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Between 2018 and 2019, MnDOT installed a lane constrictor design at 66 side-street, stop-controlled intersections in Minnesota. The lane constrictor design narrows the lane width for mainline approaches via a striped median with centerline rumble strips. By narrowing the mainline lane, the goal of this design is to encourage mainline traffic to slow down as it approaches the intersection. The striped median also provides greater separation between mainline directions and draws more attention to the location of the intersection. Following the installation of lane constrictors at MnDOT intersections, overall crash rates have seen little change but there have been decreases in fatal and serious injury (KA) as well as fatal and all injury (KABC) crash rates. These results indicate the addition of lane constrictors have a positive impact on crashes by reducing the severity of crashes, swapping injury crashes for property damage only crashes.

DOTs and other transportation agencies are increasingly using automated methods for snowplow route optimization, which have been demonstrated to produce significant savings when they result in the implementation of new routes. However, many route optimization projects have fallen short of implementation due to technical/operational issues with the routes produced or institutional barriers to change. These shortcomings can be substantially mitigated with improvements to the process of soliciting, selecting, and managing the route optimization software or service provider. This project’s objective was to provide DOTs with the tools needed to make these improvements. The key lessons from this project are provided in two complementary documents: a Decision Support Guidance document and a Contracting Language Template. The Decision Support Guidance provides DOT staff with an accessible and in-depth discussion of the technical requirements for route optimization and the key decisions DOTs should consider when developing the project scope and managing a provider. The Contracting Language Template provides DOTs with a flexible template to assist with the development of a scope of work for a Request for Proposals (RFP) for automated snowplow route optimization services. The language suggested in the Contracting document is intended to ensure that DOTs and service providers have a shared understanding of the scope of work that the DOT requires and to maximize the likelihood that the project will result in safe, feasible, implementation-ready routes.

This research brief was created as part of Clear Roads project CR19-04, "Synthesis of Technical Requirements and Considerations for Automated Snowplow Route Optimization," published October 2021.

Material spreader systems are among the largest equipment expenses for winter road maintenance departments. These systems typically include a hopper or similar container to hold a supply of solid granular material; many also include a tank for dispensing a liquid. A chain conveyor or single/double auger system moves the granular material to the spinner, which disperses the material onto the roadway. Agencies often make their spreader purchase decisions after much research, comparison and discussion. This synthesis sought to identify and describe the material spreader systems currently used by Clear Roads member agencies. A national survey of winter maintenance practitioners at state departments of transportation gathered descriptive information about material spreader systems and how they function, assessments of the spreader systems’ operational capacities and effectiveness in a range of weather conditions, and the agencies’ overall satisfaction with the material spreader systems. Supplementing the summary of survey responses in this report are the individual material spreader system descriptions presented in Appendix B. Each system description is presented separately, organized by vendor and in alphabetical order by state, to allow for review and excerpting of individual system assessments.

A transportation agency’s ability to deliver effective winter road maintenance combines three essentials: a professional, knowledgeable staff, including trained snowplow operators; a fleet of high quality, well-maintained equipment and appropriate supplies; and, perhaps most important and most difficult to consistently acquire, accurate and timely weather information. Sources of weather information for transportation agencies are many and varied. This synthesis project sought to determine the best practices agencies use to acquire accurate and timely weather information to strategize and deploy equipment for winter road maintenance operations. The project also examined the practices used to convey information about forecasts and road weather conditions between agency offices and operators in the field. Two surveys directed to winter road maintenance practitioners at Clear Roads member agencies gathered information from central office staff and field personnel. Results of a literature search supplement survey findings.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new Entry-Level Driver Training regulation goes into effect on February 7, 2022. The goals of this project were to (1) provide training materials and resources that will allow Clear Roads member agencies to provide entry-level commercial driver’s license training that complies with 81 FR 88732, 84 FR 8029, and 49 CFR 380; and (2) develop and document a process for member agencies to follow in order for each of their training locations to be added to the training provider registry by February 7, 2022, and to comply with all federal requirements to remain on the training provider registry. This project resulted in the development of the following ELDT materials: (1) complete curriculum to meet the instructor-led classroom and behind-the-wheel components of the ELDT rule focusing on obtaining an initial Class B CDL, upgrading from a Class B CDL to a Class A CDL, and obtaining the hazardous materials endorsement for the first time; (2) all training materials and resources necessary for states to execute the training program; (3) train-the-trainer materials to assist agencies in implementing the training program; and (4) reference guides and timeline to join the TPR.

This research brief was created as part of Clear Roads project CR20-01, "Entry-Level Driver Training (CDL) for Maintenance Equipment Operators," published September 2021.

We are in a transformative era in transportation. Rapid and interconnected changes are occurring with respect to technology and automation, demographics and societal needs, health and the environment, workforces and workplaces, and economic and funding challenges. All of this impacts the transportation sector. Transportation is no longer just about how people or things move from one place to another, it is also about connecting people to family, friends, and community. The Research Strategic Plan serves as an enterprise-wide blueprint for research that supports our agency mission, informs decisions, and positions us to adapt to evolving needs This plan establishes a research vision, mission, guiding principle, and six strategic goals to guide our research through 2027.

This document summarizes the 2023-2027 Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Strategic Plan.

Minnesota does not currently have legislation enabling the use of speed safety cameras (SSCs), previously referred to as automated speed enforcement (ASE). However, due to an increase in speed-related fatal crashes on Minnesota roadways and research indicating the effectiveness of SSCs (TRS 2204), there is renewed interest in passing enabling legislation in the state. While the effectiveness of SSC programs has been widely agreed on, implementation of SSC programs is complex. This Transportation Research Synthesis was completed to better understand the complexity and best practices for SSC program administration and highlight considerations specific to Minnesota if enabling legislation were to be passed by the legislature. It also provides a summary of recent FHWA guidance documents, bi-annual reports from states with active SSC programs, and expert interviews conducted through the TRS process to better understand Minnesota specific considerations. Some of the topics covered in the report include: Citation Type/Processing Structure, Penalties, Equity Considerations, Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Implications, Top Concerns from Stakeholder Agencies, Public Perception and Revenue, and Funding.