Development of a Strategic Plan for the AASHTO Subcommittee on Design

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Development of a Strategic Planfor the AASHTO
Subcommittee on Design
Daniel DAngelo, P.E. Director and Deputy Chief
Engineer, Office of Design New York State
Department of Transportation
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Presentation Overview

• The charge!
• Process followed
• Results to date (SWOT analysis draft vision,
  mission goals)
• Next steps

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Charge of the SCOD Vision Task Force

• Last year, SCOD passed a resolution resolving to
  develop a vision, mission, and goals i.e., a
  strategic plan to guide the work of the
  Subcommittee and its technical committees.
• A second charge of the task force was to review
  the Subcommittees Operating Procedures with the
  goals of
• providing feedback to the technical committees
• reviewing procedures for assigning chairpersons
  and members to the technical committees and
• providing guidance to the technical committees
  regarding work plans and meeting schedules to
  enhance communications.

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SCOD Vision Task Force Members

• Chair Rick Land, California
• Rob Cary, Virginia
• Dan DAngelo, New York
• Mark Gaydos, North Dakota
• Mike Kennerly, Iowa
• Kirk McClelland, Maryland
• Jim McDonnell, AASHTO
• Jim McMinimee, Utah
• Gary Mroczka, Indiana
• David OHagan, Florida
• Kathleen Penney, District of Columbia

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Process Followed

• Use of conference calls/e-mail.
• Brainstormed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
  and threats of current SCOD.
• Alignment with AASHTO, SCOH.
• Researched other organizations.
• Prepared drafts for SCOD review/input.

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Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
(SWOT) Analysis

• Strengths
• Technical skills of members
• Breadth of knowledge of members
• Committee/technical committee structure
• Quality/usability of documents
• Establishment of uniformity/standard of practice
• Visionary/adaptability
• Forum for lessons learned
• Defense against litigation (data to support
  adopted standards)
• Structure to bring issues to attention of SCOH,
  CEOs, FHWA and research entities
• Represents profession/industry
• Effective regional meetings and discussions

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SWOT Analysis

• Weaknesses
• Resolution of issues takes time (consensus not
  always easy)
• Members unaware/current with Technical Committee
  activities
• SCOD members not assigned to Technical Committees
• Coordination with other Subcommittees
• Relationship to FHWA unclear
• Lack of focus on safety
• Overlap with other research (TRB, SHRP2, NCHRP)
• Executive Council meetings too infrequent, lack
  of focus
• Involvement of members (lack of time)
• Unclear roles and responsibilities of members
• Less-than-desired communication between members
• Lack of opportunity for open debate, dialogue,
  and
  decision-making

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SWOT Analysis

• Opportunities
• Improve communication and coordination
• Lead innovation and new practices (be more
  pro-active)
• Increase best-practice sharing
• Share with and involve more contractors and
  consultants
• Provide more input on proposed and on-going
  research
• Increase involvement with other Subcommittees
• Increase involvement with Technical Committees
• Leverage technology more
• Leadership, more visibility, and stronger role
• Align, coordinate, and set priorities for the
  Technical Committees
• Provide for faster project delivery

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SWOT Analysis

• Threats
• Retention of professionals in the State DOTs
• Cost escalation of construction
• Lack of transportation funding
• Community pressures
• Environmental pressures
• Increasing project development complexity
• Desire for faster project delivery
• Pace of technology change and ability to adapt
• Portions of Green Book becoming outdated
• Have to do, not best practices
• Inaction may lead to irrelevance of the
  subcommittee

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Vision Statement Alignment

• AASHTO Vision
• The American Association of State Highway and
  Transportation Officials is the voice for
  transportation and catalyst for organizational
  and technical excellence.
• SCOH Vision Statement
• SCOH will be the leader for achieving and
  sustaining world-class highway systems,
  optimizing the safe movement of people and goods,
  enhancing the environment, and sustaining
  national security.

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Sample Visions of other Organizations

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  Vision Statement
• Engineers as global leaders building a better
  quality of life
• National Society of Professional Engineers
  (NSPE) Vision Statement
• NSPE is the recognized voice and advocate of
  licensed Professional Engineers
• Maryland State Highway Administration Vision
  Statement
• Providing our customers with a world class
  highway system
• Indiana Department of Transportation Vision
  Statement
• Driving Indiana's Economic Growth
• Caltrans Mission Statement
• Caltrans Improves Mobility Across California.
• New York State Department of Transportation,
  Office of Design Vision
• The Office of Design will be a first class,
  leading edge team of motivated, empowered, and
  respected people equipped with the tools needed
  to provide high quality services and products.
  Regional offices and others we work with will
  view us as valuable partners in providing a
  quality transportation system for the people of
  the State of New York.

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SCODs Current Assignment

• The subcommittee shall investigate available data
  and pursue studies to develop and keep current
  appropriate publications pertaining to
  principles, methods, and procedures of
  transportation facility design, including but not
  limited to geometric, aesthetic elements, and
  pavements investigate, develop, and keep current
  recommended practices for the design of
  facilities to integrate safety features
  recommend and promote design practices which will
  protect and enhance the quality of the
  environment, provide a forum for the exchange of
  practices and experience in the field of
  transportation facility design and give due
  consideration to the effect of all design
  features on economic and energy resources. It
  shall identify and report to its parent standing
  committee on any federal regulatory mandates of
  national concern. Each member department shall be
  entitled to membership thereon.
• To ensure consistency and the best thinking of
  the association, the subcommittee shall work
  cooperatively, as appropriate, with other
  technical subcommittees.
• This is NOT a Vision!!!

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SCOD Draft Vision

• It is the vision of the AASHTO Subcommittee on
  Design to be the national voice and the leading
  source of innovation and technical guidance for
  the design programs of the transportation
  agencies.

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SCOD Draft Mission Statement

• It is the mission of the AASHTO Subcommittee on
  Design to be leaders in transportation design and
  project delivery by sharing knowledge, advancing
  innovation, promoting quality and safety,
  ensuring proficiency, pursuing research
  opportunities, and collaborating with other
  organizations and disciplines to improve our
  ability to provide safe and efficient solutions
  to meet the transportation and mobility needs of
  our customers.

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7 Draft Goals

• Accelerate the delivery of projects
• Develop design solutions that meet the purpose
  and need of a project, address its context, and
  protect the natural and human environment
• Improve the cost effectiveness of projects
• Improve the safety of the traveling public and
  the workforce
• Promote new technologies and processes to advance
  the state of the practice
• Ensure quality in all design products
• Foster collaboration with other organizations and
  disciplines

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Next Steps

• Review, comment by SCOD members
• Dissemination of Draft Strategic Plan to
  Technical Committees for feedback and
  incorporation of their place in the plan
• Final revision by Task Force
• Subcommittee Ballot of Strategic Plan
• Submission to SCOH for approval
• Review and Revision of SCOD Operating Procedures
  for ability to achieve Vision, Mission, Goals
• Ballot of Revised Operating Procedures

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Presentation Summary

• The charge 2007 resolution develop vision,
  mission goals review/update operating
  procedures!
• Process followed analysis (SWOT), strategic
  alignment, research, proposed drafts for SCOD
  review/input.
• Results to date task force discussion research
  resulting in SWOT analysis and a draft vision,
  mission goals.
• Next steps discussion now and in Regional
  meetings, vote on Thursday, technical committee
  input, update operating procedures, SCOH
  endorsement.

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• Comments? Thoughts? Ideas?