Director’s Message
Welcome to the end of summer newsletter! We’re ramping up for the last few months of the year with many training offerings. The Fall calendar is full of workshops in Piscataway (Middlesex County) and Bordentown (Mercer County), as well as online. Topics for the upcoming season include Federal-aid Responsible Charge, Pavement Management Systems, Traffic Incident Management, as well as many other infrastructure management, roadway safety, and workforce development topics. Remember, all LTAP classes are provided to you free of charge through the support of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
Please “save the date” for two special offerings – the 28h Annual New Jersey Department of Transportation Research Showcase on October 28, 2026, and two Certified Public Works Managers education sessions at the League of Municipalities Conference on November 18, 2026.
Do you have new staff or new co-workers? If there are colleagues who would like to join our email list, please send a note to caitregistrar@soe.rutgers.edu
While we share a lot of information in our newsletter, don’t forget- we are also on Facebook! That’s another resource to find announcements for upcoming events, funding opportunities from state and federal agencies, and much more.
Enjoy the final days of summer and we look forward to seeing you at our events throughout the rest of the year!
Janet Leli
Director, New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program
AI Research Pilots and Initiatives
The NJDOT Bureau of Research, Innovation, and Information Transfer (BRIIT) hosted a Tech Talk focused on AI research pilots and Initiatives. The webinar introduced the Transportation Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(573) State DOT Council for Strategic AI Adoption, and highlighted several AI use pilot projects initiated by the NJDOT.
Dr. Giri Venkiteela, Innovation Officer at NJDOT BRIIT, welcomed participants and introduced the purpose of the Tech Talk. He explained that BRIIT’s role is to help NJDOT understand emerging technologies, build internal literacy, support hands-on exploration, and assist NJDOT units in identifying potential AI use cases.
Further presentations were made by Dr. Dan Lieu from Kean University, Dr. Frank Yang from Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Hao Wang from Rutgers University. Visit here to view their presentations in full and to read a recap of what was learned.
New Strategy to Deliver Safer Roads for American Families
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today rolled out the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) – a new interdepartmental plan to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roadways. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s work over the last year and a half, traffic deaths have already fallen to record lows in 2025.
This Strategy will make American roads safer for families, truckers, commuters, and construction workers by prioritizing three core objectives:
Safer People: USDOT is doubling down on safety for families in rural, urban, and tribal communities. That means stronger support for transportation workers and first responders and a renewed commitment to law enforcement after the previous administration turned its back on them.
Safer Roads: Through more innovative road design, targeted bottleneck relief, and cracking down on dangerous truck drivers, USDOT will keep traffic moving while reducing congestion and improve crash outcomes, including secondary crashes.
Safer Vehicles: To ensure America stays a leader in vehicle safety, USDOT is modernizing safety standards, advancing a national automated vehicle strategy, and investing in tech to reduce preventable crashes.
To learn more about how this new initiatives will be implemented, visit USDOT.gov
Safe Routes to School Applications Now Being Accepted for 2027 Grants
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the grant solicitation period for the 2027 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is open, with applications being accepted now through November 13, 2026. “New Jersey’s children deserve safe access to school, and the resources provided by the Safe Routes to School program aims to do just that,” NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said. “In partnership with the state’s three regional planning authorities, federal funding will be administered to counties and municipalities for local transportation projects that enhance safety and reduce congestion.”
For more information, visit the Safe Routes to Schools web page, the Local Aid Resource Center at Safe Routes to School – NJDOT Local Hub
MUTCD Microlearning Video Series
A microlearning video series introduces the current MUTCD and provide essential background information. This short video series features five informative modules exploring the manual’s history, the science behind traffic control, and how the MUTCD is updated with new devices. The links for the sections are below:
NJ STIC 2026 2nd Biannual Meeting
The NJ State Transportation Innovation Council (NJ STIC) met virtually for its second and final Biannual Meeting of 2026 on August 12. The central discussion focused on NJDOT’s plans to advance three innovations from Round 8 of the Every Day Counts program (EDC-8): Beyond Bid-Build: Innovative Project Delivery Methods; Connected Corridors; and UAS: 2.0 Innovative Infrastructure Management. The SME team lead of each initiative presented the current path to implementation.
To learn more about each of the presentations, visit the NJDOT Tech Transfer Website.
FHWA Buy America Updates
On January 14, 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) terminated its 1983 Manufactured Products General Waiver, which excluded manufactured products from coverage under FHWA’s Buy America requirements, after determining the waiver was no longer appropriate (90 FR 2932, Manufactured Products Final Rule). The Manufactured Products Final Rule also established standards regarding Buy America requirements applicable to manufactured products on Federal-aid projects and a phased schedule for implementing those standards.
The FHWA Office of Infrastructure is hosting an external webinar to review these phased requirements on Thursday, September 30, 2026, from 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Daylight time. Register today!
Featured Training:
NJLTAP – Vision Zero: Implementing a Towards Zero Deaths Strategy (In-Person)
Learn best practices for roadway maintenance, work zone
safety, and risk reduction strategies for local agencies.
Register Now
Upcoming Events
Technical Tip of the Month
Ensure retroreflectivity by conducting nighttime inspections to evaluate traffic signs and pavement markings twice a year. Similarly, trim roadside brush and tree branches regularly to keep critical signage completely visible to drivers. Traffic signs managed by the agency must comply with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standards using approved reflective sheeting types listed in the NJDOT Bureau of Materials Qualified Products List.
I’m Curious, George?
Curious about something? Ask our resident expert, George Fallat, LTAP instructor and Middlesex County Engineer, who will offer his best advice to you. Submit your questions to George at George.Fallat@co.middlesex.nj.us!
What are the critical elements of cash analysis data?
George Fallat: When examining crashes, our primary focus is understanding all the unique attributes of the crash and organizing them. This includes documenting the type of crash, the cause of the crash, and the severity of the crash. Then, important location information must be recorded, such as on what street it occurred, where exactly on the street it occurred, and which direction of travel the accident occurred in.
Resource Spotlight
Explore NJ LTAP’s collection of guides, checklists, and training materials designed to help local public works professionals improve safety, efficiency, and compliance.
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