Download or read book A Review of the Virginia Department of Transportation s Scoping Process and Options for Potential Improvements written by K. E. Lantz and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 43 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Transportation project scoping is a process where the project's purpose and need, budget, schedule, and scope are developed. Interviews conducted with 27 staff representing VDOT, FHWA, and regional planners, coupled with a review of related literature and federal legislation, suggested 10 options for improving Virginia's scoping process. Although implementation of the first 8 options may involve, to varying degrees, both central office and district staff, the decision regarding whether or not to implement them as a matter of policy rests with VDOT's Chief Engineer. Six options regard changes in process that have already been implemented in some VDOT districts or are under consideration: (1) Select a monthly project day statewide; (2) Delineate scoping-day decisions from other activities in the scoping process; (3) Consider initiatives that have already been deployed successfully in one or more VDOT districts such as the use of a risk assessment page; (4) Allow electronic submission of the scoping report; (5) Provide resources to perform scoping prior to programming (and use this information to influence which projects are placed in the transportation program); (6) Support efforts to link planning and programming. Two options regard specific products: (1) develop a single primer that explains to an outside audience how the scoping process influences project development and is designed to improve the quality of the discussion among VDOT, localities, and other agencies regarding project scoping, and (2) consider database enhancements suggested by interviewees. The final two options regard suggestions for further research. The report gives the rationale for each option, detailing interviewees' descriptions of how scoping is done, challenges that arise when scoping specific projects, and enhancements to scoping that have been considered in individual districts.
Download or read book A Tool to Aid the Comparison of Improvement Projects for the Virginia Department of Transportation written by Yacov Y. Haimes and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The goal of this effort is to assist the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in improving the comparison in planning of potential primary and secondary roadway improvement projects. Historical projects that have been implemented or considered for implementation have been used as a case study data set. Methods are proposed for estimating cost, performance gain and crash risk reduction of future roadway projects, with the main focus being the presentation of trade offs among these criteria. If, in a particular case, more accurate and/or appropriate data is available for one or more of these criteria (e.g. from a simulation study that has been performed), then this information can easily be used to supplement or replace the estimations proposed here. The project comparison instrument combines three major decision making attributes in project selection: crash risk, performance, and project cost. By quantifying these attributes across a number of proposed highway improvement projects, projects can more readily be compared to one another, and a more holistic view of potential projects is achieved. This is an important step when choosing a portfolio of projects each year. In order to compare projects, attributes are quantified in the following manner for planning level decisions. Crash risk reduction is calculated as the number of crashes avoided per year at the project site. Particular roadway improvements are typically assumed to decrease the expected number of crashes by a statistically determined and pretabulated percentage. Performance gain is quantified by the vehicle minutes of travel time avoided in the peak hour. Finally, cost is modeled as the sum of preliminary engineering, right of way and construction costs. Once the objectives are quantified, they can be graphically displayed in a Project Comparison Chart. Examples for applying this approach are given in the text and in the accompanying workbook.
Download or read book Business Process Modeling for the Virginia Department of Transportation written by James Hamilton Lambert and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This effort demonstrates business process modeling to describe the integration of particular planning and programming activities of a state highway agency. The motivations to document planning and programming activities are that: (i) resources for construction projects are used effectively; (ii) employees know where projects are in their construction life cycles and how projects may have been changed; (iii) the time of agency employees is used effectively; and (iv) the employees are working together to complete transportation projects in a reasonable time. The effort adopts the IDEF modeling capability of the BPWin software (also known as the AllFusion Process Modeler). IDEF modeling encourages consistent documentation of who generates what information, products, services; for whom; how; and for what reasons. Across the agency, the modeling is useful in prioritizing processes for change and maintenance. The modeling empowers employees at all levels, makes institutional knowledge relevant and accessible, and removes bottlenecks. It also encourages the development of integrated systems along functional lines, including administration, engineering, and operations, and focuses agency personnel on the good rather than the perfect system. Highway agencies have multiple business processes that can benefit from an integrated description of business and technology in process models. For example, the information technology division of a large highway agency maintains and develops around sixty software applications at any one time. Business process modeling helps the division improve their allocation of resources and priorities to these applications. This document provides the purpose and scope of the effort, the method behind IDEF modeling and the AllFusion software, the results and discussion of the effort, the deliverables, and the recommendations for future work. Twelve appendices provide the technical results. The authors identify some significant benefits that can be realized by an implementing agency in exchange for modest costs.
Download or read book Considerations in the Development of Procedures for Prioritizing Transportation Improvement Projects in Virginia written by John S. Miller and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The transportation programming process is undergoing a fundamental change akin to that which transpired with the advent of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991. Some stakeholders have expressed a desire that the programming process be transparent, and some have expressed an interest in using data-driven performance measures. Although there is widespread agreement concerning broad criteria, stakeholders may disagree over specific performance measures. Thus, transportation agencies have become interested in methods for selecting projects based on their merits rather than the more traditional approach of "first in first out." Accordingly, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) requested that the Virginia Transportation Research Council develop a template that VDOT could use to prioritize capital improvement projects. The role of the template is to help VDOT decide which project should be undertaken first. The scope of the template is limited to projects that are already being programmed. A template based on 14 of 75 performance measures examined was developed and applied to two projects. The template is oriented toward projects relating to the interstate and primary systems, but it is flexible enough that key policy choices can be made in its framework. These include controversial issues, such as access management and land use configurations, and more tedious but critical considerations, such as the relative importance of crash risk, infrastructure maintenance, economic development, and congestion relief. A promising benefit of the template is that it provides an opportunity to manage the debate as to the approach for deciding the order in which projects are programmed. The template will not eliminate disagreement, but it can foster discussion when parties have legitimate and differing opinions as to how projects should be prioritized. To that end, the template may be used as a discussion instrument between VDOT and some of its key stakeholders, including metropolitan planning organizations, planning district commissions, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, and advocacy groups who influence transportation infrastructure decisions
Download or read book A Review of the Virginia Department of Transportation s Business Relocation Process written by Cheryl A. Kyte and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report details a study that reviewed the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) business relocation program, with a focus on the relocation difficulties of retail gasoline service stations operating on leased property, as mandated by House Joint Resolution 490 passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1999. The researchers reviewed reports and legislation related to business relocations and conducted interviews with VDOT field relocation agents, senior FHWA staff, and a representative of the Virginia Gasoline Marketers Council. The study also included a mail survey of businesses relocated by VDOT between 1993 and 1999 and surveys and interviews of relocation agents in other state DOTs. Statistical analyses were performed on relocation payment data for 262 Virginia businesses to estimate what the average payments would have been in the absence of the limits in the federal Uniform Act and how much higher the limits would need to be to ensure that the majority of relocated businesses were compensated appropriately. The recommendations were: (1) FHWA should strongly consider increasing the federal maximums for reestablishment and in lieu of actual moving costs (ILO) payments, given the evidence from Virginia and numerous other states. (2) FHWA should index their reestablishment and ILO payment maximums to the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. Virginia should also index its relocation payment ceilings to inflation. (3) As long as relocation payment ceilings exist, Virginia should monitor actual payments to businesses and conduct analyses similar to those done in this study every few years. (4) VDOT may wish to consider the potential value of conducting a prospective study of business displacees. Ideally, any future study of the impact of displacement on businesses would follow a sample of businesses from initiation of negotiations to the conclusion of displacement process.
Download or read book Options for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Virginia s Safety Management System written by Jack D. Jernigan and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1993, Virginia began to formalize the relationships and organizational structure for its Safety Management System (SMS). Although the SMS is no longer a federal requirement, Virginia decided to continue its implementation. The Focal Point for the SMS is within the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the SMS Steering Committee in Virginia is composed of representatives of VDOT, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia State Police, the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Virginia Department of Health, and the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. This report outlines options that have the potential to enhance the ability of Virginia's SMS to facilitate traffic safety in the Commonwealth. The report recommends that Virginia's SMS Steering Committee consider the following options: (1) establish an SMS coordinator position, (2) formalize a strategic planning process, (3) use the SMS to vitalize local traffic safety commissions, (4) encourage the use of the holistic corridor approach by community traffic safety programs, (5) provide for more integral involvement of the public health community in Virginia's SMS, (6) determine whether electronic communication would further Virginia's transportation safety goals, and (7) provide for the implementation of improved traffic records.
Download or read book Creating an Innovative and Productive Environment for the 21st Century written by Virginia. Department of Transportation and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Federal Register written by and published by . This book was released on 2013-12 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Review of Operations in the Virginia Department of Transportation s Project Development Process written by Benjamin H. Cottrell and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT's) project development process (PDP) directs how construction projects are developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the manner in which operations is currently considered throughout the PDP and to identify opportunities to expand and enhance the consideration of operations such that the outcome is a more efficient and effective roadway system. The term operations refers to the safe, efficient, and effective movement of traffic on the highway system. Overall, the PDP is working well with regard to addressing traffic engineering issues. The project team process is valuable in reviewing and developing plans. Although there is some variety in the manner in which TE staff participates in the PDP across regions, there is consensus that the process is most effective when TE staff members are involved regularly and throughout the process. A blend of flexibility to account for the uniqueness of projects and project teams and consistency in the application of the basics of the PDP is important. Communication among all PDP team members is a critical component of the process. The resolution of recommendations brought by any team member needs be documented and disseminated to all team members. Checklists used to ensure that all issues have been addressed are not currently universally employed but are considered valuable in instances where team members are new to the process or the team desires the additional structure checklists provide. Clear procedures for dispute resolution are needed to improve the PDP process when consensus cannot be reached on recommendations. Recommendations are offered for improving the operations aspect of the PDP, including providing a description of role and responsibilities of the TE staff in the PDP, providing guidance as to who has responsibility and accountability for TE and safety-related items in the plans, reviewing the process for establishing a schedule and budget to make certain that adequate time is provided for project development and reviews with a focus on program management, and examining the opportunity to begin the PDP concurrent with the end of the planning process.
Download or read book Review of the Highway Location Process in Virginia written by Virginia. General Assembly. Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Use of a GIS based Model of Habitat Cores and Landscape Corridors for the Virginia Department of Transportation s Project Planning and Environmental Scoping written by Bridget M. Donaldson and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As important habitats are being lost to human development, transportation agencies are facing increased expectations that their road projects avoid or minimize further habitat destruction and adverse effects on wildlife populations. Wildlife linkage or landscape corridor analyses are being conducted in an increasing number of states, and more transportation agencies are using this information during the planning of proposed road projects. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Natural Heritage Program is creating a GIS tool, the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment (VANLA), that identifies large patches of natural land cover (habitat cores) and the habitat linkages connecting these areas (landscape corridors). This analysis can be integrated into the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) existing GIS applications for access by staff involved with transportation planning and environmental scoping activities. Analyzing a proposed project in the early stages of project development would allow VDOT to identify important natural resource areas and habitat corridors to avoid or for which mitigation may be appropriate or necessary. This can result in fewer project delays, promote collaboration between VDOT and state natural resource and regulatory agencies, and meet the directives of the new habitat conservation provision in SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation legislation. In addition, basing particular project decisions on a project's location relative to a habitat corridor can decrease the risk of costly animal-vehicle collisions.
Download or read book An Assessment of the Virginia Department of Transportation s Public Involvement Practices and the Development of a Public Involvement Toolkit written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Well-implemented public involvement programs have many potential benefits for transportation agencies including enhanced credibility with the public, decisions reflecting community values, and reduced risks of litigation (O'Connor et al., 2000). The objectives of this study included a broad assessment of the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT's) public involvement practices and the development of a public involvement "toolkit" for use by VDOT staff. The toolkit describes an array of techniques that may be used from the earliest planning stages of transportation projects through their construction, noting advantages, disadvantages, special considerations in the use of each technique, and references and website links for further reading. The assessment of VDOT's current public outreach practices included information gathering from citizens and VDOT staff. A total of 948 citizens attending several types of VDOT meetings and hearings completed written surveys that included questions about how they prefer to be notified about upcoming VDOT meetings, how they prefer to be informed about projects, and how they prefer to be updated on the status of plans or projects. Focus groups and written "self evaluation" surveys provided information on the perceptions of VDOT staff about the effectiveness of VDOT's public involvement approaches and their suggestions for improving communication with the public and public involvement... Study recommendations include the following: VDOT staff should use the toolkit and a soon-to-be released interactive public involvement tool by the Federal Highway Administration to choose effective public involvement approaches; VDOT divisions should collaborate on ways to increase the public's understanding of the planning, project development, and public involvement processes; and as soon as the state budget situation permits, the Outreach Section of VDOT's Office of Public Affairs proposed by the Governor's Commission on Transportation Policy should be staffed to provide greater in-house strategic communications planning and evaluation capability for major projects.
Download or read book Tyson s Corner Interim Transportation Improvements written by Virginia. Department of Transportation and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book An Assessment of the Construction Advertisement Date Process Within the Virginia Department of Transportation written by Dixie T. Wells and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book An Examination of the Virginia Department of Transportation s 404 General Permit Program written by Eric Paltell and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Several state and federal statutes require that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) obtain permits for any road construction activity that impacts wetlands and other bodies of water. These "[section] 404 permits" are issued by the u.s. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission after several state and federal agencies have had an opportunity to review the permit application. Prior to 1982, the VDOT had to wait two to nine months for approval of a [section] 404 permit application. In an effort to streamline the permit application process, the VDOT established a General Permit Program in 1982 to cover the relatively small, uncontroversial projects that comprise the bulk of VDOT construction activity. The goal of the Program was to expedite the permit application process through the use of monthly interagency coordination group meetings at which reviewing agency comments were transmitted directly to the VDOT. The scope of this preliminary study was threefold: (1) a survey of the state and federal laws and regulations that require the VDOT to obtain permits for activity affecting wetlands and water bodies; (2) an explanation of the process by which the VDOT obtains these permits; and (3) pinpointing potential and existing problem areas in the VDOT's General Permit Program. The results of this study show that the General Permit Program has theoretically met its goal of expediting the [section] 404 permit application process by removing several obstacles formerly encountered by the VDOT. The Program is free of several factors including public notice requirements and the public comment period that cause delays for other state transportation agencies. Additionally, those factors that do sometimes cause delay in the General Permit Program also cause problems in most other east coast States as well. Finally, representatives of the agencies that review [section] 404 permit applications generally feel that this Program has successfully streamlined the permit application process while still ensuring adequate environmental protection.
Download or read book Pre Contract Project Scoping Processes written by Hamed Zamenian and published by . This book was released on 2016-12-31 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scoping is the process of developing a project's objectives, need, preliminary cost estimate, and preliminary schedule based on a recognized need that the project is intended to address. This study (INDOT/JTRP SPR 3944) was launched by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)/Joint Transportation Program (JTRP) to develop a synthesis of scoping processes in different State Highway Agencies (SHA). The study was conducted using a qualitative exploratory approach focusing on the review of project scoping practices across different SHAs. Focused interviews with personnel from State Highway Agencies (SHA) along with the review of documents gathered during the literature search and resources provided by SHAs were the avenues used for data collection in the study.The study focused on eleven themes for the assessment of project scoping procedures: (1) primary entity with responsibility for scoping projects, (2) timeline for scoping activities, (3) functional groups within the State Highway Agency involved in scoping, (4) cost estimation procedures, (5) application of Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), (6) addressing maintenance needs, (7) methods of assessing scope creep, (8) tracking the quality and effectiveness of scoping processes, (9) environmental consideration in scoping processes, (10) data collection and data sharing, and (11) scoping practices which have evolved/benefited the State Highway Agency. The report presents key findings of the study and provides suggestions for further investigation by INDOT.
