by Willson S. McBurney, ASLA, PLA
News from the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Standing Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design (AKD40) are hosting a webinar this month that will focus on compost-based best management practices on highway roadsides. Committee member Jack Broadbent with Caltrans and our presenters will discuss how these practices advance roadside revegetation, control erosion, reduce runoff, filter stormwater, and improve stormwater quality. They will also introduce practical tools and innovative methods to enhance water quality and roadside vegetation.
TRB Webinar: Compost It! Environmental Benefits of Compost in Highway Roadsides
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
2:00-3:30 p.m. (Eastern)
This webinar was organized by the TRB Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design with support from the Environmental Analysis and Ecology Committee (AEP70) and the Roadside Maintenance Operations Committee (AKR20).
Pre-registration is required. The webinar is free for DOT government employees and TRB sponsors. Other registrants will need to pay $95 to attend. Sign into MyTRB.org to view registration information.
Agenda and presenters:
- Welcome and introduction
Willson McBurney, Chair, Standing Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design, AKD40 - Using compost blankets to reduce highway runoff volume
Allen Davis, University of Maryland - Environmental benefits of compost for stormwater quality
David Crohn, University of California, Riverside - Environmental benefits of compost for erosion control
Scott Dowlan, California Department of Transportation - Question and answer session
Jack Broadbent, California Department of Transportation
If you have any questions about the webinar, please contact Beth Ewoldsen.
TRB AKD40 Mid-Year Meeting
Monday, June 28-Tuesday, June 29, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Due to continuing impacts of COVID-19, AKD40 has made the decision to make our 2021 Mid-Year Meeting a completely virtual meeting. The virtual format will allow greater participation for members and friends that are unable to travel. We hope you can all participate.
Become a Friend of the Committee
Would you like to be more engaged with the AKD40 Committee? To participate as a volunteer in TRB committee activities, or learn more about the work of the standing committees:
- Login to MyTRB and sign up as a “friend” of a committee to receive correspondence and updates, and to begin participating. Go to Committees on the menu bar, then select Become a Friend of the Committee.
- Consult the list of TRB standing committees, including the scope statement and member list for each. Send the TRB Staff or Chairperson a brief email summarizing your background and why you are interested in participating with this committee.
- Contact a TRB staff representative to learn of current activities in which you may wish to participate.
- Volunteer to serve as a reviewer of research papers, to work on a committee project, or to give a presentation or preside at a session of the annual meeting or a specialty conference.
- Participate in committee meetings, which generally are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Introduce yourself to the chair and other committee members.
You may also express your interest in joining as a formal member of the committee. Each committee has a required turnover of one-third of its members every three years, and committee members may not continue for more than three consecutive 3-year terms if other individuals wish to join. As a result, opportunities occur at least every three years (more often for many committees).
For detailed information on involvement with TRB Committee activities, visit the TRB website.
Willson S. McBurney, ASLA, PLA, is a Senior Landscape Architect at Moffatt & Nichol, Chair of the TRB Standing Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design (AKD40), and an officer for ASLA’s Transportation Professional Practice Network (PPN).