Untitled Document

ASCE presents preliminary results of peer review

At the request of Director Pamela Lowe, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) conducted a peer review of the department’s procedures, work programs, organizational structure, depth of experience, and budgets.

During the review, ASCE conducted nearly 300 interviews with department staff across the state and additional interviews with staff at 15 partner agencies. The peer review identified operational processes that are going well, and key opportunities for improvement.

What is going well

Positive staff attitude and professional capability
The new Mission statement, Vision, and Goals provide a good foundation
Engineering standards are comprehensive
Practical Design program is generating substantial savings
Teams communicate well
Employees take pride in their work
“New” management team is providing good leadership

Key opportunities for improvement

The new management team would benefit from facilitated team building
New initiatives and peer review should be tied to the strategic plan
Department decentralization would benefit from enhanced communication
Starting salaries for transportation technicians are inadequate
Upcoming retirements of skilled employees will leave a knowledge gap that is not being
adequately addressed
Leadership training could be improved
Maintenance is not being given as much attention as construction
The department does not have adequate highway-management information systems
Cross-department communication related to planning, design, and construction could
be improved
Practical design philosophy needs to be communicated better
Innovation across the department is not being recognized adequately

The department is studying the ASCE’s final report and will begin incorporating suggested improvements as soon as possible.