Lessons Learned from Selection of Project Delivery Methods in Highway Projects: The Texas Experience

Abstract

The effectiveness of a project delivery method selection depends on distinct characteristics, desired goals, institutional constraints, and the correct allocation of risk. The selection of the appropriate method is a complex decision. Within the highway sector, the choice between design-bid-build (D-B-B) and design-build (D-B) delivery methods is one many practitioners are called to make. Researchers and practitioners have developed a number of tools to aid selection. Use of these tools allows empirical investigation to refine our understanding of the factors that guide selection. In particular, this paper uses data from a quantitative tool developed for the Texas Department of Transportation. Since 2014, this tool has been used to select the delivery methods for 57 projects, providing a large data set for analysis. This paper’s findings identify the most impactful project characteristics for specific delivery methods, such as site conditions and utility relocations for D-B-B and opportunity for innovation for D-B. Among the project characteristics, those most commonly selected as applicable include potential for early project completion, site conditions, designer-contractor integration, and the contractor being better suited to handle third-party issues. Some strong positive correlations were found among the characteristics relating to opportunities for innovation and the value of designer-contractor integration as well. These findings were validated using importance weightings generated by an expert panel. The quantitative results are useful both for practitioners seeking to refine their project delivery method decision-making and for researchers seeking a quantitative basis for future investigation.