By Anne Meyer

Blader Tot Hotdish is serving up clear roads for District 2 along Hwy 59 and Hwy 32 near Brooks in northeast Minnesota. Better Call Salt has been summoned to action on Hwy 10 between Little Falls and Rice in District 3.

In the Metro District, Blizzo is blazing a trail on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis. It even got a shout out from its namesake, Grammy Award-winning artist Lizzo, through a tweet saying, “SHES BEAUTIFUL.” These three plows are among several winners of MnDOT’s third annual Name a Snowplow contest.

One of the contest’s original winners, Plowy McPlowFace, and its driver, David Jackson from the Maryland Truck Station in St. Paul, were recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article about the phenomenon of naming municipal fixtures. Most of the other contests around the U.S. started after MnDOT’s first Name a Snowplow contest during the 2020-21 winter season.

The agency now has 25 named snowplows statewide. In addition to the 24 named snowplows selected through public voting contests, staff in District 1 chose to name an additional snowplow in their region in 2022. Giiwedin, the Ojibwe word for the North Wind, is stationed at MnDOT’s Duluth Truck Station and covers Hwy 33 near the Fond du Lac Reservation. More district-named snowplows may be coming soon.

For anyone interested in learning more about the plows (named and not), follow the main MnDOT and district social media channels for regular updates.

By Doug Mack

On the evening of Feb. 22, during one of the biggest snowfalls of the season, two Metro District plow drivers had special guests alongside them: Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger did a ride-along with Nick Harden (in Plowy McPlowface), from the Maryland truck station, and Assistant Commissioner Jay Hietpas rode with Bob Leary, from the Oakdale truck station.

The ride-alongs gave the agency leaders a chance to meet drivers, see for themselves what it’s like to be in a plow during a major snow event and learn about the process of maintaining trucks and keeping the roads clean.

“I love when people come for a ride-along to see what we do,” Harden said. “I was glad [Commissioner Daubenberger] got the chance to see the difference between nighttime and daytime traffic volumes and road temperatures. We talked about how the road temperature affects the salt and how the liquid works the trucks.”

For both Daubenberger and Hietpas, the conversations also offered insights into the drivers’ responsibilities as they work to uphold a high standard of public service, including serving as escorts for emergency vehicles and meeting the needs and requests of first responders.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to do a ride-along with Nick and see firsthand how skillful drivers are in their work, the teamwork needed to do their jobs successfully and the challenges they face on the roads,” Daubenberger said. “Nick and all of our hardworking plow drivers have a difficult job, and Minnesotans are so fortunate for their work to help us all travel safely.”

By Doug Mack

Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger joined the heads of 12 other state or territorial departments of transportation to sign an Equity in Infrastructure pledge on March 1.

The event, held during the 2023 AASHTO Washington Briefing, secured a commitment from the agencies to work with the Equity in Infrastructure Project and other pledge signers to improve public contracting practices by creating opportunities for historically underused businesses to build generational wealth, reduce the racial wealth gap, and build the overall economy.

The other agency heads who signed the pledge represented Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and Wisconsin. They joined more than a dozen other state and local officials from around the U.S. who had previously signed the pledge.

By Rod Starkey, Safety Culture Coordinator

Even though it’s March, it’s still winter in Minnesota, which means extra diligence and focus are necessary to avoid slips, trips and falls—the leading contributor to injuries at MnDOT.

MnDOT’s Winter Safety Campaign started in November 2022 with a goal of reducing slip and fall injuries by 25 percent. The campaign continues through the end of this winter season.

Across the agency, injuries from slips, trips and falls are currently up 21 percent compared to the same time last year. Most of the injuries reported this winter are from falls on snow and ice, with one-third of those slip and falls occurring in parking lots.

Many MnDOT districts and offices throughout the state provide several styles of traction devices to employees, and several have piloted the use of a new style of spikeless traction device. Several districts also provide ice melt and snow removal stations near building entrances so that all employees are able to aid with snow and ice removal.

Warmer temperatures bring more ice to walking surfaces

With temperatures starting to warm up in March, there will be more thawing and refreezing on walking surfaces everywhere. Be mindful of those changing conditions – an area that was not slippery a short time ago may be slippery now.

Consider the following tips to prevent injury when walking:

• Keep your hands out of pockets to aid balance.
• Avoid carrying items that reduce your ability to see the ground in front of you.
• Use three points of contact when entering and exiting vehicles and equipment.
• Walk slowly and take small steps, which will help you keep your balance.
• Wear footwear that has slip-resistant soles or use traction devices.
• Plan your route and take your time.
• Promptly remove snow and ice from sidewalk and parking lots.

Additional information for slip, trip, and fall prevention can be found on the MnDOT Workplace Safety Planner.  

By Doug Mack

Sam Brown has been named the permanent budget director for the agency after serving in a work-out-of-class role as the interim budget director for the past year. Brown has worked in the Office of Financial Management since 2015, helping offices and districts to develop budgets, prepare annual revenue forecasts, participate in the legislative session, and prepare responses for legislative reports and the news media.

Brown has a bachelor’s degree from Hamline University and a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas.

By Bill Augello, Northwest Region superintendent

On Feb. 17, Metro District maintenance acquired a new a Gravely battery-powered zero-turn mower, the first of its kind in the state. Work crews will begin using the mower in May, including testing the battery range, which the manufacturer lists as allowing 12 acres of grass mowing on a single charge.

This new EV mower fits with MnDOT’s commitment to sustainability. It’s also much quieter than a gas-powered mower, meaning crews will be able to mow in residential areas where there have sometimes been noise complaints from homeowners. The battery-powered mower also offers cost benefits: the projected electricity costs are around 13 cents per hour, substantially less than the current fuel costs for gas-powered mowers.

By Michael D. Nelson, Metro Surveys

In February, Metro Survey staff donated some gently used survey equipment to Dunwoody College of Technology. The survey equipment was older and had passed its useful lifespan. The items included an assortment of Trimble hardware and software, such as GPS heads and TSC3 data collectors and mount brackets.

The donation came after MnDOT staff did a volunteer event for Dunwoody last summer and learned that the school had a need for a GPS system for its students. Metro Survey staff and management discussed donating equipment and agreed that this would be beneficial for the students and possibly for MnDOT recruitment efforts. There is currently a shortage of licensed land surveyor and survey technicians and Dunwoody is one of the few colleges that offer a technical degree in surveying.

By Maddie Kuncio, MnDOT Library

The latest issue of New Library Materials is available. This issue features “Slavery’s Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State” by Christopher P. Lehman. Dr. Lehman is a professor at St. Cloud State University and recently spoke at the African American Employee Resource Group’s Black History event.

New Library Materials is a compilation of resources added to the library collection during the previous month. Visit the library webpage and click New Library Materials to sign up for regular updates. Questions and feedback are welcome at Ask a Librarian.

By Rich Kemp

For Becky Parzyck, it’s all about serving. She serves her state as a MnDOT engineer and serves her country as a Commander in the Navy Reserve. Parzyck has worked at MnDOT for 30 years, in a variety of job positions, and has been in the military for 15 years.

What has been your career path at MnDOT?

I started out as a student worker in Traffic when I was in college and then after I graduated, I was hired as a graduate engineer. I did rotations with the Traffic Management Center, the Aggregate Unit, Construction, Design, Washington County and Metro Maintenance. I stayed on in Maintenance for a while after the grad program and then went to Metro Right of Way, where I’ve spent the majority of my career. I worked in Aeronautics from 2013-2015 as a Principal Engineer and then moved back to Metro Right of Way as the assistant right of way engineer. I am now the Metro Right of Way engineer.

What are your day-to-day tasks?

Mostly back-to-back-to-back meetings. I manage an office of 33 real estate professionals, attorneys, engineers, land surveyors and technicians responsible for the land acquisition for Metro’s Program Delivery projects and the Met Council’s bus and rail projects, as well as the utility coordination for Metro Program Delivery. We also do property management and property transfers. I mostly deal with the decision-making on the more challenging issues or parcels or condemnation, and make sure my folks have what they need to do their job and address any roadblocks they may have.

What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?

Sometimes the land acquisition process can get tricky, so there’s “detective work” that needs to happen to determine how roads came into the trunk highway system (sometimes more than 100 years ago), what to do when people are encroaching into our right of way (the solution is not always cut and dry), inheriting negative float and still being expected to deliver the project on time.

A big reward is working as a team to deliver projects and helping my folks with their professional development.

How has your job changed since you first started?

It’s grown in responsibility. As a project manager, I was responsible for a small squad and several projects, and now as the Metro Right of Way Engineer, I am responsible for everything that Metro Right of Way and Utilities are involved with, as well as the personnel who make it happen.

How is it serving in the National Guard and working a full-time job?

It can be a lot. I’m in the Navy Reserves and am the Executive Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 22. NMCB-22 is an operational Seabee unit under Pacific Fleet, headquartered in Port Hueneme, Calif., and composed of more than 500 reservists and 23 active staff from all over the country, from Guam to Alaska. Our mission is to conduct “General Engineering” anywhere, but particularly in contingency environments. More specifically, this means design, construction, and maintenance of bases, facilities, roads, runways, etc. in austere conditions and – when necessary – from scratch, with little to no support. As the XO, it’s my job to ensure the battalion runs smoothly. It’s like another full-time job, but I am proud to serve both my country and my troops.

Have MnDOT and your supervisors supported you during your military duty?

My supervisors, my coworkers and MnDOT in general have been very supportive! I’ve been in the Reserves for 15 years, and my current role is by far my most challenging. Last year I was on orders for a total of three months spread throughout the year. My supervisor never batted an eye at how much I was gone, and my Right of Way team picked up the slack. I couldn’t do this without them!

Other than the military, what are your interests or hobbies outside your work with MnDOT?

My military job doesn’t leave much time for hobbies, but I do enjoy gardening, baking, and spending time with my kids.

Do you or a co-worker have an interesting job to share with readers? Send us your ideas, and we’ll contact you for more information.

Recent employee profiles:

• A.J. Farrow maintains bridges and keeps roads clear
• Mike Ahlman serves drivers who need help
• Austyn Dagen covers lots of ground as a graduate engineer

By Katie Walker, Research & Innovation and SWAT ERG Co-chair

March is Women’s History Month, which is dedicated to remembering the glass-ceiling shattering suffragists, visionaries and trailblazing women who have fought for equality on behalf of women today, and women of the future.

The theme for 2023 is Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, recognizing women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling, including print, radio, TV, stage, blogs, podcasts, news and social media. 

MnDOT’s Strategic Women Advancing Transportation Employee Resource Group has some suggestions for anyone wondering how to celebrate Women’s History Month:

• Celebrate women on social media to spread awareness.
• Send a thank-you note to a MnDOT woman who inspires you.
• Mentor or sponsor another woman or a girl.
• Support local female entrepreneurs.
• Take the Shero quiz and discover your inner Shero.
• Watch a TED talk or listen to a podcast by women.
• Recruit a new member or ally of SWAT ERG.

Another way to observe Women’s History Month is to attend an event such as:

• Women of Color in Leadership panel discussion at Metropolitan State, March 22, Noon to 2 p.m.
• Women’s Transportation Seminar tour of the Regional Transportation Management Center, March 23, 4 to 6 p.m.
• “Hear Her Stories” at the Mill City Museum, March 24, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

To learn more about SWAT, visit the group’s page on iHUB.

By Doug Mack

The African American Employee Resource Group will host a lunch-and-learn on Tuesday, March 21, with Gloria M. Shepherd, the executive director of the Federal Highway Administration. The event will run from noon to 12:45 p.m. and will be conducted virtually via Teams (click here to join the event).

Shepherd will discuss her career and role at the FHWA, which includes guiding the agency as it administers more than $350 billion as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Before moving into her current role, she served as FHWA's Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment, and Realty since 2007. In this position, she provided strategic oversight and executive leadership to advance national transportation initiatives to accelerate project delivery, promote environmental justice and stewardship and reduce transportation's carbon footprint on the national highway system.

Shepherd earned a Master of Law degree from Georgetown University, Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from Albany Law School and a Doctor of Arts from the University at Albany (SUNY). She is a member of the New York State Bar.