Main Page

This DelDOT Project Development manual has been developed to serve as a task-oriented guide to be referenced throughout the project development process to promote consistent, transparent, and efficient project delivery which adheres to all pertinent state and federal requirements.

Enhanced Table of Contents

This enhanced table of contents was created to assist staff in locating and then accessing the project development related information they are seeking. This enhanced table of contents provides a brief description of the individual sections of the manual and purposefully includes key words to make it simple to quickly search.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

This chapter defines the project development process and its goals. The section introduces its subsections which outline the manual’s intended uses, limitations, and update process.

Section 1.1 – Federal and State Requirements: This section presents the framework of the laws, regulations, and other regulatory agency policy or advisory guidance at both the state and federal level which direct the DelDOT project development process. The section introduces the FHWA Federal-aid Highway Program and the DelDOT and FHWA Stewardship and Oversight agreement and its role in defining the DelDOT project development process.

Section 1.2 - Applicability to Local Public Agencies: This section establishes the manual’s applicability to local public agencies.

Section 1.3 - References to Other Resources: This section clarifies that the manual is not intended to replace other source documents referenced throughout the manual.

Section 1.3.1 - DelDOT Developed Resource Documents: This section lists and describes the resource documents DelDOT utilizes including manuals, Design Guidance Memorandums (DGMs), Policy Implements (PIs), Engineering Instructions (EIs), formal memorandums, and other guidance documents. The section also provides several considerations for the assigned update team when revising these DelDOT developed resource documents.

Section 1.4 - Maintaining the Project Development Manual: This section establishes the process which DelDOT will use to maintain the Project Development manual and outlines how manual users can provide feedback.

Chapter 2 – Project Origination and Planning

This chapter details the process that DelDOT uses to plan and prioritize projects.

Section 2.1 - Planning Standards: This section describes the federal planning standards that a state must follow to be eligible for federal funding through the Federal-aid Highway Program. This section has been divided into subsections for clarity.

Section 2.1.1 - Contributing Organizations: This section defines the entities involved in the federal planning and programming process as well as describes their responsibilities.

Section 2.1.1.1 - Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Section 2.1.1.2 - Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) and Local Governments

Section 2.1.1.3 - Public Transportation Operators

Section 2.1.1.4 - Council on Transportation

Section 2.1.2 - Performance-Based Approach : DelDOT is required to utilize a performance-based prioritization process in accordance with state and federal requirements. This section defines these requirements and describes the processes DelDOT has implemented.

Section 2.1.3 - Public Involvement : Public involvement is required in the planning and programming process transportation infrastructure has significant impact on communities. This section defines the public involvement processes DelDOT has implemented to ensure proactive and well-thought-out public engagement.

Section 2.1.4 - Deliverables : DelDOT’s planning process will result in the creation of numerous deliverables. This section’s subsections describe the two deliverables required of DelDOT by federal and state law.

Section 2.1.4.1 - Long-Range Transportation Plan : This planning deliverable is intended to guide DelDOT in creating principles, policies, and performance measures meeting the State’s long-range economic, transportation, development, and sustainability goals over the forecast period.

Section 2.1.4.2 - Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) : This planning deliverable defines a staged, multi-year, statewide intermodal investment program comprised of transportation projects and programs that are consistent with the Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Section 2.2 - Programs Generating DelDOT Projects : DelDOT maintains multiple programs across its Divisions which each have their own process for generating and prioritizing projects. This section defines the programs and the processes that are used to generate DelDOT projects.

Section 2.2.1 - Entities Outside of DelDOT : This section introduces its subsections which describe entities and programs outside of DelDOT which have potential to generate DelDOT projects.

Section 2.2.1.1 - MPO Planning Studies

Section 2.2.1.2 - Studies Generated by a Third Party

Section 2.2.1.3 - Projects Mandated to Complete

Section 2.2.2 - Division of Planning : DelDOT’s Division of Planning undertakes various planning level studies which could generate DelDOT projects. This section’s subsections describe the individual planning programs overseen by the Division of Planning that may generate DelDOT projects.

Section 2.2.2.1 - Corridor Capacity Preservation Program

Section 2.2.2.2 - Multi-Modal Program : This section introduces its subsections which describe the individual programs managed within DelDOT’s Multi-Modal program.

Section 2.2.2.2.1 - Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP Program)

Section 2.2.2.2.2 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Program

Section 2.2.2.2.3 - Pedestrian Access Route Program

Section 2.2.2.2.4 - Recreational Trails Program

Section 2.2.2.3 - Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs)

Section 2.2.2.4 - Aviation Planning

Section 2.2.2.5 - Freight Planning

Section 2.2.2.6 - Federal Land Access Program (FLAP)

Section 2.2.3 - Structures Program : This section introduces its subsections which describe the three programs DelDOT uses to evaluate, plan, and prioritize structure maintenance throughout the State.

Section 2.2.3.1 - Bridge Structures Program

Section 2.2.3.2 - Overhead Sign and High Mast Lighting Structures Program

Section 2.2.3.3 - Dam Program

Section 2.2.4 - Pavement Management Program

Section 2.2.5 - Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations : This section introduces the specific strategic programs that DelDOT uses to identify operational and mobility deficiencies and potential safety related infrastructure improvement needs. Specific programs are further described within its subsections.

Section 2.2.5.1 - Traffic Calming Program

Section 2.2.5.2 - MUTCD Compliance Program

Section 2.2.5.3 - Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) : This section describes DelDOT’s federally required HSIP program. This section’s subsections describe the individual programs included within DelDOT’s HSIP program.

Section 2.2.5.3.1 - Hazard Elimination Program (HEP) 1

Section 2.2.5.3.2 - High-Risk Rural Roads Program

Section 2.2.5.3.3 - Railway-Highway Crossing Safety (RCHP)

Section 2.2.5.3.4 - Systemic Safety Programs

Section 2.2.5.4 - Railroad Program : This section introduces the individual programs that are included within DelDOT’s Railroad Program. These programs are further described within its subsections.

Section 2.2.5.4.1 - Statewide Railroad Rideability Program

Section 2.2.5.4.2 - Rail Preservation Maintenance Program

Section 2.2.5.4.3 - Railroad Capital Improvements

Section 2.2.5.5 - Intelligent Transportation Management Systems (ITMS)

Section 2.2.6 - Division of Maintenance and Operations : This section introduces the programs that are managed by DelDOT’s Division of Maintenance and Operations which are more fully described within its subsections.

Section 2.2.6.1 - Community Transportation Fund

Section 2.2.6.2 - Building Facilities

Section 2.2.6.3 - Subdivision Street Pavement Management Program

Section 2.2.7 - Sustainability : This section introduces its subsections which describe the individual programs that DelDOT uses to plan and prioritize its sustainability program.

Section 2.2.7.1 - Resilience and Sustainability Program

Section 2.2.7.2 - Carbon Reduction Program

Section 2.2.7.3 - Electric Vehicle Charging Program

Section 2.2.8 - Transit Systems (Delaware Transit Corporation)

Chapter 3 – Project Initiation

This chapter documents the numerous tasks that a section must perform as part of the project initiation process once assigned a project.

Section 3.1 - Establishment of the Design Team

       This section defines the role of the DelDOT Project Manager and the technical design staff assigned to a develop a project. The section also provides considerations to be evaluated when assembling the design team.

Section 3.1.1 - Support Groups : This section defines DelDOT’s Support Groups and establishes their role in the project development process.

Section 3.2 - Project Baselining : This section introduces the concept of project baselining and introduces its subsections.

Section 3.2.1 - Initial Project Baselining : This section establishes the interrelated elements of the initial project baselining effort and introduces its subsections which defines each element and its associated considerations in more detail.

Section 3.2.1.1 - Schedule

Section 3.2.1.2 - Budget

Section 3.2.1.3 - Initial Environmental Evaluation

Section 3.2.2 - Project Re-Baselining : This section emphasizes the importance of re-baselining projects and introduces its subsections which describe two specific re-baselining activities.

Section 3.2.2.1 - Re-Baselining at Milestone Submissions : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of re-baselining projects within Unifier at each milestone submission.

Section 3.2.2.2 - Spend Updates : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of evaluating the actual rate of project expenditures compared to the expected expenditure rate in order to evaluate the accuracy of a project’s spending plan.

Section 3.3 - Project Number Request : This section describes the process to obtain a project number through DelDOT’s Unifier software.

Section 3.4 - Professional Services : This section introduces the concept of professional services and introduces its subsections.

Section 3.4.1 - Professional Services Procurement : This section introduces DelDOT’s Professional Services Procurement manual and divides the project development professional services DelDOT procures into two categories which are discussed further within its subsections.

Section 3.4.1.1 - Design Related Professional Services : This section introduces the professional service indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts DelDOT utilizes for the typical project development services the Department requires. The section also describes the process DelDOT uses to setup tasks under an IDIQ professional service agreement.

Section 3.4.1.2 - Design Support Related Professional Services : This section discusses the design support related professional services DelDOT utilizes (i.e., soil borings, utility designation, test holes etc.). The section also describes the process DelDOT uses to setup tasks under an IDIQ professional service agreement.

Section 3.4.2 - Professional Services Management : This section’s subsections summarize the Project Manager’s responsibilities for managing professional service tasks.

Section 3.4.2.1 - Project Tracking : This section presents project tracking techniques that can be used by the Project Manager to forecast future project milestone submittal dates and associated costs. Techniques presented included performing regularly scheduled task progress meetings and invoice tracking. The section also describes the approval process for extra work.

Section 3.4.2.2 - Invoicing : This section describes the time window and processes that DelDOT uses to verify invoice accuracy and then circulate and approve professional service invoices.

Section 3.4.2.2.1 - Fiscal Year End : This section notifies the Project Manager and DelDOT’s contracted professional service vendors to the end of the State fiscal year finance system shut down.

Section 3.4.2.3 - Quality Assurance : This section summarizes the Project Manager’s responsibility to perform quality assurance on project deliverables, to review and evaluate the services of the vendor annually, and to document the vendor’s performance at the end of the contract.

Section 3.4.2.4 - Closeout : This section establishes the process to closeout tasks upon completion or when DelDOT has decided to terminate the service before its completion.

Section 3.5 - Establishment of Project Directory : This section establishes the importance of using consistent project directories and introduces its subsections which describe DelDOT’s typical project development related directories.

Section 3.5.1 - ProjectWise

Section 3.5.2 - \DOTFS08\CADD\Active Designs

Section 3.5.3 - \DOTFS08\CADD\Active Contracts

Section 3.6 - Project Scoping : This section describes the best practices for performing project scoping and arriving at a preferred alternative for further design. The section also introduces the concept of scope management which ensures the project remains consistent with its original objectives.

Section 3.6.1 - Define the Project Objective : This section encourages the development of explicit and clear project objectives that indicate why a project is being undertaken and what the project is intended to achieve. The section also introduces the concept of “purpose and need” statements to assist in refining a project’s scope and subsequent objectives.

Section 3.6.2 – Develop the Scoping Process : This section encourages the design team to tailor the scoping process to suit an individual project’s needs. The section’s subsections outline scoping phase considerations and describe scoping phase tools.

Section 3.6.2.1 – NEPA Class Requirements : This section describes how the NEPA class of a proposed action will affect the project scoping phase.

Section 3.6.2.2 – Scoping Meetings : This section describes strategies and considerations for conducting meetings with project stakeholders at strategic points in the scoping phase.

Section 3.6.2.3 – Public Involvement : This section describes how public involvement can be used to generate public consensus by providing a forum for users to express their needs, ideas, concerns, and perspectives relating to the transportation system while giving DelDOT the opportunity to educate the public about transportation issues, services, and projects.

Section 3.6.3 – Establish Preliminary Design Controls and Criteria : This section describes the process for determining the transportation user groups to accommodate and for selecting associated design controls and criteria to ensure the development of suitable alternatives.

Section 3.6.4 – Establish Project Constraints : This section introduces its subsections which detail several common project constraints and limitations that must be vetted within the project scoping phase.

Section 3.6.4.1 – Transportation Operation

Section 3.6.4.2 – Environmental

Section 3.6.4.3 – Utilities

Section 3.6.4.4 – Right-of-Way

Section 3.6.4.5 – Railroad

Section 3.6.5 – Alternatives Development : This section describes the process used to develop conceptual alternatives that meet the project’s objectives while considering the project’s constraints and associated design controls and criteria.

Section 3.6.5.1 – Alternative Types : This section describes the array of solutions that can be applied to rectify identified transportation deficiencies and meet the project’s objectives.

Section 3.6.6 – Alternativities Assessment : This section describes the process used to evaluate the feasible alternatives developed.

Section 3.6.7 – Process Documentation : This section provides recommendations on how to summarize the early project level decisions so they can be effectively referenced later in the project development process.

Section 3.6.8 – Evaluate Ancillary Considerations : This section introduces its subsections which describe the parameters and considerations to be evaluated once a preferred alternative has been selected.

Section 3.6.8.1 – Project Delivery Method

Section 3.6.8.2 – Accessibility Requirements

Section 3.6.8.3 – Stormwater and Drainage Considerations

Section 3.6.8.4 – Safety

Section 3.6.8.5 – 3D Engineering Content Development

Section 3.6.8.6 – Resiliency

Section 3.6.8.7 – Aesthetics

Section 3.7 – Existing Site Investigation : This section introduces its subsections which describe the existing site investigation and data collection techniques available and their associated request process.

Section 3.7.1 – GIS Databases : This section introduces its subsections which describe the uses for and associated limitations of the GIS databases most frequently utilized during the project development process.

Section 3.7.1.1 – DelDOT Gateway

Section 3.7.1.2 – NPDES Viewer

Section 3.7.1.3 – DNREC Stormwater Assessment Study GIS

Section 3.7.1.4 – Watershed Resources Registry (WRR)

Section 3.7.1.5 – Flood Planning Tool

Section 3.7.2 – Topographic Field Survey : This section describes the process for requesting topographic field surveys performed through DelDOT’s Survey section and introduces its subsections which describe considerations and standards related to topographic field surveys.

Section 3.7.2.1 – Survey Standards

Section 3.7.2.2 – Other Surveying Methods

Section 3.7.2.3 – Pedestrian Connection Survey Considerations

Section 3.7.2.4 – Bridge Design Survey Considerations

Section 3.7.3 – Traffic Data and Functional Classification Designation

Section 3.7.4 – Property Rights Research

Section 3.7.5 – Crash Data

Section 3.7.6 – Utility Designation

Section 3.7.7 – Pavement Corings

Section 3.7.8 – Traffic Counts

Section 3.7.9 – Pipe Video Inspection

Section 3.7.10 – Soil Borings : This section outlines applications that require soil borings and introduces its subsections.

Section 3.7.10.1 – Borings Performed Through On-Call Drilling Agreements : This section describes the process for requesting soil borings through DelDOT’s on-call drilling agreements.

Section 3.7.10.2 – Borings Performed Under Other Professional Service Agreements : This section outlines the process to follow when soil borings are to be performed under a professional services agreement other than DelDOT’s on-call drilling services agreement.