State of California

Business, Transportation and Housing Agency

M e m o r a n d u m

To:	ALL DISTRICT/REGIONAL DIRECTORS Attention: Design Division Chiefs	Date: June 4, 1999 File:
From:	DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DESIGN AND LOCAL PROGRAMS MAIL STATION 28
Subject:	Design Senior Responsibilities

As Caltrans has moved further into matrix management, some ambiguity has arisen about the respective responsibilities of the Design Senior, the Project Engineer and the Project Manager. This letter is to address that confusion with particular regard to the Design Senior.

A Design Senior is the functional manager in the production of engineering products such as PSRs, Project Reports and Plans, Specifications and Estimates. Typical duties are as follows:

• Assure that staff has knowledge, skills, tools and guidance to produce a quality product.
• Produce, through others, engineering products that comply with applicable standards, regulations
  and policies.
• Assign and direct staff to develop engineering products within the scope, schedule and cost as
  committed to the project manager.
• Provide technical and procedural direction, and approve staff and other project
  expenditures.
• Monitor and provide feedback on work items, report to executive management on the status of
  assigned projects and consult with management on sensitive issues.
• Make the more difficult and complex engineering decisions on projects.

An essential duty of a Design Senior is to assure the quality of the engineering products turned out by the unit. Quality in design is not an intangible. It can be achieved through thoughtful adherence to Caltrans policies and procedures and willing participation with other disciplines, agencies and community representatives. A quality design is one that is delivered within the project's scope, schedule and cost and is biddable and buildable as submitted. It is one that meets the project's stated need and purpose, incorporates safety for the traveling public and Caltrans maintenance forces, has an acceptable environmental impact, and is compatible with the values of the communities in which it lies.

Design quality is achieved through appropriate direction to staff, regular checking of progress, direct reviews and circulation of engineering products for interdisciplinary reviews.

There is no trade off of quality against schedule, cost or scope. Caltrans, if it is to keep its job as the engineering organization that supplies California with its premier transportation services, will have to produce engineering products that meet schedule, cost and scope parameters and are of superior quality.

Original signed by:
ROBERT L. BUCKLEY
Program Manager
Design and Local Programs

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