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i <br /> I <br /> Planning & .Engineering <br /> Description of the function: <br /> Transportation functions require engineering support for a variety of activities. Traffic <br /> engineering is a logical necessity to optimize performance of the transportation network. <br /> ~ This includes a variety of activities that can sometimes be charged to a specific project <br /> but are usually dependent on how many traffic studies or neighborhood traffic issues are <br /> active at any time. <br /> i <br /> There is also an element of transportation planning that is not chargeable to a specific <br /> project but is an ongoing activity in a developing community. <br /> There is also the general engineering activity associated with keeping records, doing <br /> surveys and answering questions of the public that is technical in nature and is usually <br /> classified as general engineering support. <br /> Comparison to others: ~ <br /> All of the cities surveyed had. different sateen t~ <br /> engineering needs and methods of Ft. Coffins <br /> charging for it. The chart shows the Boytaer <br /> amounts charged in each city as a su~nyvate <br /> percent of the total road fund budget. vancou~r <br /> i <br /> <br /> 1 Eugene <br /> The amounts are not the total cost for <br /> engln6ering In thOSe CIt1eS but Only 1116 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% <br /> amOUntS they S110Wed COIT6spOllding t0 % of Budget charged to Engineering " <br /> the approximate categories described - - <br /> abOVe. ~ data differences described in text <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> i <br /> Because none of the other cities' road funds are totally supported by state highway trust <br /> fund revenues, it's likely that they are charging significant amounts to engineering that <br /> don't show up in the road fund budget. For example, Vancouver's engineering function <br /> is totally funded by the General Fund, therefore the percentage shown for Vancouver is <br /> artificially constructed to show what the percentage of road fund would be if engineering <br /> were included in the road fund budget. <br /> Cost Factor Analysis: <br /> Engineering is similar to Administration in that it is strongly related to service levels. <br /> The total cost of engineering in any city's road fund is driven not by efficiency but by the <br /> number and type of services requested by the community. For example, traffic calming <br /> was almost unheard of 20 years ago but today it takes a major time commitment of <br /> technical staff to work with neighborhoods in developing satisfying solutions. <br /> 29 <br /> <br />