Webinar: Converting Severely Distressed Paved Roads to Engineered Unpaved Roads
The Local Road Research Board hosted “A Guide to Successfully Convert Severely Distressed Paved Roads to Engineered Unpaved Roads” on Oct. 29, 2019 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Private: Transportation Research Syntheses
LRRB Featured on Edina TV
The LRRB was featured on Edina TV on Sept. 16, 2019. The City of Edina’s Engineering staff is testing a new irrigation system in hopes of finding a more efficient and cost-effective way of replacing grass and vegetation following a road reconstruction project.
Roads & Bridges: Minnesota Rural Safety Research Saving Lives
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.
LRRB Featured in Michigan Newsletter
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 […]
Thank You to Outgoing NACE President Rich Sanders
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 […]
Bot Receives Top Award from League of Minnesota Cities
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.
Brunkhorst Named Rural County Engineer of the Year
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
Training Course: Corridor Management and Maintenance of Paved Recreational Trails
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.
Video: Base Stabilization Guidance and Additive Selection for Pavement Design and Rehab
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.
Gravel Road Management Tool
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.
Researchers Evaluate St Paul’s Pedestrian Safety Campaign
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.
LRRB, RIC Membership Changes
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 […]
Video: Ineffective Specialty Warning Signs: What’s the Harm?
Which specialty warning signs are necessary and effective, and which do more harm than good? The answer may surprise you.
Report recommends ways to reduce snowplow operator fatigue
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.
Personal Protection Equipment Poster & Website
A technical resources website, with posters, fact-sheets and online resources, has been developed for the LRRB by the Minnesota LTAP program.
Citizen Requests Guidebook Wins APWA Award
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 […]
New Project: Development of Pavement Condition Forecasting for Web-based Asset Management for County Governments
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.
Alternative Designs Identified for Rural Intersection Warning Signs
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.
New Project: A Guide for Converting Extremely Distressed Paved Roads to Unpaved Roads
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.