Specifications include, but are not limited to: PHASE I – Planning and Data Collection Task 1. Conduct a literature review of relevant research related to ROW management and utility involvement. The review shall include published and unpublished research conducted through the NCHRP; Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and other national, international, state, and pooled fund sponsored research (see Special Note B). Task 2. Propose a methodical approach (e.g., questionnaires/surveys, targeted interviews, focus groups, and other appropriate methods and/or tools) to collect information from state DOTs, practitioners, and relevant stakeholders as it relates to ROW management with a utility awareness. The proposed approach shall identify and summarize information needed to characterize the current state of practice as well as future needs including: Identification of the barriers (e.g., cost, time, technology, and staff resources) and strategies to streamline the coordination of ROW management and utility involvement; Identification of the value of ROW management as it relates to collecting and documenting activities within ROW versus state DOTs resources (e.g., project delivery, project funding, utility delay claims, staff limitations, and technical infrastructure and management); Identification of the barriers and strategies for capturing, maintaining, and utilizing accurate data records as it relates to ROW management and utility accommodation requirements; Identification of barriers of data interoperability of digital information (e.g., utility attributes and location information, and subsurface engineering (SUE) and digital as-builts (DAB) data) within a state DOT as well as state DOT’s involvement with external stakeholders (e.g., local agencies, utility companies, ROW occupants, and contractors); Investigation of the legal, regulatory, and legislative requirements for implementing a framework as it relates to ROW fee structures (e.g., required payments for permit fees, occupancy fees, installation inspection, and as-built and their budgetary allocations); and Identification of case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of ROW management and cross-disciplines (e.g., design and utility coordination) use of data including an assessment of benefits and risks from the utility’s perspective.
