Research Project Description
Project Number: 2801
Research Project:In 2006, at the Transportation Research Boards 85th Annual meeting, the Construction Subcommittee announced that their first research priority would be the evaluation of Incentive/Disincentive (I/D) contracting projects. Responding to the committees decision, in March 2006, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) sponsored a research project entitled Evaluation of Alternative Contracting Techniques on FDOT Construction Projects, and, in July 2007, delivered a comprehensive evaluation of their innovative contracting efforts to refine and improve their usage. The necessary next step for highway construction project planners and managers is the development of a decision-making model in order to improve the efficiency of assigning I/D contracts using key factors in highway construction projects, the focus of this study.
Principal Investigators:
Principal Investigator: Jae-Ho Pyeon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, San Jose State University
Team Member: Taeho Park, Ph.D., Professor, San Jose State University
Institution:
Mineta Transportation Institute
Telephone Number:
(408) 924-7560
Email Address: mti@mti.sjsu.edu
Project Objective:
To develop a model to enhance decision-making processes for Incentive/Disincentive transportation construction projects and to provide guidelines for appropriate Incentive/Disincentive project selection as well as improve efficiencies in spending public funds.
Design features will help establish awareness of the distinctiveness of tribal territory for both residents and travelers. The project will enhance environmental resources by incorporating native plantings and marking geographic features as design features in projects. Environmental enhancements may improve natural road maintenance and mitigate other transportation projects. With better coordination between maintenance and construction activities with cultural activities and spaces, the needs of both will be better served. The end result of this project will be improved environmental aesthetics for residents and tourists, which can spark a stronger localized economy.
More broadly, the pilot project will also enhance understanding and communication between a number of key organizations that work within the area, including regional tribes, local government and cultural organizations, and Humboldt State University.
Project Abstract:As the volume of highway traffic in the United States continues to increase, there is a concomitant need to improve and repair transportation infrastructure. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) encouraged state highway agencies to maintain a proactive highway work program. Transportation construction activity often requires a reduction in road capacity, so motorists as well as adjacent businesses must endure the delays, costs, and inconveniences associated with transportation construction. Recognizing the problems that construction can produce, the Federal Highway Administration has continuously sought ways to minimize the negative impacts from construction operations. One key aspect has been to seek improvements in construction project performance and, more specifically, to accelerate project completion whenever possible. Incentive/Disincentive contracting has played an important role in this effort to improve project performance. However, in many cases, inappropriate I/D project selection and control has resulted in inefficiencies in spending public funds. These inefficiencies are attributed to a poor understanding of the factors that affect the suitability of using incentive contracts. Therefore, a better understanding of the relationships among such factors as contract types, project types, project sizes, project locations, traffic impacts, incentive amounts, and other similar factors is key to providing clear guidance for the proper use of incentive contracting methods. This project would build on the 2006 Florida Department of Transportation Evaluation of Alternative Contracting Techniques on FDOT Construction Projects by developing a model to enhance decision-making processes for the selection of I/D projects.
Improvements to state highways as they run through tribal lands, utilizing native foliage and considering geographic features can provide an exemplary model of active partnership between government and civic institutions, ultimately helping roads distinguish boundaries and connect communities.
Milestones Dates:
Task 1: Literature Review
Task 2: Collection of Project Data
Task 3: Analysis and Evaluation
Task 4: Model Development and Validation
Task 5: Prepare and Submit Final Report
Final completion date:
Total Budget: $70,739 (Includes $9,450 for MTI costs)
Student Involvement:2 Student Research Assistants, San Jose State University, TBA
Technology Transfer Activities:
Upon publication, a pdf version will be available on the Mineta Transportation Institute site. The project experience and data will be available for community meetings. Authors are encouraged to submit articles based on the research to relevant journals and to present the information to end-users at conferences.
Potential Benefits of the Project:
This project will provide a better understanding of the factors that separate more routine projects from I/D projects; deliver a systematic model to enhance and strengthen project decision-making process; and enable project planners and managers to better identify suitable I/D projects and refine the application and use of I/D contracting. The model will also improve efficiencies in spending public funds
TRB Keywords:
Construction; Design; Planning; Administration & Management
Primary Subject:
Construction project performance
Goals:
This project will develop a model to support decision-making process for the selection of Incentive/Disincentive projects.
Enabling Research:
Step 1: Review and analysis of literature
Step 2: Collect, analyze and evaluate project data
Step 3: Develop and validate decision-making model to improve I/D project performance.
Modal Orientation:
Highways
