Georgia roads [Summer 2009]

GEORGIA ROADS

A Newsletter of Georgia's Technical Assistance Program

Vol. 20, No.13 Summer 2009

"BETTER ROADS THROUGH COOPERATION"

Now Available!

Local Government
Manual

The Georgia Department of Transportation has developed this manual to assist local government. Please read the enclosed article on page 3.

Inside this issue:

LTAP Information and 2 Lending Library

Local Government 3 Resource Manual

Training Events

4

Title VI Forum

7

Hurricane Season

8

Better Back Roads

10

Emergency 911

11

Selecting the Right Pavement Marking Materials
Pavement markings are a very important part of the communication system for road users along our nation's highways and roads. Can you imagine traveling on a freeway, major highway, or city street without the information that pavement markings provide? Pavement markings can be a very cost-effective roadway improvement in terms of reducing crashes and providing guidance to drivers, especially at night. Part 3 of the MUTCD defines the purpose of markings: to regulate and guide traffic movement and promote safety. Markings can be used to supplement other regulatory and warning devices or used alone to provide results that cannot be obtained with other devices without diverting attention from the roadway. Pavement markings, like other traffic control devices, should be easily recognized and understood, well-maintained, and used only in consistent applications, including design, color, and placement location. Materials Pavement marking materials can be divided into two common types: nondurable, primarily paints, and durable, which includes epoxy, thermoplastics, polyurea, polyurethane, tapes, and raised pavement markings. Each type has specific characteristics that must be considered in the selection process, including service life expectancy, color quality, retroreflectivity, special application methods, and of course, initial cost. Because service life and retained retroreflectivity are key elements for agency consideration, these factors should be included in life-cycle analysis to determine the most cost effective material for each type of application.
Pavement Marking continued p. 5
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LTAP Lending Library

Rick A. Smith Program Director Beverly Fontenot, Program Training
Coordinator II Adele Samuel, Program Assistant
R.W. Vaughn, Editor
Address GDOT, LTAP 276 Memorial Drive, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-656-4664 or 1-800-573-6445 Fax: 404-463-3564
EMAIL LTAP@DOT.GA.GOV
The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is a nationwide effort financed jointly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and individual state departments of transportation and/or universities. Its purpose is to disseminate the latest state-of-the-art technologies for roads, highways and bridges to municipal and county highway and transportation personnel.
The Georgia LTAP is supported by FHWA and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Georgia Roads Newsletter is one of the LTAP's activities. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the Georgia LTAP Center and do not necessarily reflect the views of the FHWA or the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The Georgia Roads Newsletter is distributed free of charge to counties, cities, towns and others with transportation responsibilities.

Here are some useful media Videos Municipal Storm Water Pollution Prevention
DVDs Telephone Doctor:
How to Handle The Irate Caller From Curt to Courteous Five Forbidden Phrases Operators Pre-Start Motor Grader Inspection Roadway Safety A Road Construction Industry Consortium Training Program CDs Common Sense Solutions to Intersection Safety Problems. Publications Ground-Based LiDAR Rock Slope Mapping and Assessment Guide to Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands
ASK US ABOUT OTHER TOPICS

2

Georgia DOT Develops Manual to Help Local Government
Beverly Fontenot, Training Coordinator, GA LTAP

Local Government Services and
Resources Manual

The Georgia Department of Transportation, (GDOT) has developed The Local Government Services and Resources Manual that explains what GDOT does and the services that are available to local government. It is the goal of the GDOT to make it easier for local government to find information and services they need and GDOT employees who can best assist them. The Local Government Services and Resources Manual details information about:

1. Resources to Improve Local Roadways and Bridges (i.e. State Aid Grant program, Off-system Striping, State Law Compliance and Landscape and Enhancement Programs)

2. Federal Programs, such as Federal Aid for Highways and Bridges, Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements programs

3. Technical Assistance and Training Opportunities - Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)

4. Key Information Resources- Transportation Explorer (TREX), Map Products, Traffic Data/Traffic Counts and the Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP)

5. Permits- covers Access Management, Driveway Permits, Traffic Signals Permits and Red Light Camera Permits

6. Maintaining the System - deals with Bridge Inspection Program, Litter Prevention and Pickup, and Limiting Junkyards

7. Equipment- provides information on crane use for bridge repair, surplus materials and roadway signage.

The manual also provides the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of contact persons in each district. Please consider the local GDOT staff as your primary contact for information on the Department they live and work in the communities, municipalities and counties you represent. The manual can be downloaded from the GDOT website. Go to: www.dot.ga.gov/localgovernment/Pages/default.aspx then scroll down to Local Government Manual

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DATE

EVENT CALENDAR

EVENT

LOCATION

September 3

Chain Saw Safety Workshop

September 22-24

Urban Drainage Design

October 6

Basic Surveying

October 7

Advanced Surveying

Work Zone Traffic Control Call to set up this workshop at your location

Safety 101 Call to set up this workshop at your location

Bibb County Forest Park Macon GDOT Area Office Macon GDOT Area Office

Georgia's on Georgia Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Mind in 2009! Plans are underway for GHSA's 2009 Annual Meeting, being held August 29-September 2 in Savannah, GA This year's theme, "Toward Zero Deaths: Every Life Counts," highlights the association's ambitious fatality reduction goal. Visit www.ghsa.org/html/meetings/annual/2009/index.html for more information. APWA 2009 Congress The Best Show in Public Works Plan to attend this spectacular event September 13-16, 2009, Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH. Check out APWA's website: www.apwa.net for more information and to register.
4

Pavement Marking continued...
Performance Many factors influence the performance of pavement marking materials. The major factors can be grouped into three categories: Roadway Surface, Traffic and Environmental.
Roadway Surface The roadway surface that material is placed upon is one of the most important factors influencing pavement marking performance. Generally, pavement markings are placed upon three general types of roadway surfaces: hot-mix asphalt concrete, Portland cement concrete and open-graded bituminous pavements. Engineers can expect a given pavement marking material to perform differently on each surface type. Three major surface characteristics that affect marking performance are: surface roughness, heat sensitivity and surface porosity.
Traffic Traffic volume greatly influences the performance of a pavement marking regardless of the pavement surface. The service life of nearly all pavement marking materials is decreased when exposed to increased traffic volumes. However, some materials are clearly more resistant to traffic than others. Some agencies select pavement marking materials based on traffic volume levels. Standard water-based paint often provides suitable performance on low volume roadways, thereby making it cost-effective. Durable pavement markings, such as thermoplastics, preformed tapes, and epoxies are often recommended for use on roadways with medium to high traffic volumes. This is mainly because paints often deteriorate rapidly under high traffic conditions, and frequent restriping is not desirable. Under extremely hightraffic conditions or locations of weaving areas or where there are transverse markings, materials of the utmost durability are desirable.
Environmental Environmental conditions have a major influence on the performance of a pavement marking material. The effect of environmental conditions on performance can be broken in two separate categories:
1. weather conditions when the marking is placed 2. year-round climate. The weather conditions when the marking is placed are often said to be one of the most influential factors in the performance of the marking. This is especially true for environmentally sensitive materials such as thermoplastics and tapes. Year-round climatic conditions can also affect the long-term performance of a pavement marking material. States in sunbelt regions may experience color fading and cracking of certain pavement marking materials due to more intense ultraviolet exposure in these areas. For all pavement marking materials, a properly cleaned and dried surface is absolutely critical to ensure proper bonding and maximum durability in the performance of nearly all markings, especially thermoplastic.
Determining When To Restripe Eventually all pavement markings degrade to the point where they reach the end of their useful service life. This is defined as the point when the marking has deteriorated so that it no longer provides suitable visibility to drivers. It may be anywhere from a few weeks to many years after placement of the marking.
Determining End-of-Service Life Normally, three methods are used for determining the end-of-service life of pavement markings: daytime visual evaluation; nighttime visual evaluation and retroreflectivity evaluation. Daytime Visual Evaluation. Subjective daytime visual evaluation can be performed using the daytime inspection method. This method involves determining the maximum daytime visibility distance of existing markings when viewed from a vehicle. Daytime visual inspection of pavement markings should occur at least once a year. Nighttime Visual Evaluation. Subjective nighttime visual evaluation can be performed using the nighttime inspection method. This method involves determining the maximum nighttime visibility distance of existing markings when viewed from a vehicle with the headlamps on. Nighttime visual inspection of pavement markings should occur at least once per year.
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Retroreflectivity Evaluation. Retroreflectivity evaluation can be performed by taking a series of retroreflectivity measurements of the markings and comparing them to guidelines for minimum in-service retroreflectivity For additional information on pavement marking, check out these resources: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2003 Edition http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation Pavement Marking Handbook-http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/pmh/ pmh.pdf. Low Cost Safety Improvements, FHWA, March 2004 (workshop material) available at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/ resourcecenter/teams/safety or call FHWA at 708-283-3545. FHWA MUTCD Pavement Marking Tutorial- http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/PavMkgs/Tutorial/pm_types.htm. Wisconsin Transportation Bulletin No. 9- http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/pdf_web_files/tic/bulletins/ Bltn_009_Pavement_Markings.pdf. The Traffic Control Devices Handbook, ITE, 2003. Available at www.ite.org or call 202-289-0222.
Videotapes are available through LTAP free of charge. Some titles that relate to marking are: Sign Maintenance and Installation; FHWA, 27 min., #M/O - 158 Traffic Signs and Markings S/T- 128 Reference: Pavement Marking Handbook, (2004) Texas Department of Transportation from http:// onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/pmh/pmh.pdf
Deciding to Restripe
6

National Title VI/Nondiscrimination Forum
for Local Public Agencies (LPAs) August 19, 2009 Birmingham, AL
The FHWA is sponsoring a National Title VI Forum for state and local governments, agencies and organizations who receive FHWA funds. These recipients and sub-recipients must ensure non-discrimination in all their programs and activities, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and related statutes. As leaders for improving mobility on our nation's highways, the FHWA has responsibilities for ensuring that all people, regardless of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex, Age, or Disability share in the benefits of highway programs. The National Title VI Forum will advance the concept of: Public Funds for Public Benefits!!!
The Objectives of the Title VI Forum are: 1. To share information on meeting Title VI requirements and other related statutes and authorities, such as ADA/504, Environmental Justice (EJ), Limited English Proficiency (LEP), etc. 2. To provide an opportunity for our customers, partners, and stakeholders to share knowledge, resources, and demonstrate tools to implement efficient and effective programs that enhance community participation and partnerships. 3. To communicate emerging issues in Title VI and provide updated info on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
FORMAT Keynote speakers Panels/roundtables/Q&A's Workshops and General Sessions:
1. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 2. FHWA ARRA National Review Teams 3. Sub-recipients' Guide to Implement Title VI 4. Civil Rights Requirements for LPAs (ADA/504, DBE, Title VI, Contractor Compliance) 5. Research & Development (R&D) Opportunities (Partnerships with Minority Colleges &
Universities) 6. Title VI Considerations in the Federal-aid Highway Program: Planning, Environment,
Design, Right-of-Way, Construction, R&D
EXHIBITS Product Demonstration Showcase (PDS) of Title VI Tools Public Involvement Software ADA and Title VI e-learning Tools Data Collection and Analysis Software Demonstrations Brochures, Program Documents, Sample Plans, Forms, etc.
No Registration Fee for the Forum! WHEN: August 19, 2009 (8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.) WHERE: Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Riverchase Galleria, Birmingham, AL 35244 Phone: 205-987-1600 for Reservations TO REGISTER: Visit the following website: www.brgfl.com/STCREC or for more information contact: Teresa Banks 404-562-3592; Candace Groudine 202-366-4634; Mohamed Dumbuya 804-775-3339
7

Hurricane season is underway
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November, with August and September being the busiest part of the season. The National Hurricane Center predicts there will be nine to 14 named storms, four to seven hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes at Category 3 or higher this season. Take steps now, and do small things incrementally to get ready for the hurricane season. Use the following checklist as a guide to help prepare.
Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days -- non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices -- foods for infants or the elderly -- snack foods -- non-electric can opener -- cooking tools / fuel -- paper plates / plastic utensils Blankets / Pillows, etc. Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs Special Items - for babies and the elderly Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes Flashlight / Batteries Radio - Battery operated weather radio Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless)
telephone set Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for
extended periods Keys Toys, Books and Games Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag -- insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, social security card, etc. Tools - keep a set with you during the storm Vehicle fuel tanks filled Pet care items -- proper identification / immunization records / medications -- ample supply of food and water -- a carrier or cage -- muzzle and leash
Reference: www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml
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Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact. Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
Reference: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/family_plan.shtml
Common Sense Approach to Traffic Control in Intersections
Have you ever had to set up a work site in the middle of an intersection? Then you're all too familiar with the problem this causes with cross traffic, turn lanes, extra directional signs, and often signals. When setting up a work site in or near an intersection, you're making it even that much more difficult for motorists. To find ways to help guide motorists past your work site when you're working in an intersection, check out A Common Sense Approach to Low Speed Traffic Control by Traffic Education & Consulting Services. This video and participant guide can be checked out from our LTAP library free of charge.
Road Safety Audits (RSA) for Local Governments Workshop--Orlando Florida
This free, workshop introduces local road agency professionals to RSAs as an effective tool to reduce injuries and fatalities. The training includes basic road safety audit concepts, risk and safety, common issues, and demonstrates how low cost safety improvements can be implemented quickly on any road network. Participants will gain experience in conducting a Road Safety Audit. Register for this events by clicking on the links above or by calling 352-273-1675. http://t2.ce.ufl.edu/workshops.asp?workshop=RSA1 Tuesday September 22 2:00 p.m.5:00 p.m. Wednesday September 23 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
AASHTO Video Advances Life-Saving Study
Approximately 60 percent of the nation's highway deaths are caused by lane departure crashes. This type of collision occurs when a vehicle veers from its lane. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation, AASHTO, released Driving Down Lane-Departure Crashes, a study outlining a number of relatively low-cost, systematic approaches that many state departments of transportation are implementing to save lives. You can watch this educational video by visiting www.youtube.com/aashtovideo, or by logging onto www.transportation.org
Share your successes (and your challenges) with the LTAP community. If you have tried something new that is working well, send in the details and it may be included in the LTAP newsletter. If you have a challenge, maybe LTAP can help you address it and include the story in the newsletter. Photos of interesting transportation features in your community can also be submitted for the newsletter.
9

Georgia Better Back Roads Program
From Rick, A. Smith, Director GA, LTAP
Project Background:
County commissioners from throughout the state have long been concerned with the increased cost for maintaining unpaved roads, as well as the potential for water quality related fines caused by sediment leaving these dirt roads. In response, the Two Rivers Resources Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council has secured a Georgia Environmental Protection Division grant to address these needs. This statewide partnership includes NRCS Field Offices, Georgia RC&D Councils, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Georgia DOT, Georgia Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), and the Georgia Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The project will have three components: 1) Statewide Demonstration Sites, 2) Statewide Training Seminars, and 3) Publication of an Unpaved Road Maintenance Manual.
Project Goals:
1. Improve water quality by identifying cost-effective techniques/materials for stabilizing road surfaces and ditches.
2. Establish and monitor 40 statewide demonstration sites. 3. Document/Publish project results in the Unpaved Road Improvement Manual. 4. Provide statewide training opportunities to county officials, state and federal agencies responsible for
maintaining unpaved public roads.
Project Timeline:
1. Demonstration Sites - Forty statewide sites will be treated by July 2010 2. Unpaved Road Maintenance Manual - A Georgia manual will be published by November 2009 3. Statewide Training Seminars - Two statewide seminars will be conducted before February 2010.
The concept of people helping people to improve the environment and their standard of living is not a new one. RC&D Councils have been doing this since 1964. Today, there are more than 368 independent RC&D Councils in the United States. In Georgia, the Two River RC&D Council is one of 11 Councils authorized and partially funded by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, all incorporated as non-profits under section 501c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To learn more about Two Rivers RC&D or the Georgia Better Back Roads Program, contact them at www.tworivers.org.
100 Ridley Avenue LaGrange, GA 30240 Phone: 706-885-0101 Fax: 706-885-0103 Email: tworiversrcd@hotmail.com
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________________________ ________________________ ________________________

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LOCAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 276 Memorial Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30303-3743
Working with Georgia Cities and Counties to Improve Transportation

Postage

Grant Available to Help States Upgrade 9-1-1 Services
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) have announced the Notice of Funding Availability for more than $40 million in grants to help states and territories improve their 9-1-1 call centers. The grants were authorized by the Ensuring Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 9-1-1 Act (ENHANCE 911 Act). All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories are eligible for the grants. Among other things, the funds will be used to implement technologies to deliver wireless 9-1-1 calls with automatic location information. The joint announcement, published in the Federal Register, spells out details of the grant program, including the application and administrative requirements of the Final Rule. The funds will be awarded in fiscal year 2009. Interested parties will have 60 days to submit applications. Instructions for applicants can be found at: www.e-911ico.gov/. Questions related to the application process can be directed to nhtsa.national911@dot.gov or 202-366-3485.
11

CUT IF MAILING OR FAX TO 404-463-3564
Georgia Department of Transportation Local Technical Assistance Program 276 Memorial Drive S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303
Sponsored by: Georgia Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
GEORGIA ROADS Is a technical newsletter about local roads published by the Georgia Department of Transportation Local Technical Assistance Program. It is written for Georgia's municipal and county employees who are responsible for planning and managing local roads. All your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Please call us toll free at 1-800-573-6445.
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NEW SUBSCRIBER OR UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION

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Phone _____________________________ Fax ____________________

Email ______________________________________________________

Comments: _________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Call Toll Free: 1-800-573-6445 Email: LTAP@dot.ga.gov Fax: 404-656-3564 Ph: 404-656-5364

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