Missouri Department of TransportationJason Vanderfeltz – Bidding and Contract Services Engineer

Practical Designthe right solution, in the right place, at the right time

Practical Designresponsibility • 5,500 miles of

Major Roads

• 28,300 miles of Minor Roads

• 10,400 Bridges

• 650 Million Dollar Budget

• 485 Million to Maintain

• 2014 - 1.2 Billion Construction Program

•We can’t control the amount of money we receive.

•We can only control how we choose to spend the money we do get.•Practical design was proposed as the solution to provide flexibility and overall realization that we don’t have all the answers.

Practical Design

Innovation• Value Engineering• VE Change Proposal• Alternate Technical

Concepts• Innovations

Showcase• New Technologies

Practical Designthe way things were

Practical Designthe way things were

Practical DesignDifference between traditional and practical design barely visible to the driver.

6 ft. Shoulder

10 ft. Shoulder

Practical Designthe way things were

Practical Designthe ground rules

• Safety: Every project designed with practicality in mind, must get safer. There is no room for compromise where safety is concerned.

• Communication: There is collaboration in developing every practical solution. Communication among designers, stakeholders, and administration officials is open, tolerant, and frequent.

• Quality: The practical solution must function properly and cannot leave a legacy of maintenance challenges. With Practical Design, quality remains at the forefront.

The Results…

BEFORE

AFTER

The Results…

BEFORE

AFTER

Practical Designthe model

• A project is structured solely on the basis of its purpose and need, no more and no less.

• Life cycle costs must be considered so the burden is not shifted to maintenance.

• Performance information used to support decision making, i.e. HSM, and HCM. (Design Exceptions)

4606 Projects Completed

12.2 Billion Dollars of Investment

6.0% Under Budget

815 Million Dollars in Savings

Since 2011 reduced work force by 20%, sold 124 facilities and 750 pieces of equipment.

Practical Designthe results:

What Has Occurred in Ten Years?

• Largest drop in traffic-related fatalities of any state in the nation in 2006.

• Fatal crashes dropped below 1000 in 2007 and dropped further in the following years.

MoDOT fell below 800 in 2011 and 766 in 2014.

• 40% decrease in lane departure fatalities since 2005.

Practical Designthe results: safety

• Customer satisfaction with MoDOT is 85%

• 95% of customers believe projects are the right transportation solution

Practical Designthe results: communication

• 89% of the state’s major road pavements are in good condition

•71% of the state’s minor road pavements are in good condition

•7th largest highway system in the nation

•46th in revenue per mile

•80% of bridges are in fair or good condition

Practical Designthe results: quality

Practical Designchallenges:

What are challenges?• Scope creep• Comfort level• Cultural change• Cook-book design• Consultants• Communities• Communication

“By building good projects everywhere, instead of perfect projects somewhere, the entire system will become great!”

Practical Designa final thought