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Office Overview
Mission/Vision
Staff Directory
Program Areas
Stewardship & Oversight
Division Leadership Program Performance Plan Office Map Related Links |
Program AreasThe Ohio Division's Performance Planning Process largely revolves around 16 formally defined and recognized program areas:
Administrative Services ( Rise Stevens: 614-280-6834 )The major components of the internal budget and business operations are management of travel funds, procurement of supplies and services, and facilitation of the annual training call. Responsibility for these activities is spread across the entire team with primary oversight for all except the training call resting with the Team Leader. Bridges/Structures (Matt Shamis: 614-280-6847 )The bridge team provides oversight, monitoring, and technical expertise in the areas of structural design, bridge management systems (BMS) construction and maintenance, geotechnology, hydraulics, research, value engineering, and National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Structural, hydraulic, and geotechnical plan reviews are conducted federal oversight project plans. Construction inspections are conducted as needed to monitor specific projects and construction activities, to perform process reviews, and to obtain information on state-of-the-art construction and design practices. Reviews of NBIS inspection program activities and procedures in ODOT districts and local agencies are performed to fulfill stewardship requirements. The bridge team will provide Ohio DOT, local public agencies, and consultant personnel with technical assistance in order to heighten the awareness of better practices and procedures. More information can be found at FHWA's Bridge Program. Civil Rights (Cheryl Cattledge: 614-280-6890)The Civil Rights (CR) Programs ensure fair and equitable treatment of all persons employed or affected by FHWA and the programs and activities of its recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors, irrespective of race, color, religion (in the context of employment), gender, national origin, age, or disability. More information can be found at FHWA's Civil Rights Programs. Construction/Contract Administration (Andy Blalock: 614-280-6823)The Program Operations Team's emphasis is to promote and assist ODOT in developing appropriate and effective policy to manage their construction programs in accordance with all Federal requirements. At the project level, the Program Operations Team's primary purpose for involvement is to determine that FO projects are completed within the project's scope of work. Another project related activity is the award of construction contracts. Environment (Dave Snyder: 614-280-6852)The Division's Environmental Team and the Program Operations Team guide the FHWA Ohio Division's environmental program responsibilities in partnership. The Environmental Team's core program areas of responsibility can be divided into five categories: Environmental Streamlining, Interagency Coordination, Environmental Stewardship, Consulting Services, and Training and Outreach. More information can be found at FHWA Environment Program. Financial Management (Ken Harvey: 614-280-6833)The Federal-aid highway program is a State administered, Federal assisted program. Federal-aid highway funds are authorized by Congress to assist the States in providing for construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-aid highway routes and for other special purpose programs and projects. The Financial Management Team (FMT) is comprised of the Financial Manager and two (2) Financial Specialists and is responsible for the overall financial management oversight of the Federal-aid highway program and project funding allotted and/or apportioned to the state of Ohio and ensuring compliance with Federal financial requirements in the delivery of the Federal aid highway program to protect the public investment and ensure accountability in Federal-aid expenditures. The FMT monitors the Federal-aid Highway financial management and accounting activities within the state through the review and approval of new and modified project agreements; the approval of all project billings; process reviews; improper payment reviews; inactive Federal-aid projects reviews; and Federal-aid billing reviews, as prescribed by the FHWA Financial Integrity Review and Evaluation (FIRE) program. Risk assessment techniques are used to determine the areas for review. The team conducts these verification activities to assure that the laws, regulations, policies and agreements are followed in carrying out the assumed responsibilities by those receiving Federal-aid Highway funding. Additionally, the FMT promotes successful practices in financial management and project funds management to improve the efficiency in the administration of the Federal-aid program. The FMT also promotes the use of innovative finance techniques that are effective in leveraging funds, reducing project costs, or expediting project completion. They also provide timely technical funding and financial guidance and assistance to meet the processing needs of those receiving Federal-aid Highway funding in such areas as project finance plan preparation, fiscal document processing, cost eligibility determinations, financial management and reimbursement. The culmination of these activities is the annual Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) certification on all internal and external financial controls to substantiate the financial statements. Maintenance (Michael Armstrong: 614-280-6855)Assists ODOT deal with preventive and reactive maintenance issues statewide. Assures that ODOT and LPAs comply with federal regulations associated with the maintenance of facilities that were constructed using federal-aid funds. Materials (Michael Armstrong: 614-280-6855)The Materials Program in Ohio is a shared function between the designated Materials Engineer, the Pavement Engineer, the Division Bridge Engineer and Assistant Bridge Engineer. The Materials Engineer has the overriding general program responsibility for all materials except for those involved in the pavement structure or those associated with bridge's and other related structures. The Materials Engineer promotes state of the art material techniques and assures that material related regulations are followed. More information can be found on FHWA's Materials Group page. Mobility/Traffic Operations (Jim Buckson: 614-280-6846/Hilda Velasco: 614-280-6879)The Mobility and Traffic Operations Team (MTOT) consists of two engineers: the Mobility and Traffic Operations Engineer (MTOE) and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineer (ITSE). Pavements (Bob McQuiston: 614-6848)The pavement program contains five basic program elements: the Pavement Management System, Pavement Design, Materials, Preservation, and Construction. The Division Office Pavement Engineer's (PE) role has been to provide the state of the practice information to ODOT on the PMS basic elements: Inventory, Condition and Load Data Collection and processing, prioritization, budgeting and performance prediction. Emphasis has also been placed on and participating in PMS training. Planning/Air Quality (Stew Sonnenberg: 614-280-6837)The team deals with planning and air quality issues in the State. Key Division Actions
Additional information can be found at FHWA's Intermodal and Statewide Programs. Project Development/Design (Mark Vonder- Embse: 614-280-6854)The design engineer is responsible for key areas involved in the development and design of Federal-aid highway projects. The design engineer reviews and approves statewide design standards and standard drawings. Key Approval Actions: NEPA Decisions, Freeway Access Modifications, Design Exceptions, Design Standards on NHS, PS&E requests (oversight projects), Requests to Advertise Construction Contracts (non-oversight projects) Quality Journey ( Melanie Twehues: 614-280-6860)The Ohio Division has been active in the FHWA's Quality Journey since 1996. The Division's development of "Putting the Pieces Together...Implementing FHWA's Quality Cornerstones" during 1998 was an important step for documenting the steps that have been taken and outlining processes for fact-based decision-making and results-based performance planning. The Division Office has worked closely over the past several years with its partners, customers, and stakeholders to improve external processes. The Quality Council is charged with playing a lead role in the Ohio Division's implementation of the FHWA's Quality Journey and FHWA Quality Cornerstones. Research/Technology Transfer (Noel Mehlo [Research]: 614-280-6841, Tom Lefchik [TxT] : 614-280-6845)The Division Air Quality Coordinator and the Division Technology Transfer Engineer are responsible for administering the research and technology transfer (R&T2) programs in the Ohio Division Office. The programs include: Research Program (Part II) of the State Planning and Research (SP&R) Program; Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP); Technology Transfer (T2); National Highway Institute (NHI) Training Coordinator; Metric Coordinator; Research Demonstration Projects; and Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP)/Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Coordinator. Right-of-Way (Richard Henry: 614-280-6842)The R/W Team, as a part of the Project Development Team (PDT), is presently composed of the Division Right-of-Way Officer and one Realty Specialist. This element of the PDT is charged with monitoring and oversight of all R/W functions and the Highway Beautification Program on a statewide basis including Central Office, the 12 ODOT District Offices, and the 4 State Regional Real Estate Offices. R/W functions include all phases, from early project development and site selection, plan preparation and title search, appraisal, appraisal review, negotiations, relocation, condemnation, and on through property management. Property management includes property rentals, disposal and demolition, and the management of access and airspace. More information on FHWA's Realty programs web site. Safety (Joe Glinski: 614-280-6844)The Safety Engineer provides overall coordination and implementation for the Division's safety activities. In addition to working with the State DOT, and local governments, the Safety Engineer works with other safety interest groups and other USDOT modes such as NHTSA and FRA to improve highway safety. The Division Safety Program Engineer is responsible for carrying out numerous highway safety programs. These safety programs provide funding for projects which remove, relocate, or shield roadside obstacles, identify and correct hazardous locations, eliminate or reduce hazards at railroad crossings, and improve signing, pavement markings, and signalization. |
