Doug Weiszhaar, Mn/DOT’s new acting commissioner, will prepare Mn/DOT for the next legislative session and final FY '04-'05 budget preparations. Staff photo

Gov. Jesse Ventura appointed Doug Weiszhaar, deputy commissioner, to succeed Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg when his term of office ends on Friday, Oct. 4. Tinklenberg announced his resignation on Sept. 12. Weiszhaar has served as deputy commissioner since his appointment in July 1999.

Announcing Weiszhaar’s appointment, Ventura said, "Obviously, we’ll really miss El. He ensured that Minnesota made huge strides in transportation. But as we transition to a new administration, I look forward to working with Doug. He’s helped solved transportation problems all over the state and he knows his stuff."

In his announcement, Tinklenberg said, "I can think of no better person to lead Mn/DOT through the transition of administrations. During the past 3-½ years, Doug has been a key leader in our Moving Minnesota initiative and streamlining efforts. His appointment ensures that these and other important efforts will continue.

"As I move on to new endeavors, embracing the opportunities ahead, I depart knowing that Mn/DOT is in good hands with Doug at the helm," he added. In a letter to employees, Tinklenberg added, "Please join me in congratulating him on his interim appointment and extend to him your support in the months ahead."

During the next few months, interim Commissioner Weiszhaar will prepare Mn/DOT for the next legislative session, final FY '04-'05 budget preparations, the start of the snow and ice season, wrap-up of the construction season and a large number of project lettings to further meet the 2003 Moving Minnesota deadlines.

"As I’ve continued to say, we don’t have time to slow down," Weiszhaar said. "Our work is far too valuable and important to the citizens of Minnesota. "The next few months will continue to be fast-paced; I know that it is the work of all of you that makes Mn/DOT successful."

Before his appointment as deputy commissioner/chief engineer, Weiszhaar served as assistant county engineer with Otter Tail County and as county engineer with Chisago and Stearns counties.

He currently serves as president of the Minnesota Surveyors & Engineers Society and also serves on various boards and committees at the Center for Transportation Studies.

By Craig Wilkins

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Accepting an award for helping to reorganize the Metro Division's program delivery functions are: (from left) Terry Zoller, construction engineer; Bob Winter, Metro Division director, and Mike Christensen, program delivery resource engineer. Photo by Donna Lindberg

Excellence in accomplishing their goals enabled nearly 300 Mn/DOT people who served on 39 work teams to earn recognition at the department’s annual Bill Yoerg Quality Recognition Day celebration.

The event honors the late Bill Yoerg, who championed quality management while serving in several positions including assistant director for Operations. Yoerg died in 1990.

This year’s celebration honored employee accomplishments from both 2001 and 2002 because the employee strike forced the cancellation of last year’s event.

The quality recognition event highlighted efforts by Mn/DOT staff in areas ranging from developing an environmentally sound way to dispose of deer carcasses by Owatonna Maintenance Area staff to development of the NorthStar Commuter Commuter Coach service to a Metro Division team whose members created a database to track information about right of way property parcels more effectively.

Each team award represents a commitment to identify and meet customers needs and to find effective means to accomplish them, said Phyllis Dahl, planning committee chair, Human Resources.

"The event honors accomplishments by teams that recognized customer needs, analyzed the relevant data and got the job done," she said. "It’s a joy to be there when people are recognized for their efforts and have an opportunity to celebrate their teamwork and successes."

Deputy Commissioner Doug Weiszhaar spoke at both the opening and closing of the event.

In closing he said, "I’m impressed by the all the great work, great teams and great attitudes I’ve seen today. The last two years have been challenging, but it’s clear that Mn/DOT employees continue to rise to the challenge by not only delivering the largest construction program in history, but also by improving how we operate.

"We continue to be a leader in the work we do," he added, "and the changes we are making will guide us for years to come."

By Craig Wilkins

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Mn/DOT and the city of Rochester reached a milestone on Sept. 27 when they received four design-build technical and price proposals for the reconstruction of Hwy 52 in Rochester.

The $239 million rebuilding of Hwy 52 is the first time that Mn/DOT combined the "design-build" and "best-value" concepts in one project as an alternative to the traditional "low-bid" practice. Design-build compresses the traditional design-bid-build process; the best-value process weighs a contractor’s technical expertise and ability to complete the project along with the price bid.

The project also employs a funding mechanism that allows federal funds to be used more quickly.

Although the successful bidder won’t be known for another month, Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg said Friday was truly a historic event.

"This project is a great example of how Mn/DOT, the Legislature and local communities such as Rochester can pull together to get things done," he said. "Through this partnership, we were able to move the Hwy 52 project forward in a way that benefits both the community and the state of Minnesota."

Mn/DOT will use advance construction financing to pay for the project and for 15 other projects slated for construction in 2003. Advance financing allows a state to begin construction of federal-aid projects before funds are released to the state. Tinklenberg cautioned, however, that advance construction financing is a limited solution to the state’s transportation needs. If not properly managed, it could affect the state’s ability to fund projects in the future.

"We have taken advantage of every funding tool," said Tinklenberg. "The state needs additional long-term, statewide funding for transportation. Without a funding package, Minnesota will not be able to meet its transportation needs."

A team of Mn/DOT, Rochester, Olmsted County, and the Association of General Contractors staff will spend this month evaluating the technical proposals before giving each a final score. Each design-build team’s price proposal will be divided by the technical score to determine the best value winner.

Mn/DOT will announce the winning design-build team Nov. 1. Construction on Hwy 52 could begin as soon as December of this year.

The Highway 52 design-build, best-value reconstruction project, which extends from Hwy 63 to 85th St. NW, is the largest one-time investment by Mn/DOT for highway construction improvement. When construction begins, the design-build team will have to complete the project in five years or less, a reduction of six years from the original 11-year construction schedule.

Project managers estimate that by shortening the construction period by six years, Mn/DOT will save about $30 million in costs related to inflation.

For more information about the Hwy 52 project, check out the "ROC 52" Web site. For information on other advance construction financing, see the September 26 news release.

By Jeanne Aamodt and Brian Jergenson

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Keith Shannon has been appointed as the Metro Division’s assistant division director effective Sept. 25. Photo by Kent Barnard

Keith Shannon was appointed as the Metro Division’s assistant division director effective Sep. 25. Shannon had served in the post on an acting basis since January when Bob Winter was appointed as division director.

In his new position, Shannon will assist Winter in managing the division’s construction, maintenance, planning, design and other activities. Shannon previously served as Metro’s director for program delivery.

Shannon’s MN/DOT career began in 1977 and includes a wide variety of engineering and management positions with MN/DOT as well as two years working with a private consulting firm.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Minnesota. An Anoka native, Shannon now lives in Little Canada.

He may be reached at 651/582-1340.

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A billboard that promotes aviation career education greets motorists at the Hwy 7/169 interchange in Minnetonka. Billboard designed by Margaret Meyer

Janese Thatcher-Buzzell, aviation education specialist, Aeronautics, received an award from the National Association of State Aviation Officials for creating the most innovative aviation education program in the United States. The association presented the award recently at its annual conference in Vermont.

The award cites Mn/DOT’s Aviation Career and Education Program for its effectiveness in conveying information about the state’s aviation career programs offered by colleges and universities to educators, counselors and students.

The career education program uses a brochure and a Web site to direct people seeking information about career opportunities. The Web site links potential students to college programs described on the Web pages of the schools that offer aviation training and career programs.

Thatcher-Buzzell serves as manager of Aeronautics’ Aviation Education Section.

Upon receiving the award, Thatcher-Buzzell said, "We are excited and pleased to be honored with this award. The Office of Aeronautics partnered with 15 post-secondary aviation public schools in Minnesota to create this program. With their collaboration and support, we were able to put this program together."

By Dan McDowell

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