How can innovative project delivery systems improve the overall efficiency of GDOT in transportation project delivery?

PDFTech ReportFHWA-GA-13-11210010737 (RP 11-21)InnovationConstruction projectsDesign build constructionProcurementPermitsPublic utilitiesRight of way (Land)Quality assuranceQuality controlGeorgiaGeorgia. Department of Transportation. Office of ResearchAshuri, BaabakMostaan, KiaHannon, DavidGeorgia Institute of TechnologyUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe USDOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommend the smart use of innovative projectdelivery systems, such as design-build, to improve efficiency and effectiveness of developing transportationprojects. Although design-build provides state DOTs with accelerated delivery and innovations in design andconstruction, there is still a need to accelerate delivery of design-build projects and achieve higher level ofefficiency. To fully utilize the entire potential benefits of the design-build project delivery system, state DOTs arerequired to overcome significant challenges in various critical areas of the project development process includingproject delivery system selection, procurement, environmental analysis and permitting, right-of-way (ROW)acquisition, utilities coordination and relocation, alternative technical concepts (ATCs), and design oversight,design acceptance, and quality management. The overall objective of this research project is to develop aguidebook for the Georgia DOT (GDOT) to identify major challenges in the critical areas of the projectdevelopment process, determine opportunities to overcome these challenges, and describe potential best practicesto enhance the efficiency of project development process for highway design-build projects. The findings ofdesign-build review and scanning process, and the results of interviewing design-build programs in 7 state DOTshelped the research team identify various issues related to efficient delivery of design-build projects in the sevencritical areas. The primary findings of this study are categorized under these critical areas. Each area begins withclear description of the new dynamics of design-build and follows with critical challenges and issues to enhancethe efficiency of delivery processes. These challenges relate to a variety of legal and statutory barriers or issuesthat can delay the project delivery schedule, increase the project delivery cost, and hinder flexibility of the designbuild team to implement innovative design and construction solutions. Furthermore, the analysis for each areapresents efficiency enhancement opportunities as a set of propositions that recommend appropriate strategies forimplementation. Examples of actual design-build projects are provided along with references from projectRFQs/RFPs, design-build guides and manuals, and professional and academic literature for further clarification ofchallenges that can happen during development of design-build projects and strategies to overcome the challenges