News

“Buy America” Under MAP-21: Effects on Local Agencies

Posted & filed under LHTAC News, Technical Articles.

By Lisa Harris, KU Transportation Center Communications & Outreach Manager

Reprinted with permission from the Winter 2014 issue of the Kansas LTAP Newsletter, a publication of the Kansas Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at the Kansas University Transportation Center.

The current Federal highway bill, MAP-21, made changes to FHWA’s Buy America that affect local agencies. The Buy American Act ensures that transportation infrastructure projects are built with American-made products. The statute pertaining to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds, 23 U.S.C. 313, states that “The Secretary of Transportation shall not obligate any funds unless steel, iron, and manufactured products used in such project are produced in the United States.”

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Intelligent Compaction Open House

Posted & filed under LHTAC News.

Courtesy Announcement – Intelligent Compaction Open House

What: Intelligent Compaction Open House

Where: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

When: May 8, 2014

The Idaho Transportation Department will be hosting an Intelligent Compaction Open House on May 8th in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Information on the open house is listed below and an agenda is posted at the open house registration webpage.   (more…)

Equipment For Sale and Wanted

Posted & filed under LHTAC News.

We offer assistance to local highway jurisdictions in need to sell, receive and/or exchange property. Madison County is currently looking to sell two Balderson 9 ft V Plows and a Snow Wing.

If your LHJ is looking to sell or searching for a piece of equipment don’t forget about this resource.

https://lhtac.org/resources/equipment/

Welcome Heather Parker!

Posted & filed under LHTAC News.

Please join us in welcoming Heather Parker as LHTAC’s new Federal-aid Administrative Assistant. She will be assisting with both LHTAC’s Design and Construction Team. Heather comes to us from HDR Engineering, Inc. where she assisted the Transportation group for over 7 years. Heather enjoys golf, baking and cooking in her spare time. With a background in working with transportation projects in construction administration and right-of-way services she will make a great addition to our LHTAC staff.

GRS Model Helps Deploy Innovation

Posted & filed under Every Day Counts Initiative, Technical Articles.

Article from FHWA Innovator, Volume 7, Issue 40

A tabletop model is showing Pennsylvania audiences how geosynthetic reinforced soils can improve the way bridges are built.

The geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system, a Federal Highway Administration Every Day Counts innovation, uses geosynthetic reinforcement and granular soils as a composite material to build abutments and approach embankments that are less likely to settle and create a bump at the end of the bridge. The GRS-IBS is easy to build and maintain and more cost-effective than conventional construction methods.

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