TRP chair spotlight: Kevin Burke

Kevin Burke, Local Policy and Technology Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Bureau of Local Roads and Streets, has served as a Technical Review Panel (TRP) chair for nine ICT/IDOT projects. Some of his current projects include:

• R27-130: Development of Improved Overlay Thickness Design Alternatives for Local Roads
• R27-136: Development of Public Right of Way Accessibility Guideline Resource Material

He has provided guidance on projects concerning local safety analysis, development of distance learning programs, pavement management systems, in-place recycling with asphalt products, pavement design for hot-mix asphalt and concrete, and several others. He has also served as a TRP member for a variety of other projects.

Burke states, “IDOT and ICT working together improves the transportation system in Illinois. Our partnership allows us to evaluate new technologies in laboratory and field conditions, which provides us with valuable information for implementation.”

For instance, in project R27-87: Implementing Pavement Management Systems for Local Agencies, Burke served as TRP chair and guided researchers from Bradley University and Applied Pavement Technology to develop recommendations for local agencies interested in implementing pavement management systems customized to their specific needs. By providing this information, IDOT is assisting local agencies preserve their pavements, which leads to a cost savings and less reliance on federal, state, and motor fuel tax funds.

Another example of IDOT and ICT working together to test technology that will provide implementation benefits is project R27-130, which Burke is currently chairing. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are comparing and testing various hot-mix asphalt overlay thickness design procedures to determine which are the most effective in terms of quality and cost.

Burke first joined IDOT in the Bureau of Materials and Physical Research in 1993. There, he worked in both the analytical and bituminous chemistry labs. In 2000, he transitioned to the Bureau of Local Roads and Streets, where he worked as a specifications and procedures specialist and technology transfer program manager before moving to his current role. He holds a BS degree in chemistry from Washington University in Saint Louis and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield.