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  Roads Scholar Program

The Roads Scholar program provides an opportunity for road maintenance personnel to receive specialized training in the fundamentals of road maintenance, management procedures and techniques in an effective and cost efficient manner. In order to become a Roads Scholar, and individual must complete six required courses and three optional courses, totaling 53 hours of training.

Since the inception of the Road Scholar’s Program in 1988, over 3,800 participants have completed the program.

Roads Scholars and Road Masters

There is a five-year limit to complete all Roads Scholar and/or Road Master courses. Any Roads Scholar and/or Road Master courses taken beyond five years will not count toward your certificate of completion for the program(s). You will need to retake any expired classes to complete the program(s) and graduate. You are permitted to take classes from both programs in the same year, but you must complete your Roads Scholar before you can complete your Road Master.

Required Courses
You must take all of the following courses:

This course is intended for individuals who perform flagging and temporary traffic control activities on Kentucky’s roadways. Individuals seeking qualification as Traffic Control Technicians and Supervisors are encouraged to take this course prior to taking the Technician and Supervisor Courses. This training session includes lectures, videos, and hands-on exercises to present the following: proper use of personal protective equipment, work zone components and types of operations, flagging procedures, proper and improper flagging operations, as well as methods of communicating with workers and the public. Individuals performing flagging operations on any Kentucky roadway should be trained and qualified every two years. Those who successfully pass the test will be qualified and their results will be provided to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.  The course also fulfills a requirement for the Roads Scholar Program.

Agenda
  • Introduction and Class Overview
  • Policies and Procedures of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
  • Manual on Uniform Traffic Control (MUTCD) and Other Important Manuals Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Work Zone Traffic Control Components
  • Flagger Station Locations
  • Flagger Procedures/Signals
  • Flagging Operations
  • Hands-On Flagger Practice
  • Flagging Dos and Don’ts
Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or individuals performing flagging operations on any Kentucky roadway.

Fees
$95
for Local Agency Employees
$115
for All Others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employees of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Select Date To Register

When offered online on Zoom, this course runs from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. This includes the online administration of the exam.

When offered in-person, this course runs from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, followed by the proctored exam. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

This course emphasizes the importance of good drainage with discussions of the effects of water on roads, problems caused by improper drainage, and ways to handle these problems. It covers types of drainage systems ranging from ditches, culverts, subdrains, inlets, and end structures. Uses, materials, installation, and maintenance of these systems are addresses as well. This course also introduces geosynthetic drainage applications.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of good drainage, effects of water on roadways, problems caused by improper drainage, and ways to mitigate these issues.

Agenda
  • Problems Associated with Water and Roadways and Symptoms of Poor Drainage
  • Sources of Water Infiltration
  • Fundamental Elements of a Good Pavement Drainage System
  • Importance of Roadway Drainage
  • Pavement Drainage Design
  • Subsurface Drainage Design, Construction, Quality Control, Maintenance and Repair
  • Inspection of Highway Edge Drains
  • Surface Drainage Design, Construction, Quality Control, Maintenance and Repair
  • Culvert Not Just Something to Pass Over, Flowable Fill Backfill for Culverts, and Pothole Repair: Proven Practices
  • Storm Water Retention/Detention and Water Quality Units Legal Liability
Fees
$95
for City and County Employees
$115
for All Others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employees of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 

Select Date To Register

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

The purpose of this workshop is to show participants ways to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by road departures and collisions with fixed objects, as well as collision at rural intersections.  Low cost solutions for keeping the driver on the road will be taught with a focus on selection and implementation.  The forgiving roadside concept will be covered for when a vehicle departs the roadway.  Clear zones and what to do with hazards in them will be discussed.  The material will be presented with a combination of interactive lecture, group discussion and activities.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of low-cost roadway safety improvements and how to implement them.

Agenda
  • State and Local Road Systems
  • Road Safety Assessment
  • Enhanced Applications of Traffic Control Devices Maintenance–Clear Zone, Roadside Obstacles, and Vegetation Lunch
  • County Name Activity
  • Maintenance–Roadway with Pothole Patching Video Maintenance–Bridges and Signs
  • Ballard County Class Activity
  • Identifying Issues Exercise
Fees
$95
for Local Agency Employees
$115
for All Others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employees of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

This workshop outlines and explains the duties of governmental officials in providing safe highways and the status of Kentucky law - cases that will affect you.  The course explores the positive approach to risk management - if you are subpoenaed, if your name is on the bottom line and how to give a deposition.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of the duties of governmental officials in providing safe highways and the status of Kentucky law.

Agenda
  • Introduction and Tort Law in Kentucky
  • Risk Management for Highway Systems
  • Summary of Board of Claims Cases in Kentucky
  • Elements of the Risk Management Process
  • Kentucky Board of Claims Cases of $50,000 or More
  • How to Give a Deposition
  • High-Risk Areas for Tort Liability
  • Introduction to Accident Reconstruction
     
Fees
$95
for Local Agency Employees
$115
for All Others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employess of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Select Date To Register

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

This workshop will show examples of proper signs and markings, sign requirements, proper placement, warrants, sign supports and pavement markings.  This course will also discuss the background on traffic signals, signal indications, hardware, left turn signals, signal coordination an pedestrian signals.  Also included in this course are the latest changes to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). 

Helpful Resource:  Sign Installation Guide

Who should attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of proper signals, signs, markings, and requirements for placement according to the MUTCD.

Agenda
  • Examples of Proper Signs & Markings
  • Sign Requirements
  • Proper Placement, Warrants, Sign Supports, & Pavement Markings
  • Example Court Cases
  • Traffic Signal Background
  • Signal Indication, Hardware, Left Turn Signals
  • Charge Intruders, Signal Coordination, Warrants, Pedestrian Signals
  • Timing, Other Signals, Related Signs
Fees
$95
for local agency employees
$115
for all others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employess of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

This course helps participants to identify and understand their own behavioral style. Through team-building activities, participants will learn how to work more effectively with their own personality type and others in team settings. This course also discusses stress management, differences in people, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, stress management, and dealing with other personalities in the workplace.

Agenda
  • Understanding People–What’s Your Color? Exercise
  • “Lost at Sea” Team Building/Group Exercise
  • Supervising Workers
  • Situational Exercises
  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
  • Stress Management
Fees
$95
for Local Agency Employees
$115
for All Others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employess of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

Optional Courses
You must complete three optional courses.

This course reviews Kentucky procedures, discusses asphalt practices, and provides an overview of information used on a daily basis in asphalt planning, production, placement and testing.

The KYTC Division of Construction still requires new employees of both the Department and Asphalt Paving Contractors to attend the Asphalt Field Technician course. However, the Asphalt Field Technician Course has been renamed. The course is now Asphalt Paving Best Practices. For Asphalt Paving Contractors, this course will remain a requirement for prequalification. Additional information regarding the KYTC Division of Construction requirements can be found at https://transportation.ky.gov/Construction-Procurement/Pages/default.aspx or by calling 502-564-3500

At any time should there be sweeping changes within the asphalt industry or should there be major specification changes, there may be a need to develop a new course or revamp the existing Asphalt Field Technician course and make it mandatory for everyone again.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or new employees of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Asphalt Paving Contractors who wish to be prequalified. This course is a requirement for prequalification.

Agenda
  • Introduction
  • Understanding Your Mix
  • Construction Techniques
  • Mix Delivery
  • Tack Coat
  • Maintenance Paving Operations
  • Paving Operations
  • Compaction
  • Joint Construction
  • Field Density Testing
     
Fees: Roads Scholar and Road Master Courses
$95
for local agency employees
$115
for all others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employees of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

This course runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

This workshop explores the fundamentals of quality control, concrete materials and properties of freshly mixed and hardened concrete.  The participants will learn about testing fresh concrete and evaluating the results.  Other topics included are flowable fill, whitetopping, concrete repair techniques and full depth reclamation of low volume streets and roads.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding of concrete materials and properties, testing, evaluation, and repair/reclamation. 

Agenda
  • Concrete 101: Common Uses of Concrete
  • Concrete Dictionary: Terms Used in Concrete Construction
  • Concrete Repair
  • Fresh Concrete Testing
  • Exterior Flatwork: Problems & Corrections
  • Sidewalk Construction Basics
  • Concrete Construction for KYTC
  • What’s New in Concrete Construction?
Fees: Roads Scholar and Road Master Courses
$95
for local agency employees
$115
for all others

NOTE: Payment is required in advance, except employees of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Select Date To Register

This course runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

Violence and harassment are unfortunately real threats in today’s workplace. Participants in this class will learn the how to identify sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. This class will also look into ways to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and workplace violence incidents whenever possible. Finally, this course will show how to prepare for emergencies and manage the stress of difficult situations.

Who Should Attend

Those wishing to complete their Roads Scholar certificate or gain a better understanding ofpolicies around workplace harassment and violence and tips for de-escalation.

Agenda
  • Expectations
  • Orientation
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Case Studies
  • Guidelines for Policy
  • Investigations
  • Awareness Exercise
  • Vicarious Liability
  • Workplace Violence
  • Warning Signs
  • Calm Before the Storm
  • De-escalating Tips
  • Common Sense Defense Techniques
Fees
$95
for City and County Employees
$115
for All Others

Roads Scholar and Roads Master Courses:

This session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

Program Enrollment Form

If you believe you are graduating or plan to graduate this year, please fill out the graduation enrollment form by visiting this LINK. All graduates must fill out this form in order to receive their certificate(s) of completion.