Project Delivery and Accountability
Wednesday, January 24, 2007Posted by
Lloyd Brown
0 Comments
Yes, but what have you done for me lately? We all ask the question. Some times we ask our family or friends. Some times we ask our schools or employers.
At WSDOT, we ask ourselves that question all the time. We know that while our record of delivery is good, our reputation hangs on each project we deliver.
On the topic of project delivery, Secretary Doug MacDonald recently sent the legislature a report card on how WSDOT is doing so far delivering on the 2003 and 2005 gas tax packages.
"The topic, of course, is project delivery. The to do list is the sum of the instructions
provided by the Legislature when it passed the so-called Nickel package in April,
2003, and the Transportation Partnership Package in June, 2005.
"These enactments directed WSDOT to build approximately 400 highway
projects over the years from 2003 to 2021. The legislature not only
identified the projects, but it stipulated the dollar value of each project and
the timetable for the completion of each project.
"The record to date is strong. Not perfect. But very strong."
As of December 2006, 63 projects have been completed. The projects were delivered less than 2 percent over legislative expectations. Only one was not completed in its scheduled year and 90 percent were delivered in or before their scheduled quarter. Another 29 projects will wrap by June 2007. Meanwhile, we expect to start 44 more projects between now and June.
We certainly have challenges. Cost estimates are under pressure from rising construction costs, a shortage of labor, fewer contractors bidding each job. We've reported these challenges for months in our quarterly Gray Notebook and as part of our regular GMAP presentations to Gov. Gregoire.
If the numbers are overwhelming, just drive around the state and check out the projects in "real" time. This week there will be major traffic shifts on I-5 through Tacoma. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is close to finish lifting all the deck sections into place. The Everett I-5 HOV project continues to roll. Examples of projects in action are found throughout Washington.
At WSDOT, we ask ourselves that question all the time. We know that while our record of delivery is good, our reputation hangs on each project we deliver.
On the topic of project delivery, Secretary Doug MacDonald recently sent the legislature a report card on how WSDOT is doing so far delivering on the 2003 and 2005 gas tax packages.
"The topic, of course, is project delivery. The to do list is the sum of the instructions
provided by the Legislature when it passed the so-called Nickel package in April,
2003, and the Transportation Partnership Package in June, 2005.
"These enactments directed WSDOT to build approximately 400 highway
projects over the years from 2003 to 2021. The legislature not only
identified the projects, but it stipulated the dollar value of each project and
the timetable for the completion of each project.
"The record to date is strong. Not perfect. But very strong."
As of December 2006, 63 projects have been completed. The projects were delivered less than 2 percent over legislative expectations. Only one was not completed in its scheduled year and 90 percent were delivered in or before their scheduled quarter. Another 29 projects will wrap by June 2007. Meanwhile, we expect to start 44 more projects between now and June.
We certainly have challenges. Cost estimates are under pressure from rising construction costs, a shortage of labor, fewer contractors bidding each job. We've reported these challenges for months in our quarterly Gray Notebook and as part of our regular GMAP presentations to Gov. Gregoire.
If the numbers are overwhelming, just drive around the state and check out the projects in "real" time. This week there will be major traffic shifts on I-5 through Tacoma. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is close to finish lifting all the deck sections into place. The Everett I-5 HOV project continues to roll. Examples of projects in action are found throughout Washington.
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