Planning tree windbreaks in Missouri (1997)

Your need for a windbreak is measured by the benefits you can receive from one. Windbreak research has indicated that heat-energy savings of up to 40 percent are possible when you use windbreaks. Most of these savings result from reduced wind velocity and, therefore, reduced air infiltration in homes downwind from the windbreak.Revised 8/97/5M

2013 Barge and Rail Symposium: Moving Freight Between Multimodal Systems

Symposiums and peer exchanges are critical venues in which researchers meet and exchange new ideas and share the results of projects with colleagues. These gatherings are particularly important for multidisciplinary research areas. Despite knowledge rapidly developing in these fields, too often conversations do not take place between individuals who occupy different research niches. This delays efforts to implement new solutions to critical, everyday problems. Currently, there is no annual meeting at which researchers doing work on freight transportation shipped on the inland waterways and railways gather to present their findings to a broad cross section of government, industry, and academic stakeholders. Given the role multimodal freight movements will play in steering US economic growth over the next 20‐30 years, this oversight demanded corrective action. This corrective action came in the form of the 2013 Barge and Rail Symposium organized by the Kentucky Transportaiton Center. This conference promoted discussions between stakeholders researching the US inland waterway system and rail network as well as businesses who rely on these transportation assets. With freight transportation as its focal point, the 2013 Barge and Rail Symposium established a collegial environment in which new bonds were forged between major stakeholders and researchers as they discussed challenges and opportunities associated with moving freight in an economic, efficient, and sustainable manner through multimodal systems. In addition to informative conference presentations, participants at the Barge and Rail Symposium had the chance to visit a number of facilities that are an integral part of multimodal freight networks, such as the McAlpine Locks and Dam, to gain firsthand knowledge of their daily operations. The 2013 Symposium balanced insightful presentations with hands‐on field experience, giving attendees a memorable experience and, more crucially, it set the stage for future collaborations between researchers and public and private stakeholders

Economic and Environmental Benefits of a Reduced Roadside Mowing Program for Kentucky Highways

A growing number of state departments of transportation (DOTs) are introducing conservation mowing programs that aim to reduce the frequency of roadside mowing while expanding the footprint of pollinator habitat. Wanting to get a better handle on the utility conservation mowing, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) funded this study to explore the economic and environmental benefits that accrue from mowing less often. This report presents a synthesis of best conservation mowing practices based on a review of landscape management policies, programs, and procedures in use at 15 state DOTs. Most agencies divide the roadside into discrete management zones. While they continue to mow regularly in the areas closest to roadways (extending roughly 15 feet or so from the edge of the shoulder), beyond this mowing is done less often and is combined with selective herbicide use to facilitate plant species favored by pollinators. Regardless of the mowing strategy adopted, vehicle safety must be preserved by maintaining adequate clear zones and sight distances. An economic analysis of different mowing strategies found that KYTC can save between $9 million and$24 million over a five-year period through mowing cutbacks. Eliminating a single litter cycle can generate an additional $5 million in savings over the same period. To facilitate communication with the public, a proof-of-concept marketing document is put forward which explains to the driving public how KYTC is adjusting its landscape management practices. Dubbed Kentucky’s Buzzing!, the goal is to provide the public with readily understood explanations of why pollinators matter and how the Cabinet can improve their fortunes through conservation mowing

Fiscal Year 2019 FHWA-536 Report for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires state transportation agencies to submit a biennial report on local highway finances. The purpose of these reports is to provide FHWA with the data it needs to capture the financing of highway activities at the local level. Based on this information, it can identify trends in revenue, expenditures, investments, and program development, and in turn make decisions about future investments. The report, FHWA-536, asks agencies to report on four areas of local highway finance: 1) disposition of highway-user revenues; 2) revenues used for roads and streets identified by source and funding type; 3) road and street expenditures identified by purpose of activity; and 4) local highway debt status. This document summarizes data submitted to fulfill the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s FHWA-536 obligations in FY 2019. The table below presents itemized revenues and expenditures in each of the four areas of local highway finance listed above. Total receipts were $572,773,641, an increase of$128,136,745 over FY 2017. Total disbursements were $660,285,943, an increase of$115,307,524 over FY 2017

Inland Waterways Funding Mechanisms Synthesis

The inland waterway system is a vital part of the nation’s multi-modal freight network. Although less visible than other modes, inland waterways allow shippers to transport bulk commodities in a relatively cheap and environmentally-friendly method. To ensure this transportation mode remains a feasible option and accommodates growth, it must continue to be safe, efficient, and functional. This synthesis provides comprehensive perspective on the financial prospects of the inland waterways system. It analyzes current funding levels, along with proposed funding changes and reforms. Financial support for the inland waterways system comes from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF). Historical data gathered provides evidence that the IWTF resources have rapidly declined in recent years, limiting the number of infrastructure projects that can be undertaken. Some of this is can be attributed to the lack of a fuel tax increase since 1995. The fuel tax serves as the primary revenue source for the IWTF. The purchasing power of each dollar is therefore eroded due to the increase of construction costs, coupled with the tax revenue not increasing.In order to reinforce the IWTF and deal with a mounting project backlog, several funding reforms have been proposed in addition to changes in project delivery and prioritization. Many reforms include raising the fuel tax and changing the current cost share structure. Other proposals lay out different options, such as tolling locks and dams or instituting license fees.In order to reverse the decline of the IWTF, it appears that substantive changes may be required. The past and current state of the system also provides insight as to how previous investment levels have impacted reliability.Measures of lock performance, such as the number of outages (both scheduled and unscheduled) and the duration of lock outages, are used to assess system dependability. These reveal that in recent years there has been an increase in outages and outage durations. Possible factors include a reduction in funding for construction and maintenance projects, which compounds the increasing infrastructure age issue.Unexpected closures impact shippers by causing unplanned delays. These delays increase costs of inland waterway shipments by idling freight and reducing reliability.In turn, reduced system reliability may prompt modal shifts as freight shippers seek more consistent modes of transport. This synthesis provides valuable information for stakeholders and policymakers regarding current funding levels and investments in the inland waterway system.The initial evidence in this report shows that declining funding levels, coupled with aging locks and dams, are likely contributing to increases in lock outages.If such issues are to be rectified, the reforms detailed here provide a starting point for changing the current funding regime

\u27I Can Become a Doctor Too\u27. Medical Libraries Influence on Community Health and Education

Objective: This poster discusses library collaboration with a community center to promote health as a profession and promote health information literacy in the African American community. Methods: Library staff reached out to a local community center with the intention of introducing the health professions to students in the community. The library scheduled medical, pharmacy and physical therapy students to do unique classes for different ages of children. This relationship developed into further classes involving librarians who did health literacy classes for seniors in the community center and sponsored exercise classes and became involved in health fairs in the center. This effort expanded into the churches. The medical library was able to obtain multiple NNLM grants and was given a permanent room in the community center which serves as a teaching center with five personal computers, a screen, projector, instructor’s station, print materials, and blood pressure machine. Results: As a result of this collaboration relationships were developed with the local African American community which resulted in a medical school wide initiative to recruit African American males to become physicians using the “Dr. Dale” video and recruiting former minority medical school graduates to speak. This event was targeted towards high school and undergraduate students as well as the parents of K-8 students. Conclusions and Lessons Learned: Librarians can have a substantial role in the community when it comes to reaching out to underserved populations. It takes commitment, time, and creativity. This type of work is very rewarding. Medical Libraries need to be involved in solving the problem of the decline of black doctors in the U.S. since 1978