PDP Process. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed and implemented a Project Development Process (PDP) that includes regular communication among technical disciplines, results in quality plans and minimizes cost overruns during right-of-way acquisition and project construction. Depending on their size, complexity, and/or potential impact to the environment, ODOT transportation projects are categorized as one of five paths (Path 1– 5). The PDP consists of five phases that projects must advance through prior to construction. These phases include Planning, Preliminary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Final Engineering and Construction. While all projects advance through these phases, project managers have the flexibility to adjust scope activities within the phases to better support decision- making. The PDP is a project management and transportation decision-making procedure that outlines project development from concept through completion. Each PDP activity is timed to facilitate informed decision making based on an appropriate level of project development and risk management. The PDP encourages communication among disciplines, requires documentation of the reasoning behind project related decisions, eliminates duplicated effort among disciplines and provides for early identification of potential issues. Involvement of all disciplines during the early stages of project development ensures that issues affecting project type, scope, development schedule and costs can be correctly evaluated and anticipated. The manual and associated tools provide guidelines to identify activities required during each phase of project development. The project scope determines the amount of work performed within the phases. Although the manual and web-based tool identifies work tasks, deliverables and potential stakeholders for each phase in the process, the process requires coordination of people and tasks between phases to ensure continued review and study of the best possible options. Communication and transition among disciplines are critical to a project’s success. By establishing communication opportunities and responsibilities throughout the PDP, the project manager ensures that those involved in the project fulfill their project commitments. The project manager for each step is responsible for ensuring appropriate coordination and involvement of other disciplines throughout the process.
