MNTransportationCareers.com is a new job website developed by LRRB and MnLTAP, to help local agencies and jobseekers connect. It includes resources for students, jobseekers and human resource professionals. There are job and internship postings, training resources, recruiting videos, and case studies of innovative programs undertaken by Minnesota cities and counties to attract and retain workers. 

If you have a job or internship to share, you can list your opening on the career website job board. It just takes a minute to share your opportunity with jobseekers and transportation professionals across the state. 

The website was developed through the project, Expanding the Transportation Workforce: Roadway Maintenance Workers.

Roundabouts are effective at increasing safety and efficiency of vehicle traffic. Typical roundabout design usually requires a larger footprint than a traditional four-way intersection. More local agencies are implementing mini-roundabouts, which are characterized by a small diameter and fully traversable islands (central island and splitter islands). This guidebook defines mini and compact roundabouts and provides selection criteria on when to use them as well as details regarding the center treatment. The FAQ format provides easy navigation to technical information.

NCITE Webinar on Mini-Roundabouts

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 10-11 a.m., free to attend

Join Apex Engineering Group for a presentation on LRRB Mini-Roundabout FAQs. Project team members Michael Marti and Zach Heimer with SRF Consulting Group and Jon Pratt with the City of Detroit Lakes will discuss this new guidance.

Join the webinar. If you have access issues, use the meeting ID and passcode:

• Meeting ID: 251 050 866 163
• Passcode: tGP6ix

The Complete Streets approach to roadway design uses site characteristics to create a safer environment for all road users. This research measured the effect of different road features on driving speeds to understand how drivers adjust their speeds based on changes in the posted speed limit and other contextual factors related to the roadway environment. Field data were collected to track drivers' operating speeds as they transitioned from high-speed rural highways to lower-speed rural and suburban communities. Researchers developed a series of speed reduction factors that estimate the impact of road features on speed reduction to use as guidance to design safe, accessible roads.

Weak or vulnerable soils can decrease the strength of a road pavement base. New research illustrates proprietary base stabilization additives could provide stronger, more durable pavements. Laboratory and field testing over two years allowed researchers to determine optimal application rates and design specifications for using stabilizing additives in certain road reconstruction methods. Five pavement test sections compared different stabilizing products and a section without base stabilizer. Performance monitoring and an economic analysis showed the stabilized pavement sections were stronger after two years and were estimated to have lower overall life cycle costs. New pavement design standards incorporating these results can support more sustainable, cost-effective roads.

Most common traffic signals are actuated by a device embedded in the road that detects the presence of a vehicle at the intersection. But these devices don’t always detect modern vehicles like electric cars or vulnerable road users, such as bicycles or motorcycles. Researchers tested nonintrusive technologies (NITs), including video- and radar-based traffic detection systems, to compare the performance and long-term costs of several commercially available options. They learned that weather and environmental conditions affect NIT performance, but there are ways to mitigate problems. The team developed a decision tool to help traffic operators select, install and maintain the right NIT products for their needs. 

You are invited to take a survey to understand public agencies' and transportation professionals' perspectives on electric vehicle adoption within their fleets. The survey is part of the LRRB research project, Transitioning to EV Fleets: Best Practices and a Decision Tool, conducted by the University of Minnesota in conjunction with the University of Arizona.

It will take just 10 to 15 minutes and provide valuable insights to help us understand the human factors influencing the transition to EV fleets. Fleet managers, please forward this survey to others in your agency who manage or drive your agency's vehicles. The survey includes specific questions tailored for different roles, such as fleet managers, field staff, operations managers, and mechanics.

Please complete by Wednesday, Aug. 14. Questions? Contact Kwangho Baek, University of Minnesota research team. Thank you for participating! 

While liquid salt brine is useful for deicing winter roads, the road salt used can contain a lot of grit and fine particles, which often end up settling in large brine storage tanks used as part of the brine-making process. The small filters that most plow trucks have on their brine system are easily plugged by sediment from brine supply storage tanks. As a result, filters require cleaning at least once or twice per shift to ensure effective brine application.

The Rochester Public Works Department received a $10,000 grant through the Local OPERA Program to find a way to prevent contaminants in the salt intake hopper from reaching brine storage tanks and the trucks supplied by them. Public works staff installed high-flow industrial filters between the hopper and the tanks and at each fill station to filter brine going through the brine pump.

But because road salt contains a lot of debris, the system continued to clog. The team switched to solar salt, which has a higher level of purity and a higher cost. This change significantly reduced sediment issues, leading to clearer brine and smoother operations. In addition, solar salt dissolves so easily and with so little sediment that the system can produce 30% more brine each hour.

The OPERA program is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board and administered by Minnesota LTAP. Photo: A Rochester Public Works staff member cleans sediment from a brine storage tank.

This month, we're saying goodbye to Mindy Carlson who retired in June after nearly 27 years of service to MnLTAP, most recently as interim director. We're grateful for Mindy's longstanding service on the LRRB Outreach Committee and wish her much happiness in her retirement.

We're excited to welcome two new LRRB members! Andrew Wrucke, who recently joined MnLTAP as director of Training and Technical Assistance, has joined the LRRB Research Implementation Committee. Katherine Stanley, manager, MnLTAP Training and Technical Assistance, has joined the LRRB Outreach Committee. We look forward to working with you both! Photo (l-r): Mindy Carlson, Andrew Wrucke and Katherine Stanley.

LRRB members (l-r): Andrew Witter, Sherburne County; Duane Hill, MnDOT; Brian Giese, Pope County; Kristine Elwood, MnDOT; Wayne Sandberg, Washington County; Lon Aune, Marshall County; Katie Walker, MnDOT; Matt Leonard, City of Monticello; Mark Ray, City of Burnsville. Not pictured: Kyle Shelton, Center for Transportation Studies.

RIC members: (l-r): Fausto Cabral, MnDOT; Andrew Wrucke, MnLTAP; Aaron Holmbeck, Nobles County; Hafiz Munir, MnDOT; Ben Worel, MnDOT; Will Manchester, City of Minnetonka; Ryan Thilges, Blue Earth County; Ted Schoenecker, MnDOT; Darrick Anderson, Cass County; Matt Wegwerth, City of Grand Rapids. Not pictured: Dave Conkel, MnDOT.