Building a Better State DOT (Practical Solutions)

Over the course of several years (through 2019), Smart Growth America helped a small group of state departments of transportation question and assess the underlying assumptions that lead many states toward giant highway solutions for every transportation problem. We have found states that are eager to figure out a better way and find innovative and flexible ways to meet users’ needs that cost less to build and maintain. And we’ve worked to help them identify barriers and find solutions.

This easy-to-read digest of posts (as well as these more complex memos) summarizes this work—what we call “practical solutions”—exploring common areas of reform that we identified through this work with state DOTs.

Multimodal Development and Delivery (M2D2)

Florida (2016) 

In September 2014 the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) adopted a Complete Streets policy. FDOT’s Complete Streets Implementation Plan, created in partnership with Smart Growth America, is designed to help turn that policy into on-the-ground changes. FDOT developed the plan in partnership with Smart Growth America and our program the National Complete Streets Coalition over a period of nine months through our Multimodal Development and Delivery (M2D2) technical assistance process.

Vermont (2015)

VTrans, the Vermont state DOT, in partnership with Smart Growth America, unveiled a work program for revising the Vermont State Standards, which provide VTrans staff and other partners with direction in designing roadway transportation projects. Revising the Vermont State Standards; M2D2: Multimodal Development and Delivery identifies specific modifications to the Vermont State Standards, recommends changes to other related VTrans guidelines and policies, and presents an implementation plan and schedule for conducting the revisions. VTrans and Smart Growth America developed this work program in the report through an extensive stakeholder process that brought together VTrans design and planning professionals with external partners and customers including businesses, municipalities, regional planning commissions, trucking, transit and active transportation advocates, and other state agencies.

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State DOT workshops and engagements

Washington (2018)

Washington State is taking groundbreaking steps few other states have taken to match its transportation investments with statewide policy goals. Smart Growth America helped the state work with stakeholders to answer three key questions: what does economic vitality look like for the state, how does transportation impact the economy, and how do we measure that to guide decisions? The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)  enlisted Smart Growth America to help the department use its goals to better direct its investments. Read this post about the work and final products >>

Hawaii (2016)

At the request of Highways Director, Edwin Sniffen, Smart Growth America worked with the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and a statewide stakeholder group to discuss strategies to build better projects that solve more problems for fewer resources.  The action plan draws from discussion across a 4-day workshop and offers targeted, detailed steps to implementing Practical Solutions in Hawaii.

Minnesota (2014)

Smart Growth America partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and a diverse group of transportation stakeholders to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) or business case for additional state-level transportation funding.

Michigan (2013) 

Smart Growth America was invited by Michigan DOT (MDOT) Director Kirk Steudle and the leadership of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to develop mobility management and transportation demand management strategies for regions in the state.

Vermont (2013)

At the request of Vermont Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles, Smart Growth America worked with VTrans staff and a statewide stakeholder group to conduct a review of VTrans policies and programs to identify strategies for strengthening Vermont’s economy.

Hawaii (2012) 

Smart Growth America worked with Hawaii’s Office of Planning and more than 40 state government officials, private sector leaders and non-profit representatives to leverage Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) along Honolulu’s proposed rail transit line and major bus routes on several islands.

Oregon (2012)

In partnership with Governor John Kitzhaber and ODOT Director Matthew Garrett, Smart Growth America convened a working group of more than 50 stakeholders to identify viable “non-roadway” funding and financing options.

Tennessee (2012)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) found itself with a capital plan that cost nine times more than anticipated revenue. Smart Growth America worked with TDOT to evaluate the agency’s project development processes and establish an audit strategy to right size planned projects to achieve desired outcomes at significantly lower cost.