I would like to define some of the challenges we face and start the discussion on how to meet them. Before we can begin we need to describe what our responsibility is as a Region. Below are some of Cory's comments taken from our Region One website.
"In Region One we manage 942 centerline miles and 2655 lane miles of state roadway. Region One also includes two national forests, one national historic site, seven state parks and three state highways designated "Scenic Byways." Our responsibility is to construct and maintain state roadways in the safest, most efficient manner possible. Our highways are one of the most valued public assets. They provide for the movement of people, goods and services and benefit the local populace as well as visitors to our state. Our customers - the cities, counties and all road users - are important to UDOT and are encouraged to provide feedback and work with us to provide the best roads possible."
Our challenge as a Region is to maintain 942 Centerline miles and 2655 lane miles of roadway with a budget that cannot address all of the needs of such a system. We have all heard that we must do more with less and that the budgets are getting smaller while the needs are increasing. Some customers have asked UDOT to build roads without inconveniencing traffic at all. We have also heard the old adage "That necessity is the mother of invention". We have all become inventors at some point during our time at UDOT. Inventing new ways to save money and still get the job done. We look at what our customer's expect and invent ways by which we can meet those expectations. ABC bridge construction, P+T , CMGC, and design build are just a few inventions that UDOT has used to deliver projects. The new design networks, advances in design software, Projectwise, and digital signatures are ways meant to improve our internal design processes. With every project we invent ways to make it work as fast as possible within budget. The challenge to maintain our system is getting harder every year as the demand increases and the budget decreases. No matter what the circumstances no one in our Region will settle for nothing short of the best. Our traveling public expects the same level of service that they have always gotten, but they want it quicker and cheaper. We are always looking at inventing "new" ways to address the needs, so improving our process is not just an option it is a necessity. We cannot do things the same as always, in fact we can't do things like we did just yesterday. Determining risk and inventing new processes must be our mode of operation not just a one time thing. We must use what we have learned in the past to invent ways to innovate for the future. The innovations that each of you come up with will lead us into the future and improve the quality of life in Region One. This is not an easy task, but I feel that Region One Preconstruction is up to the challenge and can go beyond just making it work. As a team we can make it work better than before.
"We are Working for Tomorrow".
