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Nevada’s TSMO Investment Prioritization Tool

Overview

IN THIS CASE STUDY YOU WILL LEARN:

  • How Nevada developed and incorporated an investment prioritization tool (IPT) into their TSMO Plan.
  • How the IPT integrated operations and management into all aspects of project delivery.
  • How the IPT specific criteria is designed based on specific criteria to address TSMO strategic goals, funding, risks, and strategic value.

Background

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Statewide TSMO Program Plan describes the need and rationale for a statewide TSMO Program, and delineates the strategic approach to improve management and operations of transportation systems across all modes of transportation. The plan also defines a programmatic approach to establish necessary actionable items and a timeframe to successfully implement the TSMO Program. Recognizing that at the core of a TSMO program is the integration of operations and management into all aspects of the project delivery process, one of the tools developed as part of the TSMO Programmatic Elements is the Investment Prioritization Tool (IPT). This tool is designed to help identify the state’s transportation priorities and achieve the established TSMO goals and objectives in the most sustainable and efficient way. The tool helps to establish a formal process to institutionalize TSMO goals and objectives during the needs assessment and project selection for efficient resource allocation.

TSMO Planning, Strategies, and Deployment

Historically, NDOT’s project selection process has been established by having each division set its own priorities. This approach could be improved by prioritizing projects based on their alignment with NDOT’s TSMO goals, objectives, and projected performance-based benefits. NDOT recognizes the importance of introducing a new system which will prioritize projects efficiently, strategically allocate resources, and ensure alignment with TSMO best use case efforts. This tool will also simplify the decision-making process and help build the mindset and culture of TSMO integration. The TSMO IPT is designed based on specific criteria to address the TSMO strategic goals, funding, risks, and strategic value, including but not limited to the following:

  • Alignment with TSMO Strategic goals and objectives – ensure the project/activities/services help achieve the goals and objectives of the TSMO Program. The goals and objectives are aligned with those of the department, specifically the One Nevada plan, making the higher ranked projects more viable solutions in the department-wide project selection process. Below are the items for consideration under this criterion:
    • Enhance Safety - Reduce incidents, injuries, and fatalities.
    • Preserve Infrastructure - Maintain transportation assets to preserve investments.
    • Optimize Mobility - Maximize system efficiency by reducing congestion and/or promoting multimodal transportation.
    • Foster Sustainability - Develop a sustainable transportation system through sustainable and balanced design, operations, and maintenance.
    • Enhance Reliability - Improve economic competitiveness and enhance quality of life through reliable travel times.
    • Optimize Customer Service - Provide timely and accurate travel information to internal and external customers to enable informed decision-making.
    • Enhance Collaboration - Maximize coordination and cooperation between NDOT divisions and partnering agencies to proactively manage and operate an integrated transportation system.
  • Cost: Listed in 5 categories as follows:
    • $0 - $499,999
    • $500,000 - $999,999
    • $1 M - $2.99 M
    • $3 M - $5 M
    • Greater than $5 M
  • Implementation Timeframe: Aligned with the NDOT ITS Strategic Deployment Plan (SDP):
    • Short-Term (within 5 years)
    • Intermediate (within 5 to 10 years)
    • Long-Term (more than 10 years)

The criteria of cost and implementation timeframe result in a higher score for projects with a low cost and short-term implementation. When combined with the strategic goals and objectives, this criterion allows for low cost, easily implemented projects aligned with the goals of TSMO and the department to naturally rise to the top of the list for consideration.

  • Dependencies, Business Risk, and Limitations: Qualitative measures on the level of risks and degree of impact of a specific project / technology:
    • Examples: Staffing, legal compliance, operational, stakeholders/public involvement, timing, data sources, technology, etc.
  • Benefit/Cost Ratio: Listed in 3 categories of Low (0- 4), Mid (5- 8), High (9- 12), depending on the proven
  • Strategic Value: To assess if there is a high demand or need for the implementation of the project.

Establishing an investment portfolio for the TSMO Program is an ongoing process. NDOT will update this tool annually to ensure the criteria, scoring, and priorities are up-to-date and in alignment with statewide transportation goals and objectives.

Operations Area of Practice

    Organizational Models

Organizational Capability Element

    Programming/Budget/Funding
    Project Development
    Leadership/Championship
    Outreach & Marketing

Content Type

Case Studies & Lessons Learned

Publishing Organization

NOCoE
Issue Date