Archives: April 2024
Roadside Chat: Save lives! Drive safely. Be an organ donor.
April 26, 2024
Donors are superstars! That’s the theme of this year’s National Donate Life Month.
Did you know that 1.6 million Iowans have said “yes” to becoming an organ and tissue donor? Of those, 97 percent signed up at a DMV.
Reviving Iowa’s Pristine Prairie Beauty
April 25, 2024
Back in 1905, when Henry J. Cuddeback acquired his family farm near Washington, Iowa, the landscape was already transformed with crop fields and pastures. Yet, long before settlers arrived, the land thrived with expansive tall grass prairies and vibrant wildflowers. Over the generations, the Cuddeback family witnessed significant changes surrounding their farm, including the gradual loss of Iowa's native beauty.
Jim Cuddeback, Henry's great-grandson, developed a deep passion for preserving native prairie grasses and wildflowers during his time at the University of Northern Iowa. Little did he know, he was on the brink of joining a movement aimed at restoring Iowa's prairie legacy along roadsides throughout the state.
Heads up speeders! Iowa DOT helping smaller cities and towns improve safety
April 22, 2024
Do you ever find yourself driving and suddenly realize you're going faster than you thought? It's a common scenario, especially on familiar roads, where getting a bit too heavy-footed on the accelerator is easy. This habit can be dangerous, particularly as you come into a town where you'll often see frequent stops and people crossing the road. Unfortunately, it’s typical for drivers to miss these reduced speed limits.
Willy Sorenson, a traffic safety engineer in the Traffic and Safety Bureau, noted a common request from cities. “They often ask about lower speeds as you enter their city limits to increase the safety of their streets, but they have a few issues including budget constraints and limited law enforcement availability to enforce the lower speeds. We wanted to step up and find a way to offer cost-effective solutions to help these smaller cities and towns improve safety.”
Roadside Chat: Cheapest way to save a life? Pay attention
April 19, 2024
If you drive, you’ve likely seen someone in a vehicle around you trying to multi-task behind the wheel. Your most important job behind the wheel is to pay attention to your driving. While that might seem a little boring, especially on a route you take every day, your life and the lives of those around you count on your ability to pay attention.
Personnel updates for March 29 to April 11, 2024
April 18, 2024
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Collaborative efforts taking shape for planning safer work zones
April 15, 2024
With the relatively mild winter we’ve had, you’ve likely already encountered work zones on Iowa roads. With National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week kicking off today, here's more information about how we work with our partners to plan safer work zones for everyone.
At the end of last year, we convened our third Work Zone Information Sharing Workshop. The two-day meeting brought together not just Iowa DOT management, central office, and field forces, but our partners in law enforcement, academia, motor carriers, traffic control contractors, the traffic management center, and Federal Highway Administration officials.
Roadside Chat - Coming to a road near you... be work zone aware
April 12, 2024
Have you seen one yet? Road construction work zones are popping up all over Iowa to help make roads safer for you and your family.
Work zones come in many shapes and sizes. Large work zones that stay in place for several weeks or months are easier to spot, but you still need to travel around them cautiously. Some work zones use moving trucks that fix shoulders or paint lines on the road. Others are small, short-term stationary work on things like filling potholes. These moving and smaller work zones can sometimes be more dangerous, especially if you’re not paying attention to what is ahead of you.
Roadside Chat - Final four winners: buckled, sober, slow & focused
April 5, 2024
With all the hype surrounding college basketball tournaments and the Hawkeye women playing in the Final Four, here’s a reminder of the winning final four to stay safe while behind the wheel.
Personnel updates for March 15 to March 28, 2024
April 4, 2024
Information supplied by the Business Systems Bureau
Recent Iowa DOT awards
April 4, 2024
The Iowa DOT is focused on making lives better through transportation. Whether we are working to put safety first or focusing on our customers, innovation, and leadership are at the heart of the work we do. Sometimes that work earns us attention and accolades from our industry partners and peers. We are proud of those across our DOT team who have been recognized for the following awards.