Caltrans Improvement Project Workgroup #4

Innovation, Design Flexibility & Risk Management

Kate White, Deputy Secretary, CalSTA

Augustin (AJ) Jimenez, Deputy General Counsel, CalSTA

Tim Craggs, Chief, Division of Design, Caltrans

Transportation Coop Committee

May 7, 2015

Caltrans Improvement Project

WG #4 Update

SSTI Recommendations

Workgroup Charter

Actions Complete

Flexible Design & Liability

2015 Action Plan

Cross-Workgroups Collaboration

SSTI RecommendationsUpdate design and traffic control device manuals.

Relinquish oversight of bike facilities on locally owned streets.

Allow option of using NACTO urban design guides in metro areas.

Rethink its approach to facilities in metro and town centers.

Build more flexibility into its processes.

SSTI RecommendationsRevisit legal guidance on the risk of innovative design

practices.

Provide room for innovative actions …

Benchmark practice against best practices elsewhere

Better integrate its research program with improved practice.

CT’s enterprise risk management system should continue and be viewed as a critically important resources for performance-based decision making

Workgroup #4 CharterPurpose:

Increase innovation in multi-modal street design

Encourage local and district autonomy

Address risk averseness “culture of fear”

Transform into nimble, adaptable and

responsive organization

“Standards and guidance is the easy part. Culture change is the hard part.” – Malcolm Dougherty

Workgroup #4 Members Steering Committee:

Karla Sutliff, Kate White – Co-Chairs AJ Jimenez, Jeanne Scherer – Legal Bijan Sartipi – D4 Marlin Feenstra, Self-Help Counties Coalition Jeff Holm, FHWA

Team Leads: Tim Craggs, Design Tom Hallenbeck, Traffic Operations Rihui Zhang, Local Assistance Coco Briseno, Research Katie Benouar, Planning

Advisors: Luisa Paiwonsky, USDOT (formerly MADOT) Gary Toth, Project for Public Spaces (formerly NJDOT)

2014-2015 Action Plan

1. Evaluate Manuals, Guidance, Tools

2. Enhance Partnerships and Communication

3. Educate and Train Staff, Partners, and

Stakeholders

4. Investigate Legislative Changes

5. Maximize Delegation

6. Maximize Appropriate use of Risk Management

7. Deploy and Integrate Research

Accomplishments April:

Endorsed NACTO guidelines Released Design Flexibility Memo

Sept: Highway Design Manual Updated Design Flexibility FAQs posted AB 1193 >>> Class IV Bikeway (Cycle tracks/separated bikeways)

Oct: 2-day Session with SSTI Advisors

Nov: CA MUTCD Updated (Director’s Foreword)

Dec: Research alignment with new goals

Jan-Mar: District Design Delegations Division of Design Reorganization Outreach Opportunity Calendar developed Tort Claims Liability Comparison with other States completed CA MUTCD – Experimental concepts evaluated, prioritized for implementation Research Preliminary Investigation on evaluating experimental features District Outreach regarding design flexibility and tort liability

Pending and Ongoing:

Class IV Bikeway Guidelines workshop

Design Exception Process

Practical Design integration

Continued outreach to districts and local partners

Caltrans Bicycle Task Force participation

Complete Streets Trainings

AASHTO’s Subcommittee on Design/Traffic

Continued evaluation and updating of Design, Traffic and Local

Assistance guidance and manuals

Continued Outreach to partners and stakeholders

2014-15 OutreachMay 2014: Local Assistance Cooperative CommitteeMay & Oct: Caltrans Legal DivisionJune: Caltrans Bicycle Advisory CommitteeJuly & Aug: Caltrans Planning Horizons WebinarsSept: California Traffic Control and Devices CommitteeOct: Caltrans Planning and Local Assistance, NACTO

Designing Cities conferenceNov: CA Assoc. of Councils of Govt. (CalCOG)Dec: Caltrans Design Management BoardJan – Ongoing: District Project Delivery staffMarch: Self Help Counties CoalitionApril: Bay Area CMA DirectorsMay 2105: Local Assistance Cooperative CommitteeOngoing: CT Executive Board

NACTO Design GuidesDesigns were developed by cities for cities, since

unique urban streets require innovative solutions.

Principles cities are using to make streets safe and inviting for people walking, biking, and driving in urban contexts.

Creating real spaces for people on city streets.

Economic development is integrally tied into this transformation.

Paramount to all of this is the safety of people on city streets.

SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, INTEGRATED, EFFICIENT SYSTEM to ENHANCE ECONOMY AND LIVIBILITY

Design Flexibility

Incorporates Context sensitive solutions Innovative designs Further community values, Focused on solving a problem Promote environmental, sustainable and livability

elements

Typically incorporates multi-modal uses

District 2 – Downtown Redding - Rightsizing

Before After

Photo: Sergio Ruiz, Caltrans

District 4SR 35 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco

District 9 - US 395- Bridgeport, CABEFORE

AFTER

District 5 San Louis Obispo SR 227 Road Diet

Before After

Addressing Design Liability

Primary Defenses:Design Immunity (Gov. Code § 830.6)Reasonableness Defense (Gov Code § 835.4)

Document, Document, Document

Reasonable Design Based on Sound Engineering Judgment (factors may include environmental enhancements, multimodal uses, community values)

Proper approval

Archive

2015 Action ItemsModify all internal technical training to reflect

design flexibilityDesign delegation implementationEvaluate design approval processDevelop standards for separated bicycle lanesEvaluate pilots/demonstration projectsExplore tort reform

Cross-Workgroup Collaboration

Support and leverage each others’ effortsAvoid redundancyCommunicate internally on progressJoint 2015 Outreach calendar

“We need to stop building transportation through communities and begin building communities through transportation.” – SSTI advisors

http://toolkit.valleyblueprint.org/tool/complete-streets