Training and Educational Opportunities

Connected Work Zone (CWZ) 101 Training – March 4, April 1, April 29

Description
This training is the first module in a two-part series on Connected Work Zones (CWZ) which has been developed based on the Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) specification. This 90-minute session introduces the 2024 Connected Work Zones Implementation Guide and Standard v1.0.0, with a focus on the fundamentals of work zone event data and connected device integration.

Who Should Attend This training is designed for agencies beginning their journey into connected work zone data management and device integration, as well as those seeking a refresher on foundational concepts.

Connected Work Zone (CWZ) 101 Training Registration Information
This course is free of charge due to a grant provided by FHWA.

CWZ 101 Training Registration Links:

March 4: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/J-UcUuEDQ7eJ6pqSFNVbMg
April 1: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/mXn-lvYoQGKj31emOkd7Dg
April 29: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/podvb3hGR8usvGEHy4fiqw

Technology Tuesday: Back to Basics – Jointing Concrete Pavements – April 14

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CDT

Join ACPA and the CP Tech Center to kick off a new year of Tech Tuesday webinars with a discussion on concrete pavement jointing for roadways and parking lots. Topics will include best practices for joint design and layout, key factors to monitor during construction, and other aspects of material selection and design to ensure durable, long-term performance of the jointing system.

Presenters:

Eric Ferrebee, Senior Director, Technical Services, American Concrete Pavement Association

Dan King, Associate Director, National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

2026 Spring Concrete Lunch & Learns – April 23-May 8

The Spring Concrete Lunch & Learns presented by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center are now open for registration. Lunch & Learns will take place during the lunch hour from noon to 1:00 p.m. with the option to purchase a $5 box lunch. Attendees will review the large variety of treatments and methods that they can use to help restore and extend the life of concrete pavements. They will cover how to select the right treatment for the right pavement at the right time, strategies to ensure long-lasting performance in the field, and examples of successful local projects that have delivered improvements and cost savings to roadway owners and the traveling public.

Visit the website for more details and to register.

Applying Section 4(f): Policy, Practice, & Documentation for Transportation Projects Workshop – April 28-29

This intensive, practitioner-focused course provides a comprehensive and practical application of Section 4(f) within the transportation project development process. Participants learn how to properly identify Section 4(f) resources, apply the correct approval pathways, develop legally defensible documentation, and integrate Section 4(f) with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCF).

Participants will work through real-world case studies, de minimis determinations, programmatic evaluations, and individual 4(f) documentation scenarios, with direct focus on administrative record sufficiency and litigation vulnerability.

More information and registration here.

Iowa LTAP 2026 Excavation Safety Workshops – April 21 to April 30th

The workshop explains the hazards of excavation and trenching, how accidents happen, and how worker protective measures should be applied. It’s a great way to inform new employees of safety protocol or to update more experienced employees on new safety information.

The workshop covers:

Critical definitions and context for excavation safety
Soils analysis: testing local soils and handling testing equipment
Shoring options: a walk-through of all the basic systems—sloping, shoring, and shielding

The workshop also provides assurance that all relevant duties of a competent person at an excavation site will be fully covered and explained. However, the employer has responsibility and authority to actually designate a worker as a Competent Person. The course covers the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart P-Excavations, of the OSHA standards for the construction industry and essential material on the similarities and differences between General Industry Confined Space and the new Construction Confined Space standard Subpart AA.

Registrations for workshops here.

2026 Motor Grader Operator Training – May 12 to June 2

Iowa LTAP is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Motor Grader Operator (MoGO) Workshops. This program is led by a team of experienced instructors who teach others efficient and safe operating practices. The classroom session includes Instruction and presentations, primarily focuses on blading techniques for different tasks, roadway/roadside cross section elements, safety, and equipment. Participants are often from several cities or counties, which promotes discussion and exchange of ideas and techniques. The dates and locations for these workshops are listed below:

May 12 – Oelwein
May 13 – Webster City
May 14 – Holstein
May 27 – Atlantic
May 28 – Osceola
June 2 – Ainsworth

Registration and more information can be found here .

2026 Iowa Streets and Roads Workshop and Conference – September 22 to 24

About the Workshop

Attend this year’s workshop on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, to learn about Team Development. There will be presentations on Leading and Motivating Teams, Working with Challenging Employees, and Selecting, Training, Hiring, and Recruiting Employees. There will also be a tour of Ziegler Caterpillar in Altoona after the workshop.

About the Conference

This year’s conference is Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24, 2026, and is sure to be one you won’t want to miss! Along with a slate of several relevant presentations, you can look forward to “mousetraps and gadgets” and roundtable discussions. Attendees will have ample time to meet with their peers and many exhibitors.

More information about the event, accommodations, and registration here.

2026 APAI Workshops

APAI MINI-WORKSHOPS ARE COMING TO RIVERSIDE, CLEAR LAKE AND COUNCIL BLUFFS!

APAI offers these exciting and innovative Workshops that will keep you up to date on what’s new in asphalt from the people who are constructing Iowa’s most cutting-edge projects. Register here.

Workshop Highlights

The Science of Asphalt Pavements: From Liquid Gold to Lasting Roads
Asphalt Toolbox
Using a Rock Interlayer
Anatomy of the Alternate Bid
HMA Paved Shoulder Widening
Equivalent Designs For Alternate Bids
Success In Action: Local Engineer’s Experiences
Contractor’s Solutions
Local Experiences
Selection Guides Update

Public Employees Leadership Institute

The Public Employees Leadership Institute (the Institute) is a series of 15 online professional courses that can help employees enhance their leadership skills and knowledge.
The Institute is approved by the American Public Works Association (APWA). The content is applicable to employees of almost any public agency or private business in any state. Participants can earn completion certificates through the Institute.

All of the Institute’s courses are online and self-paced for convenient, independent learning. Participants have 90 days to complete each course — providing them with information equivalent to a 6 to 8 hour, face-to-face workshop and the flexibility of working within their own schedule. With up-to-date and relevant content, the courses are perfect for new or aspiring supervisors or for experienced leaders who want to enhance their skills and qualifications.

For more information about the Institute, visit the webpage here.

ISWEP OnDemand eTraining

Take control of your professional development with our on-demand eTraining courses—certifications you can complete at your own pace, on your own schedule.

CDL Training for Maintenance Equipment Operators

Under a new federal rule, all providers (individual locations) of entry-level commercial driver’s license (CDL) training must be listed on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR). To be listed on the TPR, the lead trainer at each location must certify that the location meets these requirements:

Follows a training curriculum that meets specific criteria for theory and behind-the-wheel training.
Utilizes facilities, vehicles, and instructors meeting federal requirements.
Meets federal record-keeping requirements.
Complies with any applicable state laws and regulations.

For a complete overview, please click here.

Additional resources:

Dane Robinson, Arapahoe County Public Works, CDL Training Log (three tabs, first is the driving log with the lesson plan check on back, and the second tab is driver trainer notes)
FMCSA Field Offices
Clear Roads – Entry-Level Driver Training (CDL) for Maintenance Equipment Operators
Ohio LTAP CDL Theory Training
Kentucky Transportation Center Link (Summer 2022)
Minnesota LTAP Commercial Drivers License Mentimeter Survey Pre-presentation
CT LTAP ELDT Presentation

Iowa’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

The Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program is dedicated to providing technical and management assistance to Iowa’s local governments. And to accomplish their mission—of improving traffic safety through locally coordinated multidisciplinary efforts built on trusted relationships—the Iowa LTAP offers a variety of programs and resources aimed toward assisting local agencies with the ever-growing demands on the roads, streets, bridges, and public transportation of Iowa. Click here for a current list of LTAP events.

Institute for Transportation (InTrans)

The Institute for Transportation is a hub of local, regional, and national transportation-focused research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer. InTrans administers 15 centers and programs, and several other distinct research specialties, and a variety of technology transfer and professional education initiatives. Click here for a current list of InTrans events.

Research

Check out the latest research publications from the Iowa Highway Research Board. Information related to research activities including project highlights and successes, requests for proposal, unique collaborations, and more are available through the News section of the DOT’s Research Ideas site.

PWSB

Iowa Public Works Service Bureau