In this issue... This Month, From the Director: NJ LTAP Teams With NJDOT Bureau of Research on Implementation Study

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1 Volume 10, Issue 11 November 2008 In this issue... This Month, From the Director New OSHA Safety and Health Information Professional Development Corner Construction Equipment Visibility FHWA Long-Term Bridge Performance Program NJDCA Announces Changes to Municipal Consolidation Laws Highlights from NJDOT Research Implementation Study Free for the Asking This Month, From the Director: NJ LTAP Teams With NJDOT Bureau of Research on Implementation Study The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Bureau of Research, funds approximately 20 research projects a year. The Bureau is frequently approached by sponsors to justify the value of their work to a much broader audience. The New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program was asked by the Bureau to conduct an implementation study in order to identify the quantitative and qualitative benefits of NJDOT research projects that were completed between 2004 and Principal Investigators from universities and research customers were interviewed by LTAP staff on the outcomes of the research studies. The investigators reported on additional studies and projects that had been generated as a consequence of this research work. Interviews were also arranged with the customers to not only establish benefits, but follow up activities that happened as a result of the research. As confirmed in the implementation reports, located at the NJDOT Research website, ( the financial investment that NJDOT leaders made in research was immediately realized with savings of $10 million from improved roadway safety, decreased vehicular and truck crashes, and lessened negative environmental impact.

2 Many of these projects also benefited state, county, as well as local roads through the reduction of congestion and upgraded aesthetics. Furthermore, new technologies and the transfer of knowledge were successfully introduced to transportation professionals who are responsible for monitoring the efficiency and quality of transportation services in New Jersey. Source: Dr. Claudia Knezek, CAIT Tech Transfer Group Three New Safety and Health Information Bulletins Available on OSHA's Web Site OSHA's latest Safety and Health Information Bulletins (SHIBs) highlight specific workplace hazards and ways to minimize the potential for serious or fatal injuries. The SHIB on Compactor Rollover Hazards addresses rollover hazards when operating roller/compactor machines and the use of rollover protective structures and seatbelts to reduce the risk. Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs describes ways to reduce crushed-by, caughtby, or struck-by hazards associated with these potentially dangerous tasks of unloading stone slabs from containers, storing them in "slab-racking" systems, moving and handling stone slabs with equipment, and loading stone slabs onto trucks. Hazards of Using Flammable Liquids in Cutting Laminated Glass SHIB offers safer alternative methods for cutting laminated glass, and recommendations for safe work practices to accomplish this goal. Source: Occupational Health and Safety Administration Professional Development Corner Summer Internship Programs If you currently offer or are considering establishing a summer internship program, this is the time of year to begin planning for a successful one that will be meaningful for the interns and well worth the time, effort, and expense of conducting such a program. There are three key areas that go into running an internship program: recruiting, compensation, and training. Each carries its own cost which varies by industry. Some internships are offered for college credit only, and if an ongoing relationship can be established with a local college or university, recruiting costs could be negligible as well. New York State s internship program is non-paid, while Ohio DOT offers a sliding pay scale depending on experience and years of college/graduate school completed. The USDOT (FHWA) offers summer internships for diverse groups/all majors and offers a stipend of up to $4000 for 10 weeks, with possible college credit. There is also a John A. Volpe Transportation Internship for graduate students which offers tuition assistance up to $10,000. The salary is commensurate with experience and level of education and includes a service agreement assuring that the student will return to work for them for a certain period of time Regardless of the industry, the major cost of an internship program revolves around training, both technical and basic professional training, where seasoned professionals take time to pass along information regarding office protocol, business meeting etiquette, and other subtleties that are critical to making a smooth transition from college to a real world environment. For many young people, an internship is their first professional experience. Conducting an internship program is an investment in a future workforce, and is especially important in the field of transportation since it exposes students to the possibilities of a career in transportation, something they may not have considered without the internship experience. The goal of an internship program should be to identify and inspire promising summer interns who can be converted to full time employees upon graduation. Once identified, it is important to keep those individuals engaged in some way during the time between the end of the internship and when they become available for a full time, permanent position.

3 Employers must maintain the bond they established over the summer. There are many, relatively inexpensive ways to do that, and establishing a process to accomplish this should be part of the overall plan when organizing an internship program. Workforce consultant and author, Sylvia Henderson recommends establishing a mentorship program that will extend beyond the internship period. She advocates regular monthly contact either by personal note or company newsletter. Inviting two way communication by soliciting ideas and suggestions from former interns helps them to feel as though they are still part of the community. Steve Rothberg, CEO of College Recruiter.com, suggests hiring former interns as part of an ambassador program, a commonly used tool on college campuses. To appeal to today s youth who are so internet savvy, there are companies such as New York- based Select Minds that help employers maintain and enhance relationships with interns through use of a social networking platform called InterConnect, which functions like Facebook, but with greater privacy and scalability. It s about creating a community and keeping in touch with friends (summer employers, mentors, and other former interns). Source: Workforce.com; websites for USDOT; Ohio DOT; NY DOT Construction Equipment Visibility The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is introducing a new web page on blind areas around equipment. The web page, designed for safety personnel and instructors, can be used to raise awareness on the hazards of working around construction vehicles and equipment. Blind area diagrams for 38 types of construction equipment are available for download or print. A blind area diagram is a detailed visual representation of the area around a vehicle or piece of equipment that cannot be seen from the operator s position. The Construction Equipment Visibility webpage can be found at For more information about NIOSH research on construction equipment visibility contact: David E. Fosbroke atdef2@cdc.gov. Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health FHWA Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Session at TRB What is bridge performance? Why is it important to enhance what we know about it? What do we need to ensure our nation s bridges are safe, efficient, economical, and durable? And how can we manage them better? A half-day session at this year s Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting will address these questions. Hear from the team engaged in the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program, the Federal Highway Administration s flagship program to conduct a comprehensive examination of our nation s workhorse highway bridges. Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) is leading the study, coordinating a diverse team of experts from industry, government agencies, and academia. The current status of all significant features of the program will be described and audience input will be solicited. The session will run from 8:00am through noon on January 15, For information on the LTBP program, visit Source: CAIT Tech Transfer Group

4 NJ Department of Community Affairs Announces Changes to Municipal Consolidation Laws In 2007 changes to municipal consolidation and shared services laws were made through the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act, P.L. 2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 et seq.). The law, the result of the Legislature s Special Session on Property Tax Reform, streamlined and reformed laws regarding shared services, joint meetings, and municipal consolidations. The Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act established shared services (eliminating the interlocal services phrase) as a term of art, and reformed their enabling laws by recodifying them and adding new provisions, making similar changes to joint meeting laws. The act established the Sharing Available Resources Efficiently (SHARE) grant program for local units to investigate shared services opportunities. The law also made changes that provided methods for resolving Civil Service and labor contract barriers to shared services. The law additionally created a new way for municipalities to consider consolidation through the new the Local Option Municipal Consolidation Act (N.J.S.A. 40A:65-25 et seq.), created in Sub article D of the Uniform Shared Service and Consolidation Act. This Notice covers the changes to consolidation law; however, a separate Notice will cover changes to shared service law. The Local Option Municipal Consolidation (Local Option) law creates new ways of initiating the municipal consolidation process and makes changes to the long-existing Municipal Consolidation Act. Prior to the Local Option, municipalities were required to create consolidation study commissions by ordinance or resolutions. The Commission had fixed timetables and there was little flexibility to meet the many different circumstances faced by municipalities considering consolidation. The Municipal Consolidation Act continues to exist and many of its provisions still play a role in the consolidation study process. Under the Local Option, governing bodies or a representative group of citizens may apply to the Local Finance Board (Board) for either the creation of a Municipal Consolidation Study Commission (N.J.S.A. 40A:65-25) or approval of a consolidation plan with no ordinance or resolution issued by the municipality; both under terms and conditions that are highly flexible to meet local needs. For full information on the law visit the Division of Local Government Services webpage by at dlgs@dca.state.nj.us, or by phone at Officials or citizens considering consolidation are urged to contact the Division before proceeding to ensure they understand the law and how the Division can help. Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs Highlights from the NJDOT Research Implementation Study 2004 Research Outcomes New Technologies: The research investment of nearly two million dollars resulted in improved time and efficiency on the job, as well as increased customer satisfaction with transportation services. The 2004 projects were primarily responsible for introducing new technologies, decision-making tools, and simulation models to NJDOT customers. Specifically, modeling applications were used to develop and pilot a series of roadway simulation models and the NCHRP bridge specifications were reviewed for applicability in New Jersey. As a result, three additional studies were requested by the NJDOT Bridge Department for completing the development of one comprehensive design manual (instead of two guides) and a decision-making analysis model using the existing boring data base system. The technology transfer benefit for these important projects was identified as enhanced efficiency and future cost savings for NJDOT.

5 2005 Research Outcomes Nearly 90% of the 24 projects involved the development and piloting of computer simulation and decision-making models to increase safety on New Jersey roadways. Over $8.5 million was realized from the research conducted during this period, while the potential exists for the NJDOT to save several million dollars over time through the reduction of fatal and injury roadway crashes, recycling of pavement instead of using virgin asphalt, the development of customized bridge designs based on coring data, application of geopolymer coating to protect much of our vulnerable infrastructure, and the future installation of energy efficient LED lighting on New Jersey roadways. Statewide Safety Network: Safety and environmental projects provided the greatest financial benefit due to the strong economic relationship between reduction of crashes and congestion. In one study, a statewide safety network was established to support local transportation agencies. This network facilitated the contribution of $3,000,000 to the MPOs for the purpose of supporting local safety programs. Later, a series of focus groups were organized to develop the first statewide Comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety Plan (CSHSP). Since the Plan has been officially adopted in New Jersey, there was a 20 percent reduction of roadway crashes. Optimal Signal Timing: Another cost savings for the NJDOT has been realized through the systematic improvement of traffic operations along the State s signalized highway corridors. Optimal signal timings were developed using traffic volume data and existing signal timing. New timing directives were reviewed and approved by NJDOT Bureau of Traffic Engineering and Safety Programs to ensure compliance with the NJDOT standards and format. Significant improvement in level of service was achieved by optimizing the signals, reducing by half the average vehicle delays during peak morning hours. This capital program is now in its fourth year and has grown from an initial $1,000,000 budget item to $1,700,000 with additional change orders of $1,000,000 for a closed loop traffic operation. An additional $10,000,000 over the next 5 years is possible for optimization of routes in conjunction with Congestion Management Systems. This has allowed NJDOT to satisfy the optimization requirements in the Federal Performance Plan. The results were posted on the NJDOT website. Savings were realized through the reduction of labor, while safety benefits still need to be identified, along with travel time savings Research Outcomes Knowledge Transfer: The 2006 research projects resulted in the reduction of truck crashes, improvement of the environment, and significant knowledge transfer for those involved in the research projects. According to the University researchers, the six studies produced a total of 22 presentations and 21 publications that were presented and published in the United States and Europe. Three Master s thesis studies were produced by staff members, who also teamed with faculty members in demonstrating computer software systems and decision-making tools for federal, state, and local audiences. The research experience enabled students to gain critical background for future employment in the transportation industry. Reduction of Truck Crashes: During this period, one important project was responsible for determining to what extent trucks were traveling illegally in the left lane on Route 17 in Paramus. A partnership was formed between local enforcement, a New Jersey State Senator, the NJDOT, and NJIT to develop and support solutions for improving safety conditions on this roadway. Safety improvements were accomplished through the use of technical instruments to capture the extent of the problem and then employ educational resources to address the issue. Using the national truck crash costs of $91,112 per crash, the number of large truck crashes decreased by 77% from the previous year; which had shown a savings of $1,548,904 based at the time of the research activities. Local Pavement Management Systems: Another study involved the New Jersey Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) as the project customers. The MPOs provided input on the selection of local agencies for the implementation of the Pavement Management System. The technology transfer tasks included educating local government engineers on PMS concepts and benefits of the program. A series of workshops and a statewide conference was conducted for local agencies. Six PMS programs

6 were implemented that included developing a base PMS, data collection, conducting a pilot implementation and presenting the results to the agencies for feedback. Road network conditions were evaluated in terms of the NJDOT Ride Quality Index (RQI), Surface Distress Index (SDI), and the NJDOT overall Final Pavement Rating (FPR). Two analysis tools were used that included decision trees and performance prediction models. The decision tree was used for flexible pavements and analysis, while the performance prediction models were customized to reflect the service life of pavements. A cost savings of $100,000 for the development and installation of each PMS system was realized by the six agencies. Source: CAIT Tech Transfer Group FREE FOR THE ASKING: This month, the New Jersey LTAP Center is offering a limited number of the Fourth Edition of the Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Design Guide, prepared by the New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Association in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation. One copy is available per organization. Requests MUST be made by completing this form and faxing to: If you would like to receive a copy of this publication, please complete the form below and fax it to Janet at New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program Publication Request (only 1 copy each per organization): Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Design Guide Name: Employer: Mailing address: FAX BACK TO (732) , ATTN: JANET