NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program

Road Chatter

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

February 2024

“You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.” – Dr. Seuss

“Health is not valued till sickness comes.” – Thomas Fuller

https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=health

Highway crews are the unsung heroes of local communities and face a unique set of challenges with limited budgets and small crews as they navigate the local demands of highway construction and maintenance. Beyond physical strength and mental resilience, we need to realize the importance of a strong immune system.

The very nature of highway and public works jobs exposes workers to a variety of environmental factors including extreme cold and heat and potential diseases. A strong immune system acts as a formidable defense against infections and illnesses. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep contribute to immune resilience, helping workers stay healthy and active on the job.

You can contribute to the health and immunity of your workforce by implementing wellness programs and preventive measures. These initiatives may include health screenings and educational campaigns promoting healthy habits. By fostering a culture of health, employers can empower their teams to prioritize well-being both on and off the job site.

That being said, people will still get sick. Do you have a plan to deal with an employee being out for a few days, or even longer? Think about ways to keep everyone healthy. You, your crew, their families, and your community will thank you.

- David Orr, PE

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

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Spring workshop registration is open! Secure your spot now!

Check out our full-year workshop lineup!

What we have coming up!

Build a Better Mousetrap Competition

Well, now is the time to show off a project your agency is proud of in our Build a Better Mousetrap Competition!

We are looking for something that you, your employees, or crew designed and built; it can be anything from the development of tools or equipment modifications, to a new process that increases safety, reduces costs, improves efficiency and/or improves the quality of transportation.

Develop a Pavement Management System through the Local Roads Program

The CAMP Summer Internship provides municipalities a way to develop and implement a pavement management system for their agency. Utilizing a college student helps municipalities overcome the time constraints of gathering information and setting up a program that can better assist the local highway departments in understanding, managing, and budgeting for their roadway network maintenance. With the assistance of NYSLTAP – Cornell Local Roads, this program is offered each summer to provide municipalities with the opportunity to develop a pavement management program.

Foundational Webinars

Tuesdays, from 9:00 am - 10:00 am

February 6th - Culverts*

February 13th - Finding, Retaining & Motivating Employees

February 20th - Work Zones*

February 27th - Purchasing & Financing

March 5th - Surface & Subsurface Drainage*

March 12th - Pavement Maintenance*

*Anticipated to be worth PDH credit

Upcoming Events and Conferences

2024 Annual Meeting & Training School

Where the Association of Towns and the New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program Meet

February 18 – 20, 2024

This year, you will find New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program Director David Orr providing nearly two hours of training for town boards and highway departments on Tuesday afternoon.

Read more about David's presentation at the AOT Meeting and Training School.

Asphalt Paving 2 - Placement & Compaction

This course continues the discussion of best practices in asphalt paving, specifically focusing on placement and compaction. Longitudinal joints and construction joints are also included, as well as inspection and troubleshooting. Following these best practices will help to create a smooth and consistent asphalt mat that serves the traveling public for years to come.

Construction Inspection Training Course

Description:

Looking for training on stormwater management? The EPA has five online modules available at no cost.

The training course consists of five training modules and a final exam and takes approximately seven hours to complete. They are self-paced, so you can take them at your convenience (this is not a substitute for the DEC 4-hour course).

National Center for Rural Road Safety

National Center for Rural Road Safety will be holding several Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) career focused pathway trainings for Maintenance & Construction (M&C), Planning & Engineering (P&E), and First Responders.

Registration and webinar details can be found here.

Community Outreach

Tell them about your accomplishments!

Everybody notices the potholes - but you'll have to tell people about the good work your crew does. Brag about it publicly!

If a worker is retiring after 20 years of service, let them know what a valuable job this employee has preformed. If a member of your crew volunteers at a local blood drive or other community service, let the public and elected officials know.

Resources

Community Corner Infographics

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

Click here to view our Community Corner Series.

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!

Flagger Tutorial

Looking for something to help your crew freshen up for flagging? Look no further. The NYSLTAP-CLRP has revamped its 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.

Health Highway Habits

Get yourself ready to sit!

Sitting for an extended period of time can aggravate your back, especially sitting in a snow plow for hours on end.

Starting off your shift with a stretching routine and taking periodic breaks to get out and walk around can help postpone those nagging aches and pains.

New York State LTAP Center -

Cornell Local Roads Program nysltap.clrp.cornell.edu