A Guide for Applying AASHTO Policies to Achieve Flexibility in Highway Design. Timothy R. Neuman, PE Chief Highway Engineer CH2M HILL

Transcription

1 A Guide for Applying AASHTO Policies to Achieve Flexibility in Highway Design Timothy R. Neuman, PE Chief Highway Engineer CH2M HILL

2 Acknowledgements AASHTO Joint Task Force for Aesthetic Design Task Force for Roadside Safety Task Force on Geometric Design Task Force for Environmental Design AASHTO and TRB Staff Dick Jones and Robert Seyfried (NUCPS)

3 Presentation Overview Background on production of the AASHTO Bridging Document Contents of the Bridging Document Where do we go from here? (CSS drivers and barriers)

4 Policies and Best Practices Provide DOTs the Roadmap for CSS Success A Guide for Applying AASHTO Policies to Achieve Flexibility in Highway Design American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

5 The long and winding journey to produce the AASHTO Bridging Document Project initiated in 1999 (NCHRP 20-7, Task 114) Task Force drafts substantially revised, combined, edited Multiple reviews by task force membership Over 700 comments received; much discussion of (and dispute over) the tort liability chapter

6 The journey continues.. NCHRP Project 20-7 Task 169 commissioned to address substantive comments and issues (including complete re-write of tort liability chapter) More comments received and addressed Document re-issued for balloting in 2003; passed ballots and is now in final publication!

7 Audience for the Document Technically educated (DOT staff, County or municipal road design engineers, consultants) Not primarily intended for nontechnical stakeholders* *You can be sure they will read and refer to it

8 Content of Document Foreword Ch The Project Development Process Ch Context Sensitive Solutions Through Community Involvement Ch Highway Geometric Elements -- Design and Safety Considerations Ch Legal Liability and Highway Design

9 Themes of the Document (first three chapters) Meaningful public involvement is encouraged (two-way communication relevant to problem identification and solution) Public involvement is a task requiring planning, special skills and integration with the project Tailor public involvement programs to the project and specific public

10 Themes of the Document (cont.) Greatest opportunities for flexibility are in the early, planning phases Highway designers have choices (not mandates) Designers should understand the functional basis of design criteria and standards AASHTO Green Book is flexible

11 Themes of the Document (cont.) Be creative and innovative Design exceptions are acceptable where necessary to accomplish design Do not compromise safety Transportation agency retains decisionmaking authority; but decisions should be made openly and should be defensible Complete documentation is necessary for risk management

12 Legal Liability and Highway Design (Chapter written by Dick Jones) Overview of tort liability (CSS reflects public policy) Sovereign immunity Discretionary Function Demonstration/documentation of conscious decision-making Design Exceptions Risk Management Practices

13 Institutionalizing CSS will be a long journey Accomplishments will prove to be a journey, not a destination. Dwight D. Eisenhower A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. John Steinbeck

14 CSS Implementation Challenges Culture Organization Context Sensitivity Institutionalized Skills Technology

15 Overview of organizational factors affecting CSS implementation (from CSS Course workshops) Driving Forces Restraining Forces Stakeholder expectations Senior management commitment Proven successes elsewhere (benchmarks) Understanding of need to do things differently FHWA Perceptions of cost and time Availability and skills of professional staff Rigid design processes Concerns re: tort liability Fear of losing control Lack of senior management commitment Lack of a customer focus within the agency

16 Keys to Success Senior management buy-in and commitment Measuring performance Culture change Education and skill development Internal policy review and revisions (including examination of rigid design policies)

17 We need to think of the restraining forces as doors, not walls Restraining forces Every wall is a door. Ralph Waldo Emerson I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. John Cage -- composer, poet, essayist, painter

18 Timothy R. Neuman Chief Highway Engineer CH2M Hill 8501 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300 Chicago, Illinois (773) (ext. 233)

19 This presentation was made to the Joint Meeting of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Design and Standing Committee on the Environment in Snowbird, Utah, June It is provided for reference only. Use of all or any part of this presentation for commercial purposes is prohibited without the written permission of CH2M HILL. Copyright 2004, CH2M HILL