Practical Design efficiencies allow ITD to apply additional
$27.2 million in savings to highways

BOISE - Savings achieved through implementation of a new highway design standard by the Idaho Transportation Department are nearly five times greater than initially expected, reaching $27.2 million in just the first year of the program, ITD announced.

Adoption of the Practical Design management approach initially was expected to produce savings of about $5.6 million in state fiscal year 2008, explains ITD Director Pamela Lowe. That projection was revised to $18.4 million in December. Based on contractor's bids the net savings is $27.2 million, Lowe said.

From fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012, the department anticipates saving more than $70 million, an increase of $20 million over its original estimate, by implementing the Practical Design program. All savings are used to fund additional highway projects.

"We believed Practical Design standards would produce considerable cost savings by tailoring projects to their specific environment and intended uses," Lowe explains. "The numbers were seeing are encouraging. We are achieving cost savings well beyond our initial expectations, and that allows us to fund additional highway projects."

Using the Practical Design approach, engineers and planners consider the specific needs of a project rather than applying broad, more costly standards that are not necessary. Design decisions are based on what is the most logical or practical for each project rather than applying generic standards without compromising quality or safety.

Idaho's highways and motorists are the beneficiaries.