Show Notes
In this second episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh explore the behind-the-scenes work of Iowa’s winter maintenance operations with Craig Bargfrede, Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa DOT, and guest Tina Greenfield from the Iowa DOT winter operations team. They cover: What winter operations look like across the state and how the DOT prepares before a storm. How crews monitor incoming weather and decide when to deploy snowplows. The tools and technology used to track road conditions in real time. How plow drivers are trained, supported, and equipped for long winter shifts. Coordination between garages, districts, and statewide operations during storms. How teams respond when weather intensifies or changes unexpectedly. Lessons learned from past winters and improvements underway for future seasons. Resources: Iowa 511 App (real-time road conditions) App Store Google Play
Standing Corn Program
More from Roadside Chat with the Iowa DOT
In this ninth episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh sit down with Iowa DOT transportation planner Sarah Tracy and Traffic Operations and Safety Bureau safety specialist Greg Karssen to answer some of the most common questions about roundabouts. They cover: Why and when Iowa DOT considers a roundabout. How roundabouts compare with traffic signals for safety, operations and long-term costs. How to properly drive through a roundabout. When and how to use turn signals. How roundabouts are designed to accommodate large trucks and agricultural equipment. What the truck apron is and why it is important How pedestrians safely navigate roundabout crosswalks. How roundabouts are plowed and maintained during Iowa winters. Why roundabouts aren't all designed exactly the same How Iowa DOT uses crash data, traffic patterns and other factors when evaluating an intersection. How driver education and demonstrations can help communities prepare for a new roundabout. The safety benefits of roundabouts and how they can reduce severe crashes.
In this eighth episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh invite listeners to visit the Iowa DOT's booth at the Iowa State Fair. Communications Specialist Zhaia Wineinger shares how the fair gives the department a chance to connect with thousands of Iowans, answer questions, and highlight the many ways transportation impacts everyday life. Get a preview of this year's booth theme, "Roots, Routes, and Roundabouts," which celebrates the Iowa DOT's history, transportation innovations, and Iowa-first achievements through interactive exhibits, historical displays, and family-friendly activities. The conversation also highlights how face-to-face conversations at the fair help educate the public on topics like roundabouts, driver's licensing, and transportation safety. Music by Paul Winter from Pixabay
In this seventh episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh sit down with two leaders from the Iowa DOT’s Motor Vehicle Division: Mary Demuth, Public Service Manager, and Charles Cunningham, Service Delivery Bureau Director, to explain how Iowa's personalized license plate process works.
In this sixth episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh explore Iowa’s rest areas and truck parking system with David Bollenbaugh, Public Service Supervisor for Iowa DOT Rest Areas, and Adrianne Knight, Transportation Planner with the Iowa DOT. Together, they discuss the services Iowa’s rest areas provide today and the plans underway to improve them for future travelers.
In this fifth episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Debbie McClung and Daniel Yeh tackle a question many Iowans ask each spring: why does it seem like construction season never ends? They’re joined by Frank Leong, District Construction Engineer for central Iowa, to explain what really goes into planning and delivering major highway projects.