2021 Biennium Goals and Objectives
General Operations
Director's Office
- Promote long-term fiscal stability within the department.
- MDT has submitted and is managing its 2019 biennium budget.
- The department has recently completed the Tentative Construction Plan through 2019, which plans how to utilize all federal aid authority through the next five years. This allows fiscal management and constraint over the long term for both state and federal dollars.
- Maximize utilization of Federal Highway Funds.
- MDT continues to utilize all available federal highway funding and will apply for additional funds through earmarks and redistributions.
- Ensure that all available Federal Funds are obligated.
- All federal funds will be obligated to the extent that state matching funds are available.
- Deliver an environmentally responsible highway construction program.
- MDT will comply with federal and state requirements under NEPA and MEPA.
- Promote department operations in a streamlined, efficient manner.
- MDT continues to promote department operations in a streamlined, efficient manner.
- Promote coordination between entities for highway traffic safety programs.
- MDT manages a highway traffic safety grants program and puts priority towards traffic safety when allocating financial resources.
Professional Services Division
Office of Civil Rights
- Administers, manages, provides and ensures compliance with Federal and State law and guidance on the following programs;
- Affirmative Action, Contractor Compliance, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, DBE Supportive Services, Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Americans with Disabilities Act, Non-Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity, National Summer Transportation Institute, and three (3) On-the-Job Training programs.
- Provides oversight and compliance to ensure MDT conducts business in an environment free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on both Federal and State protected classes which includes:
- Race, color, national origin, parental/marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, religion/creed, social origin or condition, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, ancestry, age, disability (mental or physical), political or religious affiliations or ideas, military service or veteran status, and Limited English Proficiency.
- Provides MDT management and employees with support, technical expertise and training through its program administration.
Audit Services
- Taxpayer Compliance - Encourages taxpayer compliance through a comprehensive audit program that levels the playing field for all taxpayers.
- We will accomplish this through selecting and fulfilling the contractual audit requirements under IFTA and IRP programs (3%) as well as auditing referrals from Administration and Motor Carriers Services Division.
- Contract Compliance - Ensures consultants and contractors comply with contract requirements and federal cost principles when performing work and billing MDT.
- We will accomplish this by selectively identifying contractors or consultants for audit and performing a comprehensive audit of their invoices paid by MDT, including a review of their billing and accounting system.
- Add Value - Provide management with independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the effectiveness of the department operations and internal controls.
- This is accomplished by performing internal audits as designated in the Internal Audit Plan approved by the Audit Committee.
Office of Legal Affairs
- Conducts litigation for the Department in state and federal trial courts and appellate courts primarily involving eminent domain, contract claims, civil rights, outdoor advertising control, environmental issues, motor fuels tax, and personnel matters.
- Reviews and drafts legislation, rules and policies.
- Provides legal opinions and legal assistance to the director, division administrators, district administrators and agency managers.
Human Resources and Occupational Safety Division
- Human Resources and Occupational Safety (HROS) Goal – Develop, integrate, and administer innovative human resources and safety strategies that support the department's overall vision and mission.
- Workforce Planning Goal – Develop employees and leaders within MDT by identifying new learning opportunities through succession planning and knowledge management/transfer tools.
- Human Resources Bureau Goal – Identify and deploy innovative solutions to recruit and retain a diverse workforce to ensure the department's future staffing need are maintained.
- Occupational Safety and Health Goal – Promote a safety culture by reducing employee injuries and workers' compensation costs through training and identification of safe workplace behaviors.
Information Services Division
- Implement IT solutions to meet customer needs.
- Implement IT service Improvements.
- Improve ISD Processes.
- Research and Develop New Technologies and Services.
- Develop the IT workforce.
Administration Division
- Protect departmental assets.
- Continue to assess, implement and monitor internal controls associated with the department's material business processes.
- Continue to strive to maintain a stable and well-trained workforce.
- Continue to identify opportunities for career growth.
- Provide management with sound financial information to make operational and investment decisions.
- Continuously monitor department finances, trends and revenue data to project budgetary needs and fund stability.
Construction Program
Engineering Division
- To survey, design, acquire the right-of-way, and construct safe, cost effective highway improvement projects in order to develop and maintain a cost effective, efficient and safe transportation system.
- 85% of projects planned for the fiscal year are ready for contract.
- Maintain statewide average construction engineering costs under 10% of total contract costs.
- Maintain statewide final costs under 7% above award amount.
- 90% of all contracts with final estimate paid within 90 days of final acceptance.
- Obligate 100% of available federal funds.
- Maintain Federal-aid overrun under $2 million.
- Maintain Inactive projects to not exceed 12 months.
Maintenance Program
- Perform winter maintenance activities that provide consistent levels of service and optimize MDT resources to ensure 90% or more of Maintenance Survey respondents are satisfied with MDT's winter maintenance service.
- Continue to research new equipment, materials, and processes to improve winter driving conditions of roadways by participating in national winter maintenance pooled fund organizations such as Clear Roads and the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters.
- Monitor pavement distresses, select appropriate treatments and perform pavement preservation activities to improve the system index.
- Improve customer satisfaction for Rest Area maintenance through biennial surveys.
- Continue to develop and enhance mobile applications that provide timely and relevant traveler information.
- Provide visible, legible, and understandable signs and pavement markings to ensure the traveling public's safety.
- 85% of roads under MDT jurisdiction will meet reflectivity standards for striping by July 1 annually.
State Motor Pool
- Provide efficient and reliable vehicles on a daily and extended use basis to state employees conducting official business.
- Maintain or reduce variance between actual and projected needs as identified in the annual fleet analysis.
- 90% of the fleet will meet the Level II preventive maintenance schedule annually.
- Safety inspections will be performed on 50% of the fleet each year.
- All light duty vehicles that are purchased will meet or exceed the CAFÉ standard in order to provide fuel efficient vehicles to Motor Pool customers.
- Maintain or enhance customer satisfaction through a biennial survey.
Equipment Program
- Provide safe and reliable vehicles and equipment to meet the needs of the department's users.
- Maintain or reduce variance between actual and projected needs as identified in the annual fleet analysis.
- 90% of the fleet will meet the Level II preventive maintenance schedule annually.
- Safety inspections will be performed on 50% of the fleet each year.
- All light duty vehicles that are purchased will meet or exceed the CAFÉ standard in order to provide fuel efficient vehicles to the department's users.
- Provide specialized equipment training when necessary to meet specific user needs.
Motor Carrier Services
- Within established budget, provide a service to the traveling public by enhancing the safety of our highways, a service to the commercial motor carriers, and a service to the tax payers by protecting our highway infrastructure.
- Attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing high quality employees are essential to achieve exceptional and quantifiable level of quality services.
- Provide a service to the traveling public by making our roads safer i.e., decrease the number and severity of Commercial Vehicle crashes.
- Conduct focused inspections on commercial vehicles to reduce the number of safety non–compliant commercial vehicles and commercial drivers; increase our visual presence on our highways.
- Effectively route and permit oversized loads.
- Protect the highway infrastructure and the associated revenue.
- Maintain or enhance commercial motor carrier size and weight compliance through the annual development of the Federal Size and Weight Enforcement Plan.
- Certify annually to FHWA proof of payment for the Heavy Use Vehicle Tax. Properly credential appropriate commercial vehicles and companies.
- Compile and analyze truck weight and volume information on Montana roadways to identity issues and assist with resource management.
- Provide services to the commercial motor carriers.
- Provide a level playing field by helping carriers comply with and enforce the motor carrier laws.
- Maintain 24/7 internet service availability and continuously work with the industry to explore ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness to obtaining the required licenses and permits; including increased use of self-issued permits.
- Explore, procure, deploy, and maintain state of the art technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of freight movement on Montana highways.
Aeronautics Program
- Advance further growth and promote Montana Aviation.
- Ensure Montana pilots register with the department.
- Provide for the protection of the flying public and the promotion of flight safety and accident prevention programs and other state aviation interests.
- Coordinate safety programs for pilots and other aviation industry interests.
- Continue to expand and improve the statewide air search and rescue program.
- Build relationships with statewide and federal partners that have the charge of search and rescue, emergency services and homeland security.
- Continue to provide aviation education and a resource aviation education center for Montana teachers and students.
- Conduct aviation educator program, career awareness programs and make available a library of resources.
- Provide airport development programs to assist airport sponsors to plan, construct, and maintain Montana's public use airports.
- Provide annual updates to state aviation system plan, offer technical assistance to airports and ensure loan and grant program information is readily available.
- Provide safe, modern, well-maintained state-owned and operated airports including the Yellowstone commercial service airport.
- 100% readiness for anticipated aircraft operations and 100% compliance with 14 CFR Part 139 goals and recommendations. 100% readiness with ARFF and security requirements. 100% availability for aircraft and FBO hangar development.
Transportation Planning Program
- Cost Effectiveness: Develop and implement a long-range multi-modal construction program that addresses Montana's most important statewide transportation needs, is consistent with statewide long-range transportation plan and management system output, and maximizes the use of federal funds through the Performance Programming Process (P3).
- Ensure at least 70% of available federal and state resources are prioritized into a performance based funding plan to support core state highway system needs (Interstate, National Highway, and Primary System) based on system goals defined through P3. P3 outcome goals include:
- Quality: Maintain Pavement Condition performance levels at desirable or superior ride experience for the traveling public.
- Quality: Reduce the structurally deficient bridge deck area (square feet).
- Economic Vitality: Maintain traffic congestion and system reliability within acceptable limits.
- Safety: Implement VisionZero, Zero fatalities, Zero Serious Injuries on MT highways thru behavioral programs and project selection that supports the goal and objectives of Montana's Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP).
- Cost Effectiveness: Ensure 90% of the Interstate, National Highway, & Primary Systems projects programmed are consistent with the funding plan developed through P3.
- Cost Effectiveness: Ensure that MDT uses transit asset condition to guide how to manage capital assets and prioritize funding to improve or maintain the overall transit fleet and facilities to a target level of "State of Good Repair" (SGR).
- Environment: Ensure environmental regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship for department actions.
- Customer Satisfaction: Ensure 50% of the public and transportation stakeholders perception of MDT's overall quality of service at an A or B level in our TranPlan MT Public involvement surveys, which measures progress on the departments long range multi-modal transportation plan.