To combat the high costs and disruption caused by deteriorating bridges in New Jersey, our research investigated the long-term value of Internally Cured High-Performance Concrete (HPIC). By incorporating prewetted lightweight fines that release internal moisture during hydration, HPIC creates a significantly more durable and less permeable surface that extends service life by limiting self desiccation, early age shrinkage, and reducing microcracking. In collaboration with the NJDOT, our joint team from NYU C2SMART Center and Rutgers’ RIME Lab conducted a comprehensive life cycle cost analysis supported by NJDOT feedback on service lives and costs. Since HPIC is a newer material and key inputs vary by supplier and project, including mix premiums, dosage, logistics, maintenance schedules and service life, instead of a deterministic approach, we employed a stochastic model to reflect this variability and how uncertainty impacts the results. Our preliminary findings showed that despite a higher initial investment, HPIC generates substantial long-term savings up to 40% in agency and 45% in total costs . This project delivers clear, evidence-based guidance for adopting HPIC to deliver durable, lower cost bridge decks in New Jersey.
Dr. Kaan Ozbay joined Civil and Urban Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering as a tenured full Professor in 2013. He is the founding Director of the C2SMART Center at NYU Tandon School of Engineering which was established in 2017. Prior to that, Professor Ozbay was a tenured full Professor at Rutgers University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering where he joined as an Assistant Professor in July 1996. In 2008, he was a visiting scholar at the Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) Department at, Princeton University. Dr. Ozbay is the recipient of several awards including the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, IBM faculty award, INFORMS Franz Edelman Finalist Award, in addition to several best paper and excellence in research awards. His research interests in transportation cover a wide range of topics including data-driven AI/ML applications in smart cities, development and calibration of large-scale complex transportation simulation models. He has co-authored 4 books and published approximately 500 refereed papers in scholarly journals and conference proceedings. Prof. Ozbay is also an Associate Editor of the ITS journal and serves as the Associate Editor of Networks and Spatial Economic journal and Transportmetrica B: Transportation Dynamics journal. Since 1994, Dr. Ozbay, has been the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator of 125 research projects funded at a level of more than $35M by USDOT, National Science Foundation, NCHRP, NJDOT, NY State DOT, NYC DOT, New Jersey Highway Authority, FHWA, VDOT, Dept. of Homeland Security, among others.
Protective barriers in transportation engineering require materials that are lightweight, highly energy-absorbing, and capable of mitigating vibration. Auxetic metamaterials, with their negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) arising from geometric design, offer significant potential. However, conventional lattices often suffer from low load-bearing capacity and unstable deformation, restricting their application in infrastructure.
This study designs a multi-stage auxetic metamaterial that integrates rotating, re-entrant, and chiral mechanisms to enhance energy absorption, load-bearing capacity, and structural stability, evaluated through quasi-static compression analysis. Results show that the lattice sustains NPR behavior up to 60% strain, forms two distinct stress plateaus, and achieves nearly twice the specific energy absorption of existing multi-stage designs while maintaining stable deformation.
By combining lightweight architecture, enhanced energy absorption, and reliable multi-phase stability, the proposed metamaterial provides a promising solution for crash barriers, bridge protection, and vibration-damping systems in transportation engineering.
Linzhi Li is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, supervised by Professor Yi Bao. Her research focuses on the design and optimization of mechanical and auxetic metamaterials for vibration mitigation, energy absorption, and structural protection in civil and transportation engineering. Her recent work develops multi-stage auxetic lattices that integrate rotating, re-entrant, and chiral mechanisms to achieve enhanced stability and load-bearing performance.
GPI is a consulting engineering firm with a staff of over 1,800 employees in 17 Branch Offices and 40 additional Regional offices. GPI is an award-winning, multi-discipline engineering firm that has been providing professional design, building systems, planning and construction management/ inspection services to all levels of government and industry throughout the United States for nearly 60 years.
Our workforce development procedure is to attract, retain, engage, and grow talent. In order to attract talent, we offer a robust benefit package, we keep our website (www.gpinet.com) current, and we are very active in recruitment. We retain our talent by keeping the interest of our staff through mentorships, career development meetings, providing training opportunities, and involvement with professional affiliations. Engaging talent involves providing interesting opportunities, promoting a team environment, and having fun. We continuously grow our talented staff by providing opportunities within our organization. GPI is poised to face the challenges that the engineering industry is facing by providing opportunities in a dynamic work environment.
Dave Wagner is an experienced Department Director, Project Manager, and an expert in Asset Management Systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and custom application developments for transportation projects. Mr. Wagner has 30 years of project experience for New Jersey public agencies including NJDOT, NJ Transit, DRJTBC, NJDEP, NJ Treasury, counties, and numerous transportation agencies throughout the United States. Mr. Wagner is actively involved in GPI’s workforce development efforts. He is involved in recruiting and interviewing prospective talent, along with developing and retaining them once they are part of the GPI Team. He has worked at the ground level with summer interns, as well as the continuous development of project managers and key office staff. Mr. Wagner is a certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP), and also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
David Kuhn, PE, serves as Vice President and Director of Philadelphia Operations at GPI while continuing to lead and support projects in New Jersey, including the Strategic Highway Safety Plan and Local Road Safety Plans in South Jersey Counties and Municipalities. Dave’s 38 years of experience includes 30 years at NJDOT, where he served as Assistant Commissioner of Capital Investment, Planning and Grant Administration for over seven years.
Monitoring cracks is critical for the safety and quality of construction and operation of civil infrastructure. Distributed fiber optic sensors have been utilized to monitor near-field cracks but are insensitive to far-field cracks. This paper presents an approach for real-time monitoring of far-field cracks based on distributed acoustic sensing.
The approach was implemented into a concrete highway bridge, and the performance of the approach was evaluated using a computational model for multi-physics simulations. The results showed that the approach was able to accurately detect and locate far-field cracks six meters away from fiber optic cables with appropriate threshold and temperature compensation. The configurations of the sensing system, such as gauge length, channel spacing, and sampling rate, exhibited significant impacts on crack monitoring results and localization performance.
The capability of real-time monitoring of far field cracks advances the construction and operation of infrastructure.
Mr. Yao Wang is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, advised by Professor Yi Bao. His research focuses on structural health monitoring using advanced acoustic sensing technologies, including Distributed Acoustic Sensing, Acoustic Emission, and Guided Wave. He integrates experiments, multi-physics finite element modeling, and machine learning to investigate wave propagation, signal processing, and sensing configuration optimization for damage detection in civil infrastructure.
Heavy traffic volumes, frequent lane merges, toll plazas, and complex interchanges often create conditions for sudden and forceful vehicular stops, known as harsh braking (HB). Traditional safety studies rely on historical crash records, a reactive approach that delays countermeasures. Since HB events are continuously captured by connected-vehicle telematics, their spatial and temporal patterns offer a proactive surrogate for identifying crash-prone roadway segments. Therefore, this study evaluates the potential of harsh braking (HB) events as a surrogate measure of crash risk on New Jersey interstate highways. More than 8.5 million Drivewyze telemetry records and 45,000 police-reported crashes from July to December 2024 were analyzed. HB events were identified by a deceleration threshold of 6 ft/sec² (approximately 0.2g) and spatially matched to one-mile highway segments along with crash data. Descriptive analysis revealed strong spatial clustering of HB events and crashes along high traffic volume corridors such as I-95, I-80, I-78, and I-287, particularly near toll plazas and complex interchanges. Seasonal patterns showed HB counts peaking in late fall, coinciding with higher traffic congestion and adverse weather conditions. Statistical modeling using Negative Binomial (NB) and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regressions demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between HB events and crash counts. In the preferred ZINB model, the HB coefficient was 0.01 (p = 0.03), indicating that each additional HB event was associated with roughly a 1 % increase in expected crash frequency per segment. Although the per-event effect was modest, segments with repeated HB activity exhibited substantially elevated crash risk; for instance, an increase of 10 HB events correspond to an expected crash frequency of about 10 % higher. These findings demonstrate that crowdsourced telematics can serve as a practical, proactive tool for highway safety management, supporting early detection of high-risk locations and guiding countermeasures such as improved signage, targeted enforcement, and geometric enhancements before crash records accumulate.
Md. Tufajjal Hossain is a Ph.D. student in Transportation Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). His research focuses on traffic flow modeling, intelligent transportation systems, and AI-driven traffic safety analysis. His recent work includes developing real-time incident detection models using crowdsourced Waze data and designing a data-driven framework for optimal Safety Service Patrol route identification based on historical crash data. He also explores crash severity prediction using large language models to enhance roadway safety analytics. At NJIT, he serves as a Teaching Assistant and has contributed to NJDOT-funded research at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Center. He is the recipient of the 2025 ITSNJ Outstanding Graduate Student Award and the Best Poster Award at the 2024 ITSNJ Annual Meeting, recognizing his academic excellence and contributions to advancing intelligent and data-driven transportation systems.
A significant portion of ready-mixed concrete, estimated at around 3% of total production, is returned to plants for disposal each year due to issues such as slump loss during transport, surplus production, and strict adherence to the 90-minute discharge time limit set by ASTM C94 and referenced in ACI 318-19. While this rule aims to preserve concrete quality, it often leads to the rejection of truckloads, particularly in congested urban areas, thereby increasing costs, waste generation, and environmental impacts.
To address this challenge, research funded by the Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) Research & Education Foundation and Portland Cement Association (PCA) examined the effects of extending discharge time on durability and performance. Concrete mixtures, representative of field practice, were prepared and tested at intervals up to 150 minutes, with properties such as air content, slump, temperature, compressive strength, freeze-thaw resistance, and surface resistivity evaluated.
The findings revealed that extending discharge time to 150 minutes had no significant adverse effect on fresh or hardened properties, suggesting that current specifications are overly conservative and could be revised to reduce unnecessary waste, costs, and environmental burdens.
Mohamed Mahgoub, PhD and PE, is an NJIT Associate Professor and Concrete Industry Management Program Director. He is also a Fellow of ACI. He is an expert in bridge rehabilitation, inspection, rating, design and analysis. Dr. Mahgoub received his Master’s Degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and his doctorate from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Prior to joining NJIT, he was the lead bridge engineer for the Chicago consulting firm Alfred Benesch & Company, working on bridge design for the Michigan DOT. His personal experience includes: highway bridge analysis and design, rehabilitation and construction, and scour analysis. Dr. Mahgoub has designed several bridges in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. He has also performed several bridge inspections and load rating in several big cities in Michigan. He was in charge of performing annual scour analyses of all primary and secondary bridges in Calhoun County, MI. After joining NJIT, Dr. Mahgoub was involved in research of several construction material projects for several associations, companies, and state institutions. He was also involved in RAC research. Dr. Mahgoub has served as a member in organizations such as ASCE, PCI, ICRI, and ACI. Dr. Mahgoub has been appointed as the vice president of the local New Jersey ACI Chapter, has been selected as a judge for their annual award, and is also the advisor of NJIT ACI Student Chapter. Dr. Mahgoub has more than 20 technical and scientific publications and presentations to his credit. Dr. Mahgoub has been also serving as a panelist for the NSF and NRC.
Current structural design practices for infrastructure projects rely on time-intensive manual calculations and code compliance verification, creating bottlenecks in project delivery and potential for human error. This research presents a multi-agent Large Language Model (LLM) framework that automates code-compliant infrastructural design while maintaining interpretability and verifiability which is essential requirements for infrastructure applications.
The framework employs specialized LLM agents coordinated through task distribution: a Task Dispatcher routes design queries to dedicated Design and Evaluation agents, which interface with deterministic calculation tools programmed according to structural design codes. An Expert Consultation agent enables iterative refinement through natural language interaction, supporting the design optimization process. Case studies on reinforced concrete beam design demonstrated exceptional performance: 97% accuracy compared to industry-standard software (SAP2000), 90% time reduction compared to traditional methods, and complete transparency through step-by-step calculations with explicit code references. Statistical validation across 30 design cases showed Mean Absolute Percentage Error below 3% for critical structural parameters.
The framework’s modular architecture enables adaptation to various infrastructure applications by incorporating different design codes and specialized calculation modules. Engineers can specify requirements in natural language while receiving compliant solutions with detailed explanations, facilitating rapid design iteration and supporting workforce development through transparent educational content. This research demonstrates an approach to infrastructure design automation that preserves engineering judgment while eliminating routine calculation tasks. The framework represents a significant step toward preparing the engineering workforce for AI-enhanced infrastructure development.
Jinxin Chen is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, specializing in the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into structural design and infrastructure applications. His research focuses on developing automated design tools that enhance workforce efficiency while maintaining engineering rigor and code compliance. Mr. Chen has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on computational methods in structural engineering, including work on machine learning for ultra-high-performance concrete and AI-assisted design frameworks. His current research on large language model frameworks for infrastructure design aims to streamline project delivery while supporting knowledge transfer and workforce development in the engineering profession.
On August 27, 2025, the FHWA hosted a webinar titled “NJDOT’s Pilot Program for Internally Cured High Performance Concrete for Bridge Decks.” NJDOT Project Manager and Infrastructure Preservation CIA team lead Samer Rabie presented the department’s internally cured concrete (ICC) initiative.
The webinar highlighted NJDOT’s work as a case study for more than 300 participants nationwide, enabling agencies to learn from New Jersey’s experience with ICC and consider applications in their own states. After Mr. Rabie’s presentation, attendees asked questions about the EPIC2 initiative, including advice on how to achieve even water distribution, the expected life span of High Performance Internally Cured Concrete (HPIC) bridge decks, and whether internal curing techniques could be applied to other types of concrete.
Webinar Presentation
Transverse early-age cracking
As part of Round 6 of the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative, NJDOT began implementing Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for Bridge Preservation and Repair, with plans to institutionalize its use in the upcoming bridge design manual. UHPC’s low water-cement ratio and high use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) increase durability and extend service life, but also raise the risk of transverse early age cracking. This cracking results from autogenous shrinkage, when the cement consumes too much internal water, creating capillary stresses.
Cracks in UHPC bridge decks require costly, time-intensive sealing that must be reapplied every five to ten years, significantly increasing life-cycle costs. To address this issue, FHWA launched the Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete (EPIC2) initiative under EDC-7. Internal curing uses pre-wetted lightweight fine aggregate (LWFA) to supply additional moisture, improving water distribution and offsetting capillary stresses during the curing process. More than 30 years of studies show that internal curing enhances durability, lowers costs, and reduces waste.
Over 180 EPIC2 Bridge Decks are in service according to FHWA
To date, more than 15 states have deployed internal curing on over 180 bridge decks. NYSDOT, an early adopter of HPIC, reported a 70 percent reduction in early-age cracking with no added cost compared to conventional HPC or UHPC decks. NYSDOT has since mandated internal curing for all continuous bridges and bridge decks statewide. In May 2024, Mr. Rabie participated in a New York State peer exchange on the EPIC2 initiative in Albany.
NJDOT launched its HPIC implementation plan by reviewing existing research, assessing resources and mix plants, and conducting extensive coordination—internally with subject matter experts and divisions, and externally with LWFA suppliers, producers, and contractors. NJDOT also conducted risk evaluations and identified candidate bridges for potential pilot projects.
To support implementation, NJDOT secured a $125,000 STIC Incentive Grant, which funded the purchase of centrifuge apparatuses, staff training, and third-party lab support. The centrifuges measure LWFA moisture content, replacing the traditional “paper towel method,” in which pre-wetted aggregate is weighed, dried manually with industrial-grade paper towels until no moisture remains, and then oven-dried before an assessment is made of surface and absorbed moisture. While the centrifuge approach requires specialized equipment and training, it is significantly faster, less labor-intensive, and more accurate. NJDOT will phase in this method as staff gain experience.
NJDOT has identified 11 candidate bridges for HPIC pilot projects: one under construction, eight in design, and two in concept development. The active pilot—North Munn Avenue over I-280 in East Orange—features twin bridge decks, one built with UHPC and the other with HPIC, enabling a direct comparison under similar conditions.
Twin bridge deck pilot at North Munn Avenue over I-280 in East Orange
Alongside pilot projects, NJDOT is developing materials and construction guide specifications for HPIC. These include substituting 30–50 percent of total fine aggregate with LWFA, establishing a formula to measure absorbed LWFA moisture, and targeting a water content equal to 7 percent of the volume of cementitious materials. Aside from these adjustments, HPIC batching mirrors current UHPC practices.
Early HPIC bridge decks are expected to carry added upfront costs: approximately $50,000 for new mix design, trial batches, and test slabs to validate the process before construction, plus a 20–40 percent increase in unit production costs. Mr. Rabie noted that costs should decrease as specifications are refined, experience grows, and economies of scale take effect. While initial expenses may be higher, HPIC is projected to deliver substantially lower life-cycle costs, primarily by reducing resealing, which can cost around $100,000.
NJDOT’s next steps include a concrete plant outreach program in fall 2025, followed by HPIC workshops and centrifuge training in winter 2025/2026. The department will also continue to assess potential pilot projects through 2025–2026 and monitor the performance of active HPIC bridge deck projects.
Q&A
Q.Will HPIC extend the expected 25-year life span of a bridge deck?
A. The study is assessing how much maintenance HPIC bridge decks require over a 25-year lifespan. Preliminary findings suggest HPIC decks may require only about one-third the maintenance of conventional decks. NJDOT’s Bureau of Research, Innovation, and Information Transfer (BRIIT), in partnership with Rutgers University, is conducting a separate study evaluating how HPIC could extend overall service life. Early findings from NYSDOT suggest HPIC bridge decks may last up to 75 years.
Q.In South Carolina, we have faced difficulties achieving a uniform distribution of moisture for our pre-wetted lightweight fine aggregate using conventional methods like sprinklers. Do you have any suggestions on ways to fix this issue?
A. Some states have tried alternative methods for wetting LWFA. In Louisiana, for example, large bins are filled with water—like a small pool—and the aggregate is soaked for a set period to ensure uniform moisture distribution, rather than using sprinklers.
Q.Can internal curing be used on conventional concrete or is it just for HPC and UHPC?
A. Internal curing could technically be applied to conventional Class A concrete, but it is generally unnecessary. Class A concrete already contains higher water content, reducing its susceptibility to autogenous cracking. UHPC, being relatively moisture starved, benefits most from internal curing.
Q.Does NJDOT have set shrinkage limits?
A. Shrinkage is assessed project-by-project. After crack mapping is completed, a percentage of shrinkage is calculated, but there is no set limit.
A recording of the FHWA webinar is available here.
For more about HPIC and EPIC2, read the NJDOT Tech Transfer Q&A article with Samer Rabie and Jess Mendenhall.
The NJ State Transportation Innovation Council (NJ STIC) met virtually for its second Triannual Meeting of 2025 on August 6. Attendees heard updates the Core Innovation Area (CIA) Teams on progress towards the Every Day Counts Round 7 (EDC-7) goals and a featured presentation, Overcoming Challenges – Recruiting, Developing and Maintaining a Workforce to Meet Current and Future High Construction Needs, by Vicki Tilghman-Ansley, Director of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action at NJDOT.
Welcome Remarks
Amanda Gendek, Deputy Director of Statewide Planning at NJDOT, welcomed participants on behalf of Assistant Commissioner Eric Powers. She reviewed the meeting agenda and highlighted the workforce development presentation, noting its connection to the theme of the upcoming 27th Annual Research Showcase in October.
FHWA Updates
Christopher Paige, Innovation Coordinator and Community Planner at the FHWA NJ Division Office, was unable to attend this meeting. In his absence, Giri Venkiteela, Innovation Officer at the NJDOT Bureau of Research, Innovation, and Information Transfer, reported that there were no FHWA updates at this time. He added that Mr. Paige would notify NJDOT if any arose.
Mentimeter Engagement Activity Summary
Innovation recommendations from Mentimeter Engagement Activity (click to enlarge)
Following the FHWA updates, Dr. Venkiteela summarized results from the previous meeting’s Mentimeter Engagement Activity, which explored NJ STIC members’ perceptions, initiatives, challenges, requests, and projects related to innovation.
Key takeaways included:
STIC members define innovation as creativity and thinking outside the box
Member prioritize advancing AI integration and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure
Organizational silos and limited resources challenge progress
Members recommend engaging global experts and academia
Innovation efforts focus on safety, efficiency, and environmental management
Core Innovation Areas (CIA) Updates
Leaders from the Core Innovation Area (CIA) Teams provided updates on their progress toward deployment goals for their respective innovation efforts. Representatives from NJDOT and FHWA discussed EDC-7 initiatives organized under the five CIA teams: Safety, Planning and Environment, Infrastructure Preservation, Mobility and Operations, and Organizational Support and Improvement. Each team outlined their current projects, highlighting implementation efforts, key achievements, and challenges. A brief summary of each team’s update follows:
Safety
Pedestrian Scale Lighting Research & Guide. Researchers from the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at Rutgers University and Rowan University continue revising their draft pedestrian scale lighting resource. This guide will help communities identify, scope, and assess safety and community needs before implementing best practices for pedestrian-scale lighting design. Feedback from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) is being integrated before the resource is shared with NJDOT.
Nighttime Visibility for Safety. NJDOT is finalizing the design details for traffic signal poles and mast arms in compliance with the 2015 AASHTO LRFD requirements for signalized intersection. The design improvements include enhanced integration of backplates with retroreflective tape on signal indications. Comments from key stakeholders are being incorporated into the final deliverable.
Planning and Environment
Centrifuge Apparatus
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). NJDOT is advancing projects aimed at reducing congestion, improving air quality, and promoting low-emission technologies. CMAQ priorities include public transit expansion, intersection upgrades, intelligent transportation systems, and EV incentives. CRP efforts focus on battery-electric buses, Complete Streets, and municipal green fleet transitions. Both programs track progress using performance metrics such as greenhouse gas reduction, increased transit use, and cleaner air. Next steps include accelerating implementation, applying AI-based traffic management, and expanding partnerships. The “It Pay$ to Plug” grant program, a CMAQ initiative, collaborates with NJDEP to expand the number of EV charging stations.
Infrastructure Preservation
Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete (EPIC2). The team received the centrifuge apparatuses purchased through STIC Incentive Fund grants and identified additional bridges as potential candidates for the EPIC² initiative. Current efforts include planning an FHWA webinar, coordinating distribution of centrifuge apparatuses to regional materials offices, and preparing final design submissions for pilot project bridges.
Mobility and Operations
Weather Savvy. NJDOT upgraded the Weather-Savvy system by installing wireless routers in vehicles to bypass the in-cab tablets, which previously disrupted data transfers to NJDOT and NJIT servers due to shutdowns or locks. The new system is installed on three trucks, with plans to equip the remaining 42 trucks by December 2025.
How the Weather Savvy router system works
Truck Parking Pilot. Data collection continues at the Harding and Carney’s Point sites. Portable DMS signs recently installed on I-287 and I-78 now alert commercial vehicle drivers to available parking at the Harding site. The next phase involves installing data collection technology such as traffic microwave sensors and in-pavement micro radar sensors at the Knowlton Rest Area on I-80.
Streetlight. The team procured Streetlight Insight, a data platform that collects and analyzes data from connected and Internet of Things (Iot) devices to measure vehicles, transit, bike, and foot traffic nearly anywhere. NJDOT employers interested in using Streetlight data should contact the Mobility and Operations CIA team.
iNET ATMS. Launched on April 29, iNET ATMs is New Jersey’s first Advanced Traffic Management System, a browser-based interface to enter incidents, monitor traffic speeds, and view assets such as CCTVs and DMS signs statewide. NJDOT recently received the 2025 Excellence in Engineering Award at the NJ Alliance for Action. iNET will support the Central Dispatch Unit (CDU), the Safety Service Patrol (SSP) Team, and law enforcement.
Organizational Support & Improvement
Strategic Workforce Development. The initiative remains in the development stage. While FHWA confirmed funding approval, disbursement has been delayed due to funding pauses and other constraints. NJDOT is collaborating internally with its Division of Procurement and has partnered with NJDOL’s Workforce Development Services to advance training and apprenticeship preparation programs. In June 2025, NJDOT met with the Contractor Compliance Unit to discuss union engagement, apprenticeship programs, addressing the aging workforce, and strategies to increase membership.
Feature Presentation: Overcoming Challenges – Recruiting, Developing and Maintaining a Workforce to Meet Current and Future Highway Construction Needs
Vicki Tilghman-Ansley, Director of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action at NJDOT, delivered the meeting’s feature presentation, outlining current challenges in sustaining a highway construction workforce and describing strategies and initiatives to address them.
Several key laws have shaped Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and workforce development programs:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1968
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Federal Highway Administration regulations (23 CFR Part 230) of 1975
NJDOT’s Operations Apprentice Program
NJDOT administers an On-the-Job Training Program (OJT), based on the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1968, to develop a more competent and diverse workforce. Each federally funded project is evaluated to determine its training capacity, with larger, longer projects offering greater opportunities for meaningful training. While the program has made progress, barriers remain that limit its full potential.
The OJT Supportive Services Program complements OJT by preparing individuals for success in the highway construction workforce. It funds pre-apprenticeship training programs, assists contractors with recruitment and counseling, and supports mentorships and other ongoing resources. One major challenge has been securing union support to transition NJDOT trainees into the union apprenticeship programs, though recent union staffing shortages may open new opportunities.
Challenges NJDOT Faces
NJDOT’s workforce development programs face several challenges. New Jersey’s highway construction workforce is highly unionized, and several years into OJT, a union-led change required contractors to work through the unions for training. This shift ended NJDOT’s “off the street” recruitment strategy, which created greater opportunities for women and people of color. Highway construction unions remain predominately male and less diverse, with the laborers’ union being a notable exception. Additional difficulties include an aging workforce, gaps in training and skills, challenges with retention, and competition from other employers offering higher wages.
Strategies to Overcome Barriers
NJDOT’s Youth Corps Urban Gateway Enhancement Program
To overcome these barriers, NJDOT is strengthening partnerships and agreements with heavy highway construction contractors, unions, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Utility & Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA). It is engaging alternative training providers, exploring opportunities with community colleges and trade schools, and building connections with community-based non-profits that serve women, minorities, and disadvantaged populations to provide job readiness and support services.
Using Information to Drive Solutions
Planned actions include developing feedback and reporting systems to track OJT outcomes, establishing dedicated funding to strengthen training program success, launching a website as a resource center for prospective workers, and hosting construction career days targeted to women, minorities, and others interested in NJDOT highway work.
Current NJDOT Partnerships:
Construction Industry Advancement Program of NJ
Associated General Contractors of NJ
NJ Youth Corps
Associations for Women in Construction
NJ’s One-Stop Career Centers
State Workforce Boards
Announcements and Reminders
Save the Date!
The 27th Annual NJDOT Research Showcase will be held on October 29, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM, at Mercer County Community College, with a virtual option available. This year’s theme, “Preparing the Workforce for the Future,” ties into Vicki Tilghman-Ansley’s feature presentation.
Submit Your Research or Innovative Idea!
Share your innovative, research, or market-ready ideas using one of the forms available here.
Next Meeting
The NJ STIC 3rd Triannual Meeting is scheduled for December 10, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The Mobility & Operations CIA Team will give the feature presentation.
A recording of the NJ STIC 2025 2nd Triannual Meeting is available here. The day’s presentations can be found here and in sections below.
Welcome Remarks & FHWA Updates
CIA Team Update: Safety
CIA Team Update: Planning & Environment
CIA Team Update: Infrastructure Preservation
CIA Team Update: Transportation Mobility
CIA Team Update: Organization Support & Improvement
Feature Presentation: Overcoming Challenges – Recruiting, Developing and Maintaining a Workforce to Meet Current and Future Highway Construction Needs
In summer 2025, the FHWA Every Day Counts (EDC)-7 Strategic Workforce Development (SWD) team hosted the Careers in Gear Summer Series—a webinar series highlighting innovative workforce development programs and success stories from across the country.
Featuring real-world examples and conversations with skilled trades professionals, program leaders, and other industry innovators, the series spotlighted practical strategies to strengthen the construction workforce—and help build the infrastructure of tomorrow.
Dates and Times
July 23 | 1:00-2:00 PM: Training Success Stories A webinar hosted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Every Day Counts-7 Strategic Workforce Development (SWD) team featuring short videos and real-world examples of training programs that are making a difference.
The speakers included:
Marguerite Givings (Wisconsin Department of Transportation)
Rich Granger (DriveOhio)
Liam Murphy (Teaching the Autism Community Trades)
Charlie McCullough (Indiana Constructors Inc)
Marjani Rollins (Caltrans)
Airton Kohls (University of Tennessee)
August 6 | 1:00-2:00 PM: Fireside Chat on Youth Development Programs A dynamic fireside chat exploring how youth development programs are building pathways into transportation and skilled trades careers, with insights from leaders driving innovative workforce initiatives across the country.
The speakers included:
Lisa Rose (Mineta Transportation Institute)
Rich Granger (DriveOhio)
Dr. Stephanie Ivey (University of Memphis Southeast Transportation Workforce Center)
