Training and Educational Opportunities

Basic Construction Inspection Webinar Series – April 16-18 and 23-25

This webinar series covers roadway related construction inspection. It will consist of six one-hour online sessions beginning each day at 12:00 PM (Central Time). During each session, there will be time for questions from the attendees. Registration is required to attend any or all of the six sessions.

This webinar series is co-sponsored by the Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), the Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the Iowa County Engineers Association. The contributions of these organization make this series possible and have the thanks of the Iowa LTAP.

Click here to read more about each of the sessions and to register.

2024 Spring Iowa Concrete Lunch and Learn – April 18 to May 7

The Spring Concrete Lunch & Learns presented by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center are now open for registration. Lunch & Learns will take place in various locations around the state and each event will be held from noon to 1:00 p.m. with the option to purchase a $5 box lunch. Topics covered include widespread adoption of portland limestone cement, new mixture specifications prioritizing durability, and increasing prioritization of sustainability by both the public and private sector. 

Visit the website for more details and to register.

Iowa State University, Extension and Outreach Workshops – April 23 and 25

Grant Proposal Boot Camp:  Workshopping Your Proposals from Start to Finish is designed for individuals working on a fundable project and offers real-time insights from experienced grant writers. This will be offered in Hiawatha, IA on 4/23/24 (click here). 

Grant Writing 101 helps beginners learn how to identify funding sources, effectively project plan, and write successful grant applications.  This will be offered Sac City, IA on 4/25/24 (click here).  

Excavation Safety Workshops – April 23 to May 2

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. For more information and to register, click here.

Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges (2 week) – April 29 to May 3 and May 6 to May 10

A detailed description of this course is on the National Highway Institute website. It was updated in 2022 and is based on the FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual (BIRM – 1995 Coding Guide Version), National Bridge Inspection Standards (2009 NBIS) and 1995 FHWA Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nations Bridges (Coding Guide). The completion of this course fulfills the training requirements of the NBIS (23 CFR 650.309) for an FHWA-approved comprehensive training course. There is a required pre-requisite to attend this course. For more information and to register, click here.

Accessible Sidewalks and Curb Ramps: Design to Installation – April 30

This workshop will benefit state and local professionals who 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. NOTE: This workshop will not cover changes that have recently occurred to the national Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) until any alterations that may be needed are approved for publishing within the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specification (SUDAS) and/or the Iowa DOT Design Manual. For more information and to register, click here.

Iowa Build a Better Mousetrap Competition (Iowa LTAP) – Deadline May 10

Each year Iowa LTAP sponsors a statewide Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) competition.  It is the people on the front lines who often discover the latest and best practices, whether through new gadgets that improve the quality and safety of a project or innovative processes that reduce costs and improves efficiency.  Iowa’s BABM Competition provides a great opportunity to share your new ideas with others!  We are looking for submissions from Iowa’s local public agencies (e.g., cities and counties) that have created different solutions to problems or found better ways of doing things.  The top three winners are recognized statewide and are offered free workshop registrations. 

The application deadline is May 10, 2024.  For more information and to apply online please go to this link.

2024 Motor Grader Operator (MoGO) Workshops – May 14 to May 23

Iowa LTAP is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2024 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 14 – Cherokee
May 15 – Clarion
May 16 – Independence
May 21 – Atlantic
May 22 – Indianola
May 23 – Ainsworth

Registration and more information can be found at https://iowaltap.iastate.edu/events/2024-motor-grader-operator-workshops/.

For questions or additional information, contact:

Paul Albritton
Technical Training Coordinator, Iowa LTAP
2711 S. Loop Dr. Suite 4700
Ames, IA 50010
515-294-1231
Iowa LTAP

Iowa DOT Culvert & Bridge Backwater Program Workshops – May 15 to May 29

Registration is now open for the Iowa DOT Culvert & Bridge Backwater Program workshops on May 15 (Ames), 22 (Hiawatha), and 29 (Harlan).

This workshop will cover basic principles the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) uses in the selection of bridge and culvert replacement structures. The discussion will include a wide variety of concerns that are addressed during the concept stage of project development, typical deliverables that are completed during the concept phase, and the development of preliminary hydrology and hydraulics needed to appropriately specify the type and size of bridge or culvert to be constructed.

During the hydraulic review for each sample problem, the workshop will cover the use of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) StreamStats program for estimating design discharges, the use of the Iowa DOT Annual Exceedance-Probability Discharges (AEPD) spreadsheet for calculating and comparing peak discharges using other methodologies, and the Iowa DOT Culvert and Bridge Backwater programs.

Please go to this link to see attendance requirements and limitations for these workshops. If you should have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Keith Knapp at 515-294-8817 or kknapp@iastate.edu.

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:

• 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.