Born out of a desire to improve winter operations across state lines the Interstate 80 Corridor Coalition has grown into the second longest corridor coalition extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Likewise, the operational focus has also grown beyond winter operations to leverage coordination in the areas of traveler information, freight and economic efficiency, and smarter technology deployment all to benefit the motorists using this facility.

This episode features one of the movers and shakers making this corridor coalition a reality, Tracy Larkin-Thomason, Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation. Tracy talked about the beginnings and growth of the coalition as well as its importance to other interstate corridors across the nation.

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While it's important to have stockpiles full, equipment repaired and ready, and staff training and assignments set, it's important to have your home weather ready as well. After all, when you're out there battling the weather, there's peace of mind knowing that your own home and family are safe and sound. On this episode we're Talkin' Winter Ops with Jake Sorber, Research Project Scientist with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Jake highlights the work of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) in helping homeowners prepare for winter weather and take proactive steps to reduce risks and avoid costly repairs.

For additional ways to protect your home from harsh winter conditions, you can find a full checklist at ibhs.org/winter-ready/ to help you get started.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Sarah.Schacher@mbakerintl.com

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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 ToMay@indot.IN.gov

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