In 2019, over 220 people benefited from roadway safety and maintenance training courses through a joint effort of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).
Through the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), SEDA-COG sponsored 13 free training courses on roadway safety and maintenance issues last year. These classes were held in five central Pennsylvania counties, attracting 227 students – an average of 17 students per class.
Some training topics included salt and snow management, work zone traffic control, roadside vegetation control, bridge maintenance, and local road safety plans.
Attendees mostly were elected municipal officials and staff, including public works directors, roadmasters, foremen, managers, laborers, equipment operators, engineers, and law enforcement.
State College Borough was the area municipality that sent the largest number of attendees (35) to courses held in the area.
Eric Brooks, State College Borough Operations Manager, expressed praise for the essential and practical training. “We want our employees to work safely and efficiently along our municipal roadways. LTAP has provided our staff with the necessary education to achieve these goals, while also offering the opportunity to network with expert instructors and peers from other municipalities. I wholeheartedly recommend taking advantage of the LTAP services, as they have been invaluable for State College Borough,” Brooks said.
In 2019, SEDA-COG staff also helped connect municipalities to free technical assistance services (tech assists) available through LTAP. In total, there were 20 tech assists completed for area municipalities by LTAP experts, resulting in training for 34 municipal officials.
Tech assists were given on traffic studies, traffic counts, establishing speed limits, bridge maintenance, asphalt maintenance, proper signage, pavement markings, parking restrictions, traffic calming alternatives, and more.
LTAP classes currently scheduled for early 2020 include:
Work Zone (Temporary) Traffic Control
Teaches about proper work zone set-up requirements, traffic control devices, and flagging procedures.
8 a.m. – noon March 3
State College Borough Maintenance Garage
330 S. Osmond St.
State College, Pa. 16801
8 a.m. – noon April 9
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803
Asphalt Roads
Covers the latest techniques, materials, and equipment for addressing asphalt distress.
8 a.m. – noon March 10
Ferguson Township Building
3147 Research Drive
State College, Pa. 16801
Liquid Bituminous Seal Coat
Presents information necessary to properly plan and execute a seal coat operation for extending the useful life of municipal roads.
8 a.m. – noon March 11
Boggs Township Community Building
1290 Runville Road
Bellefonte, Pa. 16823
Safe Driver
Presents how to develop safe driving behaviors, skills, and awareness.
8 a.m. – noon April 16
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803
Equipment & Worker Safety
Provides a basic understanding of common safety factors and practices associated with road maintenance operations, including crack sealing, mowing, trench excavation, chain saw use, and snow plowing.
8 a.m. – noon May 7
Patton Township Building
100 Patton Plaza
State College, Pa. 16803
8 a.m. – noon May 20
Point Township Building
759 Ridge Road
Northumberland, Pa. 17857
PennDOT has been providing LTAP services to municipalities since 1983. LTAP is based on the premise that new technologies and procedures developed at the state and federal levels should be transferred to local municipal officials and employees for improving the overall transportation system.
Each year, free PennDOT LTAP training and technology transfer programs train and assist nearly 5,000 municipal employees statewide in effective maintenance procedures, essential safety practices, and infrastructure management processes.
LTAP classes may be sponsored at the request of municipalities. To register for any of the classes or learn more about other LTAP activities in the SEDA-COG region, please contact Steve Herman at 570-524-4491 or email sherman@seda-cog.org. LTAP news and information is available at gis.penndot.gov/ltap.
