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Szplett takes over Right-of-Way Division manager position at Headquarters

The makeover at the top of the ITD Headquarters' structure continued with the promotion of Dave Szplett to the manager position for ITD¹s Right-of-Way section. Szplett¹s first day on the job was Monday (April 28).

Karen Merrick was serving as joint manager of pavement performance and right of way until the realignment. Szplett is the first full-time manager for this division in some time.

Szplett spent the last year at District 3 as Development Services manager. He comes to the new position with master's degrees in both planning and engineering, and more than 30 years of professional experience in the public sector and as a planning and engineering consultant. He has an abundance of legal experience as a consultant and as an expert witness, usually linked to right-of-way or access issues. Szplett is a former elected official with the Kuna City Council, and has written articles for more than 100 professional publications in seven different disciplines.

The Right-of-Way section is responsible for the acquisition of all property required for highway construction, material sources and maintenance shed sites. The 12-member team also is responsible for scenic enhancement, access management and approach and utility permitting. The team has oversight of all local public agencies acquiring property, who use federal funding for highway purposes.

Szplett reports looking forward to joining the skilled right-of-way team and getting involved earlier in the project planning and design phases. But he also is sad to leave a great team at District 3.

"It is a big promotion for me, with both opportunities and challenges," he said.

Biggest challenges:
Completing Merrick's efforts to streamline the right-of-way process and continue to improve customer service. "Karen was a part-time manager but had a great start. It will be my task to continue to improve the process and foster more teamwork among a good staff," he said.

Get Right-of-Way Division better and earlier integrated into the Headquarters and district planning and project-design functions. "We sometimes have challenges obtaining property for various projects once projects are sent to the PS&E (Plans, Specifications & Estimates) phase. We hope to minimize those challenges and the public's cost by earlier integration and continued project planning," Szplett explained.

Biggest opportunities:
"I sat at District 3 or in legal discussions thinking of how ITD can continue to improve customer service. The position of Right-of-Way manager allows me to put those suggestions into practice, or find out that I was wrong," he said.

"Use my varied experience and education to take a comprehensive look at how the Right-of-Way Division functions and how we can best serve the public," he added.

"Dave brings a solid background and vision to the position gained from his leadership of the Development Services section in District 3, as well as his considerable experience in public works and consulting practice," explained Dave Jones, ITD Division of Engineering Products and Plans, in announcing the promotion.