6. Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies

The CDGRS is an independently funded non-profit entity at the Penn State University. The SCC contracts with the CDGRS to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to entities involved with the Program. The services provided by the CDGRS are outlined in the next section. In addition to supporting the SCC part of the Program, the CDGRS also contracts with various other entities such as the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Game Commission to provide similar training and research services.

The primary education tool of the Program is the two-day ESM course developed, maintained, and presented by the CDGRS. The CDGRS also hosts an annual maintenance workshop that includes multiple classroom sessions and field demonstration projects. The CDGRS is also involved in various other training and educational efforts such as district administrative training, GIS trainings, and topic-specific trainings and webinars. Details of these educational services can be found in section 3.6.

The CDGRS performs various activities to promote the Program and environmentally sensitive road maintenance principles. Such activities include participating in various professional meetings and trade shows, representing Program interests on various nationwide panels and committees, and creating and distributing promotional materials for the Program.

CDGRS staff are available to help district staff with project planning, design, implementation and inspection. The CDGRS typically provides on-site assistance with projects, new or innovative techniques, or especially complicated projects. Some typical services performed on technical assistance on-site visits include on-site training of new district staff, project evaluation and planning, grant application review, interactions with applicants; conflict resolution, project stationing and site-plan development, driving surface aggregate preparation and placement assistance, project implementation and oversight assistance, and review of completed projects. It is important to note that the focus of providing this technical assistance is to build capacity at the district. CDGRS staff will work through the district for all interactions with Program applicants.

In addition to project-related technical assistance, the CDGRS is also available to discuss any Program-related questions or issues the district and applicants may have on a wide variety of topics. If policy interpretation or administrative assistance is needed, the CDGRS will forward questions and concerns to staff at the SCC.

The CDGRS maintains a comprehensive website including reference material for the Program as well as other CDGRS activities.

The Program uses a customized GIS system, detailed in Chapter 3, to track the locations, deliverables, and expenditures for all road project work. The CDGRS is responsible for the development, maintenance, and training of this GIS system, as well as the collection of the quarterly and annual summary reports from districts. The CDGRS also works with the SCC to develop reports to provide to the state legislature and others based on county data.

The CDGRS, in conjunction with the SCC, maintains several advisory workgroups to the Program. District staff make up most of the workgroups. The workgroups act in an advisory capacity only, making recommendations to the SCC for approval. For more information visit the Center’s Advisory Workgroups page.

The CDGRS maintains a “DSA Clearinghouse” that is designed to facilitate DSA purchasing and placements around the state by creating a central point of contact and information for aggregate suppliers and districts. This “DSA Clearinghouse” is described in section 7.2.

The CDGRS performs a limited amount of research on practices and policies that directly affect the Program. Research topics vary widely from road sediment quantification, to cost-benefit analyses, to development of new and innovative practices.

While the Quality Assurance/Quality Control process, described in section 2.3, is led by SCC staff, the CDGRS still plays a significant role in the process. The CDGRS has worked with the SCC to develop the QAQC process. CDGRS staff is part of the QAQC visit team and typically assume a role related to the evaluation of completed project sites.

All products and materials purchased with Program funds must adhere to the Program’s non pollution standards. The product and process workgroup develops product testing protocols. These protocols are then reviewed by the SCC. When a product is submitted for approval, the workgroup reviews the product according to SCC approved protocols. A list of approved products is maintained on the Center’s Products page.