school, church, and community can feel impossible. We are grateful that you prioritize keeping the roads open and safe through the winter. We know you would rather be at home with your family or out with your friends. You do not hear this enough: thank you for all that you do.

 

Some great news to share is that Amanda Caughey, our current Communications Specialist, will be moving up to be our Program Manager. When you see her, congratulate her on both her new positions: Program Manager here and Cece's mother at home. Her priority management will be working overtime.

 

As Amanda transitions back to full time, we anticipate a great spring and we would like to see you at one of our workshops, webinars, or the Highway School in June. As we transition back to full staffing, I am prioritizing getting caught up with assistance requests and field visits. Give us a call and myself or Geoff Scott, PE, Technical Assistant Engineer, will come out to look at your issues across the state. 


 - 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

sleepy_beagle_glasses.jpg

Winter Foundational Webinars

Tuesdays - 9:00 am -10:00 am



*Anticipated to be worth 1 Engineering PDH credit

Webinars for Combating Roadway Departures

The NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program will be hold two additional webinars and an online workshop in February. The webinars will discuss combating roadway departures and funds available from NYSDOT to help develop and implement plans to reduce roadway departures along local roads and streets.


In between those two webinars, an online workshop will review the Federal-Aid process and discuss another call for funds available from NYSDOT that require following the Federal-Aid process.

Combating Roadway

Departures


February 12,

9-10 am  


Worth 1 PDH (free)

Local Federal Aid 101: An Overview of the Process


February 19,

9:30 am-2:45 pm


Worth 3.5 PDHS ($20 fee)


Local Roads Safety Plans and Review of NYSDOT Funds from the Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan


February 26,

9-10 am


Worth 1 PDH (free)


Spring Workshops

Register online

Rights &

Responsibilities

3/11 - Delaware County (Delhi)

*3/12 - Rockland County (Chestnut Ridge)

*4/15 - Wyoming County (Warsaw)

4/16 - Onondaga County (Clay)

Local Roads Done Right

*3/17 - Ontario County (Canandaigua)

3/18 - Cortland County (Cortland)

*5/12 - Greene County (Windham)

5/13 - Essex County (Jay)

Running Your

Highway Department

3/24 - Orange County (New Hampton)

3/25 - Albany County (Voorheesville)

3/26 - Oneida County (Oriskany)


4/21 - Chemung County (Elmira)

4/22 - Monroe County (Rochester)

4/23 - Cattaraugus County (Ellicottville)

Pavement Maintenance

4/14 - Nassau County (Westbury)

4/15 - Ulster County (Kingston)


4/23 - Warren County (Warrensburg)


5/5 - Niagara County (Lockport)

5/6 - Allegany County (Belmont)


*5/14 - Jefferson County (Watertown)


Roadway &

Roadside Drainage

*4/28 - Dutchess County (Millbrook)

4/29 - Fulton County (Johnstown)

4/30 - St. Lawrence County (Gouverneur)

Well Rounded Roads

2026 Locations...

Schoharie County (Cobleskill)

Oswego County (Williamstown)

Yates County (Penn Yan)

Dates: TBA

*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!


Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!

  • Rockland County Highway Superintendent Association
  • Ontario County Towns and Village Highway Superintendent's Association
  • Dutchess County Highway Superintendents Association
  • Greene County Highway Superintendents Association
  • Jefferson County Highway Superintendents Association 
  • Wyoming County Highway Superintendent Association




2026 Build A Better Mousetrap Competition is open for submissions!


All local transportation agencies in New York State are welcome to enter—multiple submissions are allowed!


We're looking for in-house innovations: anything your team designed, built, or implemented to improve safety, cut costs, boost efficiency, or enhance transportation quality.


Submissions don’t need to be physical tools—new tech uses, asset management ideas, or public engagement strategies all count.


Need inspiration?

Take a look at last year’s entries!


Online submission form

Develop a Pavement Management System through the Local Roads Program


Get your community’s roads on the right track this summer with the Pavement Management Intern Program—pairing municipalities with skilled college interns and expert support from NYSLTAP–Cornell Local Roads to build stronger, smarter roadway plans.


Find out more here.

What training and certification is needed for flaggers?


We’ve had several requests for either helping find a certified flagger trainer or if flagger training is needed. Below is a small excerpt to help clarify some questions, you can read the full article here.


All flaggers must be trained before starting work. For NYSDOT projects, training must be NYSDOT-certified, with documentation showing the source of training for each flagger. For non-NYSDOT projects, a brief job-specific training should be conducted before each job to address site conditions and potential hazards.


Official flagger training should be refreshed at least every four years to cover updates and regulatory changes.

Upcoming Events and Conferences

2026 Training School and Annual Meeting


This year’s conference will take place in New York City at the Marriott Marquis from Saturday, February 14th – Tuesday, February 17th, 2026.


Join fellow municipal leaders from across New York State at this year’s annual conference, where we honor the 250th anniversary of America's founding—a moment to reflect on our shared history while preparing for the challenges ahead.


New York State Association of Transportation Engineers

84th Annual Conference

Rochester, NY

June 2-5, 2026


NYS LTAP Center - CLRP Resources

The Nuggets & Nibbles Newsletter

Opt In for a Hard Copy & Fall 2025 Link


Do you know that you now have to opt in to get a hard copy of our quarterly newsletter,

Nuggets & Nibbles?


If you would like to receive a hard copy in the mail, please complete the online form.


Click the link below to check out the electronic version of latest Nuggets & Nibbles.


Fall 2025 Nuggets & Nibbles

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
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