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Snowplow trucks take a beating during the winter maintenance season. Salt is a critical component of many winter maintenance operations, but it can have an extremely detrimental effect on the snowplow trucks used to apply it. Transportation agencies are looking for cost-effective, environmentally sensitive practices that produce clear results in reducing or preventing corrosion on snowplow trucks and prolong the life of winter maintenance equipment. Use of an in-house wash bay is one of the ways transportation agencies fight the effects of salt and winter weather on winter maintenance equipment. This synthesis sought to identify best practices for the use of in-house wash bays and other truck washing alternatives such as off-site commercial washing facilities. A national survey of state department of transportation winter maintenance experts gathered information about wash bay use, installation requirements and costs, treatment of wash bay wastewater, and the effectiveness of truck washing alternatives in reducing or preventing corrosion on snowplow trucks. The results of a literature search supplemented the survey findings.

Finding the right method to take frequent, accurate measurements of stockpiles of solid winter maintenance materials can be challenging for transportation agencies. Measurement practices can be time-consuming or fail to produce measurements that are accurate enough for the agency to rely on. Without accurate measurements of the materials on hand, an agency can face shortages of the solid winter maintenance materials needed to see it through a winter season. This synthesis sought best management practices for the accurate measurement of solid winter maintenance materials using technology and other measurement methods that are not technology-based. A national survey of state department of transportation winter maintenance experts was used to gather information about their stockpile measurement practices. Results of a literature search supplemented survey findings and provided information about other technologies and practices used to measure stockpiles of solid materials.

Mobile RWIS technologies are still relatively new to the market, with only a few early-adopting agencies deploying them, primarily in testing situations. This study provides a comprehensive and comparative analysis of four commercially available mobile RWIS sensors. The sensors in the study include: Lufft’s MARWIS, Teconer’s RCM411, High Sierra’s Mobile IceSight, and Vaisala’s DSP310. Testing was completed in two phases. Phase I focused on the accuracy of different sensor parameters when compared to a known baseline. These tests took place at the MnROAD testing facility, a test track containing a variety of pavement types operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Phase II was conducted in “real-world” settings on active roadways. Sensors measured the environment along a set route in live traffic in a variety of weather conditions. The study compared the sensors’ performance while measuring air temperature, surface temperature, relative humidity, surface condition, water film thickness, and friction. The evaluation also compared qualitative aspects of the sensors such as installation methods. The project found that overall, sensors performed similarly across all parameters. This report ranks sensors by accuracy, but the absolute differences in values used to determine rank are often very small. The study also developed standardized recommendations for various mobile sensor parameters. While differences across sensors and the high variability in their readings make establishing universal standards difficult, some commonalties were found. The report includes a suggested matrix of a few basic levels categorizing grip, surface state, and mobility impact. Project completed for Clear Roads Pooled Fund program, #TPF-5(353).

The objective of this project was to investigate strategies state departments of transportation (DOTs) can employ to overcome challenges related to recruitment and retention of plow drivers and other highway maintenance workers. The project outcomes include two deliverables: a concise guide of innovative but practical ways for DOTs to recruit and retain a highly proficient, productive, versatile, and committed roadway maintenance workforce; and a more detailed final report containing all information captured in this effort. This final report includes case studies in several categories: recruitment programs (creating supplemental workforce with existing staff, partnerships with departments of corrections, and using social media for recruitment and public engagement); retention strategies (creating a positive workplace culture, employee benefits and incentive programs, promotion and leadership programs, employee training programs, and succession programs and mentoring); recruitment and retention for underserved communities; recruitment and retention of the next generation; and capturing information to improve your program (mentoring programs and check-ins with staff; surveys, focus groups, and interviews; and exit interviews). While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for recruitment and retention challenges, the project documented numerous strategies that a DOT can consider to strengthen recruitment and retention. Since many of these changes require long-term commitments by an agency, the strategy section is supplemented with tools and ideas to facilitate and manage deployment, including an outline of steps for implementation. Key findings from this research effort are provided, including overarching guidance and best practices as well as numerous research needs related to recruitment and retention of highway maintenance workers

Appendices for Clear Roads project 19-02, Recruitment and Retention of Highway Maintenance Workers.

Case Studies done as part of Clear Roads project 19-02, Recruitment and Retention of Highway Maintenance Workers

Clear Roads previously developed a step-by-step Field Testing Guide for Deicing Chemicals to support the evaluation of deicing chemicals by DOT staff. This project focused on developing a step-by-step instructional video to accompany it that would demonstrate the three levels of field testing that can be performed to determine the effectiveness of a deicing chemical. The states that contributed to the funding of this project include: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

The goals of this project were to develop a methodology to map winter severity from a winter maintenance perspective, and to create electronic maps and associated geospatial data depicting winter weather severity across the country. Work performed under the project examined the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to mapping winter weather severity. The research team settled on an approach that utilized computer weather prediction model data to define the structure of spatial variations in various aspects of winter weather conditions across the country, and observational data to calibrate these model fields to match actual observed weather conditions. Four significant component measures of winter severity were selected for mapping during the project. These measures included average annual snowfall amounts and average annual duration of each of snowfall, freezing rain, and blowing/drifting snow. The maps were developed following the general approach identified above, although the specific methodologies and datasets used in the development of each map varied. In addition to maps of these component winter severity measures, a composite map illustrating an overall winter severity index was also developed through mathematical combination of the component measure data. Geospatial representations of the data, in the form of ESRI shapefiles, were also developed and provided for each of the component datasets as well as the overall winter severity index. The states that contributed to the funding of this project include: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah,Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

This brief summarizes project CR10-20, “Mapping Weather Severity Zones,” produced through the Clear Roads winter maintenance pooled fund project, TPF-5(218).

Understanding the True Cost of Snow and Ice Control (10-03) was a Clear Roads research project to identify methods to better manage winter maintenance, identify the cost of winter maintenance, and more effectively communicate its true cost. Through the analysis of existing state winter maintenance data and research, this project resulted in a report documenting the research results and recommendations for improved data collection, and the True Cost Tool. The True Cost Tool is innovative Excel based tool that can be used to collect winter maintenance data, store data entered for future analysis, and provide quick estimates and comprehensive summaries of costs by lane-mile and level of service achieved on maintained roadways. It also has supporting tools that allow users to compare storm events and costs, and supports what-if scenario testing. This tool is a prototype of a proposed future web-based tool for broader use