ROAD CHATTER • SEPT. 2026 | Leaves Are Falling, Training Is Calling | | From the New York State LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program | | |
View from the Road
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." - Dolly Parton
"Find out who you are. And do it on purpose." - Dolly Parton
Anyone who uses a paving analogy to make a point is good in my book. Let’s be honest, Dolly Parton was good in anyone’s book. She will be missed, but her legacy will continue. She reminds us to learn who we are and to have a purpose.
You may not have noticed, but we have a purpose: Improving the Quality and Safety of New York State Highways. You will see it on our website, our letterhead, and on many of the publications we prepare. Our purpose helps you get everyone from home to work, to school, to church, to play, and back again. We do that with training, answering your questions, and by helping build the local highway community. Let us know how we can help.
A few highlights as we start meteorological fall.
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We are fully staffed for the first time in 15 months! Please welcome Joey Stagliano as our new Communications Specialist. You will learn more about Joey in our next Nuggets & Nibbles quarterly newsletter.
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The 2026 Traffic Sign Handbook is off to the printer. Every highway official in New York State will get a copy in the mail very soon. If you need copies, just let us know.
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Our fall workshops are open for registration. Space is limited so sign up. Or better yet, have your county highway official’s association sponsor a workshop!
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The 2026–2027 fall and winter webinars are now open for registration, with additional webinars planned for next summer. The full schedule for next two years is on our website. This is all part of our 2026-2027 work plan which will be finalized this month and start in November. If you have any thoughts on what we can do to help you, just let us know.
- David Orr, PE
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Stay up to date with the NYS LTAP Center - Cornell Local Roads Program.
Click here to be added to our mailing list.
If you have already filled out the form, you do not need to fill it out again.
| | Thank You to Our Fall Sponsors! | |
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Full Sponsorship: Saratoga County Town Highway Superintendents Association*
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Co-sponsorship: Genesee County Town Highway Association & Orleans County Highway Superintendents Association*
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Partial Sponsorship: Washington County Town Highway Superintendents Association**
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About Workshop Sponsorships:
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!
| | The 32nd Statewide Conference on Local Bridges training and conference registration is now open! | | October 20th - 22nd • Saratoga Springs, NY | | |
Note the trainings are still a work in progress, and the
times of the listed presentations have not been finalized and may change.
- Conference - October 21 - 22, 2026 (anticipated to be worth 7.5 PDHs)
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Draft Conference Agenda (Note this is still a work in progress and that the day and time of the listed presentations have not been finalized and can change)
Details and the full schedule are available on the NYSLTAP-CLRP website
Please note: The registration fee increases to $170 on October 3.
Register on or before October 2 to receive the early registration fee of $140.
| | Just Announced: Fall & Winter Webinars | | Explore the essential principles behind local highway operations and management with our free Foundational Webinar series. Select a webinar below to register. | | |
2026 National Build A Better Mousetrap Winner!
Join the Town of Riverhead Highway Department as they present thier Snow Fence Remover during the National Build a Better Mousetrap webinar
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Upcoming Events and Conferences | |
Webinars by others:
* Professional Development Hours from NJLTAP are only valid for New Jersey
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New York Association of Towns’
Legislative Conference
September 22 - 23
Albany, NY
This program will include training sessions, collaborative workshops, and task groups designed to identify emerging issues, foster peer-to-peer discussion, and develop potential legislative solutions. Attendees will also vote on legislative updates that will help guide our advocacy efforts.
| | | | NYS LTAP Center - CLRP Resources | |
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The Nuggets & Nibbles Newsletter
Opt In for a Hard Copy
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.
If you have already filled out the form,
you do not need to fill it out again.
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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!
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Quick and Easy Social Media Posts
If you are looking for seasonally relevant topics to post, check out our carefully curated posts!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Basic Math for Roadway Workers 3-Part Series
This is a recorded webinar and not eligible for engineering PDHs in New York State.
With math basics followed by lessons in calculating length, area, volume, and quantities, this interactive course presents how to estimate highway maintenance work in real world situations using the math you already know! Utilizing a step-by-step approach, complex situations encountered by highway and street departments will be broken down into simple pieces.
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The purpose of this Asphalt Paving Handbook is to provide comprehensive technical information and best practices related to the paving of asphalt mixtures for both roadway and airfield projects. The goal is to keep the discussion focused on practical aspects that have the greatest effect on the quality and long-term performance of the finished pavement.
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