Local Technical Assistance Program
The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is a Federal Highways Administration program that provdes technical assitance and training to local highway departments in the USA. It transfers knowledge of innovative transportation technology to both urban and rural local communities in the United States and to American Indian tribal governments.
LTAP Centers assist nearly 38,000 local government agencies and 540+ federally recognized tribes in maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure and services with the latest technology and information available. Local transportation agencies expend over $30 billion annually to maintain 2.9 million miles of roads [1.3 paved/1.6 unpaved] with over 290,000 bridges.
Most local road road departments are managed by individuals who generally have practical experience but little formal technical education or training. LTAP provides local agencies with a variety of tools - training events, technology transfer resources, and personalized assistance - for improving their transportation operations. Many state DOTs also benefit from LTAP services.
There are 57 Technology Transfer (T2) Centers established -- one in each State, one in Puerto Rico and six for American Indian tribal governments -- to provide training and technical assistance to local governments. Most centers are run by universities, and a few are hosted by their state's department of transportation.
The program is a partnership effort with funding provided from Federal, State, and local agency resources as well as universities and the private sector. LTAP centers participate with national associations such as the American Public Works Association and the National Association of County Engineers; other federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and the private sector such as equipment manufacturers (John Deere, Catepillar, etc.).
Two important factors in LTAP's success are flexibility and networking. Although certain tasks are mandated, like providing a newsletter and a lending library for local highway officials, Each LTAP center has considerable leeway in adapting its programs to address the unique challenges faced by the customers it serves.
Centers also work together on many projects. If one center has a pavement specialist on their staff, they may provide training for another state's center, in exchange for work zone training. Also, should a local highway official ask a question that their center can't answer, it can be forwarded to the 56 other centers, as well as related FHWA and State DOT offices. Usually, an answer is supplied within short order.
External Links
Map of LTAP centers: http://www.ltapt2.org/centers/