Agency: Transportation

Line Item: Engineering Services

Function

The Preconstruction Division, the Planning and Programming Division, and the Right of Way Division were combined several years ago into one line item called Engineering Services.

These programs are responsible for developing Utah highways from an idea stage through the planning and engineering stages until a project is to the point where a contract for construction is awarded to build the highway.

Statutory Authority

The Engineering Services Division of the Utah Department of Transportation is governed by the Title 72 Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12 UCA.

• UCA 72-5 Rights-of-Way
• UCA 72-6 Construction, Maintenance, and Operations
• UCA 72-7 Protection of Highways
• UCA 72-12 Travel Reduction

Intent Language

Under terms of Section 63-38-8.1 Utah Code Annotated, Item 220 of Chapter 1 Laws of Utah 2007 is made non-lapsing with the use of any non-lapsing funds limited to the following: Engineering Services - $200,000

Under terms of Section 63-38-8.1 Utah Code Annotated, the $3,500,000 appropriation in Chapter 80 Laws of Utah 2007 is made non-lapsing with the use of any non-lapsing funds limited to the following: Transportation Study - East- West Corridors in Salt Lake County and Counties of the Second Class

Under terms of Section 63-38-8.1 Utah Code Annotated, item 161 of Chapter 366 Laws of Utah 2006 is made non-lapsing with the use of any non-lapsing funds limited to the following: Transportation Research at Utah State University. General Fund - One-time $500,000

Funding Detail

Program: Program Development

Function

The Transportation Planning Program is responsible to plan and program what highway projects will be built in the State. The plan includes the projects currently being built, one to four year projections as well as six year projections. Careful planning is essential to put available revenue to the highest priority highways.

The Policy and Systems Planning Office studies future transportation needs, develops long and short range plans and determines the funding requirements for a specific highway construction project. This office also develops capital improvement programs for the Department of Transportation, coordinates federal construction and state construction projects with participating city and county governments.

Funding Detail

Program: Preconstruction Administration

Function

There are two aspects to Project Development - Preconstruction and Construction. The responsibility of the Preconstruction Division encompasses those design and engineering activities necessary to advance highway projects after funds are programmed for a project to the point where a contract for construction is awarded to the successful bidder. The Preconstruction Division provides oversight for the Project Management System, Environmental, Roadway Design, Consultant Services, Structures Design, Engineering Services and Right of Way. The Construction side of Project Development contains Construction Management, Materials and Testing and Civil Right sections.

Funding Detail

Program: Environmental

Function

The Environmental Unit ensures environmental analysis and compliance to applicable laws and regulations during the project development and delivery. Environmental Services provides direct assistance to the Region, Environmental Staff and Consultant oversight for environmental document preparation (EIS, EA, CE, State Environmental Study). The Environmental Unit provides guidance in the development of a project's purpose and need, reasonable alternatives, appropriate public involvement, analysis of the affected environment, and mitigation measures. Environmental Services also performs resource specific studies and analysis for archeological features, water quality, wetland delineations, threatened and endangered species, noise, air quality, and historic architecture. The Unit provides statewide guidence and training on environmental issues. Environmental Services is the Program Administrator for the State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions (CE). Environmental Services develops and maintains working relationships with other Federal and State Agencies.

Funding Detail

Program: Structures

Function

The Structures Section of the Department of Transportation has the responsibility for preparing complete plans, specifications, and estimates for all structures required in connection with the State highway system. They also oversee geotechnical investigations, Hydraulic designs, and bridge safety inspections.

The Federal Highway Administration is placing emphasis in three areas; bridge scour, earthquake, and bridge management. The Division inspects approximately half (1,350) of the bridges in the State annually. With much of the Interstate System being over thirty years old, greater emphasis will be required to maintain the bridges to safety standards.

Funding Detail

Program: Materials Lab

Function

The Materials Section is responsible for the following essential functions:

1. Testing and evaluation of materials in the laboratory to insure that materials properties are adequately understood before being incorporated into construction.
2. Research and design of materials, including pavement thickness design, parameters and characteristics, structure foundation design, slope stability design, and landslide repair.
3. Inspection of pre-fabricated materials in manufacturer's fabricating shops prior to shipment to the projects to insure specification compliance.
4. Implementation of Transportation Technician Qualification Program (TTQP) for laboratory technicians in the State and Industry laboratories to insure that technicians are able to satisfactorily perform required test procedures.
5. Implementation of Laboratory Qualification Program including certification and qualification of all laboratories and laboratory equipment in the central, district and field laboratories performing work on State funded or State managed projects.
6. Implementation of Inspector Qualification Program (TTQP), including qualification and review of all inspectors on state funded or state managed projects to insure that the technicians are able to satisfactorily perform required inspection procedures.
7. Process review of preconstruction materials work performed by the districts.
8. Evaluation of data generated by testing failed pavements to develop strategies for pavement rehabilitation and dispute resolution.
9. Implementation and management of the Quality Assurance Program for materials, as required by FHWA Stewardship Program.
10. Management of Department of Transportation Nuclear Licensing requirements and regulatory program for construction testing equipment using radioactive elements.
11. Evaluation, specification, and purchasing of test equipment for the central, district, and field laboratories

Funding Detail

Program: Engineering Services

Function

The Engineering Services Program is part of the Project Development Group and is responsible for standards and specifications, consultant services, value engineering, and innovative contracting.

Standards and specifications is responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of specifications, supplemental specifications, special provisions and standard drawings. They also maintain files, design updates, and revisions, and distribute all types of specifications.

Consultant services are responsible for managing the use of engineering consultants for the Department, Districts, and Divisions. The major activities include directing the consultant selection process; negotiating contracts, managing contracts; reviewing, approving, and assisting with consultant contracts on state highway projects.

The Value Engineering unit coordinates value engineering studies to determine cost benefits of highway development throughout the State of Utah.

Project Management provides design process, project management training, and oversees the Department's Electric Program Management System (EPM).

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) provides guidance to roadway designers to develop highway projects that not only address the road users' needs but also addresses safety, mobility and preservation of scenic, aesthetic, historic and other community values.

The Innovative Contracting Unit is comprised of Design-Build (DB) and Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC).

The DB and GMCG Program Manager oversees consistency in the contracting methods across the entire state.

Funding Detail

Program: Right-of-Way

Function

The Right of Way Division of the Department of Transportation is responsible for acquiring land and other real property rights for state and federal highway construction. The Division also provides oversight of local governments utilizing state and/or federal funds to acquire real property rights for local roads.

Upon receipt of the design plans for highway construction, the Right of Way Division obtains an independent appraisal to establish fair market value, negotiates with the property owner, provides relocation assistance to displaced persons, and makes payment for the property. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the Right of Way staff assists the Attorney General's office in Eminent Domain proceedings.

The Right of Way Division is also responsible for:

• Property Management - leasing and maintenance of properties not yet under construction, and sales of excess land after project completion.
• Coordinating with all utilities (Questar, Rocky Mountain Power, Comcast, etc) and canal companies to relocate their facilities prior to the road project.
• Management of access rights to and from highways through the permitting process or through the sale of limited access rights.
• Administration of Utah's Corridor Preservation Revolving Loan program by purchasing properties under threat of imminent development, alleviation hardships, and working with local governments to promote sound land planning.
• Coordination of the statewide permitting process for encroachments within UDOT's highways.
• Administration of Utah's outdoor advertising control program via permitting, inspection and regulation.
• Administration of Utah's longitudinal access program (fiber optics in the Interstate Highway system) by working with the Governor's Longitudinal Access Board to identify areas where existing fiber and conduit capactiy may be leased or exchanged to promote eUtah.
• Responsibilty for right of way design plans and physical and digital records retention and management.

Funding Detail

Program: Research

Function

The function of Research is to help deal with problems confronting the Department that requires a more than routine investigation to resolve. They evaluate new products, procedures, test methods and experimental features, and determine the usefulness and practicality before adoption by the Department.

The Research Program has a working relationship with the universities throughout the state to conduct research that can best be accomplished with the expertise of those research institutions.

Funding Detail

Program: Construction Management

Function

The Construction Management Program exists at the Department of Transportation to take a highway project from the design stage to a completed roadway for the motoring public. Construction Management is the administrative arm of the construction process. They have the responsibility to schedule the work force and coordinate construction projects throughout the State. This office is responsible for developing statewide construction policies, procedures and standards, and insures uniform application in all region construction operations. The 8 FTE's originally assigned to the Legacy Highway are still in this program. They have been assigned to either the Access Utah project or the I-15 Utah County project.

This program item also includes the Career Development Group that was previously located in the Field Crews Program in Construction line item. The group consists of upper-division engineering students and junior engineers that the Department is training in the various areas of the Department.

Funding Detail

Program: Civil Rights

Function

The Civil Rights Office is responsible for the Department's Equal Employment Opportunity program and the Department of Transportation minority business enterprise program. The objective of the minority business enterprise program is to certify those businesses that meet all the eligibility requirements have opportunities to have bids awarded to them. Another objective of the minority business enterprise program is to encourage minority firms to bid on State and federal highway construction projects. This program is a required in order to utilize Federal Funds.

Funding Detail