Practical Design in ODOT Roadway Conference April 13, 2010 Cathy Nelson, PE Technical Services Manager/ Chief Engineer

Transportation Challenges Growing Population Aging Infrastructure Limited Resources

Practical Design Philosophy Stretching scarce resources as far as possible to best meet transportation system needs Balancing cost and system value Good Business Practice –Jobs & Transportation Act (JTA) Requires Formal Practice

ODOT Practical Design Strategy Implementation Plan 1.Strategy Research Jan – July Draft Strategy Oct 1, 2009 Internal Review 3.Communication Plan Dec s & website 4.Final Strategy March 2010 Internal & External Review 5.Rollout & Training April Legislative Report Nov 2010 Deadline

So…. What’s Different? Purpose & Need Agreements – “what, why, how” System context in addition to project context Emphasis placed on incremental system improvements

Practical Design Strategy Goals Goal #1 –Direct available dollars toward activities and projects that optimize the highway system as a whole Goal #2 –Develop solutions to address the purpose and need identified for each project Goal #3 –Design projects that make the system better, address changing needs, and/or maintain current functionality by meeting, but not necessarily exceeding, the defined project purpose and need and project goals.

Safety Maintain or improve overall system safety Make system as safe as practical Are there any high value add-ins with minimal cost? - make practical, appropriate, and beneficial choices around safety - apply sound engineering judgment to safety decisions

Corridor Context When establishing or evaluating design criteria, work within intended corridor use. Does this "fix" fit with the rest of the corridor and its natural and built environments? Roadways should reflect both character of the community and current and planned land uses

Optimize the System Adopting more of an asset management approach Develop specific maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement strategies Optimize the life-cycle investment in that particular asset Optimize the entire highway system for safety, mobility and financial investment

Public Support Work in partnership with local communities. Provide opportunities to shape the solutions. Have needs for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, freight and mobility been considered? Are the project purpose and need clear and have they been communicated well? Is this project aligned with Oregon's overall plan for the transportation system?

Efficient Cost Strive to stretch limited funds Develop projects that meet the specific, desired purpose and need Should an incremental improvement be considered? Could funds be redistributed from lower priority items to areas producing greater system benefits? Focus on making strategic decisions that benefit the overall system

Implementing Practical Design Defining / Documenting / Delivering the “Right” Solution

Tools Strategy Document Project Charters Decision Matrix

Strategy Document practical_design.shtml practical_design.shtml Philosophy, focus, decision-making roles & responsibilities, tools and examples Will expand with future on-line links

Design Team Success Better problem descriptions and purpose and need statements The availability of information to the design team about the vision for the overall corridor Demonstrated confidence by the design teams that it is OK to do something different when exercising their project related decision making capabilities

Practical Design Focus Clarity of Purpose and Need –Project Charters Decision-making –SCOPE values integration & documentation at key milestones –Design Exceptions Tools & processes –1R –Design Speed Tech Bulletin System performance measures

Questions?