Minnesota Local Road Research Board
A feature article in the July 2019 edition of Roads & Bridges shares the importance of applied research at the local level. Iterative research, the research cycle, and integrated communication strategies are all essential components to understanding the needs of your customers, implementation barriers, and developing clear outreach tools.
The LRRB is featured in the spring newsletter (Page 4) of the Michigan Local Technical Assistance Program. The story covers the LRRB’s history and benefits, as well as its new […]
Rich Sanders, former LRRB Chairman and Polk County Engineer, has completed his term as president of the National Association of County Engineers. Sanders advocated on behalf of county engineers in […]
The League of Minnesota Cities has awarded Steve Bot, City of St. Michael Administrator/City Engineer, the James F. Miller Leadership Award, the top honor for non-elected public servants in the state. Bot is an LRRB RIC member.
The National Association of County Engineers awarded its 2018 Rural Engineer of the Year Award to John Brunkhorst, McLeod County Engineer and LRRB Research Implementation Committee Member
The LRRB recently funded an update to a popular workshop on corridor management for paved trails. The workshop focuses primarily on the management and maintenance of the trail pavement but also includes other elements such as vegetation, drainage, signing/striping, lighting and amenities.
This brief video highlights the topics covered in the LRRB’s guidebook, including Steps for Successful Base Stabilization, How to Choose the Right Additive, and Research on Why Base Stabilization Works.
A new spreadsheet tool was designed to help local agencies manage their gravel roads. It can be used to track maintenance and construction data, as well as to track costs and optimize spending.
The University of Minnesota will review the City of St. Paul’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety and investigate whether a similar program to a NHTSA-supported study could be applied to change the driving culture and improve yielding to pedestrians and speed compliance on arterial and collector roads on a citywide basis.
The LRRB board and its Research Implementation Committee have had the following staff and membership changes: Research Implementation Committee Kristine Elwood has replaced Ted Schoenecker, now Ramsey County Engineer, as MnDOT State […]
Which specialty warning signs are necessary and effective, and which do more harm than good? The answer may surprise you.
Snowplow operators face harsh driving conditions and must also deal with fatigue and drowsiness. A recent Clear Roads research project identifies factors that cause driver fatigue in snowplow operators and recommends cost-effective solutions to help reduce it.
A technical resources website, with posters, fact-sheets and online resources, has been developed for the LRRB by the Minnesota LTAP program.
The LRRB’s new guidebook, Addressing Citizen Requests for Traffic Safety Concerns, was recognized with the Exceptional Performance in Journalism Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) at its August […]
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University (NDSU), has developed a low-cost asset inventory program that will be offered to all Minnesota counties following further development and testing by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board.
A team of University of Minnesota human factors researchers studied Minnesota’s rural intersection dynamic warning sign to identify what features or layouts may be problematic and to propose safe and efficient alternatives.
The Minnesota Local Road Research Board recently approved funding for a guidebook on effective practices for converting severely distressed paved roads to unpaved roads. The document will help engineers select roads for conversion, safely conduct conversions and communicate the rationale to the public. No such published document currently exists.
Washout erosion along the wing walls of bridges has been a persistent problem for many local agencies. To address the problem, the Jackson County Public Works Department has developed a bridge approach transition curb.
Washington County is testing four different methods of site preparation and seeding to determine which is the most effective and efficient way to increase floral resources for pollinators along roadsides. Those methods include application of various conventional and organic herbicides, mowing, and broadcast seeding.