1

S hort a few Continuing Professional Devel-opment (CPD) credits for this year? Don’t

despair! LTAP’s eLearning courses may be the ticket to help you bridge the gap on your miss-

ing hours. The Ohio Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors’ Board through

their Continuing Education Policy and supported by the Ohio Law governing CPDs (Ohio Re-vised Code 4733.151), allow online courses to be counted for CPD credit so long as the course

meets the requirements outlined in the law, including being trackable to the license holder and providing verification the license holder has completed the training. It is up to the license

holder to determine if a topic counts for CPD credit, but there are a number of eLearnings in the LTAP system to choose from such as Local Public Agency (LPA) project administration

modules and Roadway Departure Countermeasure training modules, etc.

If you still need an hour or two, we encourage you to login and take a look at what is available!

Remember, eLearning is there 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. Earning CPDs has never been easier. Please visit the LTAP eLearning website at: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/

Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Pages/Ohio_LTAP_eLearning.aspx ◊

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Focus on Funding: Application Time is Here Again 2

Funding Application Timeframe Chart 2

Preparing for Winter Maintenance 3

Waterway Permit Process Streamlined for LPAs 4

Video Corner: Snow & Ice Control 5

Roads Scholar Update 6

New Proven Safety Countermeasures for Local

Roads

7

Contact Information 8

ROUTING BOX: CO-FUNDED BY:

NEWSLETTER Volume 33, Issue 4

October —December 2017

Need CPDs? eLearning Can Help

2

2 018 will be here before we know it and with January 1st comes the open-

ing of four different funding application periods. Safe Routes to School, Small City

and Municipal Bridge Programs will all be accepting applications beginning January

1st, 2018. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) will begin accepting Let-

ters of Interest (LOIs) on January 1st, with the second part of the TAP process to

open March 1st.

Each of these programs provide Ohio’s Local Public Agencies (LPAs) an opportunity to re-quest federal funds to complete projects which fit the respective programs’ guidelines. When

applying for any funding, the sooner you begin the application process, the better! The chart below provides the timeframes for each funding program’s application period. Please click

on the name of the funding program to visit that program’s website for more information, including the funding program manager’s name and contact information. Funding managers

can be a wealth of information as you draft your application, so make sure to reach out to them with your questions. ◊

Funding Program Application Period Opens Application Due

Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)

January 1st February 28th

Small City Program January 1st March 1st

Municipal Bridge Program January 1st March 1st

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – letter of inter-est—Step 1

January 1st – letter of inter-est application available

February 1st – letter of in-terest due

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – application—Step 2

March 1st – TAP invitation to apply distributed

May 1st – TAP applications due

Funding Application Timeframe Chart

Focus on Funding: Application Time is Here Again!

3

E very county, township, city, and village in Ohio is taking steps to adequately plan and prepare for the approaching winter season. Your plans should include equipment readi-

ness, truck routing, call-out procedures, supplemental drivers, emergency equipment rental plans, training, and material inventory control. Planning and organizing response issues for a

winter weather event would consist of anticipated storm duration, available employees and equipment, traffic problems and material stockpiles. The focus of this article is on the pre-trip

inspection and dry-runs.

Annual dry run inspections are performed to verify the readiness of your local agency for the upcoming winter

season. First, establish an inspection team. Then select equipment to be inspected and develop an inspection

schedule. Finally perform the inspections based on stand-ard guidelines that have been established.

To help eliminate hazards during the snow plow season, drivers should do a dry run of their assigned route during clear weather to identify and mark hazardous situations on the route

map. This will notify other drivers to be aware of an existing potential hazard when required to service unfamiliar routes. Items that could be potential hazards include manholes, utility

and construction plates, settled pavement, overhanging branches, raised curb inlets, hydrants, mailboxes, railroad crossings, curbs, parkway bump outs and islands, low hanging and guide

wires, utility poles, guardrail ends, active construction projects, dead-end streets and alleys, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, signs, bridge joints, and other observations. Identify and

make safe turn-around locations on the map.

For a pre-trip inspection, ODOT uses the EM-78 Form to document vehicle inspections and

then carries it in the vehicle till the end of the shift. Click here to view the EM-78 form. A pre-trip inspection is vital to equipment life. They are also a CDL requirement on a daily basis or

at the beginning of each shift, if more than one driver is using the snowplow truck. This pre-ventive maintenance leads to reduced costs by completing most repairs during time between

storms (down time) and having fewer expensive emergency repairs during storms when the truck needs to be plowing snow and ice. The chances of personal injury are reduced, too.

Proper pre-trip inspections, and proper stocking of replacement parts (lights, fuses, hoses,

wipers, etc.) all have a very important role in making Ohio “Second to none in Snow and Ice Control”. A strong preventive maintenance program is the key to a successful winter opera-

tion. ◊

Preparing for Winter Maintenance

4

M any Local Public Agencies (LPAs) may not be aware the Ohio Department of Transpor-tation (ODOT) funds a position at the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) office in

Columbus. The office was originally created as a streamlining measure for ODOT’s environ-mental program by allowing the Department to secure the necessary permits for ODOT pro-

jects faster than going through the USACE regional offices. Recently, ODOT has elected to allow Local Public Agencies (LPAs) to utilize this office to obtain their waterway permits as

well on their federally funded Local-let projects.

The intent behind allowing LPAs to use ODOT’s process is that to speed up the LPA Section 404 permitting process over the time it would normally take to go through a regional USACE

office. Your agency now has the option of utilizing ODOT’s waterway permits process, but you are not required to use it. So if your agency has a very large, complex project with a lot

of potential waterway issues, you could elect to utilize ODOT’s process through the Ohio Regulatory Transportation Office (ORTO) and then still use your regional USACE office for

simpler projects. Likewise, your agency could choose to still go directly through your region-al USACE office for all of your Local-let projects, or go the other way and utilize the ORTO of-

fice for all of your Local-let projects. The choice is up to your agency, depending on what you feel would be faster and more streamlined.

LPAs choosing to take advantage of this streamlined initiative should develop a Permit Deter-

mination Request and submit it to their District Environmental Coordinator (DEC). ODOT’s Waterway Permits Unit is responsible for all management of the permits and the DEC will for-

ward the request on to them for review. The Waterway Permits Unit coordinates with USACE and manages their priorities to help ensure all assigned permits are delivered on time. The

LPA does not have to call the USACE and check on the permit. Once they send their request to the appropriate district personnel, the Waterway Permits Unit will handle all activity and

notify the district and/or LPA if anything else is required. ODOT’s Office of Environmental Services will not provide special provisions for waterway permits and the LPA is responsible

for implementing the conditions of the waterway per-mits in the plan package.

The goal of the initiative is to streamline the Section

404 waterway permits for the locals. For more infor-mation and instructions on the process please visit

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/Environment/Ecological_Resources_Permits/

WATERWAY_PERMITS/Pages/Permits.aspx ◊

Waterway Permit Process Streamlined for Local Public Agencies

5

F all is here, and this means the Ohio LTAP Center will, as usual, be offering Snow & Ice Control training for local government agencies around Ohio. The only problem is our

training classes are so popular, they fill up very quickly. But don’t panic! We have searched the world over and we have found a very good training resource for you and your Winter Op-

erations crew.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has created an entire video training series dedicated

to every aspect of Snow & Ice Control operations; and this training series is available to view, at no cost, on YouTube. The title of the series is “Iowa DOT – Winter Operations Training Se-ries 1-15”. (Simply type this title into the YouTube search box). There are 15 training videos in

the series, and each video offers training in different aspects of Winter Operations. Each vide-o’s subject matter is as follows along with a link to the video:

Video #1 - Introduction to Snow Removal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SyzNWFuG38)

Video #2 – Preseason Truck Preparation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmqfJpgoH98)

Video #3 - Preseason Plow Preparation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2uS_v2Yyo)

Video #4 – Regular Equipment Checks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n17ahcBP1Q)

Video #5 – Radio Procedures (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZRu8qF2QaE)

Video #6 – Proper Clothing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZRu8qF2QaE)

Video #7 - Snow Plowing Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDeXq6Cnt80)

Video #8 – Winging Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh08Hvakkf8)

Video #9 – Ice Blading Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHatq4D2li4)

Video #10 – V-plow Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji4BeyH8EhA)

Video #11 – Anti-icing and Deicing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVY4y4cE2vo)

Video #12 – How Deicing Chemicals Work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq9mrTxrrDI)

Video #13 – Application Techniques (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hinw4Drsb3Q)

Video #14 – Snow Fences (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygW00AYhWF8)

Video #15 – Using Winter Weather Resources (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pF4sxABiic)

Even though these training videos are specifically about the Iowa DOT, they are very good for

training local roadway maintenance crews here in Ohio. And speaking of Ohio, go ahead and check out the ODOT website for other Snow & Ice Control resources. You will find lots of

helpful information on the Division of Operations’ page, under “Snow & Ice”, especially if you click on “Snow and Ice Best Practices” at the top left of the page. Enjoy the resources and be

safe out there this winter! ◊

6

We are pleased to announce Brent Rose with ODOT District 11 (Columbiana County) has com-

pleted Level III (Road Master) of the Roads Scholar Training Recognition Program! Mr. Rose is one of only seven individuals in Ohio who have achieved Level III.

We would also like to recognize the following additional new RS graduates:

Katherine McGannon – City of Lorain – Levels I and II

Rick Frederick – City of Kettering – Level I

Larry Burson – City of Fairborn – Level I

Tim Delawder – City of Fairborn – Level I

Brad Howard – City of Fairborn – Level I

Wayne Hickman – Trumbull County – Level I

The Roads Scholar Training Recognition Program provides a great op-

portunity for Ohio’s roadway maintenance and public works employees to document their continuing education and professional development. Persons who attend LTAP workshops/

courses within specified topic categories can work toward up to three levels of Roads Scholar achievement. Aside from the regular LTAP registration fee for each course, there is no cost to

participate in this program.

The Roads Scholar program in Ohio is based on completion of six approved LTAP workshops/

courses for Level I, and six more for Level II. For those who decide to pursue Level III (Road Master), this highest level of recognition involves completion of seven additional Electives,

along with a written project report or verbal presentation.

Participants track their own progress for each RS level using transcript forms provided in the Roads Scholar Program Packet, available online at: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/

Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Documents/Roads_Scholar_Program_Packet_-_2017.pdf. This packet also includes information about the Safety Distinction Recognition (SDR), which em-phasizes safety-related training and is available to persons who have achieved at

least RS Level I. The total number of Level I and II graduates in Ohio is now 298. For alphabetical and chronological listings of all RS graduates, please refer to our

Roads Scholar webpage at: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Pages/ROADSSCHOLAR.aspx.

Be sure to look for the square Roads Scholar icon on LTAP registration announcements for

courses that are approved for RS credit. If you have any questions about the Roads Scholar program, please contact Mike Fitch at 614-387-7358 or Mike.Fitch@dot.ohio.gov. ◊

Roads Scholar Update

7

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety has announced new “Proven Safety Countermeasures” for 2017. These countermeasures apply to all roadways and can be

instrumental in lowering or eliminating crashes on your local roads. Please see below for a list of new countermeasures, a brief description and a link to more information on the FHWA

Office of Safety’s webpage.

New Proven Safety Countermeasures for Local Roads

Roadside design improvement at curves is a strategy combining several treat-

ments that target the high-risk roadside environment along the outside of hori-zontal curves. These treatments prevent roadway departure fatalities by giving

vehicles the opportunity to recover safely and by reducing crash severity. Roadside design improvements are particularly recommended at horizontal curves where

data indicates a higher-risk for roadway departure fatalities and where cost effec-tiveness can be maximized. Click here to learn more.

Reduced left-turn conflict intersections are geometric designs that alter how left

-turn movements occur in order to simplify decisions and minimize the potential for related crashes. Two highly effective designs that rely on U-turns to complete

certain left-turn movements are known as the restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) and the median U-turn (MUT). Click here to learn more.

This systemic approach to intersection safety involves deploying a group of multi-

ple low-cost countermeasures at a large number of stop controlled intersections. It is designed to increase driver awareness and recognition of intersections and po-

tential conflicts. The systemic approach includes: (1) analyze system-wide data to identify a problem, (2) look for similar risk factors present in severe crashes, and (3)

deploy on a large scale low-cost countermeasures that address the risk factors contributing to crashes. Click here to learn more.

A leading pedestrian interval (LPI) gives pedestrians the opportunity to enter

an intersection 3-7 seconds before vehicles are given a green indication. With

this head start, pedestrians can better establish their presence in the crosswalk

before vehicles have priority to turn left. Click here to learn more.

A local road safety plan (LRSP) provides a framework for identifying, analyzing,

and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. The LRSP develop-ment process and content are tailored to local issues and needs. The process

results in a prioritized list of issues, risks, actions, and improvements that can be used to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the local road network. Click

here to learn more.

8

The Ohio LTAP Center

1980 W. Broad Street, MS 1240

Columbus, OH 43223

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Ohio Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Ohio’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is to assist

local governments in managing and maintaining a safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound

transportation system by providing

training and technical assistance in the

areas of safety, workforce development, and

infrastructure management.

LTAP CENTER STAFF: Victoria Beale, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Ohio LTAP Center Director Mike Fitch, MS, PE Program Manager Raymond Brushart, Program Manager Jerry Garrison, PE, PS Program Manager Debbie Cox, Administrative Assistant CONTACTING OHIO LTAP: Information & Workshops (614) 387-7359 ltap@dot.ohio.gov

Videos (614) 387-2431 Jerry.Garrison@dot.ohio.gov General Circuit Rider Training Program and Roads Scholar Information (614) 387-7358 Mike.Fitch@dot.ohio.gov Safety Circuit Rider & Equipment Loan Program (614) 387-0523 Raymond.Brushart@dot.ohio.gov Fax (614) 466-2120 Toll-free in Ohio: (877) 800-0031 http://www.dot.state.oh.us/LTAP