New Clear Roads Research: Tools to Maximize Snowplowing Efforts

Reprinted from Clear Roads News, July 3, 2024.

By better understanding the time it takes a snowplow to complete one round of snow clearing and treatment of its assigned route, agencies can better adjust routes and cost-effectively allocate resources for the specific needs of a given service area.

This Clear Roads project developed a methodology for calculating plow cycle times considering road type, road width, weather conditions, traffic volume, and other factors. By using the framework for a map-based visualization tool developed as part of this project, agencies can use their own data to make real-time operational decisions.

Download the final report and two-page briefCalculating Plow Cycle Times from AVL Data, June 2024.

Augmented reality could make work zones safer—if the tech works for the workers

From catching Pokémon in the park to viewing a new IKEA chair in your living room, augmented reality (AR) often seems fun and low stakes. But what if wearable AR technology—such as safety glasses—could deliver warnings to roadway workers when they’re in danger? It’s an exciting possibility that hinges on one key question: Would this type of system meet the needs of workers?

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Dedicated transit lanes help attract riders, reduce carbon emissions

Public transit systems are instrumental for reducing auto travel and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But how much of a reduction depends in part on how transit lines operate—on dedicated right-of-way (ROW), in mixed traffic, or some variation.

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New Project: Species from Feces: A New Tool to Identify Bats in Culverts and on Bridges

Three bat species in Minnesota have been decimated due to white-nose syndrome. The northern long-eared bat is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the tricolored bat listing is imminent, and the little brown bat listing is under consideration.

Continue reading New Project: Species from Feces: A New Tool to Identify Bats in Culverts and on Bridges

New Clear Roads Research: Identifying Environmentally Sensitive Roadways

Chlorides are effective deicers but using them can have environmental consequences.  

A variety of factors, such as soil type, drainage, nearby waterways, and land use, can influence a roadside’s sensitivity to chlorides. By adjusting application rates or employing other strategies, agencies can lessen the harmful effects in locations where it’s needed most.   

To help agencies identify which highway segments are most sensitive, this Clear Roads project developed a geospatial tool that offers an analysis of environmental impacts that can be balanced against other safety and performance objectives.

Download the GIS toolfinal report and two-page briefUsing GIS to Highlight Highway Segments Sensitive to Deicing Materials, June 2024.

Reprinted from Clear Roads Latest News, June 26, 2024

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Can be Reduced in Highway Construction and Maintenance Projects

Taken from TRB Weekly – June 25, 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 contaminants of emerging concern that can harm both ecosystems and human health. These anthropogenic compounds contain carbon–fluorine bonds that make them stable and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Continue reading PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Can be Reduced in Highway Construction and Maintenance Projects

Ensuring Resilient Pavements in the Face of Increasing Heavy Rains

Warmer winters and more frequent severe rainfall events in Minnesota threaten the integrity and longevity of pavement foundations. Understanding the impacts of saturated pavement layers can help MnDOT design resilient roads. An exploration into the relationship between climate conditions over time and pavement foundation stiffness on test road sections led to the development of a pavement foundation saturation prediction model. The model supports the production of a preliminary geographic information systems (GIS) based pavement vulnerability framework that can guide road engineers in prioritizing maintenance in at-risk areas to ensure strong, durable pavements.

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Transportation challenges for aging rural populations

Reprinted from Catalyst, June 11, 2024

During the past century, a person’s average lifespan has increased dramatically. However, this significant “longevity bonus” has also led to challenges, including how to maintain mobility for an aging population.

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TZD Traffic Safety Hotdish: A Roadmap for Traffic Safety Culture Research and the Road Ahead

Wednesday, July 17, 2024  
10:00 – 11:15 a.m. CDT

About the Event

This free virtual event will highlight the Traffic Safety Culture Research Roadmap, recently released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Wes Kumfer, who led the creation of the roadmap, will review its development and contents. Jay Otto will share example projects and show how they fit into research on traffic safety culture. Join us to learn how you can identify traffic safety culture research needs and get insights to take back to your own organizational cultures!

Speakers

Dr. Wes Kumfer is an engineering research associate at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) with a focus on crash analysis and workforce development. His primary research interest is traffic safety management through a systems-oriented approach. While at HSRC, Kumfer has worked on pedestrian crash modeling, Safe System implementation, and engineering evaluation. He uses this experience as a member of the Road to Zero Coalition steering group and as an instructor for HSRC’s Road Safety Academy.

Jay Otto is a researcher and co-director for the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering and is fascinated by human behavior, how mindsets and systems influence behavior, and ways of growing cultures within communities and organizations that foster improved health and safety.

Registration 

The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.

Credit

Attendees are eligible for 1.25 Professional Development Hours (PDHs). Download the PDH credit form (PDF) for your records.

More Information

Contact Linda Dolan at ldolan@umn.edu.

Sponsors

This event is offered by the Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths Program and the Minnesota Departments of HealthPublic Safety, and Transportation, with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies.

Evaluating the Traffic Safety Benefits of J-Turns in Minnesota

MnDOT traffic engineers are increasingly installing J-turn intersections on high-speed, multilane expressways to limit potential crash points. An analysis of crash data from intersections before and after the installation of J-turns demonstrated significant safety benefits from this alternative design. MnDOT researchers also explored crash history differences among J-turn intersections with varying characteristics. Consistent with the results from a previous study, this analysis found a clear decrease in fatal and other serious crashes after a J-turn was installed.

Continue reading Evaluating the Traffic Safety Benefits of J-Turns in Minnesota

Minnesota's transportation research blog