July 2017
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featuredprogramFeatured Program: DOT Support Center (DOTSC)
This month's featured program is the DOT Support Center (DOTSC). DOTSC p rovides engineering/technical/management analysis and support to transportation managers ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and commerce.

DOTSC provides intellectual capital to the North Dakota Department of Transportation and its partners to solve complex problems and address regional issues in the areas of engineering design, information technology, and asset management. The center advances workforce development and includes a student roadway design section supervised by on-site DOT design engineers along with an information technology section for support and application development. These sections provide real-life experience for engineering and information technology students so that upon graduation they bring valuable marketable experiences to employers.

This program is a collaboration between the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) and the North Dakota Department of Transportation (ND DOT) for the purpose of:
  • Training students through real-world projects
  • Encouraging engineering students to enter the transportation e ngineering field
  • Providing a portal to the intellectual capital of NDSU
  • Contributing intellectual and technical knowledge of NDDOT staff to student development
  • Providing a resource for the development and research in specialty areas of transportation engineering and management
  • Interfacing potential information technology and engineering employees with Department of Transportation policies and practices prior to graduation
  • Providing technical training specific for transportation procedures and practices
According to Program Director Brad Wentz, P.E., a top benefit to the tribal community could be the recent development of GRIT. 

"One of the more recent transportation technology applications developed for local governments was the Geographic Roadway Inventory Tool (GRIT).  GRIT offers local and tribal transportation agencies in North Dakota a very easy-to-use web-map-based tool to manage their road and bridge assets.  For more information on this program see the GRIT home page." 

Additionally, DOTSC is heavily invested in preparing future engineers with real-time experience. The center offers opportunities to shadow engineers in the field and deal with real-time transportation issues. 

Finally, the center has built an Information Technology (IT) program that targets computer science and management information systems. This familiarizes students with general IT issues and government IT systems, encouraging them to stay in North Dakota to use the tools of their trade. DOTSC IT interns work on actual NDDOT projects, throughout the year. 

Learn more about DOTSC

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GISRoad Mapping & Inventory Toolkit
In addition to the GIS and HERS-ST software applications, UGPTI has developed a new Geographic Roadway Inventory Tool (GRIT). This was developed as an asset management tool for Counties to manage their roads and bridges. We would like to expand usage of this tool, to tribal governments as well. The link  for information on GRIT can be found on the UGPTI website . More details will be available soon. 

Click for the  GIS and HERS-ST fact sheets. 
TrainingNDLTAP Training Opportunities
NDLTAP is offering three free webinar training opportunities from the FHWA Center for Local Aid Support. 

Traffic Incident Management  (TIM) Part I will be Wednesday, July 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CST) and Part II will be Wednesday, Sept. 20. 

TIM is the planned and coordinated multi-disciplinary processes used to detect, respond, and clear traffic incidents as quickly as possible while protecting the safety of on-scene respondents and the traveling public. Effective TIM processes can improve responder and motorist safety while keeping traffic moving. 


Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) training will be Thursday, Aug. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CST). 

Pedestrians account for more than 17.5% of all fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, and the majority of these deaths occur at uncontrolled crossing locations such as mid-block or unsignalized intersections. These are among the most common locations for pedestrian fatalities generally because of inadequate pedestrian crossing facilities and insufficient or inconvenient crossing opportunities, all of which create barriers to safe, convenient, and complete pedestrian networks. Join this class to discuss countermeasures to keep pedestrians safe at uncontrolled crossing locations. 


Ultra-High Performance Concrete for Prefabricated Bridge Element Connections: Implementation Stories will be Tuesday, July 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. (CST). 

This presentation will provide an overview of why and  how Delaware DOT and Georgia DOT adopted UHPC technology as part of their Accelerated Bridge Construction Practice. Information will be provide on why UHPC was chosen for connections, initial projects, and full implementation, along with the challenges, lessons learned, and ideas for future direction. 


Events
Tribal Transportation Events

The UGPTI will have a presence at the UTTC Tribal Leaders Summit in Bismarck, ND, Sept. 5-7. Tentatively scheduled presentations include:
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Application Introduction & Demonstration
  • Geographic Road Inventory Tool (GRIT) Introduction
  • Organizational Leadership with Tribal Applications
Additionally, we will be presenting at the National Tribal Transportation Conference (NTTC) in Tucson, AZ, Sept. 27. Potential presentations include:
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Application Introduction & Demonstration
  • Road Mapping & Geographic Road Inventory Tool (GRIT) Introduction
  • Rural Transit Planning, Demand Estimation, and Cost-Benefit Analysis with Tribal Applications
We will update you as additional details emerge. A full agenda will be released as soon as it is made available to us. 

If you'd like to schedule a face-to-face with our tribal outreach coordinator, at either of these events, please contact us via email.

The Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and skills that will complement your academic pursuits. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate tomorrow's leaders, strengthen their understanding of the transportation industry and prepare them for future public service opportunities.


The STIPDG is a paid internship program open to all qualified candidates without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law.

This program is offered to a variety of students in various stages of their education and careers.  Undergraduate applicants from junior, tribal, or community colleges  must have completed their first year . This provides an opportunity for tribal students to earn a paid internship early on in their college careers. 

The application period is currently closed but will open soon. Application deadlines are typically in January with an award notification shortly thereafter. Internship work for 10 weeks during the summer. 

For complete details, click here
 
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Aboutus
About Us

Mission:
 
The UGPTI's Tribal Outreach effort improves safe transportation of people and goods on tribal reservations to enhance livability, community and cultural values through increased accessibility to employment, workforce development opportunities, education, healthcare and housing.
 
Vision:
 
The Tribal Outreach effort will be a leader in facilitating improvements in tribal transportation to enhance livability, community and cultural values for reservation residents.
 
Currently, the effort offers outreach in:
  • funding opportunities
  • grant writing assistance
  • training (workforce development, youth, education, technology)
  • program/resource assistance
  • partnership/collaborative opportunities
  • outreach task force
  • monthly newsletter
Other resources and services will be offered as they become available. Please visit us on the web to  apply for assistance.

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