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Construction

MEMORANDUM
Subject: ACTION: Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer (ACTT) Date: October 3, 2005
From: (Original Signed by)
King W. Gee
Associate Administrator for Infrastructure
Reply to:
Attn. of:
HIAM-20
To: Directors of Field Services
Resource Center Director and Operations Managers
Division Administrators
Federal Lands Highway Division Engineers

Only 2 years ago, we shared the Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer (ACTT) work plan with your office and requested your assistance in promoting and implementing the program. The ACTT has experienced rapid growth since that time and we are now ready to assume a support and assistance role as we transfer responsibility for the program to State departments of transportation (DOT) and the local FHWA Divisions.

To date, more than one-half of the States have engaged in the ACTT process, some multiple times, and over 40 percent of the remainder is actively considering the process for FY 2006/2007. Millions of dollars and years of disruption have been shaved off construction plans and forecasts as States benefit from the insights of national experts, the stimulation of unfettered brainstorming, and the excitement of innovation. In fact, most workshops will result in an estimated reduction of project construction time by 30 percent or more.

The ACTT would not have been successful without your proactive support. So what role do we expect you to play on future workshops? While we have witnessed numerous project-specific workshop recommendations, many others have broad future application throughout the roadway program. We ask you to be aware of the recommendations issued from each workshop and look for opportunities to disseminate observations and recommendations among your constituents. We ask you to assume a strong, but slightly different, assistance role-one in which you not only encourage broader adoption of the ACTT process, but stand ready to assist with a growing number of ACTT workshops.

While the arrangements for a specific workshop will now be handled entirely by the State DOTs, with the appropriate level of assistance from the division office, the Office of Asset Management and the FHWA Resource Center will still be involved to the extent necessary to assure the discipline teams retain an adequate number of expert members to sufficiently serve the needs of the States. The Office of Asset Management, in partnership with AASHTO, will continue to provide overall program direction.

Together, we have advanced the adoption of ACTT as a standard design development practice nationwide. The program is fast establishing a new framework for the way we approach the challenges of developing alternatives for designing, building and maintaining our Nation's roadway system. Faced with an aging infrastructure and escalating traffic demands, more intensified highway construction activities are fast upon us. To meet these challenges, we must all continue to be open to innovation and change in project development and delivery.

At this evolutionary time, we have the opportunity to add true value to the owner agencies as they undertake reconstruction and rehabilitation of our national transportation system. Conventional methods may have been sufficient in the past, but these methods limit our future success. This is an era of unprecedented demand driving unprecedented achievement. You stand at the crossroads of State ingenuity, industry innovation and Federal insight. The ACTT program stands beside you, awaiting the opportunity to help you make a difference. In alignment with our key business processes, the FHWA stands ready to provide leadership, technical support and innovation where needed.

The attached "How To" document Publication No. FHWA-IF-05-038 provides guidance on the selection of an appropriate project for ACTT, the timing of its implementation, the requirements and the extensive benefits of the process. We are also including a DVD copy of Project Pegasus, the Texas Department of Transportation ACTT workshop conducted for the I-35 reconstruction through south Dallas, Texas, and a copy of our third interim report, ACTT NOW. Please share this information with your staff and your respective State DOT contacts and urge them to consider the potential for significant gains that the ACTT workshops can provide to the project development process.

In the last 2 years, monies for conducting the workshops have been available from FHWA Research and Technology funds along with Technology Implementation Group funding from AASHTO. However, these funds are no longer available to support this effort. This is to clarify that the conduct of an ACTT workshop is considered eligible for normal Federal-aid funding. While there are no "extra" funds for these workshops, the workshops conducted to date are showing a high return on the investment.

Please contact ACTT Program Manager, Jim Sorenson at (202) 366-1333 and james.sorenson@fhwa.dot.gov or Jerry Blanding at (410) 962-2253 and jerry.blanding@fhwa.dot.gov should you require additional information.

I want to thank you for advancing the ACTT vision so effectively over the past 2 years. I look forward to the significant gains we will work together to achieve through the adoption of ACTT as a standard practice in the years to come.

Attachments

Updated: 06/27/2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000