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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) selected TranSystems to design the Interstate 235 (I-235) interchange to accommodate safety and operational problems identified from a study and support a more efficient and resilient roadway system to better accommodate current and projected traffic volumes. As one of the most significant roadway infrastructure projects in Kansas history, TranSystems addressed several of the most congested sections between I-235 and U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 (US 54/500), with minimal impact to the community, by implementing a Smart Work Zone to ease congestion and inform drivers. During certain phases where capacity was greatly constrained, the need for alternative routing was identified. Thus, variable message signs were deployed on the side roads that allowed users to divert at key locations and use the street network or other routes before entering the access-controlled freeway. By integrating portable, changeable message signs on key arterial routes feeding onto US54/400, better diversion was accomplished.
Read MoreOver the last 30 years, a large body of national, international, and industry asset management standards and guidelines have been created. Today, the industry continues to struggle with the integration of engineering, accounting, and community planning, while aligning corporate goals with daily operations and maintenance, planning, budgeting, and delivery activities. The challenge is how to adopt and sustain asset management practices to meet the demands and expectations of our communities while managing an aging infrastructure asset base. To assist jurisdictions in navigating their asset management journey, APWA has developed an interactive Asset Management (AM) Road Map. It is designed to assist communities in systematically implementing their asset management system and is structured around ten key asset management themes defined as Road Map stops. This session will introduce the APWA AM Roadmap and Best Practices.
Read MoreMecklenburg County (home to Charlotte) is the most populated county in North Carolina. The County has had significant exposure to urban flooding exacerbated by explosive growth over the last two decades. The County, which is recognized as having one of the most progressive flood mitigation programs in the country, has invested in various data, technology, policy, and administrative initiatives to continue to reduce flood risk. As part of a recent partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the County has implemented a network of low-cost flood sensors and coupled it with powerful geographic information system (GIS) based tools to provide near real-time flood inundation and impact assessments during storm events. This information is invaluable for emergency response and recovery and long-term program planning and guidance.
Read MoreStormwater utilities started emerging as a popular mechanism to fund community stormwater needs in the 1980s and 1990s. Regulatory drivers, particularly municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) requirements, led to creating the first stormwater utilities in larger cities. Since then, more jurisdictions of all sizes have been implementing stormwater utilities to fund ever-increasing stormwater program needs. Over the last 30 years, industry-standard practices have evolved, technology has changed rapidly, and financial practices and resources have expanded. In working with utilities of all ages, we see patterns in the way utilities mature. Depending on where a utility is in its stormwater utility development, patterns emerge in rate increases, rate structure modifications, data maintenance and management, and financing strategies. We will highlight indicators and drivers for updating your utility and include actionable steps to consider.
Read MoreInvestment in streetscape and infrastructure has a transformational effect on districts hurt by vacancy. Kannapolis revitalized its downtown in 2019, unveiling a transformed core that prioritizes the public realm, business investment, and proactive ways to incorporate new development. The redesign catalyzed activity and created new private development opportunities and partnerships, including the new baseball stadium that anchors downtown. West Avenue is downtown’s “signature street” and centerpiece of the project. The street had a substantial right-of-way that offered prime space for a linear park to stitch downtown with a generous public realm. As a result of the investment, many new businesses have opened in previously vacant storefronts, and new private developments are under way. Downtown now has regional pull and a vibrant public realm that can support business and quality of life. Kannapolis exemplifies the power of partnerships and infrastructure investment for revitalization.
Read MoreRegulatory compliance regarding Clean Water Act implementation varies on a state-by-state basis, but it doesn’t get much hotter than in the coastal states where much of the local economy depends on clean water resources. In the Sunshine State, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with implementing the requirements of total maximum daily loads and Basin Management Action Plans with the desired outcome of reducing nutrients to improve and protect surface waters. Jurisdictions are determining the right amount for healthy waters and developing plans and projects to reach those goals—which are costly. Stormwater utilities that can generate sufficient revenues to meet the challenges placed upon them today relative to resilient drainage and water quality are still a comparatively new phenomenon. This presentation will focus on emerging trends in funding stormwater programs that address compliance with nutrient regulations and resiliency to showcase more accurate and advanced fee structures to ensure equity in cost recovery.
Read MoreSolid waste and recycling collection services are broad and vary from community to community. Local governments across the United States often contract with private haulers to provide all or part…
Read MoreWhile many agencies and municipalities acquire land for a single purpose, learn from our panelists ways to generate income from rights-of-way and easements and maximize benefits to the public Land…
Read MoreThere is a lot of interest in applying ice control materials directly to the pavement in liquid form. This session will explore in detail why liquids are being used in winter maintenance operations as well as brine making; storage of liquid materials; the systems needed to transfer liquids from storage to trucks; and the equipment needed on the trucks to store and deliver liquids from the trucks to the road. What allows them to be so effective? What are the benefits of using liquids and what are their limitations? Under what circumstances should you consider using liquids in your agency? How do we actually get, store, transfer, and apply liquids directly to the pavement? In this session, the speaker will discuss typical application rates, how those rates vary depending on type of storm and pursued strategies, and what you should expect in terms of outcomes when using liquids in these ways.
Read MoreWinter is notorious for being harsh and unpredictable. Solutions that can combine everyday devices like smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers with technology such as artificial intelligence and mapping are easy to implement for safely and effectively monitoring assets. Using visual asset data to create maps of geo-referenced and time-stamped images allows for strategic planning in snowfighting. With up-to-date digital references, activities like documenting sidewalk conditions, tracking snow removal resources, and preparing for post-season maintenance become much easier. This session will provide an introduction to using artificial intelligence to create visual asset data maps for maintenance, management, and planning.
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