Iowa State University Institute for Transportation

PWSB

Iowa Public Works Service Bureau

Training and Educational Opportunities

Iowa DOT Grading, HMA Paving, and Structures Field Inspection Courses – March 21 Through March 29

There are still plenty of open spots in the following free Field Inspection courses:

Structures Field Inspection March 21-22, 2023, at the US HWY 30 Garage Training Room in Ames.

Grading Field Inspection March 27-28, 2023, at the East Materials Conference Room in Ames.

HMA Paving Field Inspection March 29-30, 2023, at the US HWY 30 Garage Training Room in Ames.

These are great courses for anyone with upcoming Grading, HMA Paving, or Structures projects, or for new employees working their way into inspection.

These classes are open to Iowa DOT employees, Local Government Employees, and Consultants.

If you would like a preview of the course content, the class Training Manuals are available online here.

Enrollment is available through IOWADOT U, with step-by-step instructions available here.

Iowa DOT Appia Training – March 23, 24, and 30

Appia is a web-based application used to facilitate the administration and documentation of construction projects.  This training is designed for all local agency and consultant staff who are involved in the construction inspection and administration process. Use for cities is optional now but will be required at a later date.  All local agency personnel are encouraged to attend if they have not attended an Appia training within the last year as there are numerous updates. Registration is open on IDOTU for this session.

The following trainings will be held:

  • Thursday, March 23 @ West Branch – Rummells Community Center (Meeting Room, basement)
  • Friday, March 24 @ Denison – Western Iowa Tech Community College (Room B3)
  • Thursday, March 30 @ Fayette – Upper Iowa University (Student Center Ballroom, 2nd floor)

This training will be held from 9:30am – 2:30pm and will include a lunch break.  Registration will begin at 9:15am.

Click here for instructions on how to register through IDOTU.  Please note that all registration information and correspondence about the class will be sent to the email address associated with the registrant in IDOTU.

Additional information can be found on the Local Systems Training & Videos website. Please contact Niki Stinn or Doug Heeren with any questions pertaining to Appia trainings.

APWA Iowa Chapter Spring Conference – March 29-31

Join us for the the annual APWA Iowa Chapter Spring Conference in West Des Moines, March 29-31, 2023. Hundreds of public works professionals at all levels attend this event each year to attend the various educational sessions, visit with numerous exhibitors in the exhibit hall, and participate in priceless networking opportunities. Participants look forward to this conference all year and its one you don’t want to miss! Click here to register or learn more.

Excavation Safety Workshops – April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

Register for the 2023 Excavation Safety Competent Person Training Workshops hosted by Iowa LTAP. This workshop explains the hazards of excavation and trenching and also provides assurance that all relevant duties of a competent person at an excavation site will be fully covered and explained. Information and links for registration for these workshops can be found at: https://iowaltap.iastate.edu/events/2023-excavation-safety-workshops/

The dates and locations are:

  • April 4 – Storm Lake
  • April 5 – Clarion
  • April 6 – Independence
  • April 11 – Corning
  • April 12 – Indianola
  • April 13 – Sigourney

Concrete Pavement Mix Selection and Design – April 4, 6, 19, 21, 25, and 26; May 4 and 5

The Spring Concrete Lunch & Learns presented by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center are 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 boxed lunch. This lunch & learn we cover how the right concrete mix is a crucial step in building durable, long-lasting concrete pavements that meet the needs of agencies and the traveling public. Click here for more details and to register.

Accessible Sidewalks and Curb Ramps: Design to Installation – April 6

This workshop will benefit state and local professionals that plan, design, inspect, and construct Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-related facilities within the public right-of-way. State and local agency staff, consultants, and contractors are encouraged to attend. Please click here for more information and to register. Registration is $25 and required before the event.

APWA North American Snow Conference FREE EXPO PASS – April 17-18

The APWA Nebraska Chapter wants you to experience the 2023 Snow Conference Exhibit Floor and all it has to offer free of charge! Just click here to register for a free expo pass for #Show4Snow. Share this link with everyone in your organization! Note that an Expo Pass does not include education sessions, but it does include education offered by our vendors at the Exhibitor Solutions Theater and the New Product Showcase & Theater located on the exhibit floor.

MUTCD Signing Review Workshops – May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18

In May, LTAP will hold 1/2 day workshops in Ames (5/9), Atlantic (5/10), Cherokee (5/11), Cedar Rapids (5/16), Waverly (5/17) and Fairfield (5/18). This workshop will include a review of selected signing material in a number of the MUTCD chapters. A brief overview of Revision 3 (pavement marking retroreflectivity) will also be covered. The workshop will be of value to both new signing personnel and experienced staff who would like a refresher. Click here to register and get more information about these workshops. Registration before the event is required.

International Low Volume Roads Conference – July 23-26

Iowa is hosting the 13th TRB conference on Low Volume Roads in Cedar Rapids, July 23-26.  Early (lower cost) registration ends March 23rd.  This conference is hosted by the Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA), sponsored by the Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) and the Institute for Transportation. 

TRB has hosted this conference every four years since 1975.  The conference is a global forum to examine new technologies and techniques in the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of low-volume roads that are maintained by a wide variety of jurisdictions world-wide. The agenda is planned to include full- and mini-workshops, a field trip, lightning poster sessions, and speaker presentations.  Typically, 200 to 300 practitioners and researchers from more than 20 countries are in attendance. 

Conference Website:  https://trb.secure-platform.com/a/page/lowvolumeroads

Agenda:  https://trb.secure-platform.com/a/page/lowvolumeroads/AAG

The full early-bird registration rate for this conference ends on March 23.  

Registration for the conference:  Registration

Separate registration for Iowa Night**: https://iowaltap.iastate.edu/events/iowa-night-at-lvr-conference/ **Please note, ICEA is also hosting an “Iowa Night” and Buchanan County is hosting a post-conference bridge workshop with separate registrations. Visit the “Offsite Events” page of the conference website for details on how to register.

Iowa DOT’s Technical Training & Certification Program (TTCP)

More information on all dates and options is available in the registration book.

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:

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

For a complete overview, please click here.

Additional resources:

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.