Nevada Local Technical Assistance Program

America Walks: What Will It Take To Be A "Sidewalk Nation"? (Virtual)
2026-07-14 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NV
Webinar: What Will It Take To Be A “Sidewalk Nation”?
Date: July 14, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: America Walks
The benefits of walkability are many, and public demand continues to grow… But how can we prioritize sidewalks, the threshold of public life?
Join America Walks for a discussion with Michael Pollack, author of the new book Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America’s Most Overlooked Resource, which looks at the importance of sidewalks from numerous areas of law and policy, and their tendency to be overlooked by both governments and regular people.
America Walks will joined by Jill Locantore of the Denver Streets Partnership, which successfully convinced Denver voters to switch funding responsibility for sidewalks from property owners to the government.

Safe Routes Partnership: Safe Routes to Libraries (Virtual)
2026-07-14 12:00 - 13:00 | NV
Webinar: Safe Routes to Libraries
Date: July 14, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Safe Routes Partnership
Join Safe Route Partnership for their new Safe Routes to Libraries Virtual Learning Series presented by the Safe Routes Partnership and the Urban Libraries Council! This series shares best practices and inspiring ideas for increasing safety and access to public libraries. You will learn practical strategies for implementing Safe Routes activities, explore innovative data tools, and connect with library staff and Safe Routes practitioners from across the country. If you have been waiting for updates on Safe Routes to Libraries, this is the place to be!
The first session will feature Taylor Arnold, Makerspace Librarian from Billings Public Library. Taylor will share how he blends creativity and DIY activities to promote community bike safety Read more about Taylor’s work in the Urban Libraries Council’s Safe Routes to Libraries Impact Brief.

NVLTAP NDOT Traffic Control Technician (Elko)
2026-07-15 07:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-16 07:00 - 15:30 | NDOT Elko, 1951 Idaho St, Building T, Elko, NV, 89801, United States
Course Summary:

Everyone involved in a construction work zone project should have a basic knowledge of temporary traffic control that allows them to assist in installing traffic control devices, monitoring their performance, and recognizing deficiencies during the course of a project. The Traffic Control Technician (TCT) course is an introduction to temporary traffic control in work zones for individuals who work in the field installing and removing traffic control devices. The course provides concepts, techniques, and practice exercises in the installation and maintenance of traffic control devices.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Recognize Basic Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) standards/guidelines applicable in highway work zones

Identify workable concepts, techniques and practices in the installation and maintenance of TTC devices

Produce safer TTC areas for workers, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians

Intended Audience:

This course is intended for individuals who work in the field installing and removing traffic control devices. This includes maintenance and construction crews, engineers, work zone crews, utility operators, and anyone who performs duties in or around TTC work zones.

Smart Growth America: Dangerous by Design 2026 - Solutions at Work (Virtual)
2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:00 | NV
Webinar: Dangerous by Design 2026 – Solutions at Work
Date: July 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Smart Growth America
Dangerous by Design illustrates the urgent need for network-wide improvements to streets across the United States. This isn’t impossible: We know how to reduce speeds, improve visibility, and increase accessibility for people walking and biking. Join SGA for a webinar discussion with the people rolling up their sleeves and demonstrating what can be done when places stop planning and start implementing.

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE): Connected and Automated Vehicles - Practical Use Cases (Virtual)
2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:30 | NV
Webinar: Connected and Automated Vehicles – Practical Use Cases
Date: July 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: 1.5 PDH credits
Organization: National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)
This webinar, hosted with AASHTO’s Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Community of Practice, provides participants with an understanding of practical use cases of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. Presenters will give details on specific V2X deployments, including project development, implementation, and benefits, along with challenges encountered and future opportunities. Speakers will include:

DDOT’s V2X Projects and Deployments – Skye Guo, ITS Specialist, Information and Technology Division, District Department of Transportation
TDOT’s Smart Corridor Test Bed – Amy Bailey, TSMO Manager, Traffic Operations, Tennessee Department of Transportation
GDOT’s V2X Projects and Deployments – Victoria Coulter, V2X Program Manager, Georgia Department of Transportation

National Center for Rural Road Safety: #RRSAW2026: The Rural Modes Part 1 (Virtual)
2026-07-15 10:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: #RRSAW2026: The Rural Modes Part 1
Date: July 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: 0.2 CEUs
Organization: National Center for Rural Road Safety
The 2026 Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW) campaign focuses on the many modes of travel found in rural communities and the strategies that can help prevent serious injury and fatal crashes on America’s rural roads. This first webinar will focus on:

An overview of the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative and how practitioners can search federal funding resources for the various modes
The recently updated MyCarDoesWhat resource to help the public understand the safety features of their vehicles and how to use them
An innovative educational program called Look Twice NC focusing on training drivers on how to watch out for vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, pedestrians & bicyclists.
Best practices for winter maintenance for active transportation.

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE): Navigating Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Understanding the Fundamentals and Shaping Policy (Virtual)
2026-07-16 11:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: Navigating Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Understanding the Fundamentals and Shaping Policy
Date: July 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free members/$79 non-members
Continuing Education Credits: 1 PDH/CM credit
Organization: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
The ITE Private Sector Council will be putting on a series of webinars in 2026 that will explore how the industry is navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape, with a focus on policy, business impacts, application, risk management, and workforce development. The program is intended to give industry professionals practical insight into how consulting firms, vendors and other organizations are responding to AI-related opportunities and challenges.
This first webinar will introduce key AI fundamentals and provide a foundation for understanding how AI is being used across the industry. The webinar will share common AI terminology and types of application, perspectives on use, and considerations for developing internal company or agency policies and guidance. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how organizations can begin shaping thoughtful, responsible approaches to AI.

Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA): Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities - Exploring 2025 State Data & National Safety Trends (Virtual)
2026-07-16 11:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities – Exploring 2025 State Data & National Safety Trends
Date: July 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
GHSA will hold a webinar to examine 2025 state data on pedestrian traffic fatalities and the trends it uncovers, and explore what two states are doing to make it safer for people walking and using a wheelchair.

National Center for Rural Road Safety and NLTAPA Safety Work Group: #RRSAW2026: The Rural Modes Part 2 (Virtual)
2026-07-17 10:00 - 12:00 | NV
This webinar will be held Friday, July 17, 2026 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Mountain/1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern.
The 2026 Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW) campaign focuses on the many modes of travel found in rural communities and the strategies that can help prevent serious injury and fatal crashes on America’s rural roads. This second webinar will focus on:

Working with rural transit partners and accessing data sets to map transit locations for safety improvement and analysis
Improving safety for all modes by adding buggy lanes on roads that also serve bicycle traffic
Improving rail crossing safety on the rural local road system through planning and implementation of substantive projects
Understanding safety for freight in the rural communities

For more details and to register for the webinar, please click on the button below. Instructions on accessing the webinar will be sent after your registration is confirmed.

National Center for Rural Road Safety: #RRSAW2026: The Rural Modes Part 2 (Virtual)
2026-07-17 10:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: #RRSAW2026: The Rural Modes Part 2
Date: July 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: 0.2 CEUs
Organization: National Center for Rural Road Safety
The 2026 Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW) campaign focuses on the many modes of travel found in rural communities and the strategies that can help prevent serious injury and fatal crashes on America’s rural roads. This second webinar will focus on:

Working with rural transit partners and accessing data sets to map transit locations for safety improvement and analysis
Improving safety for all modes by adding buggy lanes on roads that also serve bicycle traffic
Improving rail crossing safety on the rural local road system through planning and implementation of substantive projects
Understanding safety for freight in the rural communities

NLTAPA National Conference
2026-07-19 08:00 - 2026-07-23 17:00 | NV

APWA Accreditation Open Forum: “Self-Assess or Apply? Finding Your Starting Point” (Virtual)
2026-07-21 08:00 - 09:00 | NV
Self-assessment is often described as the first step in the accreditation process, but many agencies still ask, where do we actually begin? Should you apply first, or start working through self-assessment first? What does a strong start look like? This Open Forum will explore how self-assessment fits into the overall accreditation journey and discuss the connection between preparing internally and formally applying. Whether your agency is just exploring accreditation or has been considering it for some time, this session is designed to help you think through those early decisions.
Join experienced panelists as they share how their agencies approached self-assessment. You will hear how they organized their teams and built internal understanding. Panelists will also talk through timelines, early expectations, and some of the challenges they encountered along the way. They will share what worked for their agencies and what they learned early in the process, so you can consider what might work best for yours.
Registration: Free for members and nonmembers
Proficiency Level: Introductory

Transportation Research Board (TRB): Supporting State DOT Adoption of Knowledge Management Practices (Virtual)
2026-07-22 10:00 - 11:30 | NV
Webinar: Supporting State DOT Adoption of Knowledge Management Practices
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am PT
Cost: $100
Continuing Education Credits: 1.5 PDH credits
Organization: Transportation Research Board (TRB)
State departments of transportation (DOTs) are facing accelerating workforce turnover, growing complexity, and persistent resource constraints, making knowledge management essential to preserving institutional knowledge and strengthening organizational performance. TRB will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that will present key findings from NCHRP Project 20-44(45) Supporting State DOT Adoption of Knowledge Management Practices. Presenters will share practical insights from leading state DOTs on how agencies can launch, scale, and sustain knowledge management initiatives. Presenters will also highlight strategies for knowledge retention, collaboration, and decision-making, including communities of practice, knowledge capture, and expertise sharing.

APWA Resilient by Design (Virtual)
2026-07-23 08:00 - 09:30 | NV
Public works professionals and engineers are navigating a new era of challenges as they plan, design, and maintain infrastructure that must perform under severe and increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. This live virtual program addresses how collaborative approaches, innovative designs, and data-driven analysis can elevate infrastructure resilience and long-term performance. Through compelling real-world case studies, participants will explore how severe weather and changing climate trends affected infrastructure systems and how agencies have adapted their design and construction approaches in response. These examples highlight practical lessons learned, design modifications, and construction decisions that address infrastructure degradation and improve future operations.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify key questions and decision-making frameworks that support resilient planning and design in response to severe and variable weather conditions.
Evaluate resilient and sustainable design considerations, emerging construction practices, and technologies that address weather-related risks.
Apply data-driven design and construction strategies to improve infrastructure durability and performance under changing weather conditions.

Registration: Free for members; $99 for nonmembers

Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC): Addressing Aggressive Driving - Engaging Bystanders and Developing Effective Messaging (Virtual)
2026-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: Addressing Aggressive Driving – Engaging Bystanders and Developing Effective Messaging
Date: July 29, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC)
Aggressive driving remains a persistent traffic safety challenge, contributing to crashes, injuries, and unsafe roadway environments. Effective, evidence-based strategies can address these behaviors and promote safer driving cultures.
In this webinar, Dr. Bridget Hanson will share key findings, insights, and resources from a recently completed Traffic Safety Culture Transportation Pooled Fund project focused on reducing aggressive driving. The project explored innovative approaches to engaging bystanders and tested media messages designed to reduce aggressive driving.
Participants will learn how bystander engagement can be leveraged to reduce aggressive driving, how supportive, nonjudgmental messaging can encourage safer driving behaviors, and how these approaches can help strengthen traffic safety culture. Attendees will also gain access to practical tools and resources that can be used in their own communities and programs.

Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths: Everything E-Bikes - Exploring Policy, Safety, Programming, and Research (Virtual)
2026-07-30 09:00 - 10:30 | NV
Webinar: Everything E-Bikes – Exploring Policy, Safety, Programming, and Research
Date: July 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 10:15 am PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: 1.25 PDH credits
Organization: Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths
Summer is here — and so are e-bikes! Join this free TZD webinar to hear from speakers about everything e-bikes, including a new e-bike ordinance in the metro area, ongoing statewide e-bike educational programming, health and safety impacts of e-bikes from the EMS perspective, and potential policy considerations.

TRB Webinar: Applying Ground Modification Methods for Highway Structures
2026-07-30 09:00 - 10:30 | NV
Date: July 30, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (EDT)
Ground modification methods improve poor soil conditions, enable construction on marginal sites, and reduce the risk of transportation infrastructure failure. These methods help accelerate construction in challenging geotechnical environments. TRB will host a webinar on Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Eastern that will present a structured framework for developing performance-based guidelines for ground modification methods used in transportation infrastructure, including embankments, bridge approaches, and other structures. Presenters will share a literature review, methodology development, and proposed performance-based specifications for selected ground modification methods, as well as the steps taken to implement guidance documents in state agencies’ specifications and projects.

Vision Zero Network: Institutionalizing the Safe System Approach - Strategies for Local Action (Virtual)
2026-07-30 10:00 - 11:00 | NV
Webinar: Institutionalizing the Safe System Approach – Strategies for Local Action
Date: July 30, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Vision Zero Network
How can communities move from talking about the Safe System approach to institutionalizing it? Join Vision Zero Network on July 30th, 10am/1pm for a 1-hour webinar which will explore a valuable, new toolkit of proven, innovative, and emerging strategies for institutionalizing the Safe System approach throughout transportation planning and programming.
Vision Zero Network will be joined by Taylor Whitaker from Fehr & Peers, along with Vision Zero practitioners from communities across the country sharing their firsthand experience of applying these strategies and making Safe Systems a core part of their ongoing work. Participants will leave with practical insights into how agencies can translate Safe System principles into action and results.

Ohio LTAP: Winter Pothole Treatments for Local Roads (Virtual)
2026-08-04 10:00 - 23:00 | NV
Date: August 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am PT
This research was conducted to identify efficient and cost-effective pothole patching treatments and provide recommendation for optimal methods and materials that various Local Public Agencies (LPAs) can use to enhance the performance and longevity of pothole patches installed during the winter season. To achieve these objectives, a survey of LPAs in Ohio and nationally and a comprehensive literature review were performed to identify the best methods and materials used for winter pothole patching. A comprehensive field testing plan was developed to evaluate the identified methods and materials. The testing plan considered different factors pothole patching methods and/or materials combination, pothole size and depth, pavement structure type, type of road and traffic, and climate region and weather. A total of 686 patches were installed as part of the testing plan in different LPAs in Ohio using the considered method and materials and their combination. In addition, the patches performance and longevity were monitored. Data mining techniques were employed in order to identify the factors that dictates the patch performance. In addition, survival analysis was conducted to determine the expected lifetime of the different patching methods/materials combinations. Finally, cost analysis was conducted to determine the life cycle cost of the different patching methods/materials combinations. This presentation will provide information on the findings and recommendations.

Ohio LTAP: Snow Removal for Walking and Biking: Developing a Winter Management Plan
2026-08-05 10:00 - 11:30 | NV
Date: August 5, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
This webinar covers select topics included within ODOT’s forthcoming Sidewalk/Bikeway Snow & Ice Removal Toolkit, specifically teaching communities how to develop a winter maintenance & management plan with a focus on routes for walking and biking. Participants will learn about best practices for clearing snow and ice on sidewalks and bikeways, including key areas to clarify responsibility within the public right-of-way. The webinar will cover different responsibility models for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, typical language for ordinances requiring snow to be cleared, as well as potential funding sources for snow and ice clearance. Instructors – Lee Reis, RSP1, EIT with Burton Planning Services; and Drew Parker with Toole Design Group.

APWA Subsurface Utility Engineering Essentials for Public Works: Smarter Utility Investigations (Virtual)
2026-08-06 08:00 - 09:30 | NV
Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is an engineering practice that focuses on mapping and documenting existing utility facilities to reduce risks during the project delivery process.
This live virtual session will provide an overview of the agreed-upon principles and procedures for conducting utility investigations. It is critical to begin collecting existing utility data in the initial stages of project development. This approach facilitates a thorough utility conflict analysis and identifies strategies that maximize benefits. Using data collected, prioritize avoiding or protecting existing utility infrastructure, or when necessary, relocations. We will also review industry guidelines from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), including the updated ASCE/UESI/CI 38-22.
After completing this course, participants will be better able to:

Explain how utility investigations (SUE) can be integrated into project delivery.
Describe the four quality levels and utility investigation methods.
Describe how SUE can help to reduce project risks of delay and unanticipated costs.

Registration: Free for members; $99 for nonmembers

Ohio LTAP: Deer Carcass Disposal Results Presentation (Virtual)
2026-08-06 10:00 - 11:00 | NV
Date: August 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am PT
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Office of Environmental (OES) services is collaborating with ODOT District 2 to find effective ways for disposal of deceased deer that need to be removed from the roadway and surrounding areas. Finding a safe, cost effective and efficient way to dispose of deceased deer which minimizes the spreading Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), Tuberculosis, and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is crucial. The outcome is for development of an ODOT Deer Disposal Guidance Document that includes the preferred method or methods or best management recommendations for deer disposal that account for considerations of right-of-way (ROW), short and long-term costs, worker safety, human health, regulatory compliance, facilities or space needed, etc. and consider costs and benefits. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project is to develop an ODOT Deer Disposal Guidance Document that can be used by all of ODOT Districts to consider best management practices for deer carcass disposal while also addressing EHD and CWD.

TRB Webinar: Developing a Holistic Airport Common Use Program
2026-08-06 10:00 - 12:30 | NV
Date: August 6, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (EDT)
“Common use” is an operating philosophy that refers to using facilities, services, and infrastructure in a shared manner by multiple airport stakeholders. For instance, airlines, federal agencies, business partners, and concessionaires can incorporate the same systems beyond curbside, check-in, and gate/ramp locations. TRB will host a webinar on Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that will discuss how a broader, holistic perspective on common use can benefit airports and provide guidance for developing, growing, managing, and sustaining a common use program.

Safe Routes Partnership: Making Strides 2026: A Look at Our State Report Cards on Walking, Biking, and Active Communities (Virtual)
2026-08-06 11:00 - 12:00 | NV
Webinar: Making Strides 2026: A Look at Our State Report Cards on Walking, Biking, and Active Communities
Date: August 6, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: Unknown
Organization: Safe Routes Partnership
Join Safe Routes Partnership to learn about the sixth edition of Safe Routes Partnership’s state report cards and report, Making Strides: 2026 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities.
This report marks a decade of work reviewing and scoring best practices in policy, funding and practices that support walking, biking, and active communities. Safe Routes Partnership is excited to share the milestones and case studies that mark real progress during that time. During this webinar they will walk you through the scoring and indicators, the changes they have seen since their last state report cards in 2024, and how you can use this information to make change (whether you are on staff at a DOT or an advocate).

Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE): Beyond Mobility: Embedding Safety and Sustainability into Traffic Simulation and Signal Optimization (Virtual)
2026-08-06 11:00 - 12:30 | NV
Webinar: Beyond Mobility: Embedding Safety and Sustainability into Traffic Simulation and Signal Optimization
Date: August 6, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm PT
Cost: Free members/$79 non-members
Continuing Education Credits: 1.5 PDH credits
Organization: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
This webinar explores emerging approaches and current practices in integrating safety considerations into traffic analysis and simulation. As transportation agencies and practitioners increasingly seek to balance mobility, safety, and environmental outcomes, there is a growing need for tools and methodologies that can evaluate these factors holistically. The presentations in this webinar highlight recent research and applied techniques that advance the use of simulation and analytical tools to better understand safety impacts, from signal timing optimization to the integration of predictive safety methods within microsimulation environments.
The webinar will begin with an overview of a multi-objective signal timing optimization framework that evaluates tradeoffs between mobility, safety, and emissions using sensitivity analysis. It will then examine efforts to bridge the gap between traditional safety analysis tools and microsimulation software by integrating predictive safety methodologies. Finally, the session will present findings from a comprehensive state-of-the-practice assessment and gap analysis, informed by expert interviews and literature review, to identify challenges and opportunities in using simulation for safety analysis. Overall, this webinar aims to equip attendees with a clearer understanding of current capabilities, limitations, and future directions for incorporating safety into traffic simulation and analysis workflows.

APWA Southern Nevada YP Game Night
2026-08-07 18:00 - 21:00 | NV
Enjoy an evening of friendly competition, great food, and networking with fellow young professionals. Bring a friend or come solo – we’d love to see you there!
📅 Friday, August 7
⏰ 6:00 – 9:00 PM
📍 Meepleville (4704 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102)

WV LTAP: Presenting 101 Webinar: The Art of Effective Face-to-Face & Virtual Presentations (Virtual)
2026-08-11 07:00 - 08:30 | NV
August 11, 2026
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM PT
Creating and delivering presentations is a necessary skill for many in public works, whether presenting to elected officials, residents, or colleagues. This 90-minute session will provide attendees with general best practices to improve presentation and communication skills.
Click here to register.

NVLTAP – Gravel Roads: Shape, Materials, Maintenance, & Challenges (Reno)
2026-08-12 08:00 - 14:00 | Aloft, 2015 Terminal Way, Reno, NV, 89502, United States
Course Summary:
This course provides participants with a practical understanding of the causes of gravel road distress and the corrective actions needed to maintain safe and durable roadways. The course focuses on the key factors that influence gravel road performance, including proper roadway shape and geometry, material quality and quantity, and effective roadway drainage.
Participants will explore both design and maintenance concepts that support long-term gravel road performance.
Topics include typical cross-section elements, drainage considerations specific to gravel roads, basic alignment and sight distance concepts, and appropriate roadway signing. Maintenance discussions will focus on motor grader operation, compaction, cross slope management, ditch and shoulder maintenance, gravel material specifications and quality, dust control and stabilization methods, and winter maintenance practices.
Through discussion and practical insights, participants will also learn how to “read the road” to identify maintenance needs and understand how material quality, material quantity, and roadway shape work together to create a well-performing gravel road system. By the end of the course, participants will have a stronger understanding of best practices for maintaining and improving gravel roads.
Intended Audience:
This course is intended for local elected leaders, local road managers, road supervisors, lead workers, and crew members that are involved in the work, planning and decision making for local gravel roads.
Prerequisites:
None

Ohio LTAP: Leveraging Abandoned Railroad Tunnels for Bat Conservation (Virtual)
2026-08-12 10:00 - 11:00 | NV
Date: August 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am PT
Millions of North American bats have died from white-nose syndrome (WNS) since 2006. WNS is caused by a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructions, that is widespread in Europe and Asia but only introduced to North America by humans around 2006. Since its introduction to the area surrounding Albany, New York, P. destruction has spread across much of North America, extending its range to the Pacific coast and the Mexican border. For hibernating bats throughout much of this region, the fungus has been devastating, causing populations to decline precipitously and prompting concerns of regional and range-wide extinctions. Although bats are often extirpated from hibernacula once the fungus arrives, P. destructions can survive in the absence of bats for hosts, making hibernacula environmental reservoirs for the fungus. WNS is now considered endemic in Ohio, and bat populations in the state have declined dramatically over the last decade. Unfortunately, an effective management strategy for promoting recovery of WNS susceptible species does not yet exist. It is therefore notable that winter surveys for hibernating bats in Ohio and Pennsylvania have reported an increased use of abandoned railroad tunnels by two species highly imperiled by WNS: the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Indeed, the largest little brown myotis hibernacula left in Ohio is an abandoned tunnel. While anecdotal, these observations raise the possibility that these environments may provide bats with a survival advantage. Thus, abandoned railroad tunnels may provide an opportunity for conservation and management. This research seeks to study these environments in order to create recommendations for creating or enhancing similar habitats for bat conservation. ODOT will receive recommendations for protecting and enhancing abandoned railroad tunnels as bat hibernacula from this study. By identifying hibernacula such as abandoned railroad tunnels that have been overlooked by management efforts in the past.
