Mn/DOT's E-Jam and Sustainability Initiatives

In the past

It wasn't enough

How do we ensure our projects improve quality of life?

Employees submitted 530 ideas in five days

Nearly 1,000 employees voted

17,800 votes cast

7 Themes

"Our stakeholders are demanding that we be more environmentally responsible in how we plan, design, build and operate our projects. . . .

We need to centrally focus on all aspects of sustainability in transportation and what we can do about it. We can't limit our vision to purchasing more fuel-efficient fleet vehicles, but much more broadly address how we can "green up" the transportation system. "

Expanded on the E-jam ideas to create a high-level initative

The Sustainability Flagship Initiative promotes innovative solutions to ensure Mn/DOT business practices, services, and facilities support economic opportunity, community well-being and the natural environment now and for generations to come.

Defining Sustainability for Mn/DOT

Sustainable transportation respects, supports, and (where possible) regenerates environmental systems, the economy, and society over many generations

How do we meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?

Cindy Carlsson

Mn/DOT Sustainability Manager

cindy.carlsson@state.mn.us

651-366-3313

The Story of E-Jam and Achieving Sustainability

2009 FHWA Environmental Excellence

Mn/DOT’s commitment to performance-based planning helped the agency earn two national awards from the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

GIS Best Practices

The Interstate 35W bridge replacement project was awarded America’s Transportation Awards’ Grand Prize for 2009 on Oct. 25 by the American Automobile Association, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

AASHTO Excellence in Highway Design 2006

Goals for Project Manager

And many more!

2009 Global Road Achievement Award

• Define what sustainability means for Mn/DOT and transportation in particular

• Develop a broad framework for assessing risk and establishing priorities

• Assess and ensure implementation of E-Jam ideas as appropriate

• Serve as steward to sustainability in the development of the 50 year transportation vision, complete streets planning and other state and national initiatives

Sustainability Ideas

Green Buildings

Workplace of Choice

Tech Connections

Reduce Waste & Save Energy

in the Workplace

Project managers hired

Sustainability

Operational Innovations

Maybe our employees know!

Scope Incentive

Green Highway Construction,

Operations & Maintenance

Public Private Partnerships

Targeted Transparency

Planning & Project Development

Work-Related Travel

A web-based program allowed employees to submit ideas on any topic

• Employees could comment on ideas submitted by others

• Each employee had 50 votes they could distribute among their favorite ideas

• Employees could remain anonymous

It's about balance!

(Thanks to Todd Litman and the Victoria Transport Policy Institute for providing a model!)

To Ensure Sustainability, Mn/DOT will:

• Use all resources wisely

• Consider the needs of future generations

• Evaluate a wide range of risks

• Protect and enhance the environment

• Conserve energy and natural resources

• Improve Quality of Life

• Involve the public in the transportation planning process

• Encourage innovative approaches to the design, operation and maintenance of our facilities.

How are we going to make this happen?

High-Level Inventory

What's going on now?

Who's Doing it?

Increase the Understanding of Sustainability's Costs and Benefits

FHWA sustainable roads

Assess and Implement E-Jam Ideas as Appropriate

Get our Story Out

(Internally

AND Externally)

Define Sustainability for Mn/DOT

Assess Risk and Establish Priorities for ongoing work

Determine Ongoing Organizational Structure for Sustainability

Ensure Mn/DOT

is a Part of Key Initiatives and Opportunities

TIGER II complete streets application

McKnight Foundation Sustainable Community Indicators

Current structure is temporary. It was put in place quickly in order start moving forward quickly.

High-level inventory underway

Risk assessment conducted by year end

E-jam made it clear that our own employees often aren't aware of what we are doing!

Many E-jam ideas will be wrapped into larger projects:

for example, reducing paper use and increased recycling will be part of a larger discussion about reducing waste and recycling

SHARP 2 Pilot Grand Rapids complete streets plan

State Smart Transportation Initiative

and more!

That's a quick summary of how Mn/DOT has expanded on the ideas submitted by employees to begin an agency-wide sustainability initiative.

Thank you!

Philip Schaffner

Office of Statewide Multimodal Planning

For More Information...