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the Move Quarterly NewsletterThe Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is currently involved in the redraft of an existing State Rule for the issuing of State Highway access permits. Rule 930-6, Chapter 7: Driveways, concerns the grant of access onto State Highways. The new draft of the code clarifies the permit process, establishes access categories assigned to the State Highway system, and provides spacing standards for access points in relation to the categories.
The Department is planning to host a series of information and education meetings to inform primary users of the proposed process and standards. Information concerning meeting dates, as well as general information concerning Access Management, may be found on the UDOT Web site [www.udot.utah.gov/esd/accessmanagment.htm]. Such efforts are slated to commence in early January 2003.
"The Utah access management effort has been in development for a number of years now", said Tim Boschert, UDOT Access Management Program Coordinator. The momentum for the concept of access management has developed slow, but steady. The Department has always practiced elements of Access Management, and with the adoption of the proposed rule changes, an identifiable comprehensive application of traffic engineering elements for the review of access permit requests is possible.
The Department has always been committed to providing its users a transportation system as safe and efficient as possible. The development and application of standards for the spacing and location of access points is vital to ensuring that the Department continues to provide a system that enhances the mobility and economic vitality of the State. The Department recognizes the many benefits associated with the application of an access management program. Paramount to such a program is the identified reduction in potential accidents.
States with active access management programs have identified the following benefits through the application of various access management practices.
Benefits cited are:
The benefits and experiences registered among other state and local transportation departments show access management to be a very important issue that can save lives and increase the efficiency of surface transportation systems.
The Utah T² Center will be working with UDOT to advertise and encourage participation in these proposed briefings and training opportunities.
At the proposed briefings, and on-line, opportunity will be provided for open dialogue and comments from all entities affected by the access management proposals.
We will share the dates and locations of UDOT regional briefings on the Utah T² Center Web site as soon as they are scheduled. In addition, we will send a special bulletin to all potentially interested parties (and a T² Center e-mail alert) regarding the UDOT access management training.
The department would be charged with preventing terrorist attack within the United States, reducing the nation's vulnerability to terrorism, minimizing damage from terrorist attacks and assisting with recovery from major attacks. The department will coordinate counterterrorism and emergency response programs with state and local governments and the private sector. It would determine and distribute threat warnings to the public and could consolidate emergency communications.
The Department of Homeland Security would have four divisions: Border and Transportation Security; Emergency Preparedness and Response; Science and Technology; and Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. Of great importance to local governments; the department will include a provision that NACo had a major role in crafting. The Department will create an office for State and Local Government Coordination, which will coordinate with state and local officials on all matters relating to Homeland Security.
That means there is a spending level and a cap on spending. These different numbers stem from the different spending levels in the House and Senate's Transportation Appropriations bills. The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee funds the highway program at $27.7 billion and the Senate Appropriators raise the level to $31.8 billion. This confusing situation will be resolved if the House and Senate are able to both pass and conference a Transportation Appropriations bill when Congress returns in early 2003.
With the continued state of revenue shortfall in State budgets, the 2003 Legislative session is sure to be a difficult one for legislators and the public alike. With several proposals floating around regarding how to best balance the reduced budget, citizens and local agencies will need to stay in touch with their elected representatives as effectively as possible during the session.
E-mail is perhaps the best way to contact your Representatives and Senators during the session. You can find the e-mail address at the Utah Government Web site [www.utah.gov]. So go on-line before the session begins and be prepared to share your experience and opinion with those elected to serve you!
We commend our elected officials for their hard work and effort on behalf of the entire State!
It is with deepest gratitude that we extend our thanks to the outgoing members of the T² Advisory Board: Larry Bulloch, City of St. George and Shawn Guzman, Utah Association of Counties.
We have enjoyed the opportunity to work with these individuals and have appreciated their input as we have met to assess the technology transfer needs of local Utah agencies, and determined the most effective ways of meeting those needs. We wish them well in their future pursuits.
We are excited to extend a warm welcome to the new members of our Advisory Board:
A Culvert Management System (CMS) is available from the Utah T² Center, Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Clearinghouse or by contacting NACE headquarters. The CMS was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). The CMS includes five primary modules that enable the user to record/update information on inventory, condition, work needs, work funding and scheduling. A text version of the CMS User Manual and a CD containing the Manual and program installation software are being distributed to Federal, State and local agencies with responsibility for construction and maintenance of drainage structures.
Copies of the CD and printed copies of the Users Manual, both designated Report No. FHWA-LT-02-001, are available from: USDOT/FHWA R&T Report Center 9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q Lanham, MD 20706 301-577-0818. You can also call the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878.
Questions may be directed to Al Alonzi at the FHWA Office of Professional Development, (703) 235-0552, or e-mail at [al.alonzi@fhwa.dot.gov].
A nonlinear PowerPoint CD presentation on Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports is now available from the Utah T² Center and Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Clearinghouse. The presentation was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the LTAP, under contract with the Pennsylvania Local Technical Assistance Program.
The reference document for this presentation is a handbook prepared by the FHWA Office of Safety, entitled "Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports for Local Roads and Streets: A Guide for Street and Highway Maintenance Personnel." The Guide is not currently available. The FHWA Office of Professional Development is working with the Office of Safety on plans to reprint the Guide as an LTAP publication. The transportation community will be notified when it is available.
Copies of the CD are being distributed to the LTAP and Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Centers by the LTAP Clearinghouse. You can call the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878. Additional copies of the CD are available from the LTAP Clearinghouse (see information above). Questions may be directed to the FHWA Office of Professional Development, (703) 235-0552, or e-mail Al Alonzi at [al.alonzi@fhwa.dot.gov].
Our thanks to these important partners for sharing this information and working with us in our efforts to serve the local agencies of Utah.
Jump start your career in public office at UAC's Newly Elected Officials Workshop. This event is designed to help newly elected officials transition into their position. Topics will include: (1) How can UAC help you; (2) What roll does NACo play; (3) What are the rolls and responsibilities in the court house; (4) What are the key aspects of property tax administration; (5) What does the public think about county officials, etc.
The all-day (8 am to 5 pm) workshop also includes specific training related to positions and responsibilities. Instructors include county officials and UAC staff. Cost is $60 per person and includes, instruction, materials, lunch and other food. Not only will the workshop be held at the Salt Lake Plaza, but the Hotel is offering the State rate at $68/night. Just call them at 800-366-3684 and mention the "UAC Block." Registration Deadline: January 8, 2003. For more information, call UAC at (801) 265-1331. You can also register on-line.
For additional information about APWA, Utah Chapter activities visit their Web site [apwautah.org].
The following dates for regional training allow the Trust to coordinate their overall provision of services around the state. If you have training needs, please contact the Trust and they can help you set up what you need during the assigned dates for your region.
Be sure to mark your calendars now for the 28th annual Utah Asphalt Conference, March 5, 2003. The cost to register is $75 per person before February 15th and $90 if received after February 15th.
The conference will be broken into general sessions and four breakout tracks. General session topics include a welcome from UDOT Executive Director, John Njord, and a transportation security and legislative and funding outlook.
Breakout tracks will focus on "back to basics" construction, maintenance, design and materials with an emphasis on state and local road issues.
Speakers for the conference will come from state DOTs, FHWA and industry. The conference is an excellent opportunity for participants to meet with experts in the field of asphalt pavements, and to share their own experience with their colleagues.
Vendors sponsorships are available. For more information, or to register, please call Keri at the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878. You can also register on-line by e-mailing Keri with your name, company, address, phone/fax, e-mail address, and method of payment (credit card, PO or check/money order).
The conference will be held at the Salt Lake Airport Hilton (5151 Wiley
Post Way). A block of rooms is being for conference participants. Just
call 1-800-999-3936 and mention you're with the "Utah Asphalt Conference"
to get the special room rate of $68/night plus tax (free parking). More
information about the conference will be on-line at our Web site: [www.utaht2.usu.edu].
12-18 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting (Washington DC)
16 Click, Listen & Learn MUTCD
20 Closed for Human Rights Day Holiday
23-24 City Engineer's Conference (St. George)
12 ATSSA TCT Training (Ogden)
17 Closed for President's Day Holiday
18-21 ATSSA Workshop Series
24 ATSSA Flagging Training (Salt Lake City)
26 Sign Management/MUTCD Workshop (Salt Lake City)
27 Sign Management/MUTCD Workshop (Vernal)
5 Utah Asphalt Pavement Conference (Salt Lake City)
6 Fundamentals of Quality Concrete Workshop (Logan)
7 Utah Concrete Conference (Logan)
10 Sign Management/MUTCD Workshop (Ogden)
12 Sign Management/MUTCD Workshop (Logan)
13 Click, Listen & Learn Right of Way
10-14 Heavy Equipment Operator Training (St. George)
17-21 Heavy Equipment Operator Training (Tooele)
17-20 ATSSA Workshop Series (Salt Lake City)
24-28 Heavy Equipment Operator Training (Vernal)
26-27 ATSSA TCT Training (Logan)
16-18 UAC Management Conference (St. George)
23-25 Utah League of Cities & Towns Annual Road School (St. George)
28 ATSSA TCT Training (St. George)
29-30 ATSSA TCS Training (St. George)
29-30 Adjustable
Manhole Covers Showcase (Logan)
The city of Phoenix, Arizona is concerned about pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Because of this, the city has developed a school safety program to ensure the safest possible conditions for school age pedestrians and bicyclists. Through a program involving Safest Route to School Walking Plans and School Crossing Safety Audits, the city helps local elementary and middle schools identify deficiencies and problem areas that pose a safety risk to school age children using pedestrian facilities.
Through the School Safety Program, the city of Phoenix has developed a system to inventory, assess, and maintain the condition of their school pedestrian facilities and ensure the safety of school age pedestrians and bicyclists.
As we start into the winter season the matter of funding for snow and ice removal always come to the front. Is the funding source large enough to purchase the materials that are needed to maintain the service level the citizens expect you to provide? Is the funding source large enough to provide the types of salt and sanding deicing material that will work in the temperatures, snow conditions, and time frame to meet the expectation the citizen's demand?
The Michigan Department of Transportation did some studies on pre-wetting dry salt and sand deicing materials that may extent your Salt and Sanding funding by up to 25% plus.
The Michigan study was conducted on a new section of roadway, with a new piece of equipment that had just been calibrated to meet Michigan DOT maintenance standards. The same driver was used for both tests on the same day with the same weather conditions. Everything was a close to the same as possible.
The following graphs
show the results of the study. Graph No. 1 shows the results where a dry
application of salt and sand deicing materials was applied. There was a
loss of 30% of material due to materials being spread off the roadway.
Graph No. 2 shows the results under the same conditions except the salt and sand deicing materials were pre-wetted.
Only a four (4%)
percent loss of the pre-wetted salt and sand resulted from material being
spread off the roadway. This shows a 26% saving in salt and sand deicing
material just by pre-wetting the dry material.
Further study of the test sections with traffic shows even more significant results. Graph No. 3 shows that the dry application had an additional loss of 40% of material with only five vehicles at 38 mph and 15% more loss with the next 100 vehicles. This graph further shows the net loss of material to be a total of 85% of the dry salt and sand deicing material that was applied ending up off the road way.
Graph No. 3 also
shows that only 20% of the pre-wet material ended up being thrown off the
roadway under the same traffic conditions.
Although it is true that typically you will not be applying salt and sand to a dry roadway, the benefits of applying pre-wetted materials has the potential of saving costs, as well as, providing much better deicing results and safer roadways.
During a four year period (1997 through 2000) there were 860 crashes Statewide that were related to obscured vision by trees, crops, weeds and other vegetation.
Of these 221 occurred on State highways and 639 were on city and county roads. For further information on the number of crashed in your county, due to obscured vision, and the measure proposed to address this issue, contact the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878.
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Over 40 modern roundabouts have been constructed in Utah since 1995. A roundabout is a circular intersection similar to the traffic circle used previously in this country. The major differences between a traffic circle and a roundabout are:
Where Do Roundabouts
Make Sense?Roundabouts may also be desirable in rural and suburban areas where they do not affect the progression of network-controlled signalization or signalization of adjacent intersections and at the termini of unsignalized and signalized diamond interchanges.
How To Drive a RoundaboutA roundabout will have ONE-WAY signs mounted in the center island. They help guide traffic and indicate that you must drive to the right of the center island.
Upon passing the street prior to your exit, turn on your right turn signal and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as you exit.
Left turns are completed by traveling around the central island. (See below.)
We will introduce the basic principles of roundabout evaluation including:
We will also review
the evolution--from concept through construction-- of two local roundabouts
recently constructed in Salt Lake County including single-lane and multi-lane
design. Participants may review actual construction drawings and bid packages.
Sample cost estimates will be available. You are encouraged to bring your
designs for review.
You will receive a CD ROM copy of the latest roundabout design guides: Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, by FHWA; and Roundabout Design Guidelines by Leif Ourston.
Bill Baranowski, P.E. introduced modern roundabouts to Utah in 1993. He has designed over 25 roundabouts constructed since 1992. Many of his roundabout designs may be seen on the Web site [www.RoundaboutsUSA.com]. There are currently over 40 modern roundabouts in Utah on both City and State roads.
Click, Listen & Learn (CLL) is a workshop training program brought to you by the American Public Works Association (APWA) and cosponsored by the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).
The program is designed to save local agencies money and time by making arrangements to participate directly with APWA. You simply go on-line at [www.apwa.net/education/cll] and follow the directions available at the click of your mouse!
These workshops are conducted over the Internet as well as by phone so that interested individuals can participate from across the nation. The visual portion of the program is transmitted over the Internet and the audio portion is transmitted over the phone lines. This format makes it easy for any agency to put on a Click, Listen & Learn workshop. All that is needed is a meeting room with Internet access and a telephone system with a speakerphone. Workshops are two hours in length and normally run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MST.
Imagine the labor saving potential and positive public relations effects of an adjustable manhole cover! With Utah's T² Center/Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) as cosponsor, the City of Logan's Public Works Water/Waste team, you will share their experiences with this unique product.
Participants will learn how this product was developed and subsequently approved for use by the city's management team. You will experience:
Registration is $29 and includes all handouts, site visit transportation and lunch. Accommodations have been arranged in Logan at the Best Western-Weston for $60 per night plus tax and the Comfort Inn for $54 per night plus tax.
You can visit the Showcase Web site [www.pdshowcase.org] for details and to register. If you have questions or would like to register by phone, contact Ms. Chris Ritch in the National Showcase Program office in Florida, (352) 392-2371 ext. 223, or Keri at the Utah T²/LTAP Center (435) 797-2931.
99:15 AM Introductions & Welcome
9:1510:15 AM Project Background & Presentations by Agency & Industry Representatives
10:1510:30 AM Break
10:3011:30 AM Presentations Continue
11:30 AM12 PM Open Discussion
121 PM Lunch
13 PM Guided Field Site Visits & Live Demonstration
33:55 PM Return to Meeting Room for Open Discussion
3:554 PM Evaluations
4 PM Wrap-up & Adjourn
Neither the LTAP nor participating public entities, present a Showcase as an endorsement, implied or otherwise, for a particular product, service, technology or vendor.