Practical Design: Home

The information in this guide represents a cursory search of the available literature on the Practical Design method of highway projects, which encourages engineering that offers the maximum results with the minimum cost, without sacrificing safety and functionality. This seems to be a DOT-centric concept; I did not find the term, or related terms used in works from outside the US, and did not see them used in scholarly journals and papers - although that could simply be the result of different terms being used to describe the same approach.

The US DOT maintains a website, and several states, including Oregon, have created guidebooks and/or websites describing the concepts and how they are being applied for cost savings. Most of these discuss how Practical Design can be implemented, and the potential benefits, but I found most of the actual case studies in presentations/PowerPoint slides. I have attached the ones that showed actual comparison, although different states measured cost savings differently. I did not find any sign of a value/cost savings that could be applied across the board in a general sense. Links to other guidebooks, reports, and other resources are included, and I singled out reports prepared for the legislature and/or in response to current legislation.

Other terms used synonymously with Practical Design:

• Practical Solutions
• Common Sense Engineering (VDOT)
• Open Roads (INDOT)

Terms used in Practical Design discussions:

• Design-up
• Performance-based
• Value Engineering

WSDOT made a point in their 2016 Practical Design Report regarding the ability to continue to compare traditional design to practical design methods:

"It is important to recognize that greater savings are often generated through practical solution and practical design efforts during the earlier stages of project development, prior to the project receiving funding…..As WSDOT continues to refine its approach to implementing practical solutions and practical design, we expect to observe a diminishing level of savings. This is due to future projects being developed from their inception utilizing these principles."