Webinar: Enter the Minnesota Build a Better Mousetrap Competition

December 6, 2024 Lea Burdette Leave a comment

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 10:00–10:30 am

Join the Minnesota Build a Better Mousetrap Competition for the chance to win prizes and share your ideas with others! Show off your creativity and help other agencies solve problems by submitting your local innovations! This webinar covers how to enter, how you and other local agencies can benefit, and gives you the chance to meet previous Minnesota winners. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

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Maintenance Operations, Research

Clear Roads: Training Module Development for Evaluation of Storm Severity Index and Winter Severity Index Variables

December 5, 2024 Lea Burdette Leave a comment

Reprinted from Clear Roads News November 27, 2024

Clear Roads project 18-03, Evaluation of SSI and WSI Variables, produced a step-by-step guide and flowchart tool to help agencies identify or develop severity index methods to fit their needs and available data sources.

As estimating the impact of weather on roadway maintenance resources is becoming an increasingly important issue for agencies across the country, a recently completed Clear Roads project, 21-04, Training Module Development for Evaluation of Storm Severity Index and Winter Severity Index Variables, produced additional training modules geared toward three key audiences: division directors, snow and ice managers, and supervisors.

Incorporating audiovisual materials, discussion topics, and interactive exercises, the training modules will help practitioners design and develop indexes to suit their agency’s particular needs.

Download the fina l report and t wo-page brief: CR 21-04 – Training Module Development for Evaluation of Storm Severity Index and Winter Severity Index Variables, July 2024.

Resources

Research, Traffic and Safety

New Project: Rural Intersection Enhancement and Driver Behavior Study

December 4, 2024 Malee Yang Leave a comment

The risk of severe crashes increases when minor roads intersect with higher-speed roads in rural areas. MnDOT and county traffic engineers strive to find creative solutions that will prompt drivers to make safe decisions when navigating through intersections.

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Maintenance Operations, Research

New Project: Alternative Deicer Performance Characterization: Know Before the Snow

November 27, 2024 Malee Yang Leave a comment

MnDOT uses alternative deicer brines containing potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride for winter road maintenance. The alternatives are more effective in melting roadway ice than sodium chloride alone when temperatures are below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Materials and Construction, Research

New Project: Quantify the Benefits of Using Geotextiles and Geogrids to Improve the Performance of Unbound Pavement Layers

November 20, 2024 Malee Yang 1 Comment

MnDOT uses geosynthetic materials to stabilize or reinforce road pavements. Various types of geosynthetics help maintain separation between pavement layers, improve drainage and prevent erosion.

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Environment, Research

Revised Stormwater Maintenance Guide Updates Common Practices and Offers Innovative Options

November 13, 2024 mndotresearch Leave a comment

Practices for managing stormwater runoff have evolved over the years. Changes to regulations, land use and weather patterns impact how transportation agencies integrate stormwater control options into road and waterway networks. Local agencies have used a stormwater maintenance guide produced by the Local Road Research Board (LRRB) in 2009. Over a decade of new research and the development of new tools for stormwater control necessitated revisions to the guidance document. The updated Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance Resource Guide provides recommendations for enhancing traditional stormwater practices and presents new, innovative strategies and guidance on stormwater best management practices (BMPs).

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Environment, Research

New Project: Assessing Effectiveness of Pond Sediment Removal for Phosphorus Management in Stormwater Ponds

November 6, 2024 Malee Yang Leave a comment

MnDOT manages rainwater runoff to keep pollutants like phosphorus from Minnesota’s lakes and streams. Stormwater retention ponds, an established management strategy, allow phosphorus to settle to the pond’s bottom but do require periodic cleanout.

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Automated Vehicle Technology, Public Transit, Research

In rural Minnesota, the GoMARTI self-driving shuttle demo is paving the way for autonomous transit

November 6, 2024 Lea Burdette Leave a comment

Originally published August 6, 2024 in Catalyst

Upcoming Webinar: Friday, December 6, 2024, from 1:30–3:00 pm.
For more information and to register, go to: Unlocking Autonomous Transportation Potential—Key Insights.

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Policy and Planning, Research

New Project: Transitioning to EV Fleets: Best Practices and a Decision Tool

October 30, 2024 Malee Yang Leave a comment

Minnesota agencies are evaluating how to meet the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) target of at least 50% by 2030. Numerous technical, social and coordination considerations are inherent in a transition to electric fleets.

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Research, Traffic and Safety

Improving Traffic Signal Visibility

October 25, 2024 Lea Burdette Leave a comment

Inconspicuous traffic signals are often cited as contributing to collisions at intersections. If that is true, making traffic signals more conspicuous should lead to fewer crashes. A study published at the TRB conference in 2005 suggested that yellow retroreflective backplates were most effective, reducing accidents by 15% at intersections, and the FHWA later adopted this as a Proven Safety Countermeasure.

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