Notes from

SOOM Leadership Call

April 25, 2011

Call Participants:

Stan Gee (Chair), Lynn Weiskopf, Dan D’Angelo (NY)

Joyce Taylor, MEDOT

Becky Burk, MD SHA

Daniela Bremmer, Washington State DOT

Tony Kane, Rosemary TenEyck, AASHTO

Absent

Larry Ferguson, FDOT

Jay Styles, VDOT

Daniel Fodera, Mike Graf, FHWA

Meeting Summary

Daniela Bremmer provided an overview of the work of the Standing Committee on Performance Management’s (SCOPM’s) Comparative Performance Measures Task Force. She described ongoing work on a number of studies including:

  • Project Delivery – a look at states’ on-time/on-budget performance – this is a 2nd look at this information. More states have responded (39 vs. 10). Participation is voluntary. Will be identifying 5 or so states with the best performance to take a deeper look into best practices. Note was made that Joyce and her Project Delivery Task Force should key in to this work.
  • Incident response study – there were not enough states with data, and data was not comparable, so will have to look at this again at a later time.
  • Congestion management practices – an RFP is in the works for this project. States have differing ability to measure. In this study, will be working with the FHWA to use private sector information and get to an “apples-to-apples” comparison.
  • Have also done studies on pavement, bridge and asset management. Have developed a Health Assessment Index for bridges – will be continuing to build on the efforts to date.
  • Serious injury information varies significantly from state to state. Need a definition and consistent data to get to an ability to compare this information.
  • Freight and environment comparative studies are also down the road.

General goal of these studies is to identify best practices that can be shared (look at top 5%). Overall effort is aimed at being leaders in performance management – anticipating that this will be a focus for reauthorization and for the future.

Some additional next steps include developing a warehouse for this information so states can access the information and the information can be updated.

Follow-up from March 28 Call:

  • NCHRP 20-24 draft proposal – Examination of Alternative State DOT Organizational Models for Delivering System Performance. The revised proposal was sent to Andy Lemer and will be on the agenda for consideration at the upcoming NCHRP meeting, to be held at the AASHTO Spring Meeting May 4. Tony will send a copy of the final to those on the call (done). Stan will try to call in on May 4. If this project proposal is successful, this could be the basis for the next Leadership call, to define next steps for the project, which include development of a strategic plan for the Subcommittee.
  • Post Meeting Notes: The notes of the previous (March 28 and this meeting) will be posted to the SOOM website.
  • Canvas and Update Letter to be sent to all SOOM Members: This was sent April 18. To date, Rosemary has received an update from one state that their membership is current. Stan will again reference the letter and the work of the Subcommittee when he participates in the SCOPM meeting on May 3.
  • Establish Regular calls for the SOOM Committee Meeting: These have been set – every other month, last Monday of the month, 2:00 to 3:30 pm eastern time. Meeting was held in March, April (to avoid Memorial Day), and will be held in July, September, and November.
  • Face to Face Meeting of the Subcommittee: Daniel Fodera was unable to attend the call, so the update on possible opportunities to piggyback with FHWA meetings was postponed. Will follow-up with Daniel.
  • More interaction with Standing Committee on Performance Management (SCOPM): First step was accomplished with Daniela attending this call. SOOM will continue to invite Daniela and Mara Campbell, as well as the Committee Leadership (Kirk Steudle and Paula Hammond) to attend future SOOM Leadership calls. Stan plans to call in to the SCOPM meeting to be held May 3. SOOM members were encouraged to participate or listen in on this meeting as well.
  • Task Force Chairs to Review their Webpages: ongoing
  • SCOPM Strategic Plan: This effort and next steps will be discussed at the SCOPM meeting to be held May 3 at the AASHTO Spring Meeting. There is funding for this activity. Lance Neumann will lead the effort. Members of the team to create a draft consist of the SCOPM leadership (Chair, Vice Chair), Task Force Chairs and Stan.

Update from Task Force Chairs:

  • Awards: Becky reported that the Call Letter for the Subcommittee that was sent included the call for Award Nominations for the Francis B Francois and Performance Excellence Awards. Becky is being contacted with questions, so the information appears to be getting out. She does not expect to have much to report until after the award deadline (July 29).
  • Project Delivery: Joyce reported that the webinar featuring best practices in organizing for project delivery, which will feature Missouri and Virginia is set for May 19. She is looking for ideas for future webinars. One thought: sharing practices on how states are continuing to organize for and delivery projects in an era of downsizing. She used Maine’s experience as an example.
  • Risk Management: NCHRP 20-24(74) Executive Strategies for Risk Management by State Departments of Transportation is nearing completion. Comments received on draft report. The study team is responding to comments. Should be completed in May.
  • Organizational Structures: Larry not on call, but from last meeting, next CEO workshop is scheduled for June in Kansas City.
  • Professional Competencies: Jay not on call. Tony noted a proposed Policy Resolution that will be discussed at the AASHTO Spring Meeting that calls for the formation of a Special Committee on Workforce Planning and Development that would include a look at core competencies {Note: SOOM is not specified as a member of the proposed Special Committee - membership from SCOH, SCOHTS, SCOFA, and the SCOFA Subcommittee on Human Resources is specified – and members from other interested standing committees.}

Next Steps:

  • Stan to participate in the SCOPM meeting (May 3) to update the Committee on the work of the Subcommittee.
  • NCHRP meeting to be held on May 4 that will include discussion of SOOM proposal – Stan will try to call in. Tony will alert this group on results.
  • Post notes from this and previous leadership call on website.
  • Update from Daniel on possible face-to-face options for the Subcommittee.
  • May 19 webinar from Project Delivery Task Force – additional ideas welcome
  • Next meeting of the SOOM Leadership Team scheduled for June 27, 2:00 to 3:30 pm. This discussion could focus on NCHRP next steps, if proposal is approved.

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