TEEX Technical Assistance Courses
Available at No Cost to County/City Road Agencies
With the increasing costs of fuel, asphalt materials, etc., there is a strong demand by local county/city road agencies for training that helps them maximize the use of their limited resources. With tight budgets, many road agencies have no leeway to experiment with new products or procedures. The Texas Engineering Extension Service’s (TEEX) Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training helps local road agencies make good decisions that maximize the benefits from their limited financial resources.
In our experience, nothing meets the needs of local road agencies better than face-to-face, “hands-on” technical advice and training from experienced transportation professionals who specialize in various technical areas.
TEEX’s road and bridge maintenance courses are among the most requested courses that we offer. They are normally conducted in a two-day format. On the first day, the county commissioner, road administrator or supervisor takes our road or bridge maintenance specialist on a tour of their local roads to see first-hand the maintenance issues they face. The class is taught on the second day, and focuses on the problems or issues faced by the road agency. We have found that the first day’s tour is very important because it allows the instructor to develop a strong technical dialogue with the local supervisor, see first-hand the issues they face, and to discuss potential solutions.
Training courses include the following:
Road Maintenance (8 hours)
This training is designed to assist you in using the best products and procedures to “get the most bang” for your scarce road maintenance dollars. Course topics include:
· Gravel and Unpaved Roads
· Seal Coats
· Crack Seals
· Chip Seals/Asphalt Surfacing/Resurfacing
· Building Good Road Bases/Sub-bases
· Drainage
Bridge Maintenance (8 hours)
Preventive maintenance will make bridges last longer, stretch available funding further, reduce costly rehabilitation and enhance traffic safety. Course topics include:
· How to Use TxDOT’s Bi-annual Bridge Inspection Reports
· Roadway Approach Maintenance
· Deck Maintenance
· Maintenance of Deck Joints
· Maintenance of Bearings
· Debris Removal and Scour Protection
Culvert Operations (4 hours)
This course provides training in culvert installation, maintenance and inspection.
City/County TMUTCD Update (4 hours)
This course focuses on important changes in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD).
Transportation Safety & Tort Liability (8 hours)
This course enables participants to understand the lawsuit environment that may affect them. Real cases are reviewed to teach students where lawsuits come from, how they progress, and how they are resolved. Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to examine liability and risk management with a focus on safe work practices.
Attention County Commissioners!
All of the above courses were approved by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas County Commissioners Education Committee on Feb. 9, 2010. County commissioners taking one of these courses will receive credit for the hours in that course that will apply toward the 16 hours of continuing education credits that county commissioners are required to attain each year.
All of these courses are conducted at no charge to local city/county road agencies. To schedule a course in your area, please call Nicole Latham at 979-862-3735. For more information, log on to www.teex.org/ltap. H – Editor’s Note: Originally published in TEEX Lone Star Roads, Issue 1, 2011. Reprinted with permission.