Improving the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Process: The Start
By Eli Skaronea, Data Science Intern
December 27, 2017
The Start
In early December 2017, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) initiated an effort to improve the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) process.
Why it's Important
Every year, CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) collaborate to provide updates and review data collected about the state's highway system (aka, the HPMS). HPMS data is critical to planning and funding the nation's roadways. CDOT's Division of Transportation Development (DTD) collects and submits information to the FHWA by June 1 each year.
CDOT has had more difficulty reporting these updates since 2014, when requirements were added to incorporate local road data. In response, CDOT is evaluating and improving the process to support this reporting.
What's Happening Next
Before 2014, the HPMS process analyzed data for about 9,000 miles of highway in Colorado; new requirements have expanded that to 90,000 miles of highway and additional roadways throughout the state. Because staff from other state departments of transportation (DOTs) say they, too, struggle with this process, several have developed a DOT peer exchange to help craft solutions. Participants are considering the future while developing this improvement, which will be used for short- and long-term solutions.
The teams strive to improve the process by, in part, removing rework during the data collection and processing phase. They're applying a Lean approach to identifying waste and increasing consistency, which will ensure data is delivered accurately and before deadlines. For the 2018 deadline, teams will focus on a short report from local jurisdictions.
HPMS Process Improvement Project Team in December 2017
Back row, left to right: Stephen Henry (CDOT), Kelley Abbott (CDOT), Christopher Yanney (City of Arvada), Phyllis Snider (CDOT), Aaron Burstow (FHWA), Ryan Huffman (Arapahoe County) and Aaron Moss (CDOT) Front row, left to right (all CDOT): Michael Collins, Bibi Khan, and Travis Stieber
With such a large change to HPMS, there will be many factors to ensuring its success:
CDOT will utilize its change management capabilities to ensure all information is properly communicated, all employees receive proper training and that employee feedback is considered to better improve the process.
Properly managing a change can be the key to guaranteeing a project's success, and the project leader for this improvement effort, Phyllis Snider, is also a certified change manager. Snider notes that "I am very excited that CDOT is initiating a Lean improvement project and a state peer exchange to find ways to improve our HPMS process. I am anticipating a lot of innovative ideas and solutions will come out of this great partnership with FHWA and multiple groups at CDOT, including DTD, Staff Bridges, and Pavement Management."
The multi-agency Process Improvement Project Team for this effort—including experts from CDOT, FHWA, the City of Arvada and Arapahoe County—is shown in the photo (with some of the team's analysis work in the background). This team, initiated in early December 2017, has analyzed the current process and has started to implement improvements.
The importance of meeting the FHWA deadline is paramount. With increased requirements, evaluating and improving current processes, and handling the change throughout the effort, this will be a large project. While the effort is large, improving HPMS is a critical project that will provide CDOT the ability to continue pursuing the title of Best Department of Transportation in the country.