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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRoad Implementation Plan (2) MEMORANDUM Date: April 16, 2012 To: Board of County Commissioners From: Chris Doty, PE, Director RE: Update regarding implementation of the Road Committee Recommendations On January 4th, 2012 the Board of County Commissioners heard recommendations from the Road Committee regarding steps to be taken to address long term sustainability of the County road network. Attached is the Implementation Plan that has been developed to assist in evaluating and implementing the recommendations of the Committee. At the April 16, 2012 BOCC Workshop, a presentation will be conducted which will update the Commission regarding the status of each implementation item. Page 1 of 3 Implementation Plan Road Committee Recommendations In the summer of 2011, the Board of County Commissioners convened a Road Committee to formulate recommendations to address the fiscal conditions in the Road Department resulting from a continued decline in road maintenance funding. On January 4th, 2012 the Board of County Commissioners heard recommendations from the Road Committee regarding steps to be taken to address long term sustainability of the County road network. Below is a summary of the recommendations as well as a proposed work plan necessary to achieve their desired outcome. The committee developed five recommendations – with the 5th recommendation to explore alternative funding sources. The committee was clear that the first four recommendations, which are focused on improved asset management efforts, internal efficiencies and regional partnerships, should be fully explored and exhausted before proceeding with alternative funding source development. Recommendation #1: Develop a modernized Pavement Management Program and modeling tool with the goal of achieving (funding) a sustainable Pavement Condition Index that is acceptable to the users. Deliverable: The primary deliverable for Recommendation #1 will be a Budget Options Report which models various funding scenarios for pavement maintenance of the County Road Network. At a minimum, the funding scenarios (five and/or 10-year projections) will include: a. Optimum Funding Scenario: This scenario models an investment level necessary to improve the PCI to a mid-80s level, which is the optimal practical condition which resulting in the lowest annual sustainable maintenance cost. (Note: The mid-80s goal produces prescribed maintenance treatments consisting primarily of low cost surface/chips seals versus overlay/full-depth reclamation treatments). b. Sustainable Funding Scenario: This scenario models an investment level necessary to sustain the existing PCI of 78. c. Current Funding Scenario: This scenario prescribes the prioritized maintenance treatments based upon the existing/project funding available for pavement maintenance. The PCI deterioration is also projected over a five and/or 10 year period. d. Zero Maintenance Scenario: This scenario models the degradation of the PCI over a five and/or 10 year period with no pavement maintenance investment. e. Other Funding Scenarios, as necessary. Timeframe: Complete, June 2012. Staff is currently in discussion with a vendor to assist in the establishment of the initial Pavement Management Program set-up and preparation of the initial Budget Options Report. Recommendation #2: Develop a refined list of maintenance alternatives with known life cycle costs to serve as inputs to the Pavement Management Program to program and ensure the most cost effective maintenance treatment. Deliverable: Staff will internally prepare a Tech Memo which will identify cost and life cycle estimates of the various pavement maintenance treatments utilized within the County road network. This data will serve as input data to the Pavement Management Program software for use in developing the Budget Options Report. Timeframe: May, 2012 Recommendation #3: Prioritize services to match existing funding levels. Deliverable: Staff will develop as follows: a. A Material/Services Reduction Matrix which identifies non-personnel related areas for reduction in materials and services and associated outcomes (and savings) resulting from reductions. b. A Personnel Attrition Matrix which focuses on long term strategies for delivering cost efficient service through personnel reductions associated with attrition (retirement, etc). Hypothetical Example: A loss of one equipment operator will result in the need to fill specific job duties. The matrix will identify a combination of service reductions, seasonal workload assignment and/or contract work (and associated savings) that will be utilized to fill the gap created through the vacancy. Timeframe: Draft, July 2012 Recommendation #4: Explore shared services and partnerships with other agencies to reduce overhead and achieve other cost efficiencies. Deliverables: A report will be assembled which documents the extent of existing partnerships and the potential for growth and expansion of partnership opportunities with near-term, mid- term, and long-term objectives and opportunities. a. The County Administrator and Road Department Director will meet with their equivalent peers in potential partner agencies to initiate conversations regarding partnership and efficiency through collaboration. Collaborative topics will then be developed through individual agency workshops and meetings which will cast a wide net of opportunities and refine as necessary; nothing will be off-the-table. b. Collaborative opportunities will be analyzed for cost savings potential and ranked based upon implementation criteria and other factors. Care will be exercised to not create administratively complex processes or work components which would otherwise compete with private sector businesses. c. The Road Department Director will convene an ongoing quarterly meeting of area wide road jurisdiction personnel and other stakeholders to communicate work plans and facilitate opportunities for collaborative efforts as well as provide general discussion and educational platforms for the transportation maintenance industry in the region. Timeframe: Initiation of the conversation will occur in April/May 2012, with a progress update on progress in July 2012. Recommendation #5: Explore new revenue sources for funding of road maintenance. Deliverable: A matrix of new funding opportunities will be developed, identifying source, amount of funding potential, implementation process and implementation obstacles. The matrix will build upon ideas and concepts previously discussed by the Road Committee and introduce new funding opportunities and strategies. Timeframe: Draft matrix, July 2012