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Ontario’s Transportation Technology Transfer Digest — Winter 2010 — Vol. 16, Issue 1

Road Talk is a monthly publication of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and is distributed provincially, nationally and internationally. It is produced by the Division Services Office of the Provincial Highways Management Division.  The Winter 2010 edition includes the following information:

hot-water-sander

MTO is testing hot water sanding technology in rural parts of Ontario.

The Ontario government is working on a number of ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions to meet its commitment to a greener Ontario.  More…


What’s New in Winter Maintenance Technology

The Maintenance Technology Project (MTP) is the Ministry’s focus for identifying, evaluating, demonstrating, and implementing new technology in highway maintenance.  Topics include (full document here):

  • Winter performance measures using friction data
  • Hot Water Sander
  • Directional Salt Spreading
  • Underbody Finger Plow
  • Highway Frost Forecast Map
  • Vaisala Friction Sensors

CentreLine: MTO is a leader in Provincial winter road maintenance technology research and innovation.  Many Municipalities have innovative programs that should receive more attention and promotion.

By Graham Zeisner in Association, Roads & Bridges, Snow & Ice Control, Winter on January 29th, 2010 - No Comments »
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Ontario’s Bridges Need Support

Auditor General Makes 8 Recommendations In Annual Report

Provincial Auditor General Jim McCarter tabled his Annual Report today in the Legislative Assembly.  This wide ranging and comprehensive document includes a section (Chapter 3; 3.01) on Bridge Inspection and Maintenance.

7% (185) bridges in Ontario are in poor condition

7% (185) bridges in Ontario are in poor condition

 Responsibility for the safety and maintenance of provincial bridges is set out in the Public Transpor­tation and Highway Improvement Act (Act).   The Ministry of Transportation (Ministry) is responsible for provincial bridges, and munici­palities are responsible for the bridges in their jurisdictions.

The objective of his audit for bridge infrastructure was to assess whether the Ministry:

•  has effective systems and procedures in place to ensure that the bridges within its highway system are safe and in good repair; and

•  conducts bridge inspections and the required maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement work on a timely basis and with due regard for economy.

Findings:

According to the latest Priority Index that was avail­able in June 2009, which included inspection results for up to the end of 2008, approximately 76% or 2,150 of the 2,800 provincial bridges were in good condition, 17% or 471 bridges were in fair condition but require work within five years, and 7% or 185 were in poor condition and need repair within one year.

There is an increasing trend of relatively few bidders for this specialized work.

There is an increasing trend of relatively few bidders for this specialized work.

Recommendations:The report makes 8 recommendations related to asset management, inspection report/documentation compliance, traffic management for inspections, procedures for high-risk bridges, review of RFP criteria and contract estimation costs and funding arrangements with Municipalities.

RoadMap:  

Centreline:   There are many resources available to Municipalities to establish asset condition and performance, manage renewal strategies, prioritizing capital programs and meeting the requirements of PSAB-PS3150.

By Graham Zeisner in AORS, Association, Roads & Bridges on December 7th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Ban on Hand-Held Devices Now Ontario Law

It’s now the law – the use of hand-held cell phones and other wireless devices while driving is prohibited in Ontario.  Ontario’s new distracted driving law makes it illegal for motorists to use hand-held wireless communication devices or hand-held electronic entertainment devices while driving.  This new law also prohibits viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task such as laptops or DVD players while driving.    

 Ontario’s new law applies to hand-held wireless communications and hand-held electronic entertainment devices.  More…

RoadMap:  Ontario Regulation 366/09 (Display Screens and Hand-Held Devices)

CentreLine: I am going to minimize my use of a cell phone while driving regardless of this law.

By Graham Zeisner in Fleet, Municipal Elected Officials, Roads & Bridges on October 26th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Is Your Salt Storage Facility Ready For Winter?

dsc_0025

Salt storage and loading can be done inside this dome to avoid negative environmental impacts.

Last night the local weatherman apologized for using the word ‘snow’ for the first time this year.  Now, we aren’t going to get the white stuff in Ottawa for a while hopefully but he was pointing at Timmins on his weather map.  They are used to that up on there on the 480  latitude. 

However, that begs the question.  Is everyone ready for some snowfall and are your salt/sand/abrasive storage facilities ready for winter?

This topic was on the agenda of an MTO (Maintenance Session) Fall Meeting I attended recently.  Joe Stea, MTO Operations Officer, presented – MTO Patrol Yard Facilities; Damage and Maintenance. 

The graphics in his presentation reminded me that I had taken numerous photos of maintenance facilities that are not well maintained and/or have not been upgraded to meet the basic requirements outlined by Environment Canada’s Code of Practice for Salt Management.

In particular I think that many municipalities can achieve some relatively quick fixes and wins in 1) drainage and storm water management and 2) salt storage/handling.

The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) has some excellent resources on their website to address these issues including:

Synthesis of Best Practices Road Salt Management

I encourage Municipal and private sector employees to review these documents and compare the suggested best management practices to their own operation.  Any discrepancies should also become obvious in your salt management plans.  

The Association of Ontario Road Supervisors has a comprehensive program of winter training seminars and the Ontario Good Roads Association organizes international winter maintenance experts each year at their Snow and Ice Colloquium in Mississauga. 

Learn More:  Joe Stea’s presentation (.pdf)

CentreLine:  Winter maintenance personnel have many resources available to ensure their operations stay within Environment Canada’s Code of Practice for Salt Managment.

These are some pictures I took of the new MTO/TWD maintenance facility at Hwy 401 and Hurontario in Mississauga.  I’ll continue to visit there over the next few weeks to check on the progress and update pictures.

By Graham Zeisner in AORS, Association, Buildings & Grounds, Fleet, Sewer & Wastewater, Snow & Ice Control, Water, Winter on September 15th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Landscape Ontario Celebrate Greening Ontario Highways with an Open House

green-road-1

All roads should be as 'green' as this one in rural Ontario

Highway greening is an important factor in reducing carbon dioxide – a by-product of vehicle emissions and a catalyst of climate change.

Thanks to research conducted at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in partnership with Landscape Ontario, local nurseries and horticultural suppliers Ontario highways will soon look greener.   Working with industry stakeholders and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is optimizing the planting process for improved local production and long-term greening success.

Full story – Vineland Research and Innovation Centre – News Release

Learn More:

  • Trees that are close to the roadway are 9% more efficient at absorbing pollutants than those planted at a distance.
  • One tree in one day produces enough oxygen for four people in one day. A tree absorbs 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
  • A group of 500 trees absorbs enough carbon dioxide to make up for one car being driven 20,000 km in one year.
  • One tree removes 7,000 dust particles per litre of air per day. Along the roadside a 10% cover of trees will decrease ozone levels by 4 ppm (parts per million).
  • More facts

CentreLine:  Research and Innovation partnerships that result in ‘green’ highway initiatives should be supported and encouraged.

By Graham Zeisner in Association, Roads & Bridges on September 3rd, 2009 - No Comments »
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Broken Road

A unique way to describe an 'uneven surface'.

A unique way to describe an 'uneven road surface'.

While travelling in the Town of Aurora this past weekend I came across this sign.  This is a unique way to discribe a road with significant surface distresses that make for a poor ride.  As it turned out, the road wasn’t that bad; not quite up there with the worst roads in Ontario. 

If you have some pictures of unique road signage in Ontario – or elsewhere – please send them along and I will create a gallery.

Learn More:  MTO Road Talk article regarding road surface survey technology.

By Graham Zeisner in Roads & Bridges on August 4th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Road Talk – Summer 2009 – Vol. 15; Issue 3

ROAD TALK is prepared and published quarterly, and is distributed provincially, nationally and internationally by the Division Services Office of the Provincial Highways Management Division, Ontario Ministry of Transportation. It provides easy-to-read reliable access to technology transfer information from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Technology transfer Group. The Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) and the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) also support the development of this news digest.

ROAD TALK focuses on highway infrastructure, particularly in the areas of design, construction, operations, safety, the environment, and maintenance. Each issue contains the latest developments from the Ministry of transportation’s own researchers and scientists, as well as news from regional and district offices, and Ontario municipalities. The names and phone numbers of appropriate ministry persons to contact for further information are provided.

Learn More: Summer 2009 Edition of Road Talk

By Graham Zeisner in Roads & Bridges, Snow & Ice Control on July 15th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Ontario TDM Municipal Grant Program: A program to Encourage Cycling, Walking, Transit and Trip Reduction.

Fast, affordable, convenient transit systems will attract and maintain ridership.

Fast, affordable, convenient transit systems will attract and maintain ridership.

The Ministry of Transportation is pleased to invite applications for the 2009-2010 round of funding for the Ontario Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Municipal Grant Program: A Program to Encourage Cycling, Walking, Transit, and Trip Reduction.

The program provides financial assistance to Ontario municipalities for the development and implementation of TDM plans, programs, and services that promote alternatives to driving alone such as cycling, walking, transit, or carpooling.

Learn More: What is TDM? Program Guidelines and Application.

By Graham Zeisner in Transportation on July 14th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Road Talk

Ontario’s Transportation Technology Transfer Digest Is Now Available

Winter 2009 – Vol. 15, Issue 1 – Content

  1. In-Place Resonant Rubblizing
  2. Corrosion Inhibitor Tests
  3. Sioux Narrows River Bridge
  4. Winter Maintenance Symposium
  5. Highway 69 Track Settlement Sensor
  6. ABC Knowledge Transfer

By Graham Zeisner in Roads & Bridges on March 5th, 2009 - No Comments »
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Tim Desjardins Presented AORS Truck Roadeo Trophy

Jim Bradley, Tim Desjardins, Dennis O'Neil

Jim Bradley, Tim Desjardins, Dennis O'Neil

Tim Desjardins (Durham Region Public Works Association) was presented the AORS Provincial Safety Truck Roadeo trophy at the ROMA/OGRA awards banquet on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009.  Tim proudly accepted the trophy from Jim Bradley, Minister of Transport and Dennis O’Neal, AORS President.

 Tim is a two time winner of ‘the best trophy in public works’.  He won in 2006 and will have the privilege of retaining the trophy in his Municipality until the 2010 roadeo which will be hosted by  the Haldimand & Norfolk County Public Works Association. 

 The purpose of the Provincial Roadeo is to showcase the expertise of the best municipal drivers in Ontario.  These drivers are the winners of roadeos in their Local Associations and so they have already been successful in an ‘elimination round’.  As well we promote safety, courtesy and professional public works driving skills in a challenging competition.  The organization of the Roadeo is the responsibility of the AORS Education Committee.

The 2008 Provincial Safety Truck Roadeo was hosted by the Waterloo Region Municipal Public Works  Association on September 11, 2008 at Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Complex (WRESTRC)

 Winners were:

  • 1st Place Winner – Tim Desjardins (Durham Region Public Works Association)
  • 1st Runner-up – John Gleeson (Lanark County Road Supervisors Association)
  • 2nd Runner-up – Larry Heinrichs (Haldimand & Norfolk Public Works Association)

By Graham Zeisner in AORS on March 2nd, 2009 - No Comments »
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