Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems. Topic 47-06. Optimizing Program Delivery Methods

More than ever before, state departments of transportation and other transportation agencies have a choice of project delivery methods. There is no "best method" that works for all projects; instead the project goals and attributes can drive which delivery method is optimal for a given project. Each delivery method has certain performance opportunities for cost, schedule, quality, and other performance metrics. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) and Transit Cooperative Highway Research Program (TCRP) research has shown that unique project characteristics in combination with the attributes of the project delivery methods (e.g., design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager general contractor or public-private partnerships) determine the optimal delivery method for a given project. However, no research has explored how the combination of different delivery methods can optimize the delivery of an agency's program. The objective of this synthesis is to provide a summary of the state-of-practice related to programmatic approaches for choosing project delivery methods. A comprehensive review of literature and a survey of state highway agencies will determine which decision approaches are currently being used, along with best practices associated with each approach. Decision-making methods in use by the vertical project owners such as the General Services Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers will also be reviewed for applicability to transportation projects. A survey of transportation agencies will gather the approaches currently being used to select project delivery methods and lessons learned from past experience. The synthesis also will incorporate a review of completed studies on choosing delivery methods, along with a summary of the advantages and disadvantages to each project delivery method. Current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance will be reviewed, including guidance on the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships for transportation projects. The resulting synthesis will help guide transportation agencies through the decision making process and ensure critical factors are considered to best inform the selection of delivery methods for an agency's program.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3958
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $45000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Williams, Jon

• Start Date: 20150701
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 39642

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Decision making; Design bid build; Design build; Optimization; Project delivery; Public private partnerships; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01562863
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 13 2015 1:00AM