The tunnel-boring machine digging two LRT tunnels beneath the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reached the half-way mark April 25 when it broke through these cement caissons protecting the excavation. Consultant photo

Several media outlets joined local dignitaries on April 25 to greet an atypical guest on an unusual quest: the huge, globetrotting tunnel-boring machine. The tunnel borer broke through the ground after more than six months of chewing rock beneath the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to dig one of two 1.4-mile tunnels for the Hiawatha Line Light Rail Transit project.

Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg called the tunnel borer and its work a "marvel."

"We watched last August as this machine arrived in Duluth in several pieces through the St. Lawrence Seaway and then as it traveled by night down I-35 on side-by-side trucks," Tinklenberg said. "In October we watched as the tunnel boring machine began chewing its way into the earth, and today we marvel at the completion of this first tunnel."

But once the 500-ton tunnel borer finally finished digging the southbound tunnel, it had to get to the other side of the airport and get ready to start digging the northbound tunnel in a few more weeks.

Easier said than done.

"On Monday, crews will take the cutter head off of the machine and haul it across the airport runways during the night," said Joshua Collins, Mn/DOT community outreach specialist. "Over the next two weeks they will disassemble the machine and transport it to the north portal. After another two weeks of reassembling the machine, work will begin on the northbound tunnel. The second tunnel is expected to be completed in October of this year."

Work has proceeded on schedule through the winter on other parts of the line, too, Collins said.

"Work is continuing in downtown Minneapolis and we expect to see the first rail laid at Nicollet Avenue, probably in mid-June," Collins said. "Also in mid-June, we will start laying actual rail tracks at Park Avenue and Fifth Street in downtown Minneapolis. In early May, we plan to begin laying track on the mainline route, starting around Hiawatha Avenue and 26th Street in south Minneapolis."

Construction of the Hiawatha Line is on time and within budget, Collins said. He indicated that about 29 percent of the construction itself is complete, and the design/build project as a whole (including design) is about 39 percent complete. The Metropolitan Council will begin partial service on the Hiawatha Line in 2003 and full service from the Mall of America to downtown Minneapolis in 2004.

Click here for more information about the LRT project and to read a previous Mn/DOT Newsline article on the tunnel borer.

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District offices and Metro Division will take on additional responsibilities as a result of recommendations the Senior Management Team approved April 23 for the Office of Construction and Contract Administration and the Office of Materials and Road Research.

After reviewing the options for the Office of Construction and Contract Administration, SMT decided that no changes would be made in the areas of Permits and Agreements and Legislative Claims. The Office of Land Management will continue responsibilities for permits and agreement certification, and legislative claims will remain housed in the Office of Construction and Contract Administration.

However, the districts and Metro Division will now be responsible for handling the final review process for construction projects as well as the contract time review process.

"This will be a substantial change for the districts and Metro on how finals have been handled in the past where Central Office had an approval role for both contract time and finals," said Mike Marttila, director, Office of Construction and Contract Administration.

All areas of evaluation within the Office of Materials and Road Research will maintain their existing processes with the exception of the design recommendation approval process, which will shift to the districts and Metro Division as a way to streamline the decision-making process.

"Although we will no longer be responsible for approving the design, we will continue to assist and train the districts and Metro until they are comfortable with the new process, said Gerry Rohrbach, director, Office of Materials and Road Research.

The Office of Construction and Contract Administration and the Office of Materials and Road Research will periodically conduct audits on selected projects to ensure compliance.

These changes are part of the department’s Shaping Our Future effort, which is systematically examining Mn/DOT’s processes—and changing them as needed—to ensure that resources are aligned with the department’s strategic directions and that work functions are located closest to the customer and end product. Many of the changes also reduce the number of approvals and sign-offs, which help expedite processes.

Other offices that have undergone or are undergoing internal review as part of the Shaping Our Future effort include Administrative Services, Bridges and Structures, Communications & Public Relations, Consultant Services/Contract Management, Electronic Communications, Maintenance, Research Services and Traffic Engineering.

Watch next week’s Mn/DOT Newsline for news about changes in the Office of Land Management.

Click here for more information about Shaping Our Future and to read previous Mn/DOT Newsline articles discussing the initiative. Send questions and comments to change@dot.state.mn.us or to Change, Mail Stop 150.

By Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo

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Eight Minnesota mayors on April 30 endorsed the Minnesota Transportation Coalition’s proposed compromise for ending the legislative deadlock on the transportation finance bill.

The mayors of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Montevideo, Mankato, St. Cloud, Rosemount and West St. Paul encouraged legislators to support:

• A five-cent per gallon gas tax increase to provide a substantial and sustained increase in transportation funding

• Balanced transportation funding with an increase in annual transit funding

• Dedication of the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax with phase-in transfer over three years beginning in 2006

The Senate’s transportation finance bill includes a six-cent per gallon gas tax increase, indexing, establishment of a multi-modal fund, bonding and a referendum vote for a possible one-half cent sales tax increase in the 11-county metropolitan area. The House version has no money for the Northstar Commuter Rail project and includes $750 million in bonding, to be paid with growth in the transportation fund.

Constitutionally, the Legislature must adjourn by May 20 this year.

"It is really unprecedented to have support for transportation funding from so many different groups," said Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg. "With the general public, business, labor and now so many mayors supporting the effort to provide a long-term, statewide, multimodal transportation funding package, I hope the Legislature will take action soon."

See also an earlier Mn/DOT Newsline article on transportation financing.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, in town for the James L. Oberstar Forum on Transportation Policy and Technology, joined U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy in presenting Mn/DOT with a $2.9 million check for a new Hwy 212 on the southwest end of the Twin Cities. From left are Robert Lindall, Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition; Mineta; Jim Swanson, Program Delivery Group director; Dave Trooien, Willmar District Engineer; Kennedy; Bob Winter, Metro Division Engineer. Photo by Kevin Gutknecht

Weaknesses and some surprising strengths in the nation’s transportation system were highlighted at the first James L. Oberstar Forum on Transportation Policy and Technology sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies. Held April 29 in Minneapolis, the forum focused on how transportation agencies have responded since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

"Patience is a new form of patriotism," U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in his keynote address.

Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg moderated a panel discussion that featured transportation leaders representing transit, aviation, rail, highways, and ports and waterways.

Transit prepared

Panelist Bill Millar, American Public Transportation Association, said transit was used to dealing with this kind of crisis. He cited the 1995 sarin nerve gas attacks in Japan as one example of why many transit systems in the world now have emergency response plans.

Millar noted that transit systems in New York and Washington D.C. were immediately prepared to respond to the attacks by reversing course and carrying passengers away from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and that not one life was lost in the transit system. Travelers who were displaced at airports across the nation and Canada were able to use public transit to find temporary shelter or to find alternate ways to return to their homes. He said Sept. 11 underscored the need for the nation to build redundancy into the transportation system.

By air

Other modes of transportation were not as prepared. Mineta said continued economic fallout from Sept.11 proves the nation cannot afford a fear of flying. Doug Steenland, Northwest Airlines, added that a prime goal in the airline industry is to restore business travel, which has fallen dramatically since Sept.11. Panelists added that new security measures being implemented at airports must ensure, not diminish, U.S. citizens’ freedom to travel.

By land

Matt Rose, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., said rail officials considered shutting the nation’s rail system down on Sept.11, but continued to operate. He said the terrorist attacks have led to security changes including improvements in the tracking of hazardous materials and eliminating haz-mat placards on rail cars to reduce visibility.

Saying highways are needed both as avenues of exit and as avenues for help during an emergency, John Horsley, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said improving security on highways requires a systematic vulnerability assessment of roads, bridges and tunnels, an emergency response plan and cooperation with U.S. military forces to enable military activation during a crisis. However, he pointed out, safety is also a top concern because every three weeks the same number of people die on the nation’s highways as died on Sept.11.

With three million truck drivers nationwide, Bill Canary, American Trucking Association, said a prime goal for the trucking industry is to never allow a truck to be used as a weapon.

By sea

Davis Helberg, Duluth Port Authority, said Sept.11 highlighted weaknesses in the nation’s ports and waterways. Foremost among them is the fact that foreign-owned shippers carry most international waterway trade. He said more information is needed about ships before they enter U.S. waterways.

Key issues

All panelists agreed that the key issues in transportation security include raising public awareness about the value of transportation for the economy and for quality of life, increasing funding to address security needs, and identifying and coordinating who is responsible for what when it comes to security. They also agreed that redundancy in transportation is critical and that Sept. 11 showed that as a stark reality. Oberstar closed the forum by praising organizers for breaking new ground in gathering together transportation leaders from all modes—something, he said, that has never happened in Congress.

Work Zone Memorial

To commemorate Workers Memorial Day, the forum included a tribute to workers who have been killed in work zones. Oberstar cited the 1,000 workers who were killed in work zones last year, including 10 in Minnesota. Minnesota has one of the best records in the nation on work zone safety.

By Pat Lund

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The Department of Employee Relations has expanded Mn/DOT’s exemption to the current hiring freeze so that it includes all positions directly tied to program delivery, Mark Carlson, Human Resources director, announced April 25.

On Feb. 28, DOER restricted all state agencies from hiring any permanent or temporary employees through June 2003. All agencies, including Mn/DOT, were allowed some exceptions to this "freeze" in order to hire people providing essential government services that address safety and emergency situations. Even so, this limited Mn/DOT’s ability to deliver its construction program.

"This expanded exemption is a very positive step in ensuring we succeed in delivering the biggest program in our history," Carlson said.

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Resumes will soon replace many traditional exams and processes as the path to employment and career management with the State of Minnesota.

That’s because earlier this year the Department of Employee Relations announced that it was abolishing statewide written exams. Instead, DOER is moving to a resumes-only system managed on computer via the World Wide Web and an interactive voice response phone line.

This change means that employees seeking other jobs within the State of Minnesota will soon need to create resumes on paper or online. Employees will benefit in several ways by submitting their resumes. Some of these benefits include:

• Twenty-four hour access to view (or listen to) and apply for jobs of interest via the Web site and the interactive voice response phone line.

• Fewer application steps, with no more need to fill out different applications for specific job classifications or positions.

• Ability to make choices about applying for specific positions instead of the job classification as a whole, like the previous system.

• Automatic consideration for state and Mn/DOT vacancies. The system will search for and automatically match resumes with the skills listed in the job postings.

• More flexibility to manage career moves.

• Easy-to-use tools that offer more information so employees can find out and apply for specific vacancies.

• One simple method of applying will give employees the opportunity to easily share this knowledge with family, friends and others who are looking for employment with the state.

Online resumes have been the calling card for millions of job seekers in private industry for more than a decade. DOER has also had an optional online resume building system for several years for some job classes while also accepting applications via fax, mail, e-mail and personal delivery.

Recently, however, job seeker and employee demand—along with a tightened job market—has driven DOER to develop a simpler process that includes online resumes, according to Gary Simon, recruiting and retention coordinator, Office of Human Resources.

In order to help employees who are not familiar with resume writing or filing online resumes, Mn/DOT’s Office of Human Resources plans to offer training classes for employees between now and June 30. The classes will cover both resume writing and the process of using Resume Builder, DOER’s online resume building format.

As a preliminary step, Simon indicated that Human Resources offered a "train the trainer" class last month to employee development specialists and other Human Resources professionals. These employees will, in turn, teach the hands-on classes to Mn/DOT employees during the next two months.

But this is no "one-shot-and-you-miss-it" deal, as infrequently scheduled civil service exams sometimes seemed to be. Simon said that these trained coworkers will offer employees an equally valuable service after the classes end.

"The HR and training staffs will continue to be available as ‘consultants’ for employees who need advice on creating resumes and using the online service," Simon said. "We recognize that many people might have questions or need a little help after the class. That’s why we are training people to provide this help as a service for employees.

"Despite the hiring freeze and budget conditions, we’re still encouraging all employees to get their resumes into the system because Mn/DOT is looking at phasing out our current eligible lists," he said. "We want everyone to have a resume in the system by Nov. 1 because that’s when the lists will be abolished. When we are able to step up our hiring, we want employees to have resumes in the database so that we can consider them when filling vacancies."

Employees who do not have computer access or who prefer not to go online will be able to mail a resume to DOER, Simon said. DOER will use resume-scanning software to enter these resumes into their growing database.

Simon said he also sees the new resume-writing class and post-class assistance as an important part of retaining employees.

"We value the employees we have, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on job opportunities," he said. "By helping employees learn the new system, we also help ensure that skilled and knowledgeable employees are available in the candidate pool for any vacancies that come up. We are working closely with DOER and the unions to ensure that this process is a smooth and successful one."

Look for additional information on this topic to come out soon. A class schedule with dates will also be available shortly.

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Kathleen Schaefer, Circuit Training Assistance Program instructor in Maintenance Operations Research and Standards section, discusses the program’s services with Ron Finnila, transportation generalist at the Cannon Falls Truck Station, during the Minnesota Maintenance Spring Expo held in St. Cloud April 24-25. Photo by Mike Travis

The 2002 Minnesota Spring Maintenance Expo, held April 24-25 at the St. Cloud Civic Center, attracted dozens of representatives from townships, cities, counties and state interested in seeing the latest in spring and summer roadway maintenance operations. Participants attended sessions on a variety of topics from how to handle heavy equipment to new technology for work zones.

One highlight of the Expo that attracted much media attention was the Mobile Traffic Monitoring System, a new way to warn motorists of traffic delays. A live demonstration showed how MTMS would provide motorists with real-time speed and traffic delay information before they reach a work zone.

According to Craig Mittelstadt, Office of Construction and Contract Administration, this new technology is expected to reduce crashes in work zones because it provides motorists with up-to-the-minute information on what's ahead and gives the motorists an option to find an alternate route. For more information on MTMS, contact Craig Mittelstadt at 651/296-5714.

By Shayla Cain

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In May, Mn/DOT is taking advantage of National Bike Month to remind the public that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle driver.

"The fact that we have more paved bicycle trails than any other state is a reflection of our commitment to providing transportation choices—including bicycling—for Minnesotans," said Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg. "In order to make bicycling a safe alternative, everyone needs to be respectful of others’ rights to be on the road."

Bikers use roads as well as trails. Mn/DOT and its transportation partners are expanding and improving on-road bikeways, such as shoulders and bike lanes, so that more people can choose to bike to work, according to Mary Jackson, bike planner in the Office of Environmental Services.

Minnesota bicycle laws

Every year, there are, on average, 1,265 crashes in Minnesota involving a motor vehicle and a bicycle, killing nine bicyclists. To improve safety, both bicyclists and motorists need to be aware of Minnesota’s bicycle laws, including the following:

• Ride with traffic on the right side of the road and obey all traffic signs and signals

• Use legal lights and reflectors at night

• Don’t impede normal traffic when riding alongside another bicyclist

• Yield to pedestrians; give an audible signal before passing

• Maintain continuous arm signal during last 100 feet before a turn or lane change and while stopped waiting to turn

Bicyclists are encouraged to wear helmets. Motorists should allow at least three feet between their vehicle and a cyclist when passing.

The Office of Environmental Services has pocketsize reminders about bike safety measures available at the Mn/DOT Library or on the Web site at http://www.mnsbac.org/bikelaws.html.

Contact mary.jackson@dot.state.mn.us if you’re interested in getting on a list of Mn/DOT bikers to find out about biking events. Check out Mn/DOT’s Web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike.html for bike information.

By Pat Lund and Sue Stein

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The Minnesota Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar recognized Mn/DOT as Employer of the Year at its annual scholarship and awards luncheon April 25 at the Nicollet Island Inn in Minneapolis.

Laurie McGinnis, University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, nominated Mn/DOT for its leadership and membership contributions to the organization.

McGinnis commended Mn/DOT for its role and success as part of Gov. Jesse Ventura’s Moving Minnesota plan, streamlining efforts, partnerships and commitment to diversity.

"Mn/DOT places tremendous value on its existing workforce which totals 5,500 employees statewide," McGinnis said. "Since 1985, the number of women employed by Mn/DOT has increased by more than 65 percent. Women in leadership positions at Mn/DOT has more than doubled over the same time period and the number of minority women employees has increased by 267 percent."

The Employer of the Year award is given to an organization that has enhanced the transportation industry through its commitment to excellence and quality in its products and services; supports continuing education of its employees through professional education, organizations and professional development opportunities; and is committed to affirmative action in hiring and promoting at all employment levels.

Mn/DOT Chief of Staff Margo Labau accepted the award on behalf of the department and Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg provided the keynote address at the event. Both LaBau and Tinklenberg are active WTS members.

WTS is a non-profit organization dedicated to excellence in transportation through the achievement and success of women. Mn/DOT employees make up nearly 30 percent of WTS membership and currently hold positions on the local Board of Directors and on committees responsible for planning the 2002 National Conference scheduled for May 15-17 in Minneapolis. For more information about WTS and the 2002 National Conference visit the WTS Web site.

By Jodi Ruehle, assistant to the commissioner

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Brainerd employees (and family) raised almost $900 recently for the March of Dimes. Front row (l-r): Kim Risvold, Tyler Lenz (son of Jeff Lenz), Renee Carry, (daughter of Lori Carry), LuAnn Cameron. Back row: Byron Risvold, (Kim Risvold's husband), Missy McCormick, Jeff Lenz, Lori Carry and Cathy Clark.

On Saturday, April 27, employees from Mn/DOT's Brainerd Office walked approximately five miles each in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. The event was held at Brainerd's Central Lakes College.

Team MnDOT, which included nine employees from the Brainerd Office and several of their family members, raised donations totaling $854.

The walk capped Mn/DOT's fundraising effort for the March of Dimes. At its recent employee day event, Brainerd employees raised $30 by sponsoring an "Ugly Foot Contest."

Employees paid a quarter a guess to correctly match foot photos with 19 of their co-workers. The winner correctly guessed eight of the 19.

By Cathy Clark, Brainerd public affairs coordinator

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Children participating in the Central Office's Take Your Daughter to Work Day April 25 practiced giving on-camera "interviews" with the Video Services’ crew. Photo by Kim Lanahan-Lahti

"Get them while they’re young," the advertising world advises, and on April 25, Mn/DOT did just that by hosting 62 daughters and sons of employees, along with five girls from Academia Cesar Chavez Charter School, for Take Your Daughter to Work Day at Mn/DOT’s Central Office.

The morning’s hands-on activities included:

• Building a bridge and crawling across it to "test" it;

• Trying out the Sim City city-building software program;

• Making pinwheels to learn about airplane propellers;

• Sitting in the driver’s seat of Mn/DOT’s concept maintenance snowplow;

• Looking through video cameras; and

• Giving on-camera "roadside interviews" with Mn/DOT Video Services’ crew.

The youngsters, ages 9 to 15, met some of Mn/DOT’s top managers, including Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg and Chief of Staff Margo LaBau.

Kathryn Plaisance, daughter of Joe Plaisance, Office of Maintenance, told Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg that she "really liked building the bridge." He responded, "Ah, we have a budding engineer here." Later in the morning, she explored her aunt’s work area on the sixth floor and announced: "It would be awesome to work up here."

According to Janet Bouyer, affirmative action officer and the event organizer, "Early awareness events like this one can help us address future needs we’ll have in recruiting women and minorities for technical careers at Mn/DOT.

"The Ms Foundation for Women," she added, "originally created Take Your Daughter to Work Day to help girls to discover non-traditional careers and encourage them to lift their aspirations. This fits with one of our recruiting goals."

Click here for more information about the national Take Your Daughter to Work Day.

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