NLTAPA Quarterly Newsletter - Fall '22
No images? Click here
Quarterly News & Updates
Fall | '22
The NLTAPA Quarterly Newsletter is your source for information, news, and updates related to all things LTAP. If you have questions or content you would like included in an upcoming edition, please email NLTAPA Communications Workgroup co-chair, Brittany Cloyd, at brittany.cloyd@uky.edu.
President's Corner
Happy 40th LTAP Anniversary! What an exciting year for LTAP. We have several new faces within our LTAP community. It was so nice to meet so many of you and connect with old friends in Seattle. We look forward to seeing everyone at future NLTAPA meetings, participating on Workgroups and Committee meetings, working with our partners, and joining in on FHWA webinars. I can’t wait to collaborate with you all in-person at the Winter NLTAPA Meeting on January 8, during TRB, and our Summer NLTAPA Meeting, July 17 – 20, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.
For those of you who don’t know me, I have been the Director of the Kentucky LTAP for 11 years. I am very active in our APWA State Chapter and with APWA nationally. Our NACE Chapter is small but mighty, and we continue to work with them to grow within our state. I encourage you to become active with our partners. A friendly reminder, FHWA supports our activities with our partners with membership. Since becoming NLTAPA President in July, I have been fortunate to work with and get advice from our excellent group of past presidents and our superb Executive Committee.
I’ve had the opportunity to talk to several LTAPs and the demand for our services continues to grow. We have more requests for training and technical assistance. Several Centers have expanded their training formats to include online and hybrid training. Also, there are more requests for data and assistance with SS4A and other activities. LTAPs are continually rising to the occasion to meet the needs of the local governments and agencies that we diligently represent.
To support our great outreach efforts, it is anticipated that LTAPs will see additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The increase in funding is for Federal FY (Oct 22 – 23) for an additional $60,000, totaling $210,000. This annual amount is currently only expected through the life of BIL. More information will be provided by FHWA.
The LTAP community is excited to resume the Tribal Technical Assistance Programs, or TTAPs, and welcome them back into the network. TTAPs are currently being established by FHWA and we look forward to collaborating with TTAP Centers at future meetings and events.
Across the country, we continue to see fires, floods, hurricanes and more. As an LTAP, we work with our communities for training and technical assistance, but also continue friendships and partnerships established over the years. I am proud of the LTAP/TTAP community, and I am so excited to watch as our impact broadens nationally. Stay in touch with each other and continue to share ideas and offer support.
National News
2023 National LTAP/TTAP Annual Conference
Save the date! Join LTAP friends at the 2023 National LTAP/TTAP Annual Conference. The conference will be held in Columbus, Ohio from July 17-20, 2023.
NLTAPA Poster Contest
Centers shared innovative posters at the 2022 National LTAP/TTAP Conference in Seattle. The theme was Looking Back, Moving Forward; Centers showcased current programs and highlighted growth over the last 40 years.
Road Safety Champion Program Gets a Refresh
The nationally-recognized Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) is designed as an introduction to roadway safety for practitioners in transportation, public health, and law enforcement.
The National Center for Rural Road Safety is offering a series of webinars to dive deeper into each of the program's core modules.
Upcoming Webinars
October 6 - Core Module 1
October 13 - Core Module 2
October 20 - Core Module 3
October 27 - Core Module 4
November 3 - Core Module 5
November 10 - Core Module 6
November 17 - Core Module 7
Registration information coming soon!
Center Sharing
Save the Date for the 37th North Central Regional Local Road Conference
Attend the 37th Annual North Central Regional Local Road Conference in Rapid City, SD, October 18-20, 2022. All states welcome.
Minnesota LTAP Launches Civil Engineering Technician Certificate Series
Minnesota LTAP is launching a new Civil Engineering Technician Certificate series this fall. The series, part of the Roads Scholar Program, is designed to help local agencies develop current employees to advance into hard-to-fill civil engineering technician positions. It is also a great way to engage and train employees who have demonstrated interest and aptitude so they are qualified when career advancement opportunities become available.
Kentucky LTAP Publishes Road Safety Video Series
This 11-part video series on Road Safety was produced in partnership with the Kentucky LTAP, Federal Highway Administration, and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Click the video for a teaser or view the series playlist on YouTube.
Setting Curve Advisory Speeds | Installation of High Friction Surface Treatments | Sign Retroreflectivity: Sheeting Types Sign Retroreflectivity: Cone-Observation Angle | Sign Retroreflectivity: Using a Retroreflectometer
Sign Retroreflectivity: Implementation | How to Conduct a Road Safety Audit | Installation of the Safety Edge
How to Measure Sight Distance at an Intersection | How to Enhance Sign Conspicuity
Proper Installation of Signs and Sign Supports
Louisiana LTAP Aims to Reduce Roadway Departures
Rural roadway departures (RwD) account for approximately one-third of traffic deaths. Combating rural roadway departures is not as simple as putting chevrons here and installing rumble strips there. In recent workshops, the Louisiana LTAP highlighted three objectives to reducing RwD: keeping vehicles in their lanes, reducing the potential for crashes if drivers do leave their lanes, and minimizing the severity of crashes if they occur.
The Louisiana LTAP is hosting another RwD workshop on October 6, 2022 in Houma, LA.
Ohio LTAP eLearning Database Surpasses 500 Modules
The Ohio LTAP eLearning system houses over 500 web-based training modules that are available free of charge to employees and agencies. With a wide range of topics, eLearning modules provide an alternative to traditional classroom-based learning, bringing the educational experience right to your fingertips.
For those that prefer traditional learning, the Ohio LTAP offers plenty of opportunities for training in-person or online. This summer, they hosted three NHI courses, four sessions on Inspecting Curb Ramps, and multiple Work Zone Safety 'Circuit Rider' classes on-site, in addition to countless virtual training webinars. The Ohio LTAP is gearing up for the Ohio Roundabouts Conference coming this December.
FHWA Updates
Technical evaluations have been completed for applications received under the TTAP Center solicitation according to the NOFO evaluation criteria. The table below lists applicants selected to deliver TTAP Center services by region. These recommended selections are not finalized until award. Award is not considered final until a cooperative agreement for the subject center has been fully-executed by FHWA. It is anticipated that cooperative agreements will be fully executed by the end of September 2022 with announcement of awards and press release to follow.
No Eastern TTAP Center award will be made under the current NOFO solicitation. Reissuance for an Eastern TTAP Center Regional NOFO is anticipated to be published in the First Quarter (October 1 – December 31) of Federal Fiscal Year 2023.
Please monitor FHWA - Center for Local Aid Support - TTAP (dot.gov) for updates.
Upcoming Webinars
Build a Better Mousetrap 2022 State Winners
October 20, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm ET
Unstable Slope Report & Geotech Mobile Application
November 17, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm ET
Special Achievements
Civil Engineer of the Year, ASCE's Maine Chapter
Peter Coughlan, P.E.
Director of the Community Services Division and
Maine's LTAP Center at Maine DOT
Peter Coughlan, P.E. recently received the distinguishment of “Civil Engineer of the Year” from ASCE’s Maine chapter. The award is presented annually to an individual who is a P.E. in Maine, has demonstrated noteworthy engineering skills, and commendable contribution of their time to the betterment of society. Peter was recognized for his exemplary achievements, active innovation contributions and civic engagements to the engineering industry at the ASCE Maine chapter annual meeting on May 19, 2022 in Gray, Maine.
Congratulations, Pete, on this well-deserved award!
APWA Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education
Marilee Enus received the APWA Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education at the 2022 PWX conference. Marilee was nominated for the award in recognition of her many contributions to the education, outreach, and engagement of public works professionals in New Hampshire and beyond; including for resiliency in training and education throughout the pandemic, innovative programming, and participation in furthering the objectives of workforce development for our future generation of highway and transportation professionals.
Marilee Enus
Director at UNH Technology Transfer Center and NH LTAP
Congratulations, Marilee, on this outstanding achievement!
NLTAPA National Program Achievement Award
Dr. Earl "Rusty" Lee
Director
Delaware Center for Transportation,
Delaware T2 Center/ LTAP
Kim Carr
Program Coordinator - Operations, Outreach, & Communication
West Virginia LTAP
We were thrilled to celebrate and recognize two of our NLTAPA peers with our NLTAPA honors, the National Program Achievement Award, at the LTAP/TTAP Annual Conference in Seattle in August. Our very best congratulations to Dr. Earl “Rusty” Lee and Kim Carr. The National Program Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals in recognition of their dedication, leadership, and effectiveness in promoting the goals and purposes of the National Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Program through service to NLTAPA.
Through their own individual contributions to broad areas of our association and centers, including participating on multiple workgroups and in supporting new and long-time NLTAPA peers throughout the years, Rusty and Kim exemplify the spirit of this award. In thirty-five years of combined LTAP service, Kim and Rusty have each shown leadership quality and a commitment to work collaboratively and with enthusiasm with partners and peers nationally, and a true dedication to going above and beyond in support of NLTAPA and the transportation industry and workforce,
Congratulations, Rusty and Kim!
Thank you for all you do for NLTAPA and the local highway agencies we serve!
Kim and Rusty are recognized with past award winners, Donna Shea and Steve Strength,
at the National LTAP/TTAP Annual Conference in Seattle, WA.
[Pictured left to right: Donna Shea, Kim Carr, Rusty Lee, Steve Strength]
Now it's your turn!
Let the LTAP community celebrate you. If you'd like to share your own
accomplishment, or that of a coworker, in the next newsletter, email Brittany Cloyd.
Stay in Touch
Whether you are new to LTAP or a veteran who would like to be "in the know," the NLTAPA Google Group is a great way to stay informed and connected across the entire LTAP universe.
*Please note - the NLTAPA Google Group is limited to LTAP center staff.
The Communications
Workgroup Wants You!
The Communications Workgroup is accepting new members. We have great things on the radar for 2023 but we need your stellar communication skills!
From press releases to Lunch & Learns, there's a little something for everyone.
Email Marilee Enus or Brittany Cloyd for group details.
