Advertise on podcast: Talkin Winter Ops

The Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association will be holding their biannual conference for winter maintenance professionals and practitioners May 2026 in Spokane, Washington.  This best in the west winter operations conference is a perfect time for exchanging ideas with your peers, finding out the latest and greatest in winter maintenance operations research, and interacting with vendors and suppliers.   On this bonus episode James Morin of the Washington DOT is going to give you the inside scoop on this conference and why it's important for you  to check it out.  More info and links to register for this conference can be found on the PNS website https://pnsassociation.org/ Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

From that moment the very first engineering project was completed the age of maintenance began.  While the initial delivery of the public work carries a lot of fanfare nothing is more important than keeping it functional and in service.  Maintenance organizations have been intrusted to manage every aspect of those assets since before Asset Management was a thing.  From mowing and debris pickup to restoring mobility after the blizzard of flood, it's all important.  George Conner, Deputy Director of Maintenance and Operations at the Alabama DOT  and Chair of AASHTOs Maintenance Committee says if you don't think it's important just stop doing it and see how important it is to the users.   George has a huge passion for maintenance and on this episode he shares his insights and perspective on maintenance and the folks that keep the highway network clean, repaired and functional 24/7/365. Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

In this episode we’re revisiting an earlier episode of Talkin Winter Ops that you may have missed.  In this episode we visit with Dr. Scott Koefod, inorganic chemist, about just how salt works when used as part of a winter maintenance strategy.  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Winter maintenance is more than work plans, budgets, disasters and recovery.  Your family plays a huge role in your public works career and public service often demands family sacrifice during times of crisis.  Lots of times the two worlds of work and family overlap and sometimes collide. Mike Duffy is the Assistant Public Works Director at the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Janis Duffy works for the State of Iowa Foster Care and Adoption Unit.  During Mike's 16 years at the City and 10 years before that with the county they've raised children, survived community disasters, and family crisis.   They share their story, challenges, triumphs, and insights on this episode.   You might want to check out Engineer Your Success with Dr. James Bryant.  James has been part of the winter maintenance community through his past role at Transportation Research Board.   If you're facing challenges with work - life balance please reach out to resources available in your community or through employee assistance programs available through your organization for help. You're not alone. Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Developing an infrastructure project is series of compromises and tradeoffs and so often maintenance and operations considerations end up on the cutting room floor.  Unfortunately, those decisions have implications that agencies have to live with for a long time.  In the case of the GARS Intersection project in Fairbanks, Alaska everyone knew that snow removal was to be a significant consideration during the development phase. Sarah Schacher, Transportation Department Manager for the Michael Baker International Alaska office, describes the process that had maintenance as stakeholder and shares some of the discussions and compromises that unfolded during the design phase that made this an outstanding project. Learn more about this unique intersection design at: https://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/garsreconstruction/ and email Sarah to discuss their process at [email protected] Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

A hundred and fifty years ago road departments leaned on the farmers next to the road to help maintain it and often times paid them to do so.  As time marched on and road departments became DOTs with dedicated maintenance workers and tools and technology advanced there is still a lot of innovation that takes place in the maintenance garage.   On this episode we're talking winter ops with Indiana DOT’s Director of Innovation and Process Improvement Todd May.  Trust and innovation are core values at the Indiana DOT and they have a program that encourages their employees to come up with ideas to work smarter and safer.  Todd’s got plenty of stories and examples to share with us on this episode.  If you want to find out more about innovation and process improvement at the Indiana DOT you can email him at [email protected] Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

The easiest snow flake to remove from the roadway is the one that never lands on it.  Seems obvious but how to make that happen?  On this episode we’re Talkin Winter Ops with Dan Gullickson, Minnesota DOT supervisor of their Blowing Snow Program.  Ever since the 1880’s when the railroads first started building snow fence to protect the track and the work on snow fence design that was part of the Strategic Highway Research Program in the 1990’s, engineers have been working to refine snow fence design, materials, and earthwork configurations to manage drifting snow and keep it off the road. Listen in as Dan describes the latest state of the practice in snow fence design considerations they are employing at the Minnesota DOT. For more information on building a snow fence program check out the FHWA Road Weather Spotlight webinar on September 10, 2025.  Register for the webinar using this link: https://lnkd.in/e7YuJHdJ You can reach Dan by email at [email protected] for more insight into their practice and while your at it check out this flyer from the University of Minnesota LTAP center on a solar powered snow fence project https://mnltap.umn.edu/ltapnews/2024/october/solarsnowfence   Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

This briefing features the No Boundaries Pool Fund Study.  The No Boundaries pooled fund project is a community of practice of state DOT maintenance and operations professionals who share innovative maintenance technologies and practices to promote adaptation, implementation and broader use. Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about No Boundaries check out the NO BOUNDARIES WEBSITE  or email its Chair, Todd May or the program support staff Kirsten Seeber Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

This briefing features the Professional Snowfighters Association a North American based non-profit professional association dedicated to creating a community of practice, based upon adherence to sound science as it seeks to improve knowledge and practices in the pursuit of safe and sustainable snowfighting by the winter maintenance community.   For more information about this organization you can check out the PROFESSIONAL SNOWFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE or email its President Dr. Wilf Nixon, PE  Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

This briefing features the work of the American Meteorological Societies Committee on Road Weather and Technology.  Focusing on advances weather science and technologies to fashion solutions to advance mobility during winter events the committee has many projects relevant to the highway community. Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Committee you can check out the ROAD WEATHER AND TECHNOLOGY WEBSITE or email the Chair, Dr. Brittany Welsh  Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

This briefing features the international Winter Service Technical Service Committee of the PIARC.  This Technical Committee focuses on activities facing all winter maintenance organizations across the globe.   Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Committee you can check out their website at: PIARC Winter Service TC or email Chair Peter Nutz  Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

American Public Works Associations Winter Maintenance Subcommittee is the focus of this briefing.  The Winter Maintenance Subcommittee’s mission is to promote the development and use of the safest, most cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally sensitive winter maintenance technologies, equipment, materials, and practices; thus providing citizens with excellent quality of life during the snow and ice season. If you want more information about this organization you can check out the WINTER MAINTENANCE SUBCOMMITTEE WEBSITE  or email the Chair Matt Morreim Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

This episode of the National Briefing features the Maintenance Decision Support System Pool Fund Study.  This organization is advancing winter maintenance decision support through advanced forecasting and understanding of the winter weather system yielding an operational system to aid agencies in winter maintenance treatment strategies. Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this project you can check out the MDSS WEBSITE  or email its Chair Dave Huft or project support team Shawn Truelson Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

On this episode of the National Briefing features AASHTOs Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program, Formerly SICOP. Winter Weather Management work focuses on the identification, promotion, and collaboration efforts necessary to advance state of the practice winter maintenance and road weather techniques.  Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Working Group you can check out the WINTER WEATHER MANAGEMENT WEBSITE  or email Chair Brad Darr or their subject matter expert Rick Nelson  Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

On this episode of the National Briefing we feature the Clear Roads Pool Fund Study.  Clear Roads focus is on all things winter maintenance from driver safety to liquid chemicals.    Check out the PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK and If you want more information about this Technical Working Group you can check out the CLEAR ROADS WEBSITE or email the current Chair Todd Law or program support Greg Waidley  Watch the video and presentation along with all the other briefings on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Talkinwinterops  Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!