Flexible Design for 21st Century Challenges: Balancing Competing Objectives and Optimizing Return on Investments Forum
Feb. 23-24, 2009
Sponsored by MnDOT, the forum was held to “jump start” and tailor a concerted Minnesota initiative to apply greater and more consistent flexibility in transportation planning, design development, and operations statewide. The forum focused on improving the understanding of opportunities to apply greater design flexibility, how to use design flexibility to increase the return on transportation investments, and institutional challenges that need to be addressed to be more successful. An action plan for implementation will be developed based on discussions from the forum.
Welcome and forum objectives
Robert Johns, Director, Center for Transportation Studies; Tom Sorel, Commissioner, MnDOT; Mike Barnes, Engineering Services Division Director, MnDOT
Minnesota's current status with project delivery
Dwight Horne, Director of Program Administration, FHWA
FHWA approach to design flexibility
Mark Taylor, Safety/Geometric Design Engineer, FHWA
State DOT perspectives
Sally Anderson, Roadside and Site Development Manager, Washington Department of Transportation
Tom DiPaolo, Assistant Chief Engineering, Massachusetts Highway Department
Dennis German, Chief, Community Design Division, Maryland State Highway Administration
Brian Hare, Design Services Division Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Kathryn Harvey, State Design Engineer, Missouri Department of Transportation
Nick Stamatiadis, Professor of Civil Engineering/Transportation, University of Kentucky Transportation Center
Institutional challenges and performance objectives
- Panel Discussion with State DOT Representatives
- Small Group Reports
Design flexibility
- Panel Discussion with State DOT Representatives
- Small Group Reports