TRB Webinar: Converting Paved Roads to Unpaved

TRB conducted a webinar on Thursday, June 30, 2016, from 2:00 to 3:30PM ET that features research from National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 485: Converting Paved Roads to Unpaved. The report summarizes recent road conversion projects in 27 states. Many local road agencies faced challenges with the process, but also reported cost savings after converting. This webinar discussed the tools, metrics, and procedures for when to convert a road. It will also highlight the potential impacts of road conversions, public outreach efforts, and research needs.

This webinar was organized by the TRB Standing Committee on Low-Volume Roads. A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) was provided to attendees who register and attend the webinar as an individual. Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu for instructions on receiving a copy of the recorded webinar.

Here are the slides from the presentations.

Webinar Presenters:

• Ken Skorseth, South Dakota State University, SDLTAP
• Laura Fay, Western Transportation Institute - Montana State University

Moderated by: David Jones, University of California Pavement Research Center - UC, Davis

Webinar Outline

1. Introduction to NCHRP
2. The road conversion process
• What is meant by road conversions from paved to unpaved
• Why are road conversions typically done
• How are road conversions typically done
3. Tools to aid in the decision making process
• Resources addressing conversion from paved to unpaved
• Gravel road design, construction, and maintenance
4. What has worked and what has not worked
• Identified impacts of the road conversion process
• Public outreach
5. Conclusions
• Summary of findings
• Research needs and knowledge gaps
6. Question and Answer Session

The first 60 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 30 minutes will be reserved for audience questions. The Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP) categorizes this webinar activity as relating to health, safety, and welfare including core technical.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the process for converting roads from paved to unpaved
• Understand the tools that can be used to identify if a road is a candidate for road conversion
• Identify where to find information on converting paved roads to unpaved

Registration Information

There is no fee for employees of TRB Sponsors or TRB Sustaining Affiliates who register using their work email address. In addition to employees of TRB sponsor organizations, the following are eligible to receive complimentary webinar registration:

• TRB and National Academies employees;
• Chairs of TRB standing committees, sections, or groups;
• CRP panel members who were involved with developing the report or project that is the subject of the webinar;
• Members of the media;
• Employees of tribal governments; and
• Members of Congress or their staff.

Other sites must pay $95 per site. View our pricing page for details.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Professional Development Hour Information

A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be provided to Professional Engineers (PEs) who register and attend the webinar as an individual. For groups, only the person that registers and attends the session will receive a PDH certificate.

Individuals registered as Florida PEs are no longer required to email TRB with your license number to report your attendance. Instead, please use your certificate that TRB provides through RCEP.net as verification of your attendance to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board.

This webinar was developed in March 2016. TRB has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP by TRB. Certificates of Completion will be issued to individuals who register for and attend the entire webinar session. Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Website: www.RCEP.net.

Registration questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu.