Re: Smart Transportation Training for Consultants

Dear Consultant Business Partner:

Reference is made to the Department’s Strike-Off Letter 432-08-12 dated September 18, 2008 on Smart Transportation Interim Policy.

Introduction

As you may have heard by now, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is actively integrating Smart Transportation into every aspect of its project development and design business practices. Smart Transportation is defined as “partnering to build great communities for future generations of Pennsylvanians by linking transportation investments and land use planning and decision-making.” An important goal of Smart Transportation is to integrate the planning and design of streets and highways in a manner that fosters sustainable and livable communities.

In order to underscore the importance of Smart Transportation practices, PennDOT will be conducting training across the Commonwealth for consultants.

Who Should Attend?

The course is tailored to the highway engineer/ planner and bridge engineer, and those that manage PennDOT projects from programming or concept development through PS&E. Attendance by firms that provide these services is highly encouraged. Each firm will be permitted to send two (2) attendees, who will be expected to share/ disseminate the information and practices they learn with the project engineers and managers in their firms.

What Can I Expect?

The training sessions will run about three and one-half hours. They will focus on design elements key to highway and bridge planning and design, and will explain how Smart Transportation principles will change the way consultants manage projects from this point forward.

To ensure a good understanding of Smart Transportation, it is expected that consultants will download and review the Smart Transportation Guidebook prior to course attendance. The Guidebook may be accessed by going to www.smart-transportation.com, and clicking on “Resources” on the top menu. The Guidebook is designed to be printed back-to-back. Attendees should bring a copy of the Guidebook to the session.

Logistics – How Do I Sign Up?

This course is open toBusinessPartners at no cost. If any Business Partners are interested in attending this class, they may register directly on PennDOT’s Technical Training Calendar site.

There are currently six classes being offered:

Harrisburg / 03/13/09
King of Prussia / 03/19/09
Allentown / 03/20/09
Pittsburgh / 03/31/09
Hollidaysburg / 04/01/09
Harrisburg / 04/03/09

For additional information about this course and to register for one of the classes, you may click the below link…

http://www.dotdom1.state.pa.us/ecms/ecms_training_calendar.nsf/frameset?open&ContentUnid=612A0E90750E68418525755900557366

Please note that only two participants per consulting firm statewide is the limit for the Smart Transportation course at this time.