Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration - Momentum Newsletter
AUGUST 2019 PLEASE PRINT & POST

COMMUNICATION -
ADMINISTRATOR'S MESSAGE
Dive into Diversity

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." ― Mahatma Gandhi

We are an organization ― a FAMILY – of many different cultures and backgrounds. When all of those diverse perspectives are at the table, we better reflect those who we serve and deliver the best for Maryland. Now more than ever, we need to fully embrace our diversity and instill a culture of inclusiveness ― not only for our customers, but for us. We must think in a new way. That's where the new Diversity and Inclusion program comes in. "DiVE In" is about thinking differently; it offers a valuable full range of perspectives. For that to happen, we need you at the table; we need everyone at the table. We hope that you will join us and: DiVE In.

Join the conversation, and look for a DiVE In survey coming soon. Your response to the Diversity and Inclusion Employee Engagement Survey will help raise awareness of identity in the workplace and cultivate an inclusive community. Please be sure to respond promptly; we want everyone involved in this process.

We need your voice, because we learn from each other - we grow stronger together. We need to harness the power of inclusiveness as we face growing competition for skilled employees, and at the same time witness diversity in the workforce is increasing both ethnically and generationally. Advances in technology enable the public sector to deliver services quicker and better than ever. The public demands that government be run "more like a business" and expect accountability and transparency - as they should.

These changes converge to create a perfect storm for public sector human resource management. Can our ways of recruiting, retaining, training, and promoting employees meet the challenges of today and tomorrow? There is an answer, and it lies in one thing we all desire: to feel included, valued and respected.

Together, we can create that environment of mutual respect and inclusion. When team members of all backgrounds are appreciated for their uniqueness and contributions, they become more creative, committed, collaborative and motivated to improve MDOT SHA — and at the same time achieve their potential and self-satisfaction. We are creating a new work environment here at MDOT SHA in which our differences are harnessed to deliver the best possible product to our customers.

There is one way that I know to change our perspective: be open to and realize that there are other valuable perspectives. The purpose of the new DiVE In program will provide the framework and the tools so that we each better understand, appreciate and welcome varied perspectives within our team.

I hope you are as excited as I am about the possibilities for tomorrow that will emerge from our sharing this experience today! With every voice at the table we can deliver the absolute best for Maryland. Every voice and every diverse perspective reflect those who we serve! Thank you for being part of the MDOT SHA team and everything you do for our customers.

Greg Slater

Greg Slater

MODERNIZATION
Opportunity MDOT Reaches Minority and Disadvantaged Businesses

Joshua Matthews of JCM Control Systems shares how Opportunity MDOT will create opportunities for his business.

Joshua Matthews of JCM Control Systems shares how Opportunity MDOT will create opportunities for his business.

On August 1 Opportunity MDOT, a workshop to support the planned Traffic Relief Program/Public Private Partnership, explained future participation to a unique audience – hundreds of business people representing small and minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.

"We want to be a part of it," said attendee Joshua Matthews, the President and CEO of JCM Control Systems, a 34-year-old minority business enterprise. JCM specializes in building automation, and mechanical and facility management. The program, he said, shows that "MDOT has made a sincere effort to hire MBE, DBE, minority businesses."

MDOT SHA Administrator Greg Slater, who appeared onstage with MDOT Secretary Pete K. Rahn, told the hundreds who attended the event in College Park, "There's a path for success for everyone here."

Attendees learned about the I-495 & I-270 P3 program – which has a potential budget of $9-11 billion – and how they can become engaged immediately through training, networking, acquiring DBE certification, and responding to P3 solicitations.

Opportunity MDOT provided the participants with details about important parts of the Traffic Relief Program.

An advisory council that will spearhead economic empowerment throughout the life of the program.
A new Center of Excellence, a virtual hub of information, resources and support services for small, disadvantaged and minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses, as well as jobseekers and prime contractors interested in engaging with the I-495 & I-270 P3 Program.
Partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor's Workforce Development Division to manage a preferred training-partner network.
Coordination with the Conference on Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) to raise awareness.

The reactions were positive. Said Ignamara Petrowic of Mara Services, a construction management company, "I was delighted to come to this event today. This was a tremendous effort by MDOT."

INNOVATION
Tracking Thousands of Vehicles with FITS

FITS cut the processing time for requesting a vehicle's fuel card from five days to same day, says Business Data Analyst Rob Dey.

FITS cut the processing time for requesting a vehicle's fuel card from five days to same day, says Business Data Analyst Rob Dey.

Whether we're repairing a pothole, rescuing a stranded driver, or plowing snow during a blizzard, when MDOT SHA workers go into action, we start by mounting a truck or car.

In the past, individual departments and districts tracked vehicles on their own – some using MS Excel, some using MS Access. But challenges appeared when senior managers couldn't easily identify systemwide needs and managers in different locations had a difficult time exchanging information about the 2,500 vehicles deployed on our roadways.

Business Data Analyst Rob Dey explained that two years ago, MDOT SHA committed to developing an online system. Now in its fourth release, the Fleet Inventory Tracking System (FITS) has vastly improved the ability to deploy, repair, and budget. "It's an intuitive system," says Rob, "it's easy to use."

FITS lets users perform a large number of tasks using screens where what you see is what you get. You may view fleet inventory, assign drivers, designate pool vehicles, and assign E-ZPass transponders. You may score visual assessments of individual vehicles, giving a truck a 1 if it's virtually unserviceable or a 5 if it's in excellent condition. It also allows you to record monthly usage. Need to search for a car or truck? The fields let you look by unit, responsible person, RC, and vehicle tag. You may also limit your search to vehicles that are available right now or when you need them – a very helpful feature. "It cut the processing time for requesting a vehicle's fuel card from five days to same day," explains Rob.

FITS allows you to track and request fuel cards, track emission records and citations, and all necessary forms are in its library and easy to download. There's more coming, he says, including a fleet coordinator dashboard, currently in development.

Rob said the buy-in has been great. While some people prefer staying with what has worked for them, "When those folks make a suggestion about improving the system and then see what it looks like when their suggestion is adopted, they get excited."

Among those who have worked on FITS are OOM Equipment Division Chief Tim Lawler, Assistant Division Chief Mike Antlitz, and OOTS IT's Vincent Mise, Rajeswari Rajagopal, Yong Liang and Allyson Wolfe.

CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Hot Can Be Better Than Cold

A local resident wrote, thank you, Supervisor Ron of State Highway @ Glen Burnie, for making sure that potholes were repaired. Pictured, left to right: Back row: Rodney Lewis, Salvador Campos, Mike Johnson, Steve Hall, Ron Witherspoon, Roger Merson, Juan Rodriguez, and James Anthony. Bottom row: Ron Fisher, Donald Berry, Lionel Green, Brandon Smith, and Gerald Mahony.

A local resident wrote, thank you, Supervisor Ron of State Highway @ Glen Burnie, for making sure that potholes were repaired. Pictured, left to right: Back row: Rodney Lewis, Salvador Campos, Mike Johnson, Steve Hall, Ron Witherspoon, Roger Merson, Juan Rodriguez, and James Anthony. Bottom row: Ron Fisher, Donald Berry, Lionel Green, Brandon Smith, and Gerald Mahony.

Months after the snow and ice, during those 90 and even 100-degree days, Maryland highways sometimes carry the reminder of winter with them. When rapid freeze-thaw weather patterns formed potholes along I-97, members of the Glen Burnie shop immediately responded, patching and repairing the potholes with cold mix. The effects remained after the weather warmed. And later, when more permanent repairs were needed, Glen Burnie's pothole patrol responded again with more durable hot mix. "We received numerous CCMS tickets and calls about potholes going back to the winter snow," recalls Assistant Resident Maintenance Engineer Ron Witherspoon, and the shop responded by first applying cold patches, the only option during frigid days.

Later, though, the patches started to wear. Ron and the Glen Burnie crew planned. They set a schedule to apply the far more reliable hot mix – which takes longer to apply – and have been methodically digging, preparing the mixture, and making long-lasting repairs. The smooth ride hasn't gone unnoticed.

One enthusiastic resident wrote, "Thank you, Supervisor Ron of State Highway @ Glen Burnie, for making sure that some potholes were properly and thoroughly repaired. The location was southbound #97, Lane #3 just north of Benfield Blvd in northern Anne Arundel County. I realize that there are an infinite number of potholes out there and I appreciate your efforts to do your best to fix them. Thanks to Ron and everyone else involved!"

Proof of a job well done. And how do the compliments feel? Ron doesn't hesitate. "The guys love it," he says.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

At the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department Carnival parade, FMIT III John Buschelberger of the Westminster Shop distributed safety bracelets and candy to children and adults along a road being repaired by MDOT SHA.

At the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department Carnival parade, FMIT III John Buschelberger of the Westminster Shop distributed safety bracelets and candy to children and adults along a road being repaired by MDOT SHA.

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