Prject Tracker Implementatin Plan Transprtatin Planning and Prgramming Divisin March 1, 2018
INTRODUCTION The (TxDOT) is cmmitted t cntinuusly imprve custmer service, transparency and accuntability. One f the best ways t achieve these gals is thrugh Prject Tracker, an nline tl that serves as the gateway t infrmatin abut mre than 11,000 TxDOT prjects, prviding 24/7-access fr all the public, emplyees and elected fficials. Sunset Cmmissin: Recgnizing the imprtance f this tl, the Sunset Cmmissin is requiring the fllwing changes regarding Prject Tracker: TxDOT will regularly evaluate and make imprvements t the nline Prject Tracker system and adpt related rules. TxDOT will develp materials t increase awareness and use f the nline Prject Tracker tl fr lcal elected fficials. (Management actin nn-statutry) Effrt t Imprve Prject Tracker and Increase Awareness Underway: In respnse t these requirements, TxDOT has and will cntinue t cnduct an imprvement effrt, which is being infrmed by input frm lcal elected fficials, stakehlders and TxDOT emplyees. The graphic belw highlights the utreach activities t gather input and raise awareness f the tl. Input by the numbers: 2,000+ survey respnses 185+ fcus grup participants 30+ raising awareness events/activities planned r cmpleted. Mre details related t cmpleted and planned utreach are prvided in the attached prgress reprt. 1
IMPROVEMENTS TO PROJECT TRACKER Based n the feedback f apprximately 2,000 Texans, the new versin f Prject Tracker will feature: Imprved search functin At-a-glance prject summaries Mre intuitive web design These imprvements were based n recmmendatins frm stakehlders, which were gathered thrugh six fcus grup meetings held acrss Texas. Mre infrmatin abut the input gathered thrugh the fcus grups can be fund in the Prject Tracker Phase 1 Outreach Reprt, which is psted n the Prject Tracker hmepage f www.txdt.gv (http://www.txdt.gv/inside-txdt/prjects/prject-tracker.html). Screensht f the new versin f Prject Tracker, which will launch in spring 2018. The new versin f Prject Tracker is mre user-friendly and allws users t search fr prjects by a keywrd, which is similar t a Ggle search and makes it easier t access infrmatin quickly. The imprved tl als ffers users the pprtunity t view the prject map and summary infrmatin all n ne screen. Prir t the launch f the new versin, an additinal rund f fcus grups was cnducted in which participants tested the imprvements and ffered minr refinements. 2
ONGOING PUBLIC INPUT When the new versin f Prject Tracker launches, TxDOT s utreach effrt will nt end. The agency will cntinue t gather feedback frm Prject Tracker users thrugh the fllwing: Pp-up Survey: A pp-up survey will be embedded n the Prject Tracker website t gather nging input frm users. Cntact Infrmatin: All Prject Tracker prmtinal materials will include an email address (Prject.Tracker@txdt.gv) and the TxDOT mainline phne number (512) 463-8588 s users can cntact TxDOT easily with cmments r questins. RAISE AWARENESS & INCREASE USAGE AMONG LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TxDOT has and will cntinue t raise awareness amng lcal elected fficials and stakehlders thrugh targeted utreach effrts. Belw are a few examples f the utreach effrts targeting lcal elected fficials, which have been cmpleted r scheduled fr 2018. Training fr lcal elected fficials and their staff: TxDOT understands the key rle lcal elected fficials and their staffs will have in using the infrmatin prvided thrugh Prject Tracker. TxDOT will cntinually seek pprtunities t prvide training fr this imprtant grup. 3
ADOPT RELATED RULES The Texas Transprtatin Cmmissin is required t adpt rules befre Sept. 1, 2018, t ensure the Sunset Cmmissin requirements are met. TxDOT will be prpsing rules that prvide fr cntinued imprvements t Prject Tracker. Rule Prpsals Related t Prject Tracker Imprvements: The agency will launch the new versin f Prject Tracker in spring 2018. This versin will include imprved search functin, at-a-glance prject summaries and mre intuitive web design. TxDOT will: Review and update the Prject Tracker help dcument t make it cmpatible with the new versin f the tl. Create a set f best practices fr TxDOT emplyees respnsible fr uplading infrmatin t Prject Tracker. These best practices will establish deadlines fr updating infrmatin based n prject milestnes t ensure that accurate prject infrmatin is presented in a timely manner. Develp a glssary f cmmn wrk descriptins fr prjects. This glssary will ensure that prjects are being cmmunicated in terms that the public can easily understand, and that cnsistent wrk descriptins are used acrss all prjects. Rules Related t Regularly Evaluating Prject Tracker: TxDOT will: Establish a Wrking Grup t review the nging user feedback and recmmend additinal imprvements when warranted. Cnduct a cmprehensive review f the reprting system t determine if imprvements are necessary at least every fur years. In cnducting the review, TxDOT will incrprate feedback frm internal and external users f the system and advice frm its public invlvement ffice. If imprvements are necessary, TxDOT will further develp an implementatin plan fr such imprvements. 4