The Local Roads Training Program:
Our 17th Season

By JOHN McCREE
Illinois Department of Transportation

With the coming of fall, another Local Roads Training Program season is upon us. Our brochure delineating all the courses available for the 1987-1988 season has been mailed to all municipal engineers, directors of public works, county superintendents of highways, and to all municipal clerks where no engineering department exists.

The curriculum remains basically the same as last year except that Bridge and Culvert Hydraulics will replace Storm Water Management, Detention Basin Design. We alternate these two classes each season because of the limited availability of the instructors who teach both courses. A primary concern of our program has always been obtaining individuals with the expertise in their field to instruct each of the courses. We will not present a class if we cannot satisfy this requirement. Last year's instructors in Snow Removal and Ice Control were not available for this season and a suitable replacement could not be found so this course will not be presented this season. The one-day Pavement Maintenance course will again be presented after an absence of one year.

This season we are taking both the Bridge Inspection and Bridge Repair courses to Collinsville in order to give agencies in the southern part of the State a chance to attend without traveling a great distance. Last season these two classes were given at the Illinois Valley Community College in Peru.

It is still necessary to present our materials courses, i.e., Standard Earth Density, PCC Proportioning and Testing and Bituminous Proportioning and Testing in Springfield because of the laboratory work required. The two proportioning classes will additionally be presented in Schaumburg this season, but not under our specific sponsorship. Those agencies in the District 1 jurisdiction may contact the District 1 Local Roads and Streets Engineer at (312) 705-4201 for details on these classes.

All of the Local Roads Training Program courses are tuition-free. We hope that if you haven't already mailed in your enrollement form that you'll do so at your earliest convenience. A tentative enrollment of at least 20 students is required in order to reserve both classroom space and the services of each instructor. Late enrollments in the past have caused us to either restrict attendance because of inadequate classroom space or to notify agencies that the course had been cancelled due to insufficient prior enrollment.

We are looking forward to still another successful season. Last year a total of 1,148 people attended our classes, 584 from the municipalities. We will continue to provide the instruction as long as it's desired and needed. We are always receptive to suggestions for additional courses or comments on improving the program. Any input should be directed to the Engineer of Local Roads and Streets, Illinois Department of Transportation, 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Room 205, Springfield, Illinois 62764. Attention: Training Unit.

If you intend to enroll your personnel in our program but haven't mailed in your enrollment form, please do so. •

Credits to: Bill Ross, Training Unit Chief

October 1987 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 7