2010-2011 Initiative 4:
Initiative 4: “Work Smarter and Get Better Results”
Improve innovation and project delivery, with a focus on quicker decision making, stronger public and private partnerships, and “Smarter Growth” strategies.
During the Biennium, ODOT will:
- Carry forward the lessons learned and the best practices established from the rapid and innovative investment of Recovery Act funds as a guideline to streamline ODOT’s project development, environmental and construction processes.
- Identify and implement quicker decision-making practices at all levels of the department, including ways to break up major projects into smaller projects to perform subtasks, improved scoping of projects to avoid negotiation delays or increased consultant costs, and new goals to shorten the timeframe from consultant selection to contract initiation by adding contract writers and negotiators to the process.
- Complete a detailed analysis of the Project Development Process to identify bottlenecks in the delivery of transportation projects; identify a way to measure the true cost to complete projects from conception to delivery (including data from Time Management System, Consultant Billings, Awarded Contracts and Change Orders) and set a goal of reducing the total time and total cost.
- Explore how innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) can leverage additional state and federal resources; specifically, promote the creation of Port Authorities, Transportation Innovation Authorities (TIAs), or other local/private sector partnerships to develop and operate passenger rail stations along the 3C “Quick Start” corridor, and to fund specific freight business cluster (job center) infrastructure needs.
- Create incentives for local communities who partner with the state to support Ohio’s “Livable Community” program – in conjunction with Governor Strickland’s Office, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Development – to improve access to housing opportunities and allow more transportation options while lowering transportation costs to households.
- Provide priority funding to transit authorities and regions to consolidate public transportation services – with particular attention to coordination of specialty transportation services in the health and human services sectors – including the creation of a comprehensive statewide plan and inventory of service providers, resulting in improved service and a better return on investment of limited resources.
Longer term, the department will examine the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in other states and countries, to see how PPPs improve service and generate a private return on investment; work with local and regional partners to develop ways that maximize existing infrastructure use and support core community revitalization; and provide alternative approaches to support economic development and control infrastructure service cost by understanding the true cost of supporting infrastructure needs driven by government land use/development policies.