Department of transportation

1. General 8

2. Definitions 11

3. Overview of the Plan Development Process 20

Generalized Plan Development Process Flow Diagram 22

4. Planning, Programming and Scheduling 24

Project Identification 24

Programming 25

Management of Long Range Projects 25

Schedule Development 25

Monitoring Schedules 26

Project Manager Responsibilities 26

Resource Planning 27

District Preconstruction Review Meeting 27

Revision of Project Schedules 27

Let Status Review 27

HOLD and SHELF Status 28

5. Concept Development Stage 30

General 30

Objectives 30

Projects Not Requiring Concept Meeting or Concept Report 30

Initial Concept Development and Initial Concept Meeting 31

Concept Development Considerations 33

Concept Team Meeting 35

Concept Report 37

Concept Report for Minor Projects 37

Concept Report Processing for Reports Prepared by GDOT 37

Concept Report Processing for Reports Prepared by Local Governments 38

Concept Report Updating 39

Concept Report Approval 39

Approved Concept Report Distribution 39

Revised Concept Reports 39

Concept Reports For Interstate ITS Projects 40

Preliminary Concept Reports for Hardship and Protective Buying 41

Updated Cost Estimates 41

Value Engineering Studies at Concept Stage 42

6. Preliminary Design 44

Project Data Design Book 44

Environmental Process – Federal Aid 44

Environmental Studies 45

Phase 1 – Information Gathering 45

Phase 2 – Analysis of Social, Economic and Environmental Data 46

Air Quality 46

Noise Impact Study 47

Farmland Study 47

Natural Resources Study 47

Cultural Resources Study 48

Phase 3 – Preparation of the Environmental Document 48

Phase 4 – Public Involvement 48

Outreach Programs 48

Informal Meetings 49

Pulic Information Open House 49

Opportunity for a Public Hearing Open House 50

Public Hearing Open House 51

Public Open House Notices 51

Public Information Meeting for Proposed Detours 53

Phase 5 – Final Alternate Selection Report 54

Environmental Reevaluation – Federal Aid 54

Environmental Process – State Funded Projects 55

Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA) 55

Georgia Environmental Policy Act Reevaluation 56

Roadway Design Offices – Major Projects 56

Surveying and Mapping 57

Preliminary Design 58

Constructability Review in Preliminary Design 58

Value Engineering Study in Preliminary Design 60

Preliminary Right of Way Plans 61

Preliminary Field Plan Review 61

Roadway Design Offices – Minor Projects 63

Office of Bridge Design – Bridge and Retaining Wall Design 63

Office of Right of Way 64

Office of Utilities 65

Subsurface Utility Engineering(SUE) 65

Utility Relocation Plans and Agreements 65

Railroads 66

Office of Traffic Safety and Design 66

Office of Maintenance 68

Office of Transportation Data 68

7. Final Design 70

Location and Design Approval – Major Projects 70

Location and Design Approval – Minor Projects 71

Design Office – Major Projects 71

Design Office – Minor Projects 72

Final Right of Way Plans 72

Right of Way Revisions 73

Right of Way Acquisition 73

Office of Utilities 73

Utility Relocation Plans 73

Utility Agreements 73

Railroads 74

Office of Traffic Safety and Design 74

Final Field Plan Review - Major Projects 74

Final Field Plan Review - Minor Projects 76

Submission of Plans for Letting 76

Plans and Specifications Revisions after Submission for Letting 78

Right of Way Certification 78

Utility Certification 78

Environmental Certification 78

8. Design Guideline Variances 81

Design Exception 81

Design Variance 82

9. Construction 85

Construction Authorization 85

Transition Conference 85

Revisions to Projects Between Authorization and Letting 86

Revisions During Construction 86

Review of Completed Project 86

10. Project Management System 87

Pre-Construction Project Team 87

TPro’s Benefits to Project Managers 88

Project Manager’s Responsibilities in TPro Schedule Maintenance 88

TPro’s Benefits to the Department’s Construction Work Program 89

Appendix 92

Appendix A. Certification Acceptance Agreement(CA) 92

Appendix B. Need and Purpose Statement Requirements 100

Appendix C. Concept Reports 102

Definitions, Procedures, Federal Agencies Listing 102

Example Concept Report Transmittal Letter 104

Example Concept Report 105

Example Revised Concept Report Transmittal Letter 112

Example Revised Concept Report 114

Appendix D. Final Alternate Selection Report Example 116

Appendix E. Location and Design Approval 118

Requirements for Advertising 118

Example Request for Location and Design Approval 119

Example Notice of Location and Design Approval 121

Appendix F. Field Plan Review 122

Request for a Preliminary Field Plan Review 122

Final Field Plan Review 125

Appendix G. Procedures To Prepare Noise Impact Assessments 127

Appendix H. Ecology Requirements for Project Area Study 129

Possible Threatened and Endangered Species 129

Consideration for Stream Impacts 130

Consideration for Wetland Impacts 131

Appendix I. Historic and Archaeological Resource Requirements 133

Historic Resources Surveys 133

Background Research 133

Survey Methodology/Field Survey 133

Survey Criteria for Historic Resources Surveys 133

Archaeological Resources Surveys 136

Background Literature Research 136

Intensive Archaeological Survey 137

Data Analysis 137

Survey Objectives 138

Appendix J. Minor and Non-Land-Disturbing Projects 142

Appendix K. Design Exception or Variance Report Example 145

Appendix L. Procedures for Determining Bridge Size at Stream Crossings 147

Appendix M. FHWA Exemptions from USCG Permit Requirements 149

Appendix N. Useful References 151

Appendix O. Procedure for Securing Consultant Services 161

Appendix P. Plan Revision Procedures 167

Appendix Q. Detour Report and Notice 173

Appendix R. Project Framework Agreements (PFA) 177

Appendix S. Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution Control Plan 178

Appendix T. Final Plans Transmittal Letter 182

Appendix U. Traffic Engineering Report 184

Appendix V. Highway Systems Administrative Review 191

Index 201