There are no resources for small rural and tribal transit providers who want to build transit facilities under $1 million. Currently, they must rely on manuals that are directed at larger multi-million-dollar facilities and attempt to “weed out” unnecessary information or requirements. 

Many small rural or tribal transit managers neither have the expertise nor the time, as many wear multiple hats, to read manuals in the hundreds of pages, which don’t apply to their project. Some may rely on DOT staff, who also may lack the expertise to oversee these projects. In most instances, the projects are not attempted or fail before the initial phase is started. Tribal transit managers are unclear if they should write multiple Invitation for Bid (IFB) or try and hire one contractor for all work. 

The manual would assist project managers to make better choices on which strategies will bring them a better project that is completed on budget and by the predicted completion date. With small projects, some project management techniques are not worth the time and funds invested.

The objective of this project would be to develop a manual, which would outline the process; provide regulatory requirements; and include sample document templates, such as IFB, advertisements, checklists, and explanations on how to anticipate and address change orders. This manual would be a streamlined guide which would allow transit managers and boards to determine if they have the expertise to handle a facility construction project or if they need to hire ad hoc personnel. It will provide necessary documents with the required federal language to meet regulations. It will also act as a training manual for DOT staff. Documents should be in a format that would allow for easy insertion of state regulations or policies related to unique situations that might be encountered, such as surveyors hired to determine geological conductions which could compromise a facility structure or a reasonable drilling depth and gallons per minute on a well.