Five Methods for Sign Management: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Public Works Department

October 9, 2025
Listed in Highway Safety

Public works and highway departments across the United States are legally required to maintain traffic control devices that meet minimum standards for visibility, condition, and retroreflectivity. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), every public agency must have a program in place to ensure that all signs remain legible and reflective at night. Failure to meet these standards can expose a municipality to serious liability if an accident occurs and a faded or missi…continue

Who Runs the Roads?

October 3, 2025
Listed in Administration

How Municipal Road Maintenance Departments Differ Across the United States When you work in a town highway department in New York State, it’s easy to assume that the rest of the country operates the same way. After all, here the position of town highway superintendent is one of the most visible and powerful in local government. But take a step outside of New York, and you’ll find that road maintenance is structured very differently in municipalities across the United States. For thos…continue

Sign Inspections: A Key Component of Your MUTCD-Mandated Sign Maintenance Program

August 26, 2025
Listed in Administration

Every municipality is responsible for maintaining traffic signs in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). While most superintendents recognize the importance of installing the correct signs in the correct locations, the job doesn’t end there. Signs are only effective if they remain visible, legible, and reflective - day or night. That’s where a systematic program of sign inspections becomes an essential part of your department’s maintenance strat…continue

Why Every Public Works Department Needs a Data-Driven Paving Plan

August 9, 2025
Listed in Administration

Across the country, many public works superintendents still choose their annual paving lists using a method that’s as informal as it is risky: they simply “know” which roads look bad and need work. While decades of experience have value, this approach, often referred to as paving by the seat of your pants, has major flaws. When decisions aren’t supported by objective measurements, clear records, and multi-year projections, you open the door to criticism from taxpayers, re…continue

Battery-Disconnect Switches: The Low-Cost Lifesaver Your Fleet Cannot Ignore

July 31, 2025
Listed in Daily Tasks

Losing a public works department’s front-line fleet is a gut punch on every level: the price tag alone is staggering, with each modern plow truck now ringing in at $250,000 - $300,000, and lead-time bottlenecks mean replacements ordered today may not roll onto the lot for 12 to 18 months. While crews wait, snow and ice don’t; without those trucks the department can’t clear roads, patch potholes, or haul materials, leaving residents stranded and critical services - police, fire,…continue