Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau signs her name on the aircraft before its flight after donating a toy to pilot and firm owner Randy Pentel. Photo by Craig Wilkins

Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau helped launch an effort intended to set a new speed record for flying around the borders of the 48 contiguous states and to raise awareness of the Toys for Tots program.

The event also celebrates the 100th anniversary of powered flight.

Molnau was the first to affix her signature to the fuselage of the business aircraft operated by RP Air, St. Paul. At each of the stops along the flight’s 10,000-mile route, people who give toys to the program will autograph the aircraft to commemorate their donations.

She joined representatives of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve that sponsors the national Toys for Tots program and the flight crew as they prepared for the flight’s first leg from St. Paul to International Falls. During a pre-flight ceremony, Molnau thanked the air charter firm and the Marine Reserves for their support of the Toys for Tots program.

The flight left the St. Paul Airport on Dec. 15. RP Air officials expect the mission to be completed in three days, eclipsing the previous mark of seven days.

Plans call for the aircraft to land at Kitty Hawk, N. C., on Dec. 17, the date of the Wright brothers’ historic first flight in 1903.

From International Falls, the flight proceeds westerly along the U.S./Canadian border, flies south along the length of California, then continues eastward around the southern part of the United States. The flight will continue around the border of the country until it returns to International Falls and makes its return leg to St. Paul.

By Craig Wilkins

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Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau

When I look back upon the past 12 months at Mn/DOT, the most important and vivid image I see is of all of you—our hard-working dedicated employees. The people in this agency are its biggest asset and I want you to know that I repeat that message as often as possible across the state.

We saw our share of change this year. Please accept my sincere thanks for managing through these changes with great professionalism.

What’s ahead for 2004? Continuing to provide a safe and efficient transportation system to Minnesota citizens; continuing to look for new and innovative ways to provide our services; and continuing to support each other in our work.

This time of the year is one that draws us closer to loved ones. Please remember they are the most important part of your life all year long.

My best wishes to you and your loved ones for a peaceful and wonderful holiday season. Thanks again for all your hard work. I look forward to an exciting New Year!

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Bob McDonald, a former Mn/DOT deputy commissioner, died Dec. 13. File photo, circa 1974

Funeral services will be held Dec. 19 for Bob McDonald, a former Mn/DOT deputy commissioner, who died Dec. 13. He was 79. McDonald served with the department for 38 years until his retirement in 1986.

He was appointed as deputy commissioner in 1978. Previous appointments included service as a maintenance engineer and as a regional engineer in Rochester. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

McDonald also served on the Hiway Federal Credit Union’s board of directors from 1971 until 2001.

Commenting on McDonald’s passing, Deputy Commissioner Doug Differt said his legacy includes the construction of the interstate highway system in Minnesota, solid leadership during the department’s first years and a lasting influence on the next generation of Mn/DOT employees.

"We have lost a leader who was a significant force in the planning, design, construction and operation of Minnesota’s part of the interstate highway system," Differt said. "In addition, he played a key role in mentoring many of the department’s employees who continue his tradition of excellence."

According to Richard P. Braun, a former Mn/DOT commissioner, "Bob McDonald was a kind and generous man. During my eight years as commissioner, I couldn’t have had a better person to team with. He was the stabilizing force for the entire department. He handled the day-to-day management activities while I concentrated on legislative matters and outreach to the public.

"Bob was always concerned about what was best for the department and for the citizens of Minnesota. He leaves a great legacy," Braun said.

McDonald is survived by his spouse, Lorna McDonald, and three children.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel, 2601 19th Ave. NE, Minneapolis. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1849 Marshall Ave., St. Paul.

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Al Barnes, a veteran snowplow operator from Willmar/District 8, suffered minor injuries in a crash involving his plow and another vehicle Dec. 16. The accident occurred about two miles east of Hutchinson on Hwy 7.

Bruce Schlueter, Hutchinson Region maintenance supervisor, said Barnes was sanding the eastbound lane of Hwy 7 when a van crossed the center line and collided with his plow. Barnes and the three people in the van were taken to the Hutchinson Community Hospital. Barnes was treated for bruises and released.

Barnes left the Hutchinson Truck Station about noon to apply more sand to the highway, which was in icy condition due to the recent snowstorm.

Schlueter said Barnes tried to avoid the crash, but the van struck the front blade on his snowplow.

The crash forced authorities to close the highway for several hours until it was cleared. An earlier crash about 10:30 a.m. involving five vehicles about four miles west of Hutchinson also required closing Hwy 7 for about two hours.

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Domestic and international cargo volumes will nearly double by 2020. By 2010, the increase in freight carried on highways will equal the volume currently carried on the entire rail system annually.

On Dec. 11, Mn/DOT kicked off a year-long study to address this challenge and to develop the first statewide freight plan in Minnesota. The study will be conducted by a steering committee chaired by Bill Gardner, director of Freight Planning and Program Development in the Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations. The committee also includes Mn/DOT freight modal experts and planners and representatives from the Metropolitan Council, the Department of Economic Development and the Federal Highway Administration.

"Maintaining and improving the freight transportation network will help Minnesota maintain its edge as a freight hub and support a thriving freight business," said Randy Halvorson, Program Management Division director. "It is also important to the safety and security of the people who share that network."

John Tompkins, study project manager, said the study will focus on understanding trends affecting freight transportation and its impact on the state’s transportation system and communities.

"It will also provide policy-level direction to help decision-makers integrate freight elements into investment decisions," he said.

Over the next year, the steering committee will complete eight tasks that include a freight system inventory and analysis, freight program analysis and environmental scanning. Cambridge Systematics, Inc. and SRF Consulting Group have been hired to define current and projected freight flows into and out of Minnesota. The public and stakeholders will be involved in these task decisions and outcomes.

"The study is an integrated approach that incorporates the Pawlenty-Molnau Administrations’ principles, Mn/DOT’s strategic directions and performance measures into one plan," said Halvorson. "The timing is also good as districts start their long-range planning and TEA-21 reauthorization provides an opportunity for setting new direction."

The study will culminate in December 2004 with a final report of recommendations for future investments and system improvements.

For more information, contact Tompkins at 651/406-4808.

By Donna Lindberg

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Mn/DOT researchers are leading a national effort to eliminate cracking caused by low temperatures in both new and rehabilitated asphalt pavements.

The goal of the research effort is to provide engineers and pavement designers with practical solutions to solve problems related to low-temperature cracking.

Mn/DOT serves as the lead state DOT; the University of Minnesota serves as the technical team lead for the project. The Minnesota Asphalt Paving Association is among trade groups supporting the research effort.

The Federal Highway Administration, the Transportation Research Board and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials sponsor the research program.

"This is an exciting way to do research because we’re using a team approach that involves other DOTs, universities and the industry," said Glenn Engstrom, chief geotechnical engineer, Office of Materials and Road Research.

The pooled-fund effort currently involves nine state DOTs; more states are expected to join the study during the next six months. More than $500,000 has been raised to fund the research, Engstrom said.

Engstrom noted that the team also includes a contractor, Mathy Construction of LaCrosse, Wis., because of its expertise and the research program the firm conducts.

The focus of the research is developing mix designs and binders that resist low-temperature shrinkage that creates stress on the materials and results in cracking. The research will also examine the effects of traffic loading, temperature change cycles, pavement age and the presence of moisture on crack formation.

Design specifications for mixes such as Superpave work well with conventional asphalt cements; however, those mixes do not function well with polymer-modified binders used to resist extremely low temperature grades needed in cold climates.

The research team will collect samples and mix designs from participating states and industry groups and match test results with field performance. Then, with guidance from experts from the U. S. and Canada, the team will select mix designs planned for construction in 2005 at of the Minnesota Road Research Project facility on I-94 near Monticello. This site and others will provide field-testing for the designs chosen.

"We’re leveraging our resources at Mn/DOT, the University of Minnesota and at Mn/ROAD to lead this effort," Engstrom said.

By Craig Wilkins

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Mn/DOT hosted a workshop on emergency transportation operations preparedness and response to assess the Twin Cities’ ability to recover critical transportation functions in the event of terrorists’ acts or other catastrophic crisis.

Approximately 70 representatives from federal, state, county and city governments and non-profit organizations responsible for responding to a terrorists attack attended the workshop held Dec. 3-4. They learned about weapons of mass destruction and their potential effects on Minnesota’s transportation system.

"Since the events of Sept. 11, 2001, emergency preparedness and security have been a priority to the entire nation," said Sonia Pitt, Mn/DOT’s homeland security planning director. "Part of what we learned from the 9/11 attacks is that transportation plays a vital role during and after a catastrophic event and is often the target in terrorists’ plans."

To test the workshop participants’ preparedness, each member worked in an assigned group and developed responses or actions to a realistic terrorist attack scenario. This allowed them to increase their understanding of their agency’s role in an emergency situation and to enhance their relationships with staff from other organizations.

"Conducting the scenarios allowed us to pinpoint our level of readiness," said Pitt. "We were able to identify the areas that need improvement as well as create awareness of the critical processes, issues and activities that could arise during and following an emergency."

Pitt said the next steps are to evaluate Minnesota’s current level of preparedness, identify additional issues and potential areas of vulnerability, and take appropriate actions to reduce or eliminate them.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Mn/DOT, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety sponsored the workshop. It is one of 22 workshops being conducted nationwide.

By Daneeka Marshall-Oquendo

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Roberta Dwyer, left, Duluth/District 1, talks with a news reporter during Research Day. Photo by John Bray

Researchers from the University of Minnesota-Duluth left their offices and labs for a day to exchange ideas about their transportation-related projects with staff from District 1 and other agencies at the district headquarters in Duluth.

The district hosted its second "Research Day" to allow staff from the Northland Advanced Transportation Systems Research Laboratory at UMD to showcase their projects, meet with Mn/DOT, St. Louis County and city of Duluth staff and examine results from the lab and the field.

The research lab at UMD was established in 2000 as an extension of the Center for Transportation Studies at the Twin Cities campus of the U of M.

Current research projects range from improving inspection practices for timber bridges to computer modeling to help maintenance managers choose the most effective strategies when fighting winter storms in the region’s highly unpredictable and variable weather conditions.

Roberta Dwyer, consultant programs project manager, said the event helped researchers and employees demystify research and validate the working knowledge held by Mn/DOT and other agency staff.

Formal presentations, displays and informal meetings provided settings where researchers and Mn/DOT managers, supervisors and employees discussed the projects and how each one could lead to better ways to do things.

In some instances, research at UMD has already led to practical applications.

Russ Kauzlaric, assistant district engineer for program delivery, said a method to better manage traffic generated by events at the Duluth Convention Center is now in use, based on research done by the laboratory’s Dr. Jiann-Shiou Yang.

"As a former traffic engineer, I am pleased to see results from the research that have really improved traffic management at the convention center," Kauzlaric said.

Dwyer said work by Dr. Taek Kwon at UMD has improved traffic data base archiving and management to make large volumes of data more accessible and useful for Mn/DOT staff and the public.

His work, she said, is instrumental in developing processes that allow data from the Regional Traffic Management Center loop detectors in the Twin Cities to be displayed on the Internet. Kwon’s research, Dwyer added, also enabled the Transportation Data Analysis Section to provide traffic data for public use.

The presentation by Dr. Martha Wilson, a professor of industrial engineering, on winter maintenance operations was well-received, Dwyer said.

Wilson and her researchers rode with snowplow drivers, traveled their plow routes and collected other data to develop the modeling program. Dwyer said last winter’s low level of snowfall hampered research, but she noted Wilson and her students continue to refine the model with input from Mn/DOT maintenance staff.

That kind of interaction, Kauzlaric said, is valuable for all participants.

"The meeting and the ongoing research exposes researchers and their students to the real world we live in and gives us access to some high-powered thinkers," he said.

By Craig Wilkins

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Lynn Geschwind joined Mn/DOT Nov. 20 as the agency’s new affirmative action officer. Photo by Dave Gonzalez

Lynn Geschwind, former director of affirmative action programs for Ramsey County, joined Mn/DOT Nov. 20 as the agency’s new affirmative action officer.

In her role, Geschwind is responsible for providing departmentwide advice and coordination in the areas of equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and workforce diversity. She will work closely with the Diversity Council and will be a key resource for managers, supervisors and human resource professionals.

"Lynn’s expert knowledge and record of accomplishments in working with managers, employee groups and community-based organizations should prove invaluable to our agency," said Kevin Gray, Finance and Administration Division director.

Geschwind’s office is in Room 559 of the Transportation Building, co-located with the offices of Human Resources and Workforce Development. Her telephone number is 651/296-1016.

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A traveling training program that enables employees from public agencies and private companies to increase their working knowledge of legal truck weight standards was held in Willmar on Nov. 19.

The session held at the Kandiyohi County Highway Department is part of an ongoing statewide training effort.

The training addresses issues such as truck axle loading and spacing, properly securing different kinds of loads, haulers’ specific needs and the effects of overloaded trucks on the state’s highway system.

The training was conducted with staff from Willmar/District 8, Kandiyohi County and private sector trucking firms to ensure that the trucks they operate or monitor comply with state road weight standards and other safety regulations.

Mary Schultz, a receptionist at the Willmar District headquarters, said the training will help her better answer frequent queries from truckers who visit or call about weight limits and other issues.

Greg Hayes, a retired State Patrol officer, conducted the training at Willmar.

The training is sponsored by Mn/DOT’s State Aid for Local Transportation Division, the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance program, the Department of Public Safety and the community and technical colleges.

By Craig Wilkins

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Dan Ross, left, Office of Information Technology, receives the Polaris Leadership Award for his contributions to promoting GIS education. Will Craig, University of Minnesota, presented the award to Ross on behalf of the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium. Photo by Matt Koukol

Dan Ross, Office of Information Technology, recently received the Polaris Leadership Award for his contributions in promoting geographic information system education.

Given by the Minnesota Geographic Information System/Land Information System Consortium, the Polaris Leadership Award recognizes mid-career GIS professionals who have made significant contributions for at least five years that benefit Minnesota. Recipients must demonstrate leadership, energy and creativity, and be involved with the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium. Three awards are granted each year.

Ross has served as both the GIS/LIS Consortium chair and as conference chair. Under his leadership, the consortium began spring workshops and started the process of rotating the consortium’s conference to St. Cloud and Duluth in addition to the Twin Cities. Both initiatives added educational opportunities for GIS professionals and strengthened the vitality of the consortium.

In 1998, Ross conducted, and with the consortium published, the internationally recognized Minnesota GIS/LIS Salary Survey, the results of which have helped professionals to see where they needed to add education to improve their value in the workplace.

Ross was the driving force in initiating the consortium’s scholarship program, which now supports students in five colleges and universities across the state, helping to develop the GIS leaders of the future.

At Mn/DOT, Ross is one of the key players in getting the department’s BaseMap on the Web and he is currently leading a GIS project to develop a stable transportation location model for Mn/DOT.

By Tom Glancy, Office of Information Technology

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Did you know you can find a listing of more than 2,000 Mn/DOT publications with a single click of your mouse? It's as easy as clicking here.

Once you've brought up the list, you can search it by keywords or date of publication. More than 200 of these reports are viewable at your desktop by clicking here.

These listings and reports are accessible around the globe through the services of more than 40,000 libraries. So, if you've produced a report and want the world to know about it, make sure it gets cataloged by sending the report—or, if it's in electronic format, its Web site location—to Mn/DOT Library at MS 155 ("Library" on GroupWise).

For more information about the library's catalog, check out http://www.dot.state.mn.us/library/worldcat.html, or call the library at 651/296-2385.

By Jerry Baldwin, Mn/DOT Library director

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