Quarterly News & Updates

Spring | 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 Work Group Co-Chair Adam Howell at ah959@cornell.edu

President's Corner

Welcome to springtime in the Rockies, or what we in Montana call “Late Winter”. Also, for our Montana LTAP center, this is our really, really BUSY season…. Last week, we received as much snow as January and February, or “regular winter”… and we have a couple weeks to go! As we approach summer, (construction Season in Montana) I can’t help but to think of our Annual NLTTAPA Conference coming up in Seattle. The website is now live for registration, and I am encouraging you all to get online and register as soon as possible. This will be a great meeting, and we have a lot of fantastic learning and sharing to do – all in person! Wow!

Conference Registration Fee is $450 if you register before July 11, and $525 after. Link: https://natltapassoc.regfox.com/national-ltapttap-conference-2022

Lodging reservations at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1643917760738&key=GRP&app=resvlink Please make reservations on or before cutoff date of July 5, 2022. Guest room rate includes complimentary tier 1 WIFI and discounted overnight self-parking rate of $40.50.

On another subject, I am so grateful to be associated with such a great group of professionals. I am somewhat disappointed that COVID seriously intervened in our regular course of business as an association, and that I was not able to travel to many venues or regions during my tenure. The positivity, professionalism and perseverance of our LTAP Centers has been nothing short of an inspiration. You are leading from the front, and I am so grateful for that. Our LTAP customers don’t have the same support system, and I am concerned for them and their staff. I am seeing some recurring and possible trending behaviors that are maybe responsible for increased conflicts and personnel turnover that our customers are struggling with - I think they may be related or due to COVID isolation. Please be aware of this and make a little more time to contact your customers and communicate with them regarding not only our LTAP commitments but your personal relationships as well. These interpersonal connections mean more now than they have in the past, and after such an isolating experience over the last 2 plus years, we are all needing to reconnect and feel the positive vibes from our peers and professional associates.

As they told me in grad school: If you can’t be good, be a good example!

Stay well and have a great late winter… uh, spring!

Matt Ulberg, President
Montana LTAP

Registration is Open for the NLTAPA Summer Conference!

Details and updates available at https://nltapa.org/workgroups/conference/

Great Job!

Steve Strength Receives NLTAPA Achievement Award

The Louisiana LTAP Center and the Louisiana Transportation Research Center proudly share this wonderful news with you all! Our very own LTAP Director Steven Strength received this year's NLTAPA Achievement Award. He was awarded during the NLTAPA Winter Business Meeting held in Washington D.C. Read more here

Center Sharing & News

Virginia LTAP Safety Circuit Rider Program

Virginia roadways are getting a little safer thanks to a new program from the Virginia LTAP’s Safety Circuit Rider Program at the University of Virginia. This new program, called the Road Safety Champion program, is a certificate program designed to improve the safety training of those responsible for operating, maintaining, designing, and enforcing local roads. The program enrolled its first group of professionals in 2021. Students included city and design engineers, an engineering technician, safety program managers, and a construction inspector. This group spent months completing 14 classes, both online and in person, and in early 2022 six of them became the first group to receive their Road Safety Champion Program certificates. Read More Here

Connecticut LTAP launches new article series titled: Leaders to Watch. Each month, the Connecticut LTAP will be showcasing up and coming leaders in CT Transportation. Check out their latest article in this series here

Delaware LTAP Celebrates LTAP 40! Check out the article here

Partners & Friends

Now is the Time to Become a Member of the American Public Works Association (APWA). APWA is offering a special offer for ½ price membership for new members. For a one year individual membership the cost is only $111 (regularly $222). This is a great opportunity to support the Works Professionals in both Public and Private work and to raise awareness of the need for infrastructure and roadway maintenance. Your membership will give you access to 30,000 public works professionals with educational and networking opportunities. For more information please see the APWA website https://www.apwa.net/MYAPWA/Membership/Special_Offers/MyApwa/Apwa_Public/Membership/Special_Offers.aspx?hkey=9f2ff182-137e-40be-8e73-f8030becb492

FHWA Updates

In response to stakeholder feedback and to ensure ample application time for the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Center Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Federal Highway Administration has extended the submission deadline to Monday, May 2nd, 2022 for all interested, eligible parties to assist in the delivery of the TTAP by managing a regional TTAP Center. Re-establishment of the TTAP Centers will reinstate this valuable training and technical assistance resource at a critical time with discretionary funding to be made available for Tribes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We thank you in advance for your interest in this important program to support Tribes in advancing their transportation programs and projects to improve safety on Tribal land and foster economic opportunity.

TTAP Center Notice of Funding (NOFO) Important Information

The TTAP Center NOFO has been posted and is accessible via grants.gov via the following link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337468
Submit all questions via email to Robin.Hobbs@dot.gov or Ryan.buck@dot.gov and copy Morgan.Malley@dot.gov
Applications are now due by 11:59PM on Monday, 5/2/2022
Note: Any applicant that submitted applications in accordance with the previous deadline do not need to resubmit those applications. FHWA is in possession of those applications previously submitted. However, those applicants may elect to submit revised versions of those applications, should they wish to change any portion of them. Should an applicant elect to submit a revised application, those applicants must notate that in the revised documents. Otherwise, FHWA will evaluate the previously-received applications from those entities.

FHWA's Build a Better Mousetrap program recognizes the use of innovative solutions in State, local and Tribal transportation. Last year's winners developed a mobile app to improve ADA inspections, a truck attachment to improve road shoulder maintenance, a portable electric training system to improve highway maintenance, and thermoplastic center lane markings to improve safety on a busy roadway. Ideas are everywhere and we want to hear yours. Please contact your State's LTAP Center and start working on your application today! Nominations are due June 10.

To help you get started:

Build a Better Mousetrap Guidance and Application

Build a Better Mousetrap 2021 Booklet

Build a Better Mousetrap video on recognizing, documenting and sharing innovation

Build a Better Mousetrap website

The NLTAPA Google Groups

Whether you are new to LTAP or a veteran who would like to be "in the know", the NLTAPA Google Groups are a great way to stay informed and connected across the entire LTAP universe. Join the Google Group today by following these simple steps

*Please note - the NLTAPA Google Group is limited to only LTAP center staff.