Assisting communities with their transportation needs is the purpose of the University of Missouri-Rolla’s new Missouri Local Transportation Resource Center (MLTRC). The program offers training and assistance for Missouri cities and counties.
Under contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the MLTRC is the only center in Missouri that is part of the nationwide Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). LTAP serves more than 38,000 local agencies — small and large cities, rural and urban counties, and tribal governments — maintaining nearly 3 million miles of road and 29,000 bridges.
LTAP and MLTRC’s mission is to help these agencies tap into new technology, information and training so they can operate more efficiently and safely. As local governments experience budget shortfalls, MLTRC can provide inexpensive training and technical assistance.
"Many local governments don’t have the expertise or staff to adequately address transportation problems that may arise," says Dr. Mohammad Qureshi, assistant professor of civil engineering and director of MLTRC, "and this is where MLTRC can help."
The center serves as a "library of information," lending or giving out transportation information and conducting workshops for local Missouri transportation agencies in rural and urban areas, says Qureshi.
"MLTRC is open to any public agency in Missouri," says Qureshi. "Our hope is to conduct a series of workshops in each of the 10 MoDOT districts this fall. Training topics will include work zone safety, flagger training and gravel road maintenance."
MLTRC also provides technical assistance to local governments who have a research or supply problem. "Through MoDOT and state cooperative procurement and surplus programs, MLTRC can help agencies obtain necessary equipment, such as fire and dump trucks, for a lesser amount than they can secure using their own resources."
For more information about MLTRC call 866-MO-ROADS (866-667-6237, visit the office in UMR’s Butler-Carlton Hall, or visit the center online at web.mst.edu/~mltrc.