Florida Local Technical Assistance Program
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Developing our technical assistance resources and trainings is an exciting process for us at LTAP. Part of the process is finding what types of courses are most beneficial, and in what format. Your responses from our needs assessment have been extremely helpful - we've had several very successful training courses so far, and we look forward to offering more soon.
Another part of the process is developing a newsletter that best serves everyone's needs. This newsletter includes our success stories, upcoming trainings, and relevant events. Please don't hesitate to register for whatever trainings would be beneficial to you, and give us feedback via email, phone, or our website. The in-classroom and online training for our local and state agencies are free, and will award PDHs or Certificates of Completion upon fully attending our sponsored trainings. Local agencies will be given priority. If you have any transportation-related success stories, feel free to share with us to be included in our next newsletter, and contact us for any technical assistance needs!
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The Florida LTAP Center Transitions In-Classroom Training to Online Webinar Series
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Over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted society and altered our normal way of life. We are all eager to know what the future holds and when our lives will regain some normalcy. The Florida LTAP Center shares your concerns, and we want to take this opportunity to provide some insights into our decision-making process moving forward.
As our state and national leaders introduce plans to re-open our economy in phases over the next weeks and months, our Florida LTAP team is working on developing similar plans to resume in-classroom training and other activities as soon as deemed appropriate. We prioritize the health and safety of our state and local agencies. For now, our previous guidance about remote instruction remains in effect unless otherwise notified.
We want to thank you for continuing your training with the Florida LTAP Center and making the transition from in-classroom training and activities to the online training format with us. We have every intention of resuming in-classroom training and some activities during the fall, with modifications and precautions designed to support high-quality training while maintaining health and safety.
In the interim, we will continue the same quality and service expected of the Florida LTAP Center via online training. For more updates and information please contact the
Florida LTAP Center website
.
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Florida LTAP Center:
Build A Better Mousetrap Competition!
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Have you or one of your coworkers recently built an innovative gadget or developed an improved way to do a job?
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The Florida LTAP Center is looking for projects that you, your employees, or crew designed and built. It can be anything from the development of tools, equipment modifications, and/or processes that increase safety, reduce cost, improve efficiency, and improve the quality of transportation. Those that place first to third in Florida will be announced in the Florida LTAP newsletter and on social media, along with other recognition.
The winning entry will be submitted into the National Mousetrap competition to compete for prizes and, of course, bragging rights. Winners of the national competition will be announced at the annual LTAP/TTAP national conference this summer. All entries at the national level will be posted on the LTAP/TTAP program website and compiled into an electronic booklet. For more information, please download the
2020 Build a Better Mousetrap National Competition Guidelines.
Applications are due by June 15th.
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FDOT State Infrastructure Bank Loan Application
Now Open!
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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) annual application and negotiation cycle is now open.
The SIB is a revolving loan and credit enhancement program consisting of two separate accounts used to leverage funds to improve project feasibility. The SIB can provide loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects eligible under federal and state law.
An application is required to be submitted by prospective loan applicants to ensure projects meet eligibility, financial, and production criteria.
SIB funds for this application cycle will be available July 1, 2021.
Application and Negotiation dates for federal and state eligible production-ready projects are as follows:
Open for Applications: May 1, 2020
Closed for Applications: June 30, 2020
Application and Financial Analysis: July–September 2020
Commence Negotiations with Loan Candidates: November–December 2020
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U.S. DOT Announces Inclusive Design Challenge
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If you are a Florida local agency that partners with researchers and innovators to develop solutions to solve the most pressing access barriers for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, the Inclusive Design Challenge could be a great opportunity to encourage collaboration. The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the opening of Stage 1 of the Inclusive Design Challenge (Challenge). The Challenge seeks innovative design solutions that can enable people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities to use automated vehicles to access jobs, healthcare, and other critical destinations. The Challenge is a part of a larger set of departmental initiatives on accessibility, announced at the
Access and Mobility for All Summit.
Solutions may include both hardware and software solutions aimed to address barriers including:
- Locating an Automated Driving System-dedicated vehicle (ADS-DV)
- Entering an ADS-DV
- Securing passengers and mobility equipment
- Inputting information
- Interacting with the ADS in routine and emergency situations
- Exiting an ADS-DV
Stage 1 Challenge: Proof-of-Concept Ideas is now open! The challenge requests written proposals describing the design solution. Proposals are due October 30, 2020, with semifinalists to be selected in early 2021.
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Journal of Transport & Health is calling for papers on
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Florida local agencies and their partners address themes related to transport system impacts on vulnerable populations, including the effects of limited mobility on health equity, livability, and accessibility, as well as policy and built environment interventions. If you or partner agency has collected research that advances the knowledge on the many interactions between transport and health and the policies that affect them then submission to the Journal of Transportation and Health might be for you. Submissions are due May 31, 2020.
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Civic Innovation Challenge
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The
Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC)
flips the community-university dynamic, by asking communities comprised of civic partners to identify civic priorities ripe for innovation and then to partner with researchers to address those priorities. Civic partners may include local, state, or tribal government officials; non-profit representatives; community organizers or advocates; community service providers; and/or others working to improve their communities.
The National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced the launch of the
Civic Innovation Challenge
,
which focuses on research that is ready for piloting in and with communities on a short timescale and requires the inclusion of civic partners in the core project team, to emphasize civic engagement; and to organize and foster “communities of practice” around high-need problem areas that allow for meaningful knowledge sharing and cross-site collaboration during both pre-development and piloting.
This is a research and action competition in the Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) domain designed to build teams that reflect on the focus areas of the Civic Innovation Challenge (tracks described below), they are encouraged to consider how both the current situation and other experiences in their communities uncover new challenges, motivate new questions, and highlight the need for new perspectives.
The Civic Innovation Challenge comprises two tracks, shaped by input from cities and communities from across the country at an Ideas Festival held in early 2019:
- Communities and Mobility: Offering Better Mobility Options to Solve the Spatial Mismatch Between Housing Affordability and Jobs; and
- Resilience to Natural Disasters: Equipping Communities for Greater Preparedness and Resilience to Natural Disasters.
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FWHA continues to promote 10 innovative technologies and practices in the fifth round of Every Day Counts (EDC-5) in 2019 and 2020. EDC-5 is the state-based program to rapidly deploy proven but underutilized innovations to shorten project delivery, enhance roadway safety, improve traffic operation efficiency, and reinforce infrastructure serviceability and sustainability. Visit the
FHWA website
to learn more about these innovations.
In 2018, FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovations (CAI) offered a series of orientation webinars on EDC-5. These webinars and presentation slides can be viewed on the
EDC-5 orientation webinar page
.
The Florida LTAP Center will be providing more workshops highlighting two EDC-5 Innovations: Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD) and Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) in the future. Watch your inbox for more information, or visit the
Florida LTAP training calendar
.
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Florida Greenbook 6-Part Webinar Series
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Florida local agencies are being given first seating priority.
This 6-part webinar series will provide an in-depth review of the 2018 Florida Greenbook, which is also known as the “Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways.” In this training we will be covering things like what the Greenbook is and types of projects it applies to; transportation planning and land development concepts; fundamentals of geometric design and roadway design; design variations and exceptions; pedestrian, bike, and transit facilities; traffic calming and residential street design; and work zone traffic control.
This training is intended to provide an in-depth review of the 2018 Florida Greenbook and how it should be used by local agencies or by others doing work for the local agencies across Florida. The training aims to introduce the various topics in the Greenbook, and even more importantly, to equip you with the resources you need so that you can find additional information.
In this 6-part webinar series, we’ll cover Chapters 1-20 of the Florida Greenbook, including the 2018 updates.
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Florida Greenbook Introduction and Chapters 1-2
Weds., May 6, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
(Recording Available)
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Florida Greenbook
Chapter 3
Weds., May 13, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
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Florida Greenbook
Chapters 4-7
Weds., May 20, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
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Florida Greenbook Chapters 8-10
Weds., May 27, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
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Florida Greenbook
Chapter 11-14
Weds., June 3, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
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Florida Greenbook
Chapters 15-20
Thurs., June 4, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 AM (ET)
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This online training is being provided at no cost and will award 1.5 PDHs per fully attended and completed session.
Up to 9.0 PDHs can be earned for fully attending and completing all 6 sessions.
Please Note- Space for this workshop is limited, and Florida local agencies are being given first priority!
This training meets the requirements for LAP Certification. Attendance satisfies the Greenbook portion of the LAP Construction Checklist, Specifications, and Greenbook Training. LAP Course no. BT-05-0197.
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Environmental Awareness for Highway and Street Maintenance Operation
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The concept of going about highway & street maintenance in an environmentally acceptable manner is of great importance to state and local agencies. This webinar series explores how to perform our routine highway maintenance and achieve quality production while being environmentally responsible and compliant.
Topics discussed include: pollution defined, why we should be concerned, general permits, groundwater protection, surface water management, typical highway maintenance operations, work in and around streams, waste management, and spill prevention/response. This course is designed for supervisors and crew members performing maintenance work on the roadway with a desire to be environmental stewards. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent environmental mishaps than it is to clean them up.
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Part 1 of 3:
Pollution Defined,
Why it is Important, General Permits and Requirements
Tues., June 23, 2020
1:00 to 3:00 PM (ET)
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Part 2 of 3:
Typical Highway Maintenance Operations, Work in and around Streams
Weds., June 24, 2020
1:00 to 3:00 PM (ET)
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Part 3 of 3:
Facility Based Operations, Waste Management, and Spill Prevention/Response
Thurs., June 25, 2020
1:00 to 3:00 PM (ET)
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This 3-part webinar series is only being provided live.
No recordings of this webinar will be provided.
This 3-part webinar series is being provided at no cost. You are welcome to register for one, two, or all three sessions. Each individual webinar session will award 2.0 PDHs per fully attended and completed session.
Up to 6.0 PDHs can be earned for fully attending and completing all three sessions.
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Florida LTAP Webinars On Demand
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Instructor(s): Larry Hagen, P. E., PTOE,
Mary Anne Koos, FDOT, Lorraine Moyle, FDOT
Instructor(s): Larry Hagen, P.E., PTOE
Instructor(s): Larry Hagen, P.E., PTOE
Instructor(s): Chris Evers, Florida Pavement Preservation Council
Aron Gerber, The Kercher Group Inc.
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The Florida LTAP Center has a list of our recorded webinars available on our website, and we update our recorded webinar page regularly.
Florida LTAP recorded webinars are provided at no cost, and will award
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a Certificate of Completion for fully viewing and completing the recorded webinar.
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The world is grappling with the containment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until a vaccine is developed. What are the nuances of this situation, and what lessons can we learn to advance transportation safety research and practice?
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FDOT Transportation Symposium
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The Transportation Symposium has been converted to the Transportation Symposium Webinar series (virtual format). To continue to keep staff and our industry partners up-to-date with DOT policies, procedures, and best practices, we will be developing and implementing the Transportation Symposium Webinar Series, which will be providing weekly symposium sessions starting June 9, 2020. Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits will be offered for the live version of the webinar. The recorded version will be posted to view at a later date.
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Lifesavers Conference 2020 Webinar Series
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As you may know, the Lifesavers Conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Lifesavers organizers had hoped to proceed with the scheduled conference in Tampa, but the safety and well-being of speakers, vendors, attendees, and event staff is of the utmost importance and always a priority.
page for more details.
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Stay tuned for more Florida LTAP-sponsored trainings, and be sure to visit our website or contact us for any technical assistance needs!
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The Florida LTAP Center wants to hear from you!
Please take a few minutes to participate in our brief survey, and your input will facilitate our choices regarding future training resources, newsletter articles, and other types of LTAP communications.
Take the EDC-5 Innovation Survey
.
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We want to showcase your success!
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Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center
(813) 974-4450
University of South Florida
Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CUT100, Tampa, FL 33620
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