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Volume 3 | Issue 2

Greetings!

Welcome to the Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center quarterly newsletter. This newsletter shares the latest information from a range of local, state, federal, and non-federal resources, addressing topics in transportation and innovation. Through this information exchange, the Florida LTAP Center hopes to foster dialogue at all levels and continue to further the education of the transportation workforce.

Florida LTAP and FDOT District 7 Host Hands-On Signal Coordination Timing Training

Training during the pandemic has taken many shapes and forms. Some training centers have transitioned to completely online or sought to provide opportunities for hybrid learning while making plans to resume in-person training. The Florida LTAP Center, in close coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7, hosted a successful in-person training on January 18, 2022, the first in-person training held by Florida LTAP since April 2020—and it sold out within three days of the training announcement posting!

The Hands-On Signal Coordination Timing training took place at the FDOT District 7 Auditorium. Photos were taken during the training to capture the discussion and observation of a signal coordination timing application tool. Attendees saw the tool in action at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive near USF and FDOT District 7 Headquarters.

By attending this training, attendees were able to:

◾Achieve a good understanding of signal timing and coordination principles

◾Develop optimal signal coordination timing plans

◾Conduct field floating-car travel runs using synchronized GPS and time-space diagram of a coordination timing plan

◾Gain insights into meaningful performance measures and reports

◾Gain knowledge of emerging technology tools on improving signal timing practice

The Florida LTAP Center looks forward to exploring other topics and modes of training delivery to continue serving the Florida transportation workforce in 2022.

News

Next-Generation TIM: Integrating Technology, Data, and Training

Traditionally, transportation agencies capture traffic incident (crashes, roadway debris, stalled vehicles on mainlines, etc.) information where sensor technologies are installed or safety service patrols are present or when contacted by public safety/law enforcement agencies. NextGen Traffic Information Management (TIM) significantly expands this capacity by enabling agencies to improve TIM strategies by implementing new options such as back-of-queue warnings, navigation-app notifications of active responders in the vicinity, notification-based incident detection using crowdsourced data, and more.

By using NextGen TIM methods, State and local agencies can increase traveler and responder safety, improve trip reliability and commerce movement, and enable responder communities to focus more resources on other pressing citizen needs.

Learn More

Local and Tribal Road Safety MATCH Program

Local and Tribal agencies own and operate approximately 75 percent of the Nation's roadway network, and many of these agencies are in rural areas. Although the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State departments of transportation (DOTs) have a history of working with local and Tribal agencies to improve safety on local and Tribal roads, safety practitioners in the multitude of local road agencies may be difficult to reach.

The Local and Tribal Road Safety Mentoring, Assistance, Training, and Communication Help (MATCH) Program provides free broad-based technical assistance to local and Tribal agencies facing roadway safety challenges by connecting agencies with volunteers who have specific expertise to help successfully address the identified challenges.

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Every Day Counts 6: Strategic Workforce Development Free Toolkit

According to a 2021 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 90 percent of construction firms have open positions, and 89 percent are having difficulty filling them. On the survey, 72 percent of respondents said the reason they were having a hard time filling positions was that potential employees “are not qualified to work in the industry.”

FHWA formed the Strategic Workforce Development implementation team as part of Every Day Counts 6 (EDC-6) to help remedy this significant problem. The group’s central theme is “Identify, Train, Place”— attract applicants, provide them with the training they need, and place them in long-term construction careers. FHWA created a toolkit of communication assets that is free to download, customize, and use in communities.

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Federal Government Announces Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines as Official Standards

The U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Justice, and other Federal agencies announced that the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) are anticipated to be adopted as the accessibility standards for new or altered pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way and for shared use paths. The adoption of PROWAG will update and expand existing 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance and will include standards for sidewalks, street crossings, medians and traffic islands, overpasses, underpasses, bridges, on-street parking, transit stops, toilet facilities, signs, and street furniture.

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Local Programs

Training On-Demand

FDOT administers several grant funding programs for local agency subrecipients. These agencies have jurisdiction over a transportation facilities and include but are limited to municipalities, counties, expressway, or transportation authorities, special districts, or regional governmental units. For information on recorded and upcoming training offerings, visit https://floridaltap.org/localprograms/.

Upcoming Trainings

FHWA Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) to Visit Florida

FHWA’s Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) is introducing agency and industry personnel to state-of-the-art asphalt technology in materials selection, mixture design, field and laboratory testing, and pavement safety and quality. Representatives of MATC are visiting Florida to introduce new test methods related to FHWA’s Performance Engineered Pavements initiative and other innovative asphalt materials and construction tests relevant to field performance.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about laboratory and field performance tests that support the FHWA Performance Engineered Pavements initiative. Information on technologies related to asphalt mixture design and construction will be distributed; many of these technologies are state-of-the-art and provide information about the asphalt materials related to durability, safety, and sustainability.

*Attendees can participate in-person or online via Microsoft Teams.

FHWA, FPPC, and FDOT Pavement Management Exchange

This Pavement Management Exchange is a chance for state DOTs and local agencies to provide valuable lessons learned to other states on pavement management. Participants will be given the opportunity to provide guidance and input to the FHWA assessment team that is conducting a review of Florida’s Pavement Management System.

The assessment team is interested in input from local agencies on the following:

◾Data collection methods—manual/walking survey, windshield survey, video log analysis, automatic equipment, combination of methods

◾Frequency of data collection—one-year cycle, two-year cycle, cycles more than two years, varies by function class, etc.

◾Who performs data collection—in-house, contractor, etc.

◾Guidelines used for data collection

◾Type of data collected by local agencies and incorporated into their pavement management system—ride, rutting, cracking, faulting, structural capacity

◾Type of construction data collected by agencies

◾Type of traffic data collected by agency

Data Analysis and Safe Routes to School

Data analysis is the process of systematically applying statistical and/or logical techniques to describe and illustrate, recap, and evaluate data. With so much data readily accessible these days, data analysis is key to condensing the information into an easy-to-understand format that can be used to achieve goals.

This webinar will discuss the purpose of data collection for a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program and will provide an overview of the data available to analyze walking and bicycle usage, safety, and infrastructure.

Attendees will learn about interactive mapping tools, GIS, and online portals that can help provide the information needed to develop policy campaigns, grant applications, or other proposals to advance SRTS in Florida. Attendees will also learn strategies for working with local governments and agencies.

Included will be information on the purpose of data collection, various tools used for data collection and how they apply towards infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects, review of Florida’s best practices as a result of data collection used for SRTS projects, resources that will help with data collection towards proposals and future projects, and benefits of continuing to collect data after a project is completed.

*This webinar is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance. Certificates will be awarded only for fully attending and completing this webinar. This session will award 1.5 PDHs.

FDOT–ADA in Design, Construction, and Maintenance

This course will provide a walkthrough of the requirements for accessibility for both FDOT state projects (covered by the Florida Design Manual) and Local Agency Projects (covered by the Florida Greenbook). Course material will cover criteria found in FDM 222—Pedestrian Facilities as well as application of accessibility requirements during Temporary Traffic Control (formerly MOT) found in FDM 240—Transportation Management Plan and Standard Plans, Index 102-660. References to and discussion of the criteria from the Florida Greenbook will be included for Local Projects.

Participants will gain a better overall understanding of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considerations in FDOT projects and Local Agency Projects in Florida; specific criteria used to integrate safety and accessibility considerations for all users, including individuals with disabilities; and practical application of accessibility in the field.

FHWA Designing for Bicycle Safety Workshop

April 14-15, 2022, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm (ET)

This two-day workshop hosted by FHWA and the City of Jacksonville is designed for engineers, planners, developers, and other transportation practitioners who design, engage in planning, or implement policies and programs related to bicycle facilities.

Modules will cover types of bicycle facilities, separated bike lane options, design uses, the economic benefits of investing in active transportation facilities, bicyclist safety at intersections, local design case studies, an optional field visit (downtown ride), and more.

FHWA Every Day Counts Innovation “Digital As-Builts” Series

FHWA is kicking off the New Year with a great opportunity for transportation professionals to share with their peers how they have advanced the use of Digital As-Built plans within their highway agencies.

The forum will take place on the last Monday of every month from 3:30–4:30 pm ET and will be managed by FHWA.

Please contact David Unkefer at david.unkefer@dot.gov or (404) 764-7498 with any questions.

USDOT Project Bundling Webinar Series

March 15, 2022|May 17, 2022, 2:00 - 3:00 pm (ET)

Project bundling offers a comprehensive and accelerated delivery solution for addressing strategic program goals. It streamlines design, contracting, and construction; allows agencies to capitalize on economies of scale to increase efficiency; and supports greater collaboration during project delivery and construction.

FHWA Talking TIM Webinar Series

Now through December 2022, 1:30–3:00 pm (ET)

The Talking TIM webinar series, sponsored by FHWA, provides a forum at which TIM champions with any level of experience can exchange information about current practices, programs, and technologies. Each month, the FHWA TIM Program Team will feature content that highlights successful programs, identifies best practices, and showcases technology that advances the profession.

Upcoming Events

Safe Streets Summit 2022

February 17-18, 2022

The Safe Streets Summit is a collaborative effort between the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency to provide a local yet regionally-connected approach to prioritizing and implementing Complete Streets throughout southeast Florida.

The 2022 Safe Streets Summit theme is “Resilient and Adaptive Streets,” which focuses on collaborations to build a regional vision of a safe, equitable multimodal transportation system that adapts to community needs and enables flourishing now and for the future.

Learn More

Engineers Week 2022

February 20 - 26, 2022

Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1951, Engineers Week (February 20–26, 2022) is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.

This year’s theme of “Reimagining the Possible” recognizes how engineers create new possibilities, from green buildings to fuel-efficient cars to life-saving vaccines.

By working together, engineers develop new technologies, products, and opportunities that change how we live. This Engineers Week, please take a moment to recognize and celebrate the work of engineers.

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Mayors' Fitness Challenge 2022

Now through March 26, 2022

The 2022 Health First Mayors' Fitness Challenge is a fun competition between municipalities in Brevard County to become the “Most Fit City.” Participants register as a part of their city or town’s team and submit their weekly minutes of exercise starting on January 29, 2022.

The team with the greatest average number of minutes and participation rate (participants/registrants) will win the challenge. Participants can register until the end of the challenge on March 26.

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Funding

USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program

Now through February 22, 2022

The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas of the US that currently do not have sufficient broadband access. The program will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural America by facilitating broadband services and infrastructure expansion.

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EDA Seeks Proposals to Lead Long-Term Community of Practice 'Build Back Better Regional Challenge' Finalists

Now through March 14, 2022

EDA is building a long-term Community of Practice for the 60 “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” finalists. As part of this effort, EDA is now accepting applications for an organization to lead an action-oriented, four-year Community of Practice that incentivizes regional coalition members to execute their bold regional economic development goals.

The Community of Practice leader would foster a collaborative space beyond discussions and convenings. Responsive applicants will, at the very least, demonstrate the capacity for the following activities:

◾Creating a “marketplace” for member regional coalitions to access a broader funding community (public, private, philanthropic, etc.) to promote the long-term sustainability of their projects.

◾Focusing member regional coalitions on the necessary process and policy improvements to achieve their transformational goals.

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Recreational Trails Program 2022

Now through March 1, 2022

The Recreational Trails Program is a federally-funded competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to cities, counties, states, federal governments, state-approved organizations, or state and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. The funds are used to develop recreational trails, trailheads, and trailside facilities. The program has been shifted from the Office of Greenways and Trails to DEP’s Land and Recreation Grants Section within the Division of State Lands.

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AARP Community Challenge 2022

Now through March 22, 2022

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable for people of all ages.

This year, applications will be accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, and civic engagement; support diversity, equity, and inclusion; build engagement for programs under new federal laws; and pursue innovative ideas that support people age 50 or older.

Learn More

Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center

Center for Urban Transportation Research

University of South Florida

4202 East Fowler Ave., CUT100

Tampa, FL 33620-5375 USA

T: (813) 974-4450

FloridaLTAP@usf.edu

www.FloridaLTAP.org

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