Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation.
Continue reading New Project: Assessing the Economic Effects of Context Sensitive Main Street Highways in Small Cities
Cooperative Agreements Bring Benefits and Risks for Local Governments
This article was originally published in Catalyst, July 2020.
Local government contributions for Minnesota’s roadway system have increased in recent years. This includes local spending on trunk highways—the roads under MnDOT’s jurisdiction—that are part of local transportation systems.
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Student Project Analyzes Road-Funding Tools for Small Suburban Cities
This article was originally published in Catalyst, July 2020.
The City of Ramsey is wearing down its roads faster than it can fund their maintenance and construction. In light of this, the city is investigating ways to fund road projects sustainably, and it partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities Project (RCP) to advance the investigation.
Continue reading Student Project Analyzes Road-Funding Tools for Small Suburban Cities
Transitway Investment Leads to Higher Regional GDP, Job Growth, and Accessibility
This article was originally published in Catalyst, July 2020.
A new study from researchers in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs found that transitway investment adds considerable economic value to metropolitan regions, including the Twin Cities area, and it increases access to the places people need to reach to prepare for, get, and keep a good job.
Continue reading Transitway Investment Leads to Higher Regional GDP, Job Growth, and Accessibility
Knowledge Books Preserve Expertise of Retiring Workers
MnDOT has successfully piloted a European knowledge retention method to preserve the expertise of retiring workers who are subject matter experts. The agency has produced interactive multimedia books that use graphics, video and written material to present valuable information on concrete pavements, asphalt pavements and steel bridges, learned over a person’s entire career, for use by future engineers.
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Study: Public Transit Benefits Exceed Costs in Rural and Small Urban Areas
The benefits of Minnesota’s rural and small urban transit systems exceed the costs of services, according to a study sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). For every dollar spent to provide transit services in Greater Minnesota, benefits worth $2.51 are shared throughout the communities, according to the “Measuring the Economic Benefits of Rural and Small Urban Transit Services in Greater Minnesota” report.
Continue reading Study: Public Transit Benefits Exceed Costs in Rural and Small Urban Areas
Wind Impact and Breakaway Performance of Roadside Message and Conflict Warning Signs
Roadside dynamic message signs with breakaway components handle wind-induced vibrations adequately for an almost 24-year fatigue life. Rural intersection conflict warning signs vibrate noticeably under wind forces and require design changes to resist fatigue damage.
These are the results of a new research study sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation that investigated the effects of wind loading on roadside message and conflict warning signs.
Continue reading Wind Impact and Breakaway Performance of Roadside Message and Conflict Warning Signs
Selecting Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crosswalk Treatments
A new guidebook published by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board offers a uniform approach and practical methods for selecting locations and the right treatment for uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks in Minnesota.
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Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Minnesota’s Traffic and Transit Networks
The five CTS councils are holding this special webinar to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting traffic and transit networks in Minnesota. The webinar will feature representatives from Minnesota transportation agencies sharing what they’re seeing in the Twin Cities metro and statewide, presentations from University of Minnesota researchers, and time for an audience Q&A.
Continue reading Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Minnesota’s Traffic and Transit Networks
Asphalt Delivery Tracking Goes Digital with Some 2020 Construction Projects
MnDOT construction projects require tons of hot mix asphalt each year, with over 188 road and bridge projects in the 2020 construction season alone.
Historically, plant mixed asphalt has been weighed, tracked and paid for with computer-generated paper tickets. Paper ticketing isn’t an ideal process for a variety of reasons—on-site ticket collection poses safety risks, tickets can be easily lost, and data must be tabulated manually, just to name a few.
Continue reading Asphalt Delivery Tracking Goes Digital with Some 2020 Construction Projects
Crossroads 