By Craig Wilkins

The season’s first major snowstorm came in two parts—the first on a Saturday, the second timed just right to disrupt Monday’s evening rush hour.

The first stage delivered precipitation in all of its forms in some areas—snow, sleet and rain.

Precipitation fell in just that order in parts of southern Minnesota during the Dec. 1 storm, requiring maintenance crews to make constant adjustments in tactics.

Both District 6 and District 7 have high-capacity, automated systems that allow crews to mix just the right kind and proportion of liquid agents to meet changing temperature and other conditions.

Randy Glaser, a transportation generalist at Mankato, said his district started using a mixture known as liquid corn salt for anti-icing in advance of the Dec. 1 storm.

The substance is a mixture of corn syrup and brine. The corn syrup, Glaser said, helps the brine stick to road surfaces and works at lower temperatures than brine does. The mixture was used primarily on bridges in the Mankato and New Ulm areas.

The corn syrup leaves a residue that can reactivate when further precipitation falls, adding an extra measure of coverage, he said.

The mixing system enables operators to have the most suitable anti-icers as conditions change. He said, for example, that when rain threatens, operators will use a mix containing a higher ratio of brine or apply additional salt to prevent diluting the chemicals.

The district uses a 1,000 gallon capacity tanker to apply the liquid corn salt mix.

Dave Redig, maintenance superintendent at Rochester, said his area received the same winter sampler. He said the freeze-thaw-refreeze cycle kept crews busy taking care of icy spots days after the storms hit.

The Metro District is expanding its use of liquid corn salt as an anti-icer, said Norm Ashfeld, a district maintenance superintendent.

“We’ve used LCS for de-icing about five years; now we’re testing its effectiveness as anti-icer,” Ashfeld said. Metro, he added, also uses magnesium chloride for anti-icing when temperatures drop to near zero.

The Dec. 3 storm arrived along with the evening rush hour. There were problems, said Beverly Farraher, maintenance operations engineer, but she said the district received many messages commending its work under very trying circumstances.

Maintenance forces in northern Minnesota also used new innovations during the storms.

Bemidji/District 2 started use of its highly automated system that tracks snowplows and their operations and a program (the maintenance decision support system) that provides managers and operators with optimal choices for plowing, chemical use and other snow fighting tactics.

Jim Curran, assistant district engineer for operations at Crookston, said 35 of the district’s 67 plow route trucks are equipped with the systems.

Curran said initial results from the storms are promising.

“During the recent snow events, operators and supervisors used data such as road and weather condition reports to support their operations. Operators also received information such as chemical use recommendations right in their trucks.”

Supervisors used the tracking system (known as automatic vehicle location or AVL) to locate the units as needed for safety and dispatch purposes.

“There are details to work out as with any new technology,” Curran said, “but it sure looks like the system will be a nice tool for our operators, dispatchers and supervisors in the future.”

The Full Funding Grant Agreement adds to money already contributed by the state, the regional rail authorities for Anoka, Hennepin and Sherburne counties, the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Twins. It allows the project to award contracts in the coming months for passenger rail cars and construction of stations at Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids and downtown Minneapolis.

Present at the signing ceremony in Anoka yesterday were Gov. Tim Pawlenty, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas J. Barrett, members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, and other state and local elected officials.  

The 40-mile Northstar commuter rail line will use existing BNSF Railway train tracks between Big Lake and downtown Minneapolis.     

The line is expected to open in late 2009. Service will consist of five round trips each week day during rush hours, along with a reverse-commute trip each week day and three round trips each weekend day.  

Commuters will have a direct connection to Hiawatha light rail trains and other transit in downtown Minneapolis, adjacent to the new Twins’ ballpark.  

For more information about the Northstar commuter rail project, visit www.mn-GetOnBoard.com.

By Craig Wilkins

Steve Jensen’s third plowing pass through Battle Lake on Dec. 4 was routine until a man dressed in black appeared along the side of Hwy 210.

Jensen, a transportation generalist, is assigned to District 4’s Fergus Falls truck station.

Jensen stopped to see if the man needed help. The man, 23, didn’t want help; he wanted Jensen’s snowplow.

Jensen locked the truck’s doors and partially lowered the passenger side window.

Mumbling and disoriented, the man climbed onto the plow and demanded that Jensen get out and give him the plow.

Judy Jacobs, district public affairs coordinator, said the man carried on for a few more moments, then climbed down from the plow.

Jensen called 911 to report the incident. While he waited for police to arrive, the man tried to pull the driver out of a pickup truck who also stopped to help him. The man was arrested, jailed and faces charges from the incident.

Jacobs said plow operators frequently stop to help stranded motorists in remote areas, but said this was the first time anyone tried to carjack—or plowjack—a Mn/DOT snowplow.

“Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident,” Jacobs said. “Steve read the situation well and used good judgment.”

Reflecting on the attempted plow-jacking, Jacobs said, “Sometimes, you just have to shake your head and wonder.”

By Diane Beck, District 8 public affairs coordinator

State and county officials dedicated a new truck station at the Lincoln County-Mn/DOT Transportation Facility in Ivanhoe on Dec. 6.

Mn/DOT began construction on the truck station in early 2007 as an addition to the transportation facility, which opened in April 2006. Lincoln County and Mn/DOT also share a salt shed on the site.

“By partnering with other agencies, we can share knowledge and expertise as well as deliver services more effectively,” said Dave Trooien, Willmar district engineer.

The wing allowed the district to replace the old truck station in Ivanhoe at a lower cost than building a separate structure. The new wing houses maintenance and storage areas and an office for the State Patrol. The district and county share a lunchroom, truck wash bay and a sand and salt storage area.

The total cost of the building was approximately $1.95 million; Mn/DOT contributed more than $550,000.

This is the 12th facility that Mn/DOT has completed to support shared-use operations with cities, counties and other state agencies.

By Craig Wilkins

From one end of the Mankato District’s headquarters’ main corridor to the other, three doors open into offices whose occupants share a powerful, common bond.

Cancer.

The employees, all women, are in various stages of the disease.

Wendy Meyer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 when a routine mammogram showed a tiny speck of malignant tissue.

Six years after surgery, radiation and drug treatment, Meyer remains cancer-free.

Her experience ties her closely with Lynn Bisch, who is now battling uterine cancer, and Sgt. Jaci Sticha, a State Patrol officer who also works in the building.

Backed by the district’s management, staff members have spun a web of support around the women to relieve some of the emotional stress associated with the disease.

“Our goal is to create an atmosphere where people are supported when they’re ill and one they want to come back to when they’re able,” said Jim Swanson, Mankato district engineer. “We could hire temps, but we miss our own people and we try to do whatever we can so they can return.”

Meyer said the disease, coupled with support from coworkers, led her to reorder her priorities.

“Because of strong support from managers and coworkers, work helps create a safe, ordered place that provides a sense of purpose when other aspects of our lives are spinning out of control,” she said.

Meyer completed her bachelor’s degree in organizational development and became an advocate for breast cancer awareness, traveling as far as Russia to promote improved detection and treatment and an eventual cure.

Bisch, Swanson’s executive assistant, recovered from a bout with breast cancer but then was diagnosed with uterine cancer in November.

Bisch now receives outpatient treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She’s often driven there by a coworker.

Some of her fellow employees also keep Bisch’s refrigerator stocked with homemade meals. Bisch also receives visitors, cards and flowers from her colleagues to buoy her spirits.

Sticha learned she had breast cancer in June. She has had surgery and recently completed radiation treatment. Drug therapy for Sticha begins in January.

Dealing with stress and effects of radiation, she said, requires emotional support—support that came readily from Meyer and Bisch.

“Sometimes all I need to do is walk down the hall and get a smile or a knowing look from them,” she said.

Sticha also credits her professional counterpart, public affairs coordinator Rebecca Arndt, with helping her get through some difficult times.

“Sometimes I felt like I was coming unglued, but Rebecca would come down the hall and drag me to meetings or bug me about something else I needed to do,” Sticha said.

“You can have a bad day here and people will respect that and understand,” she said. “I’m really glad that I work in this building.”

Mn/DOT people earned state and national recognition for accomplishments ranging from using work zone safety practices effectively to excellence in asphalt paving.

A resurfacing project on Interstate 90 from Adrian to Rushmore in District 7 was cited for excellence by a panel of representatives from Mn/DOT and the Minnesota Asphalt Paving Association. The project covered nine miles.

The panel based its finding on criteria that include ride smoothness, appearance, project complexity and compliance with design standards.

Ken Janovsky, a senior engineering specialist at Windom, served as the project manager. Robert Sneller, transportation specialist, was the project’s chief inspector.

Panel members recognized a project in Bemidji/District 2 for work zone safety efforts during repaving work on Hwy 2 between Hwy 75 and Groveland Avenue in Crookston.

They noted effective use of flagging and other traffic control measures in the project area that had several access points.

The panel also cited good communication efforts by the district, the contractor and local officials to keep the public informed. J.T. Anderson, a principal engineer at the Thief River Falls Resident Office, was the project manager.

Bob Works, recently retired director of Transit’s Bike and Pedestrian Section, was honored during the annual Minnesota Public Transit Conference held in St. Paul.

He was cited for a career-long dedication to improve transit services and for being an advocate for bike and pedestrian programs and facilities.

Works’ distinguished career award notes Minnesota’s becoming a leader in bike use, creation of an extensive network of trails and support of biking, walking and other alternate modes to single-occupant motor vehicles for commuting and other travel.

Mn/DOT employees increased their rate of giving to the Combined Charities Campaign by 28.5 percent from last year, said Ron Bisek, Mn/DOT’s campaign co-chair.

“From Mn/DOT’s perspective, I am thrilled with the increase we achieved,” he said. “I think that people saw the value that these charities provide as we dealt with this year and felt compelled to support their efforts.

“It’s a strong statement on how much Mn/DOT employees care about their fellow citizens,” he said.

Pledges from department employees grew from $56,264 in 2006 to $72,282 this year, Bisek said.

The statewide campaign fell a bit short of its $1 million goal, gathering a total of $949,553 in pledges.

“While we weren’t able to achieve our state goal, this a 4.2 percent increase from last year,” Bisek said. “It’s the second year to show an increase in dollars and the total number of employees contributing also grew. We are very pleased with this year’s results.”

The Office of Government Affairs is now seeking applicants for its federal relations assistant mobility position. The position begins in early January and ends June 30, 2008.

The candidate will assist the federal relations manager in analyzing federal legislation, responding to congressional requests, providing information to Minnesota’s congressional delegation, monitoring congressional hearings and proceedings, and researching federal transportation issues.

In addition, the position has succession planning potential for the position of federal relations manager.

Applicants must have their supervisor’s approval to apply. Application deadline is Dec. 21.

To apply, send a letter of application and two writing samples to Brad Larsen, federal relations manager, at MS 140 or 651/366-4797 (fax).

For more information, contact Larsen at 651/366-4821 or via GroupWise.     

By Lt. Gov./Commissioner Carol Molnau

“Working with you folks at Mn/DOT is one of the best things I’ve done in my life.”

That’s what I told the managers at their meeting in November, and that’s how I feel about ALL Mn/DOT employees.

This year will be forever remembered as one that challenged our resources and our spirit. But it will also be remembered for the enduring efforts you all put forth by facing those challenges and persevering.

You haven’t just survived and endured this year; you demonstrated the best of what Mn/DOT has to give. You were responsible for some of our most shining moments.

You all played a role, whether large or small, in-the-spotlight or behind-the-scenes, in Mn/DOT’s many challenges and accomplishments this year. Many of those accomplishments have been recorded in Newsline throughout the year, including in this issue.

In addition, Deputy Commissioner Lisa Freese, throughout the month of December, is taking the time to recognize the work of employees in what she calls her everyday heroes “brag letters,” which she is sending to you via GroupWise. I encourage you to read them.

None of us can predict what lies ahead for Mn/DOT in 2008, but I am confident that you will once again shine.

And by this time next year, if all goes as scheduled, we should be close to having a new I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River to fill the hole in our state’s—and nation’s—interstate system. We won’t forget the tragic events of Aug. 1 nor the lives that were forever altered that night, but we look forward with a sense of hope.

Even though it is difficult to hear criticism of the department from the news media and politicians, you have continued to do your jobs with grace and professionalism. I’ve never been more proud of Mn/DOT employees as I have been during these past few months.

I thank you for your commitment to public service and wish you and your families good health and happiness in the new year.