Section 4: Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
Overview
Under 23 U.S.C. §504, the National Highway Institute (NHI),
a staff office in FHWA Headquarters, is responsible for identifying
current and future technical training needs and for developing training
to satisfy the identified needs in cooperation with FHWA program
and field offices and State highway agencies. The NHI primary mission
is to provide education and training to Federal, State, and local
employees associated with Federal-aid highway work. The NHI provides
this training and education primarily through a program of short
courses aimed at States and the Local Transportation Assistance
Program (LTAP) which is geared to serve local agencies. The Texas
Local Technical Assistance Program (TxLTAP) is financed and sponsored
by TxDOT and FHWA. TxDOT has been assigned the responsibility to
develop, coordinate, and maintain this program. TxDOT RTI manages
and has oversight of this Program by contracting with a Texas state-supported
university to facilitate these activities of the Program.
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide education and training,
technology assistance, and related support services to assist rural,
local transportation agencies and tribal governments, and the consultants
and construction personnel working for the agencies and governments,
to develop and expand expertise in road and transportation areas
(including pavement, bridge, concrete structures, intermodal connections,
safety management systems, intelligent transportation systems, incident
response, operations, and traffic safety countermeasures) for improving
roads and bridges.