Evaluation of the State Highway System and Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF), 2003

This report was prepared by a committee of city, county and state representatives. The committee met throughout 2002 with the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations to improve the efficiency and operation of Iowa's road and street system. This report is referenced in SF 451 and in Code Section 306.8A.

Guidleines for Removal of Traffic Control Devices in Rural Areas, October 2005

It is commonly regarded that the overuse of traffic control devices desensitizes drivers and leads to disrespect, especially for low-volume secondary roads with limited enforcement. The maintenance of traffic signs is also a tort liability concern, exacerbated by unnecessary signs. The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Institute of Transportation Engineer’s (ITE) Traffic Control Devices Handbook provide guidance for the implementation of STOP signs based on expected compliance with right-of-way rules, provision of through traffic flow, context (proximity to other controlled intersections), speed, sight distance, and crash history. The approach(es) to stop is left to engineering judgment and is usually dependent on traffic volume or functional class/continuity of system. Although presently being considered by the National Committee on Traffic Control Devices, traffic volume itself is not given as a criterion for implementation in the MUTCD. STOP signs have been installed at many locations for various reasons which no longer (or perhaps never) met engineering needs. If in fact the presence of STOP signs does not increase safety, removal should be considered. To date, however, no guidance exists for the removal of STOP signs at two-way stop-controlled intersections. The scope of this research is ultra-low-volume (< 150 daily entering vehicles) unpaved intersections in rural agricultural areas of Iowa, where each of the 99 counties may have as many as 300 or more STOP sign pairs. Overall safety performance is examined as a function of a county excessive use factor, developed specifically for this study and based on various volume ranges and terrain as a proxy for sight distance. Four conclusions are supported: (1) there is no statistical difference in the safety performance of ultra-low-volume stop-controlled and uncontrolled intersections for all drivers or for younger and older drivers (although interestingly, older drivers are underrepresented at both types of intersections); (2) compliance with stop control (as indicated by crash performance) does not appear to be affected by the use or excessive use of STOP signs, even when adjusted for volume and a sight distance proxy; (3) crash performance does not appear to be improved by the liberal use of stop control; (4) safety performance of uncontrolled intersections appears to decline relative to stop-controlled intersections above about 150 daily entering vehicles. Subject to adequate sight distance, traffic professionals may wish to consider removal of control below this threshold. The report concludes with a section on methods and legal considerations for safe removal of stop control.

Materials and Mix Optimization Procedures for PCC Pavements, March 2006

Severe environmental conditions, coupled with the routine use of deicing chemicals and increasing traffic volume, tend to place extreme demands on portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. In most instances, engineers have been able to specify and build PCC pavements that met these challenges. However, there have also been reports of premature deterioration that could not be specifically attributed to a single cause. Modern concrete mixtures have evolved to become very complex chemical systems. The complexity can be attributed to both the number of ingredients used in any given mixture and the various types and sources of the ingredients supplied to any given project. Local environmental conditions can also influence the outcome of paving projects. This research project investigated important variables that impact the homogeneity and rheology of concrete mixtures. The project consisted of a field study and a laboratory study. The field study collected information from six different projects in Iowa. The information that was collected during the field study documented cementitious material properties, plastic concrete properties, and hardened concrete properties. The laboratory study was used to develop baseline mixture variability information for the field study. It also investigated plastic concrete properties using various new devices to evaluate rheology and mixing efficiency. In addition, the lab study evaluated a strategy for the optimization of mortar and concrete mixtures containing supplementary cementitious materials. The results of the field studies indicated that the quality management concrete (QMC) mixtures being placed in the state generally exhibited good uniformity and good to excellent workability. Hardened concrete properties (compressive strength and hardened air content) were also satisfactory. The uniformity of the raw cementitious materials that were used on the projects could not be monitored as closely as was desired by the investigators; however, the information that was gathered indicated that the bulk chemical composition of most materials streams was reasonably uniform. Specific minerals phases in the cementitious materials were less uniform than the bulk chemical composition. The results of the laboratory study indicated that ternary mixtures show significant promise for improving the performance of concrete mixtures. The lab study also verified the results from prior projects that have indicated that bassanite is typically the major sulfate phase that is present in Iowa cements. This causes the cements to exhibit premature stiffening problems (false set) in laboratory testing. Fly ash helps to reduce the impact of premature stiffening because it behaves like a low-range water reducer in most instances. The premature stiffening problem can also be alleviated by increasing the water–cement ratio of the mixture and providing a remix cycle for the mixture.

Iowa Adult Basic Education Program Benchmark Objective for Program Year, 2002

The benchmark objectives for Program Year 2002 are designed to improve Iowa's basic skills literacy program in those instructional programs, educational functioning levels, and follow-up categories which did not achieve the negotiated benchmark levels for Program Year 2001. The instructional programs, educational functioning levels and follow-up categories in which the attained benchmarks met or exceeded the negotiated benchmarks for Program Year 2001 should not be allowed to fall below the Program Year 2001 levels for Program Year 2002.

Community Action in Iowa, 2005

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 1999

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2000

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2001

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2002

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2003

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2004

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.