Rhode Island Local Technical Assistance Program

Quarterly News & Updates

Winter 2024 | Issue 10

In This Issue:

A New Year Welcome

Updates from Rhode Island LTAP

Winter Safety
11th Edition MUTCD Available
Upcoming Training
Available On-Demand Courses

Rhode Island Municipal Road & Bridge Fund Program

Program Update

Upcoming Observances & Safety Events

January
National Radon Action Month
National Passenger Safety Week
February
American Heart Month
Burn Awareness Week
March
Vehicle Safety Recalls Week

Welcome 2024!

Happy New Year to our Local Agencies and Partners!

It was wonderful to see so many of you in person again this past year. Whether it was your first time in a class hosted by the Rhode Island LTAP or your tenth, we thank you for joining us in 2023.

As we look forward to the rest of 2024, we want to take this opportunity to remind you that classes hosted by the Rhode Island LTAP, whether virtual or in-person, are offered to our Rhode Island municipal and tribal partners at no cost. Our goal is to help you do your job more effectively, efficiently, and equipped with the appropriate knowledge. The Rhode Island LTAP at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation sponsors these learning opportunities so that more of your budget can remain focused on the work needing to be completed in your communities.

There are great learning opportunities planned for 2024 and just a small number are listed below. Is there a specific training that your local road agency needs? Complete the RI LTAP Training and Technical Assistance Request Form and email it to dot.RILTAP@dot.ri.gov.

Remember too that the handheld sign retroreflectometer is now available for loan. You can sign up to borrow the equipment using the Retroreflectometer Online Request Form.

Thank you to each of you for your commitment to improving our local road network, reducing collisions and fatalities, and protecting our vulnerable road users. Your work is one of the biggest assets to each and every one of our Rhode Island communities.

Cheers to the New Year ahead and may our collective efforts full of collaboration and growth lead to unparalleled accomplishments!

Updates From Rhode Island LTAP

Winter Safety

During the winter, bad weather including snow, sleet, slush, freezing temperatures, and even heavy rain can present challenges. Slippery roads, sidewalks, other surfaces, and winds can create hazardous conditions both on and off the roadway. Just as it is during the heat of the summer, it is imperative that everyone recognizes the dangerousness of winter weather and takes precautions to prevent injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Make sure your vehicle has an emergency kit including:

First aid kit
Portable phone charger
Extra clothing including hat, coat, mittens, blankets
Consider keeping a complete change of clothes including underwear if you will be working outdoors
Windshield scraper
Flashlight with extra batteries
Water and non-perishable food (i.e., granola, food bars, crackers/pretzels, Gatorade powder, honey)
Small shovel
Cat litter or sand to help move tires on ice and/or road salt to melt ice
Hazard sign or other reflective materials
Jumper cables

Hypothermia and Frostbite

Know the signs of and treatments for cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia and frostbite. Both hypothermia and frostbite require medical care.

Hypothermia happens when your body temperature gets lower than what is needed to be healthy and work properly. If you notice any of the below signs, take the person's temperature and if it is below 95℉, get medical attention immediately!

Hypothermia can cause:

Shivering
Exhaustion
Confusion
Fumbling hands
Drowsiness
Memory loss
Slurred speech

Frostbite happens when skin tissue is damaged from freezing temperatures. If you see signs of hypothermia or frostbite, get to a warm room and call for medical help.

Frostbite usually happens on:

Nose
Ears
Cheeks
Chin
Fingers
Toes

Symptoms include:

Loss of feeling and
Loss of color (white or grayish-yellow skin)

Find more information about the signs, symptoms, and first aid for hypothermia and frostbite by visiting the CDC's Prevent Hypothermia & Frostbite page and check out the RI LTAP's Cold Stress Everyday Safety Talk.

1. U.S. Department of Labor

2. Rhode Island Department of Health

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

New 11^th Edition Available

The newest 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is now available. On December 19, 2023, the final rule adopting the 11th Edition of the MUTCD was published in the Federal Register. This newest edition includes updates to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and all road users as well as help drivers find EV charging stations and encourage new innovations to improve travel.

Supplementary documents that detail the new content of the 11th Edition of the MUTCD, dated December 2023, and how the contents differs from the previous version (September 2009 Edition with August 2022 updates) can be found in the Rulemaking Docket. The Federa l Register no tice provides additional detailed information about the major changes from the 2009 Edition.

The 11th Edition of the MUTCD can be viewed in its entirety in PDF format on the Federal Highway Administration's website by going to the 11th Edition of the MUTCD, December 2023 page.

1. Federal Highway Administration

2. National Archives

Upcoming Training

Seats are now available to our municipal partners for the below Winter 2024 classes. These live classes are a mix of in-person and virtual.

To enroll in any of these courses or if you have questions, please contact the Rhode Island LTAP at dot.RILTAP@dot.ri.gov. Be sure to include the participant's name, email address, and job title.

Is there a training or technical assistance you're interested in, but haven't seen advertised? RI municipalities can now request training and/or technical assistance through Rhode Island LTAP. Just complete this Request Form and email it to us.

Customer Service

Virtual

Fridays

January 5, 12, 19, 26, &

February 2, 2024

9 am - 12 pm

Dealing with

Challenging People

- Lunch & Learn -

Virtual

Wed., February 14, 2024

12 pm - 1 pm

CPR & First Aid

In-Person

Date Pending

8 am - 12 pm

Environmental Factors in

Construction and

Maintenance

In-Person

March 5 - 6, 2024

8 am - 4 pm

Conflict Management

for Employees

- Lunch & Learn -

Virtual

Wed., March 13, 2024

12 pm - 1 pm

Bridge Management

Systems (BMS) Workshop

In-Person

March 26 - 28, 2024

8 am - 4 pm

Conflict Management

for Managers

- Lunch & Learn -

Virtual

Wed., April 10, 2024

12 pm -1 pm

Flagger

In-Person

Wed., April 17, 2024

8 am - 12 pm

Plan Reading

In-Person

Date Pending

Available On-Demand Courses

There are currently over 460 courses available for our Rhode Island LTAP partners in the RI Learning Center, the State's Online Learning Management System. See the list below for a sampling of new courses!

If you are interested in viewing these or other available on-demand courses in the RI Learning Center, and you are a Rhode Island municipal employee or elected official, or are an FHWA employee contact us at dot.RILTAP@dot.ri.gov to set up an account.

Everyday Safety Talks (Tailgate Talks)
Implicit Bias
Ethics Awareness for the Transportation Industry
Stormwater One: Awareness
AASHTO Technical Training Solutions - SICOP - Winter Operations
Anti-Icing/RWIS: Introduction to Anti-icing and Winter Maintenance
Anti-icing/RWIS: Winter Road Maintenance Management
Anti-icing/RWIS: Winter Roadway Hazards & the Principles of Overcoming Them
Anti-icing/RWIS: Weather Basics
Anti-Icing/RWIS: Weather & Roadway Monitoring for Anti-icing Decisions
Anti-Icing/RWIS: Computer Access to Road Weather Information
Blowing Snow Mitigation
Equipment Maintenance
Performance Measures for Snow and Ice Control Operation
Proper Plowing Techniques

Rhode Island Municipal Road & Bridge Fund

Program Update

The program provides funding to municipalities for repairs and rehabilitation to municipally owned roads, sidewalks, and bridges. To be considered for funding, infrastructure must be already existing on a local public way and bridges must be on the State Bridge Inventory.

All 39 municipalities are participating, with 622 individual projects approved by RIDOT in the program. These projects include sidewalk repairs, mill and overlays, chip/crack seals, regraveling, and full roadway reclamation.

When the program was enacted, it included $20 million of state funding leveraged against $40 million from municipalities for a total of $60 million. As the program got underway, municipalities increased their match amounts to stretch the program even further than originally anticipated, resulting in approximately $74 million in total planned expenditures.

Through December of 2023, the program has signed agreements and issued state purchase orders with 25 municipalities. These agreements allow projects and reimbursements to commence as soon as the municipality is ready. Several projects were completed in late fall/early winter, representing repairs to 37 lane miles of locally maintained roadway. Reimbursements checks are already flowing back to cities and towns, including approximately $600,000 during the last quarter.

Upcoming Observances & Safety Events

.

January

...

National Radon Action Month

January is designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as National Radon Action Month with the goal to raise awareness of and ways to take action against radon.

Radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, but it could still be present at dangerous levels in homes, schools, and other buildings. According to multiple studies, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers in the United States. It claims approximately 21,000 Americans annually. Exposure is preventable and radon testing and any required fixes can help prevent exposure. All are urged to check their homes, schools, and other buildings for radon.

What can you do during radon action month? You can:

Test your home, request your schools and workplace be tested
Spread information about radon risks and ways to prevent exposure
Encourage others to learn about radon and radon testing

For more information, see the resources below.

Excerpts from: U.S. EPA and NACCHO

Learn More

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

National Radon Action Month: Resources for Local Health Departments

National Passenger Safety Week

January 21 - 27, 2024

Beginning in 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) added National Passenger Safety Week to its national campaign calendar. The week-long campaign is now an ongoing event recognized during the last week of January. National Passenger Safety Week focuses on empowering passengers to speak up for their safety.

Roadway fatalities are rising at an alarming rate. Preliminary estimates released this fall estimate that Rhode Island experienced an almost 50% increase in collision fatalities through September 2023 compared to the first nine months of 2022. On average, 30-40% of Rhode Island’s traffic fatalities are the result of an impaired driver. Just telling people to drive safely is not enough. More needs to be done, and we can do more.

The goal of National Passenger Safety Week is to focus on passengers, not just the drivers. Passengers must be empowered to speak up, have courage to step in, and to play a more active role in their own safety as well as the safety of others when endangered by a reckless driver.

Each of us has a choice. By speaking up, passengers show they care about the lives of their families, friends, and strangers. During National Passenger Safety Week everyone is reminded to choose safety by intervening.

For more information, see the resources below.

Learn More

National Center for Rural Road Safety

Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Additional January Observances

Home Office Safety and Security Week
January 8 - 14, 2023

.

February

...

American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month and it serves as a time to pay extra attention to understanding, preventing, and treating heart disease. American Heart Month reinforces the importance of heart health as well as the need for additional research. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but a lot can be done to protect the heart.

Heart disease, in most cases, is preventable with the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthier foods, getting enough physical activity and sleep, controlling cholesterol and blood sugar, not smoking, treating high blood pressure, and reducing stress. Focusing on your heart health can help you avoid severe illness. When you take care of your heart, it can also serve as an example to those around you, encouraging them to do the same.

For more information, see the resources below.

Excerpt from: American Heart Association

Learn More

American Heart Association

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Education and Awareness

Burn Awareness Week

February 4 - 10, 2024

National Burn Awareness Week, observed during the first full week of February, is an opportunity to share burn awareness and prevention messages in the community. This year, National Burn Awareness Week is observed February 4-10.

According to the National Burn Association, most fire-related injuries are burns, and approximately every 60 seconds someone in the United States sustains a burn injury serious enough to require treatment. This year, spread awareness during National Burn Awareness Week to prevent flammable liquid burn injuries. Visit the American Burn Association’s National Burn Awareness web page for burn prevention fact sheets, graphics, and proclamations.

For more information, see the resources below.

Excerpt from: American Burn Association and International Association of Firefighters

Learn More

American Burn Association

National Fire Protection Association

Burn Awareness Information

International Association of Fire Fighters

Burn Awareness Week

.

March

...

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week

March 4 - 10, 2024

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week focuses on the importance of checking for recalls and getting any recalls that have not ben addressed, fixed immediately. Because hundreds of recalls are issued each year, it’s important to check for open recalls at least twice per year on personal as well as fleet vehicles. Some recalls are updated to a more significant status such as being upgraded to a “Do Not Drive” warning.

How can you check for recalls on your personal or fleet vehicles?

1. Locate the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Look for the 17-character VIN on the lower left of your car's windshield, or on the label inside your driver side doorjamb; You may also review your vehicle’s registration or car insurance documents to locate your VIN

2. Search NHTSA

Go to NHTSA.gov/Recalls and search using your VIN

3. Follow steps in an open recall

If there is an open recall, it’s critical to immediately get the vehicle repaired at a local dealership; Remember these repairs are free so be sure to follow all steps in the open recall.

In addition to checking for vehicle recalls, it’s also important to check for other vehicle-related equipment recalls such as tires or car seats at NHTSA.gov/Recalls. If any vehicle-related items are recalled, the manufacturer is required to fix the issue through repair, replacement, or refund. National

For more information, see the resources below.

Excerpt from: NHTSA and NSC