AERONAUTICS BUREAU One of the two main functions of the Aeronautics Bureau is to provide state matching funds to the State’s publicly owned, public use airports for planning and capital improvements to their airfield facilities. The Bureau’s staff works closely with the cities, counties, and local airport authorities that operate the State’s general aviation airports and commercial service airports to plan and fund capital improvements for their facilities.

Inspecting and licensing the State’s public and private use airports is the second major function of the Bureau. With the exception of personal use facilities, the Alabama Department of Transportation must license all landing areas in the State of Alabama. It is the statutory responsibility of the Bureau to conduct annual inspections of all licensed airports to assure compliance with the minimum requirements of the Department of Transportation.

AIR TRANSPORTATION BUREAU The Bureau of Air Transportation provides safe and expedient air travel of authorized State personnel. The Bureau currently operates one business jet (CE550). The Bureau hangar facility is located at 4545 Hangar Court, Montgomery, AL 36108.

BRIDGE BUREAU The Bridge Bureau is responsible for the structural design and analysis of all structures used on Alabama’s Highway System. Functions include site inspections, preliminary layout and location studies, structural design and analysis, detailed plans preparation, checking, and fabrication inspection. The Bureau performs structural design and analysis for highway bridges, pedestrian overpasses, overhead sign structures, highway lighting supports, and culverts for new construction. It designs and provides maintenance and rehabilitation plans for bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Upon request, it provides assistance with bridge design and plan preparation to Alabama’s County and City Engineering Departments. This assistance may include site inspections, design, plan preparation, plan reviews, and structural analysis in rating of existing bridges as to load carrying capacity and structural analysis and design support for a Bridge Load Test Program for posted bridges.

COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS BUREAU The Communications and Community Relations Bureau directs and participates in a campaign to inform and educate the public as well as Department personnel on activities of ALDOT through the news media and personal contact. It works with members of the Legislature and various State agencies to respond to questions from the media and the public and to provide timely information. The Bureau coordinates and directs special events, presentations and projects, writes news releases and speeches and publishes the quarterly employee newsletter, Expressway.

 

COMPUTER SERVICES BUREAU The Bureau of Computer Services provides data processing and telecommunications services for the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). During FY 2009, the bureau underwent reorganization in three distinct support areas: Operations Support, Technical Support, and Programming Support. The new organization should provide an avenue for better customer service allowing us to address issues more effectively and efficiently. During FY 2009, Computer Services was heavily involved on several initiatives.  ALDOT’s intranet website conversion to MOSS2007 was completed and the redesign included a search feature as well as easier navigation for users.  We initiated in-house development work the Construction and Materials Management System (CAMMS), Traffic Count Monitoring System, Outdoor Advertising System, Training Management System, and GIS Hurricane Evacuation Route System. The Bureau implemented the Bus Management System (BMS) and Human Capital Management System (HCM).  In addition, performance of network infrastructure and security upgrades enhanced the speed and integrity of ALDOT data processes. This year, total budget allocations amounted to $16.9 million.  Professional services and maintenance contracts accounted for $7 million, utilities purchases and upgrades accounted for $1.4 million, and equipment and software purchases accounted for $8.5 million.

 CONSTRUCTION BUREAU The Bureau of Construction includes a Roadway Section, a Bridge Section, a Specifications Section, a Plans Review Section, a Special Projects Section, an Environment and Technology Section, and a Clerical Section. 

This Bureau furnishes technical advice to the Divisions and general supervision of all contract construction work. One major objective is to promote statewide uniformity in interpretation and implementation of the contract requirements. The Bureau serves in an advisory capacity to other Bureaus prior to award of a project.  After award, the other Bureaus serve in an advisory capacity to the Bureau. The Bureau updates ALDOT Standard Specifications, prepares Supplemental Specifications and Special Provisions for contract proposals, and publishes and maintains the ALDOT Construction Manual. The Bureau addresses highway construction issues, recommends and approves change requests, implements and processes supplemental agreements, time extensions, contractor claims, final estimates, and other matters related to the administration of construction contracts. It processes contractor notices of intent and claims, administers the contractual requirements of the ALDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, and provides support and leadership in areas of construction technology.

 COUNTY TRANSPORTATION BUREAU The County Transportation Bureau serves as liaison for the Department with the 67 counties of the State of Alabama. When using Federal or State funds, the Bureau assists county governments with design, construction, and maintenance of county roads and bridges. The county transportation system catapulted during the Farm-to-Market Road Program, which began in 1947. Since the implementation of this program, counties have constructed or resurfaced over 22,000 miles of roads and constructed more than 3,500 bridge structures. During the 2009 fiscal year, the Bureau assisted counties with the completion of 263.2 miles of widening and/or resurfacing roads and the construction of 18 county bridges, at an approximate cost of $51,779,559.16.

DESIGN BUREAU The Design Bureau develops and assembles highway construction plans, establishes highway locations, performs environmental studies, makes field surveys, develops roadway designs, and prepares roadway plan assemblies for all types of projects along the State highway system. It supervises and reviews highway design, corridor studies, and traffic engineering studies performed by consultants. Eight separate sections perform the activities of the Bureau: Administrative Section, Environmental Technical Section, Location Section, Roadway Design Section, Traffic Design Section, Utility Section, Quality Control Section, and Consultant Management Section.

   EQUIPMENT, PROCUREMENT AND SERVICES BUREAU The Equipment, Procurement and Services Bureau consist of a Property Inventory Section, Receiving and Salvage Sale Section, Gym, Motor Pool, Building Services and Maintenance Section, Supply and Map Section, ALDOT Mail Room and a Procurement Section.

Responsibilities include property inventory control including purchase, salvage and disposal of all types of equipment and maintenance and security of the central office complex. In addition, it maintains supplies for ALDOT, operates a retail map store, distributes mail throughout the department, and processes statewide requisitions, contracts and purchase orders for ALDOT.

This fiscal year, the Procurement Office created a database of all ALDOT agency contracts on the Procurement Office Intranet portal. In addition, it uploads current year Plant-Site Pick-Up Price Agreements for Road-Building Materials to the Equipment Bureau Internet portal.

FINANCE AND AUDITS BUREAU The Bureau of Finance and Audits provides financial management for ALDOT.  It maintains a fully integrated and accurate computerized system of general and cost accounting. The general accounting system records revenue, receipts, and expenditures processed by accounting personnel.

  LEGAL BUREAU The Legal Bureau of the State of Alabama Department of Transportation has the responsibility to advise the Director and Department on all legal matters related to department business, including representing the Department, the Director, and Department employees in legal, administrative, and other proceedings.  The Bureau represents the Department, Director, and its employees, both in their individual and official capacities, in both state and federal courts.  The cases typically include employment matters, state tort claims usually involving personal injuries sustained by motorists, contracts and condemnation matters as well as property damage collection matters. The Bureau reviews federal statutes, rules and regulations and advises the Department as to their compatibility with existing state statutes and Department policies.  The Bureau recommends necessary changes to ensure compliance with federal directives. In some instances, this requires drafting new or amending existing state laws.

The Bureau also examines, advises, and approves the form of contracts; right-of-way acquisitions; drafts various contracts and agreements; maintains liaison with the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s Legal Advisor; reviews and drafts legislation; and advises the Director regarding pending legislation which may affect the Department. The Bureau processes claims involving personal injury to private citizens or damage to their property, as well as claims involving damage to Department property. It initiates collection action with respect to Departmental property damage claims. The Legal Bureau represents the Department before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, State Board of Adjustment, State Personnel Department, unemployment compensation tribunals, as well as other federal and state administrative agencies, boards and tribunals.

MAINTENANCE BUREAU The Maintenance Bureau oversees the maintenance of roads and bridges located on state, US and interstate routes, and all highway facilities owned and operated by ALDOT. It supports the maintenance operations of ALDOT Divisions by establishing and administering budgets, policies and programs, as well as offering technical guidance. This guidance includes the installation, maintenance and cost-effective use of traffic control devices and development of traffic operation improvement plans. In addition, the Bureau develops criteria for maintenance resurfacing projects, reviews and approves scopes of work for Interstate Maintenance projects, determines and approves herbicides and applications for ROW use, evaluates bridge structures and hydraulics, and evaluation of permits pertaining to the use of and access to state-owned right-of­ways.

On a statewide level, the Bureau reviews and issues permits for outdoor advertising signs and work performed along State rights-of-way, manages the State’s National Bridge Inspection Program, manages the  bridge scour, bridge rating, bridge repair and underwater bridge inspection operations. In addition, the Bureau operates the State Sign Shop, the State Signal Shop and the State Communications Shop, operates and maintains the Department’s statewide two-way radio communications network, operates the Department’s Oversize/Overweight permit office, manages the Interstate Maintenance Program, the Bridge Replacement Program, the Pavement Resurfacing Program, the Vegetation Management Program and the Routine Maintenance Program. We maintain oversight of ALDOT Welcome Centers and Rest Areas and, along with DPS, management of the State Vehicle Weight Enforcement Program. .

MATERIALS AND TESTS BUREAU The Bureau of Materials and Tests is responsible for the effective selection and control of all materials used by ALDOT in road and bridge construction.  The Bureau accomplishes these tasks through its Geotechnical Division, Materials Division, Pavement Management Division and Testing Division. 

The Bureau is responsible for making recommendations concerning bridge and culvert foundations, landslide corrections, retaining walls, slope stabilities, fill settlement, bridge scour, lime sinks, underground storage tanks and hazardous materials found on ALDOT projects and ALDOT owned facilities. The Bureau is also responsible for the most economical selection of materials used in the design of pavement structures, conducts the Independent Assurance Sampling and Testing Program, provides certification to the FHWA of the materials used on Federal Aid projects and repairs and recalibrates the nuclear gauges owned by ALDOT. The Bureau develops, supports, and manages the ALDOT pavement management system; performs pavement friction testing, collects pavement smoothness data and performs falling weight deflectometer testing statewide. It tests all materials used by ALDOT for roadway and bridge construction. It is a source of information concerning the use of highway engineering materials for the other Bureaus and Divisions of ALDOT, various roadway and bridge contractors, and materials producers and vendors.

OFFICE ENGINEER BUREAU The Bureau of Office Engineer is the office of record for ALDOT and acts in an advisory capacity to the Transportation Director, Chief Engineer’s Office, Bureau Chiefs, and Division Engineers in matters of finance and administration of federal funds and in other areas pertaining to the general function of ALDOT. 

It is responsible for final plan reviews & final State estimates for construction projects; tracking & analyzing the competitive activities of contractors, vendors, and suppliers; approving subcontracts; maintaining financial control of federal-aid highway funds and obligation authority; apportioned relief funds with FHWA, conducting transportation lettings, and pre-qualifying contractors. In addition, the Bureau provides reprographic and printing services, records management and oversight, prepares awards and issues work orders for construction contracts.

During the fiscal year, there were twelve (12) lettings.  Three hundred forty-eight (348) contracts were awarded totaling $799,430,744.67.

 RIGHT OF WAY BUREAU The Bureau of Right-of-Way (ROW) acquires property for construction to improve the State Highway System and directs the relocation of individuals, families, and businesses displaced by these transportation projects. This year the Bureau acquired 519 parcels. The Bureau conducts sales of uneconomic remnants, secures right-of-way access rights for condemnation projects, and provides relocation assistance. The Bureau spent approximately $35 million acquiring properties and provided $1.3 million for relocation assistance. Land and structures leased prior to the construction contract and oil and gas leases produced revenue amounting to $460,000. The Right of Way Bureau maintains all ALDOT real property inventory records and prepares right-of-way maps, deed descriptions and property sketches depicting right-of-way or easements to be acquired. Additionally, ROW directs and reviews the production of maps generated by Divisions and consulting firms. It processes proceeds from land leases, oil and gas leases, uneconomic remnants and excess property on closed projects credited to US Code Title 23 funding.  Revenue generated from the sale of excess properties was approximately $1.1 million.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND MODAL PROGRAMS BUREAU The Transportation Planning and Modal Programs Bureau operate a bilateral program to accomplish its goals. Through Transportation Planning, it addresses road and bridge transportation.  Through Modal Programs, it addresses public transportation, including buses, rail, bicycles, and pedestrian walking trails. In addition, it directs the ALDOT safety program, transportation enhancements, and the scenic byways programs. Transportation Planning discharges its duties and responsibilities through four operating divisions: Surveying and Mapping, Traffic, Special Studies, and Statewide and Metropolitan Planning.  It operates in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration through state-matched federal funds allocated by the Federal Aid Highway Acts. It prepares the Statewide Transportation Plan delineating scheduled projects, the Highway Performance Monitoring System, prepares the official State of Alabama Map, assesses traffic and roadway capacity needs, and engages transportation projects with metropolitan planning organizations.

Modal Programs has four major functional management areas. Railroad/Highway Programs manages the Section 130 Program, coordinates with railroads during the design and construction phases of highway projects, maintains the railroad inventory in coordination with the Federal Railroad administration and develops the Rail Plan and Directory. Safety Programs develops and implements safety related activities including the Strategic Highway Safety Plan reviews and analyzes crash data, coordinates statewide safety interests and agencies to reduce highway crashes.