Pavement Preservation Journal, Winter 2011, Vol. 5, No. 2
In today’s lean times, system preservation has become the priority for ensuring serviceable pavements, said Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Jerry Wray in October. Wray explores Ohio’s strategy for preserving its highways and bridges during the current transportation funding crisis in a two-minute video which can be viewed at a web site of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
“There’s a limited amount of resources for an unlimited amount of wants, desires and needs,” Wray said. “We have to focus on the basics: what improves safety, the economy, and the quality of life for the people of Ohio.”
Simply put, ODOT is working to be leaner, more efficient, and more effective.
“We have a responsibility to all Ohioans to get the best value and highest rate-of-return for every dollar we spend,” Wray said. “We believe innovative financing, like public-private partnerships, will be a key tool to our success.”
A change in Ohio law now allows ODOT to enter into public-private partnerships to finance, build, maintain, and operate transportation facilities.
ODOT has had success using other innovative project delivery methods such as Design-Build. This method utilizes an integrated team of designers and contractors to oversee the entire construction process. ODOT already saved approximately $100 million and increased project delivery by eight months on the I-90 Inner-belt Bridge project in Cleveland and saved $41 million on I-71/670 corridor in Columbus.
“ODOT is starting to see real results by being creative and looking at new ways of doing business,” said Wray. “We will continue to challenge not only ourselves but our partners in the public and private sectors as well.”
The Two-Minute State DOT Update, produced by AASHTO, is one of more than 100 transportation-related videos
available to the public. Watch it and other Two-Minute State DOT Update videos at http://www.transportationtv.org.