A Synthesis of Highway PracticePreliminary Results PresentationValue EngineeringApplications in Transportation

This PresentationFive Aspects: VE in Transportation History Lesson Study Objectives Survey Approach and Literature Review Key Observations Future Directions and Needs

History Lesson1940s VE development in manufacturing1950s US Government (Bureau of Ships)1960s Incentives in construction contracts1970s1970, Federal-aid Highway Act required VE1973, FHWA appointed VE Coordinator; encourages VE1975, FHWA/NHI VE training program initiated1980s AASHTO recognizes VE; Guidelines

History Lesson1990s1991, ISTEA permitted FHWA to revisit VE requirement (encourage vs. require)1993, OMB Circular A-131 VE requirement1995, National Highway Designation Act$25M threshold on federal-aid NHS projects1997, FHWA Regulation 23 CFR Part 627 response1999, AASHTO Guidelines revised2000s2002, Final ruling on D/B VE requirements

History LessonNCHRP 78 (1981)VE primarily on standards and specificationsFew DOTs active at the timeDOT VE PioneersCalifornia 1969Idaho and Virginia 1973Minnesota 1975Florida 1976New Mexico 1977Oregon and Pennsylvania - 1979

NCHRP 35-04 Study Objectives/ApproachSummarize current practices/programsFocusPolicies, guidelines, project selectionEducation and awarenessApplicationsImplementationMonitoringFuture NeedsApproachExtensive DOT surveyLiterature Review

Survey46 question survey developedDistributionNCHRP sent survey to 52 DOTs in United StatesTAC sent survey to Canadian DOTs and CitiesToll Authorities not includedFederal Lands recently received surveyResponse37 US DOTs; 4 Canadian DOTs3 Cities (New York; Ottawa; Winnipeg)

SurveyUS DOT Responses Still Required

The Top Ten 5 Year SummarySource: FHWA

Literature ReviewScopeNorth AmericaPrimary SourcesAASHTOFHWAMiles FoundationConference ProceedingsJournalsUniversities

Key ObservationsDeveloping policy and guidelinesFHWA VE Regulation serves as basis in USNo common federal requirement in CanadaSelected DOTsDeveloped specific guidelinesDeveloped manualsSeparate manualsChapters within Design Manuals

Key ObservationsSelecting ProjectsGenerally US DOTs use $25M thresholdSome variation examplesNevada - $10M (if policy enacted)Pennsylvania, Ohio - $20MNew Hampshire - $50MVirginia, Alaska, Ontario - $10MRarely on small projectsBuild stakeholders consensusValidate project scope or resolve issuesBecause we have to!

Key ObservationsComparative benchmarks1981 (NCHRP Synthesis 78)Primarily on standards and specificationsRarely projects2004 (NCHRP Synthesis - New)Rarely standards and specificationsPrimarily on projects

Key ObservationsTeam LeadersMajority require CVS as Team LeaderAVS and VMP generally not permittedMost require a PE as a leaderJob PlansGenerally similar to SAVE Job PlanVariations generally expand basic stepsCaltrans has 13 step job plan

Key ObservationsEducation and AwarenessTrainingFHWA/NHI; Consultants; SAVE Conference70% of DOTs do not have a formal program19 DOTs with training programs in place (5-10 yrs)California 1,200 staffVirginia 2,300 (1,500 still with VDOT)Washington, New Jersey, Ontario 350 eachMichigan, North Carolina, Arizona - < 20 eachBudget constraints have impacted training

Key ObservationsVE Related ToolsMost PopularCost modelsFAST diagramsEvaluation matricesEmergingProject Performance MeasuresRisk registersCause-Effect (Wishbone diagram)Choosing By Advantages (long term opportunity)

Key ObservationsStudy DurationTypically 3-5 days; sometimes split workshopsDOT MotivationStaff availabilityVE study costsPressures on VE TeamSelecting ideasEvaluating ideasResults/quality may be affected if not enough time allocated to workshop

Key ObservationsEvaluating/Shortlisting Ideas - CriteriaProject costConstructabilityRoad safetyTraffic stagingSchedule impactsRight-of-wayEnvironmental

Key ObservationsEmerging Evaluation ApproachesUser delayDuring constructionPost-constructionRoad safetyExplicit consideration of crash costsHuman factors reviewsReaching consensus60% of DOTs use open discussions to reach agreement

Key ObservationsAcceptance of VE Proposals 60% of DOTs have form of implementation strategy or meeting in placeMichigan, Ontario, California have meetings

New York permits Regional Offices to decide on VE proposalsVE Organization Reporting RelationshipPrimarily part of Design BranchSome report to Financial BranchNew York CityVirginia

Key ObservationsMonitoring VE PerformanceFHWA reporting requirements typically governFocused on ROIConstruction costsStudy costsSavings (design or construction VECP)Performance ImprovementCaliforniaFloridaVirginiaNew MexicoWashington

Key ObservationsSource: FHWAFHWA Program ReportTop 10 States VE Expenditures

Key ObservationsSource: WSDOT

Threats and OpportunitiesEducationRefresh knowledgeable workforceDOT staff attrition or promotionConsultant demographicsSAVE Module I and IITraining courses need to evolvePermit more diverse VE-related toolsNHI CoursesMaintain access to DOTs

Threats and OpportunitiesProject Scope and SelectionOpportunities to expand VESmaller projects (lower thresholds)Non-NHS federal-aid projects (non-mandated)Standards and specificationsMeasuring PerformanceConsider project performance improvementProject performance measuresTracking database (racing forms)

Threats and OpportunitiesStakeholder InvolvementValue planningValue-based design charettesVE AcceptanceDefining implementation processDetailed responsesDue DiligenceDeclaring a ChampionManaging the VE proposalsManaging the decision-making system

Research Needs/ChallengesKey ChallengesHow can we improve the readiness of the VE community?How can safety, risk, user delay and other user costs be effectively considered? What is the most appropriate method to measure project performance?What role will emerging evaluation techniques play in future decision-making?How can links be forged with other assessment tools?

SummaryFive Aspects: VE in Transportation History Lesson Study Objectives Survey Approach and Literature Review Key Observations Future Directions and Needs

A Synthesis of Highway PracticePreliminary Results PresentationValue EngineeringApplications in Transportation

ContactDavid C. Wilson, P.Eng., CVS

Vice PresidentNCE Limited

2800 Fourteenth Avenue, Suite 206Markham, ON, L3R 0E4T (905) 943-4443F (905) 943-4449

david.wilson@nceltd.com