Difference between revisions of "Help Article"

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Changes to the Standard Specification, Standard Drawings, Pay Items and significant changes to JSPs are documented by [https://spexternal.modot.mo.gov/sites/de/DSL/Forms/ByYear.aspx Design Standards Letters]  and posted both internally and externally.
 
Changes to the Standard Specification, Standard Drawings, Pay Items and significant changes to JSPs are documented by [https://spexternal.modot.mo.gov/sites/de/DSL/Forms/ByYear.aspx Design Standards Letters]  and posted both internally and externally.
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===EPG Ballot Cycles===
 
===EPG Ballot Cycles===
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!style="background:#99efff" colspan="5"| 2021 Engineering Policy Services Ballot Schedule
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!style="background:#99efff" colspan="5"| 2022 Engineering Policy Services Ballot Schedule
 
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!style="background:#99ffff" width="250"| Engineering Policy Revision Requests Due to CO Engineering Policy Services  !!style="background:#99ffff" width="180"| Ballot Items Due to Asst. Chief Engineer !!style="background:#99ffff" width="190"| Ballot Items Due to FHWA !!style="background:#99ffff"|Publish Revisions !!style="background:#99ffff"|Effective Date
 
!style="background:#99ffff" width="250"| Engineering Policy Revision Requests Due to CO Engineering Policy Services  !!style="background:#99ffff" width="180"| Ballot Items Due to Asst. Chief Engineer !!style="background:#99ffff" width="190"| Ballot Items Due to FHWA !!style="background:#99ffff"|Publish Revisions !!style="background:#99ffff"|Effective Date
 
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|June 19, 2020 ||June 26, 2020 ||June 26, 2020 ||July 20, 2020 ||October 1, 2020
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|June 21, 2021 ||June 25, 2021 ||June 25, 2021 ||July 19, 2021 ||October 1, 2021
 
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|style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 18, 2020 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 25, 2020 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 25, 2020 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|October 19, 2020 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|January 1, 2021
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|style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 17, 2021 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 24, 2021 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 24, 2021 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|October 18, 2021 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|January 1, 2022
 
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|December 18, 2020 ||December 28, 2020 ||December 28, 2020 ||January 19, 2021 ||April 1, 2021
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|style="background:#FFFFFF"|March 18, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|March 25, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|March 25, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|April 18, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|July 1, 2022
 
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|June 17, 2022 ||June 24, 2022 ||June 24, 2022 ||July 18, 2022 ||October 1, 2022
 
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|style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 16, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 23, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|September 23, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|October 17, 2022 ||style="background:#FFFFFF"|January 1, 2023
  
 
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Revision as of 11:15, 16 July 2021

Engineering Policy Revision Request Form
Form to Propose Level 1, 2 and 3 Revisions for the EPG and other MoDOT Standards

The Engineering Policy Guide (EPG) contains MoDOT policy, procedure and guidance for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of roadway and related facilities. It also includes specific technical topics of right of way, bridge, traffic and materials. These articles are numbered to reflect as closely as possible the pay items and divisions from Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction.

The EPG is not a contract document and EPG articles are referenced as EPG XXX.X or "articles" - not "sections" - to avoid confusion with MoDOT specifications. Where a conflict exists between the EPG and a contract, the contract document rules. References and links to the Missouri Standard Specifications are given as "Sec XXX.XX" or "Section XXX.XX of the Standard Specifications." References and links to the Missouri Standard Plans for Highway Construction are "Standard Plan XXX.XX".

Organization

Articles are grouped into the specification book’s divisions (for example, the EPG articles in EPG 100 General mirror Division 100 specifications, articles in EPG 300 Bases mirror Division 300 specifications, etc.). Many articles have been subdivided into additional articles. For example, the reader may notice that EPG 903.6 Warning Signs and other EPG 903 articles are listed at the bottom of EPG 903 Highway Signing.

While every effort has been made to base the article numbers on MoDOT pay items and specifications, not all articles in the EPG are reflected in the pay items and specifications. For example, many EPG “100 General” articles are important to the design and construction of roadway facilities but do not directly correspond to specific pay items. Some of these are:

Similar examples are to be found in the EPG 200, EPG 300, etc. articles.

How best to view the articles

The articles are best viewed on your computer monitor with the following settings:

Click on any picture to view
17-in. Monitors:
1024 x 768 pixels screen area
Medium text size in wiki "View" settings
Wide Screen Monitors:
1680 x 1050 pixels screen area
Medium text size
Larger text size in wiki "View" settings
125% zoom in wiki "View" settings

How to Easily Select and Print an Entire Article or a Portion of an Article

1) Highlight the selected article or portion of article
Help Article Print 1.jpg
2) Click “File”
Help Article Print 2.jpg
3) Click “Print Preview”
Help Article Print 3.jpg
4) Select “As selected on screen”
Help Article Print 4.jpg
5) Should your selection include a large table or figure that creates an undesirable appearance, you may want to click the “Shrink To Fit” tab and perhaps select “85%”.
6) Print the selection.
Help Article Request Form title.jpg

EPG Approval Process

Revisions to engineering policy are proposed using the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form. Revisions to forms used in the EPG are also proposed by using the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form.

Any other standard affected by a proposed EPG revision?

Provide electronic files of all the revisions to other MoDOT standards (other EPG articles, any Standard Plans, specifications, JSPs, etc.) impacted by the EPG proposal. Word files in revision mode are required for textual changes. Dgn files are preferred for Standard Plan revisions although a redlined hard copy showing the proposed changes is also acceptable.

Help Article Request Form Issue Name.jpg

Completing the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form

Every submittal must document, along with the actual proposed textual revision to the EPG:

Contact. The name of the sponsor from within the division proposing the revision is required. The contact is the person most knowledgeable or central to the proposal.
Summarize. Provide the reason why the idea should be carried out (why it is necessary or its benefit). This justification may be critical in the decision to approve the proposal or not.
Fiscal Impact. Provide a dollar estimate for the proposal’s costs or savings to MoDOT. Include necessary calculations (initial savings or life cycle savings, for example) or assertions to accurately convey the proposal’s financial impact. The fiscal impact must be a numeric dollar value.
External Involvement. Provide a summary of efforts undertaken during the development of the item to engage affected industry groups and the FHWA. Provide specific examples of who was involved and how the involvement occurred. This is not applicable to every submittal, but is critical for the determination of the associated approval level for borderline items.

The Engineering Policy Revision Request Form also requires the date, issue name and a listing of all affected publications. (For instance, should a proposal for EPG 606.1 also require revisions to Sec 606 and Std. Plan 606.30, the section and standard plan as well as their proposed revisions would be specified along with the proposed revisions to the EPG article.)

It is also optional to enter information about whether the proposal involves an Administrative Rule or LPA guidance, the submitter's tracking number (if any) and the submitter's desired effective letting date.

After the proposed EPG revision is submitted

Submittals are evaluated and processed on a quarterly schedule. Final decisions on proposed ballots are submitted to the Policy and Innovations Engineer for disposition. The Assistant Chief Engineer submits the final decision on Level 2 revisions and the Chief Engineer submits the final decision on Level 3 revisions. Proposed revisions will be categorized by the Policy and Innovations Engineer based on the following guidelines:

Level 1 Approval. If, upon submittal in the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form, a proposed revision is determined to be a routine technical matter, an errata correction or a clarification, it can be approved by the Policy and Innovations Engineer without comment from the district engineers, the division engineers or the Chief Engineer. The EPG will be revised as necessary.

Tips on Text
While Engineering Policy Services edits all submittals, a few grammatical guidelines for the EPG include:
Assure/Ensure/Insure: The word “assure” is a personal guarantee based on reputation. “Ensure” is used when the party is to make certain of something or to be careful. “Insure” refers to actions protected by insurance, and indicates that money is involved.
Dimensions: Typically use “high”, “wide” and “long” instead of “in height”, “in width” and “in length”.
Farther/Further: Use “farther” to express a physical distance, such as 10 miles farther, and “further” for a non-physical dimension, such as further thought.
Fewer/less: Use “few” or “fewer” for something comprised of a small number of countable components (such as fewer dollars, fewer gallons of water, etc.). Use “less” for amounts that are not being counted (less money, less water, etc.).
Gender: Minimize the use of “he/she”, “he and she” and “she or he”.
High/Tall: Use “high” to express a lofty position, such as the clouds are high. Use “tall” to express a great vertical dimension, such as the tall post.
Until: Do not use "til".

Level 2 Approval. If, upon submittal in the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form, a proposed revision is determined to be a moderate technical change, if it requires specific expertise (e.g. structural design, etc.) or if it impacts more than one division, the proposal is processed as a Level 2 Ballot item. The District Engineers and Division Directors/Engineers are provided 10 business days to provide their comments to the Assistant Chief Engineer who will consider the idea before providing a decision to the Policy and Innovations Engineer. The Federal Highway Administration is given 10 working days to provide comment or concurrence with the Policy and Innovations Engineer. Upon approval any associated documents and the EPG will be revised as necessary.

Level 3 Approval. If, upon submittal in the Engineering Policy Revision Request Form, a proposed revision is determined to be a complex technical change, contentious, has high cost or impacts MoDOT's external conduct of business, the proposal is processed as a Level 3 Ballot item. The District Engineers and select Division Directors/Engineers are provided 10 business days to provide their comments to the Chief Engineer who will consider the idea before providing their decision to the Policy and Innovations Engineer. The Federal Highway Administration is provided 10 business days to provide comment or concur with the proposal. Upon approval, any associated documents and the EPG will be revised as necessary.

Changes to the Standard Specification, Standard Drawings, Pay Items and significant changes to JSPs are documented by Design Standards Letters and posted both internally and externally.


EPG Ballot Cycles

.

2022 Engineering Policy Services Ballot Schedule
Engineering Policy Revision Requests Due to CO Engineering Policy Services Ballot Items Due to Asst. Chief Engineer Ballot Items Due to FHWA Publish Revisions Effective Date
June 21, 2021 June 25, 2021 June 25, 2021 July 19, 2021 October 1, 2021
September 17, 2021 September 24, 2021 September 24, 2021 October 18, 2021 January 1, 2022
December 17, 2021 December 24, 2021 December 24, 2021 January 18, 2022 April 1, 2022
March 18, 2022 March 25, 2022 March 25, 2022 April 18, 2022 July 1, 2022
June 17, 2022 June 24, 2022 June 24, 2022 July 18, 2022 October 1, 2022
September 16, 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 October 17, 2022 January 1, 2023

Division Contacts

Since the divisions provide authoritative input, consulting with their liaisons or contacts may provide the help you require or receive your input. Below is a listing of divisional personnel with whom the Engineering Policy staff works and who may be helpful to you:

Bridge: Darren Kemna
Chief Counsel's Office: Terri Parker
Construction and Materials:
Chemical Laboratory: Todd Bennett
Construction Engineering: Dennis Brucks, Randy Hitt, John Donahue
Geotechnical Engineering: Lydia Brownell
Physical Laboratory: Brett Trautman
Design: Shelie Daniel, Tim Schroeder, Dave Simmons
Bid & Contract Services: Danica Stovall-Taylor
CADD Services: Steve Atkinson
Environmental Compliance: Melissa Scheperle
Historic Preservation: Mike Meinkoth
LPA: Laura Ellen
Right of Way: Mendy Sundermeyer, Greg Wood
Highway Safety & Traffic: Lisa Vieth
Safety Engineering: Ray Shank
Signals: Ashley Buechter, Lisa Vieth
Signs: Tom Honich, Cayci Reinkemeyer
Work Zones: Dan Smith
Maintenance: Paul Denkler
Multimodal: Michelle Kratzer, Jenni Hosey
Aviation: Amy Ludwig
Freight & Waterways: Cheryl Ball
Railroads: Troy Hughes
Transit: Joni Roeseler
Planning: Eric Curtit

FHWA Contacts

Below is a listing of FHWA personnel with whom the Engineering Policy staff works and who may be helpful to you:

ADA: Lauren Paulwell
Bridge: Scott Stotlemeyer
Construction and Materials: Dawn Perkins
Design: Brian Nevins, Kevin Irving (KC & NW), Felix Gonzalez (NE & SE), Dawn Perkins (SL), Charles Pursley (CD & SW)
Environmental: Raegan Ball and Taylor Peters
Pavements: Mike McGee
Right of Way: Michael Latuszek
Safety and Traffic Control: John Miller
Transportation and Planning: Brad McMahon and Steven Minor