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To ensure current and future projects benefit the public to their fullest, public works departments need to reevaluate the changed needs of the community and adapt projects to address these new demands. Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works reimagined the Greenwich Avenue and Elm Street Intersection Improvement Project by incorporating innovative concepts into all project phases. The project features the implementation of safe streets design; a strategic communications campaign; an interactive website to educate and solicit public feedback, using drones to improve construction and engineering efforts; and collaborating with the disability advocacy community to improve accessibility and safety. Hear from Greenwich Public Works Deputy Commissioner, Jim Michel, P.E., and Senior Civil Engineer Jason Kaufman, P.E., as they discuss their project, along with leading-edge strategies and methods that can be applied to future projects post-pandemic.
Read MoreStormwater (SW) utilities face competition for limited funds, especially those communities faced with renewing aging sewer and water assets to address overflow problems and sewage basement backups. There continues to be the political stigma with raising SW rates to upgrade aging infrastructure to increase the level of SW service. Utilities are confronting the reality their underground storm sewer assets are deteriorating, and many have reached the end of their useful lives. Utility managers struggle to get their heads around how to efficiently and cost-effectively manage and renew their assets versus staff “fighting fires” from the next emergency collapse or flooding event. Utility managers are also typically facing combined sewer overflow (CSO), sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) regulatory compliance, and surface flooding costs. The audience will hear lessons learned from other utilities and learn how to develop and implement a straightforward stormwater asset management program and increase the level of service to their customers.
Read MorePandemic-related population shifts in many parts of the U.S. have led some analysts to identify this trend as the “Great American Migration” of 2020. Whether fleeing a high cost of living, a volatile climate, or local lockdowns, Americans moved in droves from large urban centers to smaller cities and rural or suburban counties. The result is an increased need for local government and public works agencies to manage their transportation infrastructure for accelerated growth, even as public funding remains modest. This panel discussion provides insight into how the City of Frederick, Maryland, and Polk County, Florida, are successfully modernizing their transportation asset management strategies and practices to save money while delivering reliable, sustainable, and resilient roadways, bridges, and other assets for current and future populations.
Read MoreThe International Public Works Director Roundtable is an annual interactive session that targets public works directors (PWDs) or their equivalent across North America. Using the tagline “Where Directors Go to Grow” and their logo, organizers plan to build on the successes in Toronto, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Orlando, Kansas City, and Seattle. The International Public Works Director Roundtables continuously rank as one of the most popular and highest-rated sessions each year. This session is designed to be participatory and maximize engagement with all the directors present. Directors are seated at roundtables encouraging interaction with each other. This session enables directors from across the world to network and learn from each other’s experiences.
Read MoreThe Town of Ellington began experiencing contaminated wells in 2017, prompting them to take a close look at their winter material application. The findings were significant and prompted change. Several strategies were implemented to reduce salt usage and environmental impact. After the first year there were positive, noticeable results. These results were shared with the UCONN T2 and briefly with the NEAPWA. The strategies outlined can be adapted by any other town/state and will provide positive results.
Read MoreStormwater management has become more challenging, as we face higher intensity, longer duration rain events at greater frequency. We need to bring different thinking and solutions to the challenges that climate change…
Read MoreFacilities and grounds have unique attributes that require thoughtful consideration as asset management programs are set up. Required information that agencies need to advise capital projects can vary greatly between…
Read MoreDue to climate change, cities are experiencing significant challenges due to unpredictable weather events that may impact lives in the community. A winter emergency situation in Western Canada typically arises when there is a single or multiple snow events with excessive snow, generally over 25 cm with blizzard-like conditions. These conditions cause drifting snow and poor visibility for an extended period of time. Winter events can also cause icy pavement conditions impacting normal driving and walking conditions for extended periods. Such emergency situations generally require the city to utilize their resources to full capacity in order to allow an early recovery to the pre-emergency state with new-normal conditions. The City of Regina, Saskatchewan has created a Winter Emergency Response Plan to help winter crews handle extreme conditions on account of excessive snow and ice.
Read MoreFort Collins, Colorado with over 70 inches of snowfall annually is one of only five Platinum biking communities in the United States, with intentions on being the first Diamond biking community! For Fort Collins to lead a revolution in bicycle transportation, snow and ice removal have to clean and clear these new biking facilities to allow for year-round use. This presentation highlights the challenges in maintaining and addressing the needs of a northern, high-elevation community with over 400 miles of on-road bike lanes and a robust low-stress biking network on secondary streets with special crossings at the arterial intersections. To address this challenge, new equipment and new thinking are needed to move past the car-centric snowplowing solutions of the past.
Read MoreHave you ever attended a meeting and walked away asking, “What did they just talk about?” We all dread a boring lecture and people reading off PowerPoint slides, right? Knowing your audience and how to engage with them when delivering a presentation is key when you want to get your message across. Learn from the Houston Public Works Public Engagement Team for Capital Projects on how to deliver the 4 Ps! A presentation should be powerful and persuasive for the information to be understood. This session will help participants identify their audience and create a presentation that is unforgettable.
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