Transportation Research Board October 20, 2009

ASSET MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIPIMPLEMENTING THE LONG-TERM VIEW IN SEATTLE

Anne Fiske Zuniga, Deputy Director Seattle Department of Transportation

Transportation Research BoardOctober 20, 2009

City of Seattle Department of Transportation

City of SeattleChallenging topography


Moving more people and goods

Consider all travel modes and users when repairing or building streets


SDOT’s mission

To deliver a safe reliable and efficient transportation system that enhances Seattle’s environment and economic vitality

SDOT’s Asset Management Program VisionTransportation excellence through expert, credible, and responsive asset management


SDOT Early Asset Management Efforts

• Status & condition reports

• Individual Asset Reports

• 2003 Pavement Management Report

• Funding challenges


Seattle’s path to transportation asset management

1. Recognize the need for Asset Management based on success from pavement management effort

2. Begin defining the program

3. Incorporate into ongoing work and existing

initiatives

4. Ensure accountability

5. Leadership to generate and maintain buy-in


Overcoming challenges

• Lack of funding • Competing priorities

within department• Resistance to change• Lack of transparency • Organizational silos • Aging infrastructure and

deferred maintenance


Look for opportunities

Declining transportation revenues were creating a challenge and a golden opportunity

• Insert the chart from p 5 of S and C

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 $0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$41.7

$25.4 $23.5 $23.4 $22.7 $22.0 $21.0 $20.8 $14.9 $14.3 $13.4 $14.2

$56.5 $65.4

$74.3

Chart Title

$'s

in M

illi

on

s

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009


Guiding goals

• Sustainability

• Accountability

• Transparency

• Long-term decision making

• Equitable

• Smart decisions

• Stewardship

• Agility

Sidewalk Inventory

Sidewalk Type

Network Fraction

(% by block face)

Sidewalk Count

(block faces)

Paved Sidewalk Area (sf)

Unpaved Area (sf, 6 ft

standard assumed)

Improved 72.3% 33,296 66,705,412 --- Unimproved 26.6% 12,262 --- 30,168,894

Undetermined 1.0% 482 818,772 --- TOTAL 100.0% 46,040 67,524,184 30,168,894

2007 Sidewalk Inventory

Sidewalk Inventory – GIS Maps

Sidewalk Database


Define the program1. Inventory your assets and track their condition

2. Consider how the asset functions as a network

3. Understand how the asset network works within the overall transportation system


SDOT identified 44 asset types within 14 categoriesAsset Class/Asset

Bike/Ped System

Bicycle RacksMarked CrosswalksPedestrian Crossing Underpass/TunnelPedestrian Viewing PlatformSidewalksStairwaysTrailsTransit Loading Platforms

ChannelizationPavement MarkingsRoundabout

Intelligent Traffic SignsDynamic Message SignsRadar Speed Signs

Parking Payment DevicesPay StationsParking Meters

Pavement (Arterial & Non-Arterial)

Real PropertyParcelsBuildings

Regulated Assets (Shoreline Street Ends)

Roadway StructuresAreaway Street WallsBridgesBridge Hydrant VaultsRetaining Walls

Asset Class/AssetStreetcar

Signs (Sign Assemblies)

Structures other than Roadway

Air Raid Siren TowerPiers

Traffic Safety Devices & Structures

ChicanesCrash CushionsCurb Bulbs

GuardrailsSpeed CushionsSpeed DotsSpeed HumpsTraffic Circles

Traffic Signal SystemBeaconsCCTV Camera AssembliesDetection SystemsTraffic Management CenterTraffic Signal AssembliesTraffic Signal Communication System

Urban ForestLandscaped AreasTrees


Bridging the Gap


Incorporate into ongoing work and existing initiatives

Triple bottom line of Asset Management decision-making• Race and Social Justice Initiative• greenDOT – Environmental Management System• Efficient Financial Decision Making


Bicycle Rack Inventory


Data is an asset too

• Treat data as an asset• Use the Hansen Version

8 System to:• Track and monitor

work• Build an asset by asset

history


Program oversight

• Executive Sponsor• Overall Direction and Final Decision Making

• Steering Committee • Support, Governing, Policy Consideration & Adoption,

Work Plan Decisions

• Owners Forum • Execution of the Program

• Collaboration and information sharing for the management of assets through their life cycle


Leadership’s role

• Develop a realistic budget and scope

• Take a modest approach to implementation

• Educate department leadership on value added

• Build confidence with political leaders

• Formalize decisions with elected officials


Program accomplishments

• 2007 sidewalk inventory and condition assessment• 2007 Status and Condition Report• 2008 Levels of Service standards for 17 assets• 2009 inventory projects

• Traffic Circles• Crash Cushions• Guardrails• Bike Racks• Radar Speed Signs• Bike/Ped Signs• Street Name Signs

• Bridges• Stairways• Retaining walls• Areaways• Marked Crosswalks • Signals


Future of Asset Management

• Inventory• Level of Service / Performance Measures• Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)• Risk Assessments / Criticality• Asset Management Plans• Status & Condition regularly updated as our

summary reporting on the program


Questions?

Thanks for inviting me speak


Seattle Department of TransportationAsset Management Program

Elizabeth Paschke, Program [email protected]

Emily Burns, Strategic Adviser206 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Transportation Research Board October 20, 2009