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Every public works department struggles with workforce capacity issues and budget constraints. Managing city assets located in confined spaces, or networked or distributed assets across hundreds of square miles, make…
Read MorePreparing a Successful Master Plan: It takes Two – Planners and Operators. Master plans, and the resulting capital improvement plans, are the basis for public works programming. Operations staff are critical…
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In its fourth webinar on the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), APWA Government Affairs will host Gilbert Resendez, Federal Program Officer (FPO) for the National Telecommunications and Information…
Read MoreThe U.S. Composting Council (USCC) is focused on municipalities as the prime actors who can implement/oversee successful food scrap (or adding food scrap to yard waste composting) programs to close…
Read MorePublic works agencies across the U.S. have been impacted by the steps taken to control the spread of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. This session shares how agencies have been impacted and the steps taken to address those impacts. Results of interviews before and after the 2020-21 winter will be presented, which determined the impact of budget changes, furlough programs, hiring freezes, social distancing, and quarantine guidelines. One of the major themes in the initial interviews was uncertainty as to what exactly the impacts would be. It was unknown, for example, whether plow operators would be among the first to receive vaccines when available. Many had taken steps to reduce the size of working teams, to limit impacts in case of infections, but all were considering how to handle operations if they lost a sizeable portion of their operations staff during winter due to the virus.
Read MoreAccurate equipment calibration is a cornerstone best management practice for winter maintenance operations. Yet, many agencies do not recognize or understand its value. Building on the first session in this two-part series for a first-hand account to understanding the “What” and the “Why” of calibration, this session discusses the “How” to accurately calibrate offering both understanding and resources required to ensure success.
Read MoreProtecting people from extreme heat is one of the key resilience and sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Vulnerable, low-income, and marginalized communities experience the worst of extreme heat and its consequences because they often live in areas with more pavement and fewer trees than wealthier areas. Implementing measures to reduce air temperatures can save lives, improve air quality, and reduce energy use. Roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks cover nearly 40% of an average city, and most of them absorb solar energy and heat our communities. Cool pavements are essential for cooling communities because they reduce surface and air temperatures and store less absorbed heat. This session will cover the science behind the urban heat island effect and real-world examples of how cool pavements reduce temperatures. We will share details of five cool pavement pilot projects of varying sizes and locations across the U.S. as well as how they performed.
Read MorePublic works is the backbone of every community. It is critical for public works departments to communicate projects, initiatives, and announcements to the public. Strategic communication is a powerful tool that can tremendously improve public outreach, sharing important information, soliciting public response and feedback, and improving the overall image and connection of the department with the community. In unprecedented times and the ever-changing world we live in, communication is more important than ever. Hear from Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works’ Communication Specialist Renee Wallace on the impact of communication and the multitude of methods that can be integrated into your department. Wallace will share tips, strategies, and her personal examples on using communication, public relations, and digital marketing strategies in the public works industry.
Read MoreInflow and infiltration (I/I) sources are identified during condition assessments; knowing where to begin assessment efforts can be difficult. Flow monitoring prioritizes flow meter basins for further study, but this approach presents challenges with well over 1,000 flow meter basins. The City of Houston needed an out-of-the-box solution to assess their 1,500 flow meter basins. The City and RJN Group tackled the challenge of modeling I/I to create a prioritized assessment program called the “I/I Cafeteria Plan.” The City wanted a way to prioritize meter basins and estimate quantities of I/I while identifying potential I/I sources. The tool considers the unique challenges for a flat coastal city with no zoning regulations enabling the City to efficiently and cost-effectively implement I/I reduction solutions. A phased approach was identified: Phases I/II created the framework, Phase III calibrated the model, Phase IV will be to implement automated solutions.
Read MoreThis presentation will present the process of reconstructing a six-lane regional arterial in Coppell, Texas, and some of the innovations and tools applied to improve the project and lessen the impact on users. These include the re-evaluation and value engineering applied to the project at the 60% design completion; the use of drone technology to document project conditions before and during construction; and the use of crowd-sourced big traffic data to provide real-time delay and alternate route information to motorists and users (via social media and portable, changeable message signs). The presentation will also document some communication strategies used to inform stakeholders of the impending project and information gathered from motorists via online surveys.
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