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To request alternative format of any information provided in documents or in video presentations, please call 651-366-4718 or e-mail bruce.lattu@state.mn.us. From Greater Minnesota you may call toll free 1-800-657-3774 and asked to be connected to 651-366-4718. For accessing Minnesota Relay please dial 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
Stop Signs: Why do we have them on residential roads?
Learn about the purpose of stop signs on residential roads. Do you think stop signs slow down traffic? Who should decide where stop signs should be placed? Watch this video to see what the research says.
Research referenced in this video:
Richard F. Beaubein, "Controlling Speeds on Residential Streets", Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal, 1989 http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/JDA89A37.pdf
Minnesota Manual on Traffic Control Devices: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/publ/mutcd/index.html
This video was developed by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB). For more information about the LRRB, visit their website at http://www.lrrb.org
Speed Limits: Why do we have them?
Learn about the purpose of speed limits. Do you think lowering a speed limit will slow down traffic? Should residential speed limits be set differently for different roads? Watch this video to see what the research says.
Research referenced in this video:
Parker Jr., Martin R. "Effects of Raising and Lowering Speed Limits on Selected Roadway Sections." Publication No. FHWA-RD-9 7-084, Federal Highway Administration, McLean, Virginia, January 1997. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/97084/97084.pdf
This video was developed by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB). For more information about the LRRB, visit their website at http://www.lrrb.org
Minnesota Pothole Professionals: Smoothing the Way to Safer Travel
Minnesota's cities and counties are working hard to keep roads safe and smooth. Local Pothole Professionals like those featured in this video respond to citizen reports of potholes and proactively patch potholes — on an interim basis during the spring thaw and on a permanent basis throughout the warmer months. Sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board.
How About a Roundabout?
The Minnesota Experience and A Minnesota Guide
How About a Roundabout?
A modern roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic flows around a center island.
Today, roundabouts can be alternatives to traffic signals and stop signs to control traffic. In many cases, they have several advantages over signals and stop signs, including:
- Fewer injury crashes and fatalities
- Increased pedestrian safety
- Less vehicle delay and pollution
Roundabouts, like all intersections, undergo thorough analysis prior to implementation to determine if it is the appropriate solution.
For more information on roundabouts and roundabout video and brochure, visit the MnDOT Roundabouts in Minnesota Webpage
To order DVDs or Brochures, email or call MnDOT Research Services, research.dot@state.mn.us, 651-366-3780
Roads & Loads: Finding a Balance
How Are Roads Designed?
Today, roadways are designed using engineering factors that establish the quantity, type and thickness of material that needs to be used to balance vehicle loads and roadway use.
Among other factors, current pavement design considers the amount, type and weight of the traffic using the road. This data is used to calculate an ESAL (equivalent single-axle load) factor; this factor is a way of measuring the impact that a vehicle will have on a pavement.
Pavements can be viewed as a “consumable” and are designed to carry an estimated number of ESALs over their design life. As each vehicle passes over a pavement, a portion of its life (the vehicle’s ESAL factor) is consumed. Eventually, a pavement’s life is expended, and it needs to be reconstructed. (read more)
Video: Roads & Loads: Finding a Balance (42.0MB .wmv)
Hosted by Don Shelby of WCCO-TV
To Pave or Not to Pave?
Making Informed Decisions on When to Upgrade a Gravel Road
Introduction
Paved roads provide improvement over gravel in ways that are hard to quantify with dollars, including improved winter surfaces, improved safety from improved signage and delineation, a safer surface with higher skid resistance, a smoother surface that increases user satisfaction and reduces vehicle maintenance costs, redistribution of traffic away from gravel roads, and an increased tax base on adjacent property.
Of the estimated 4 million miles of roads in the United States, nearly half—1.5 million miles—are unpaved. Unpaved roads serve a valued purpose in our roadway system, but maintenance costs are significant. Paved roadways also are costly to maintain.
Like everything else, maintenance costs for both paved and unpaved roads are rising. We need to optimize those costs to best serve the public. Reduced funding and resources require us to be more efficient spenders of the money we do have. Preparing for future maintenance and upgrades allows us to better manage funds that are available now.
How do we know when it’s time to pave a gravel road? The decision is not easy. (read more)
Video: To Pave or Not to Pave? Making Informed Decisions on When to Upgrade a Gravel Road (14.1MB .wmv)
Video and Teaching Materials
A Snow Plow - COOL!
Abstract:
This half-hour lesson addresses safety around snowplows. It is designed for 2nd and 3rd grade children.
The kit includes an 8-minute video, lesson plan, and worksheets. City and county public works departments are encouraged to visit schools in conjunction with this video to build connections with their communities and take an active role in safety.
The video relates the story of Donnie and Althea, 10-year old neighbors, who had a near-accident with a snowplow. The snowplow bears down on them as they hide in their “fort” near the street. Luckily, the driver sees their sled and shovels and suspects trouble. The plow stops just in time.
Donnie and Althea tell what they learned from the plow driver about snow safety. The video also addresses safety while sliding and waiting for the school bus.
Video: A Snow Plow...COOL! (22.8MB .wmv)
Teaching Materials: A Snow Plow...COOL!
Trash Harvesting Machine: Designing a Machine for Picking Up Litter Along Minnesota Highways
Collecting trash by hand along highway shoulders and medians in the Twin Cities metropolitan area costs about $2 million per year, is time-consuming and presents serious safety hazards for Mn/DOT workers. Investigators designed a prototype “trash harvester” for picking up litter in grassy areas. While this prototype did not perform to Mn/DOT expectations and will not be commercialized at this time, it provides a starting point for further research, design and testing.
Technical Summary: 200821TS (PDF) | Full Report: 2008-21(PDF)
Video: Trash Harvester Prototype Test (109.2MB .wmv)
“With additional modifications, the trash harvester will be a safer and more cost-effective way to keep Minnesota highways clean.”
– Jonathan Chaplin, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
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