T2 Centers Meet In Portsmouth

Representatives of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Region One of the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) held their annual meeting recently in Portsmouth, N.H.

The June 19–21 meeting, held at the Sheraton Harborside, brought together delegates from the six New England

Hosted by New Hampshire LTAP (UNH Technology Transfer Center), the meeting provided a forum for exchanging information and also featured seminars and product demonstrations.

A key point of discussion was the amount of funding available for training and other programs the LTAP centers provide to local public works officials throughout the region. FHWA representatives discussed the latest priorities of the program from the federal perspective.

The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) has provided training, technical assistance and technology transfer products to local transportation agencies for the past 15 years. The program is sponsored by FHWA's Office of Technology Applications, in partnership with state departments of transportation (DOTs) and, in some states, with local governments and universities.

Technology transfer centers, commonly referred to as T2 centers, are located at state DOTs or universities and link technical innovations in transportation at the federal and state levels to local agencies. The LTAP T2 centers provide low-cost or free training; publish newsletters; circulate publications, videotapes and software; and offer technical assistance on transportation topics for local agency personnel.

There are now 57 LTAP T2 centers, one in every state, one in Puerto Rico, and six Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) centers serving Native American tribal governments.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) includes several provisions to continue, authorize or provide funds for various training programs, among them, LTAP and TTAP programs. Under Section 5204(b), LTAP provides surface transportation technology and training to transportation agencies and contractors that perform work primarily for local agencies and state departments of transportation (DOTs). Total funding for LTAP and TTAP is $11.1 million per year, an increase of $1.1 million over the final year of TEA-21. FHWA provides 50-percent funding for the LTAP centers.

The LTAP assists nearly 38,000 local government agencies and more than 540 federally recognized tribes in maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure and services with the latest technology and information available. According to the FHWA, local transportation agencies spend over $30 billion annually to maintain 2.9 million miles of roads with over 290,000 bridges.

Each LTAP T2 center tailors its programs to meet local needs within its own state. Training is provided in several ways, including workshops at various locations throughout a state, and "circuit-rider" visits to the local transportation agency for on-site tutorials or hands-on training. Other training services are providing field demonstrations, and lending such training materials as videotapes, instructor manuals and student workbooks to the local agencies.

Most of the training in the past has been directed to the actual workers, field crews and supervisors. While much of it has been hands-on training related to construction and maintenance, more and more training is now directed at management activities, says FHWA.

For example, training is provided in implementing government-mandated management systems, and in computer-based management techniques for small communities. Furthermore, instruction and guidance are offered to newly elected officials, and in training supervisors and roadway foreman.

In addition, "Road Scholar" programs have been established to improve the skills and professionalism of local work crews and their foremen and supervisors. Some centers even provide local transportation agencies with "directories" of road scholar graduates within their state that they may contact for assistance and advice.