ITS Professional Capacity Building Program

Learning Testimonials

Don Dahlinger, P.E. Assistant Director — Design Division, ITS Office Tennessee DOT (TDOT)

Don is a lifetime TDOT veteran. He coordinates development of all major ITS strategic project architecture planning and project deployment for Tennessee's interstate roadways, which involves everything from program design, through software development, into M&O issues. Strategic planning takes place within TDOT, but all execution involves consultants. Don is currently responsible for management of project contracts — software, design, construction, maintenance, and operations — for the four main Tennessee cities (Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, and Chattanooga). Total contract oversight: Approximately $50 million.

What particular ITS challenges do you face in your job?

We need to write and manage our ITS project deployment contracts to assure cost-effective, timely completion. Aspects of ITS require special attention with respect to contracting.

What ITS training have you been involved in?

I've taken a number of NHI and ITE classroom courses:

How has this training been useful to you? To TDOT?

The training has helped to prepare me for understanding many different phases of ITS projects, which has been useful given the breadth of my contract management responsibilities.

As the Strategic Planning group, we develop a plan for staff training each year, which has created the opportunity for us to build staff knowledge in an organized fashion. FHWA participates in this planning. The FHWA Division Office has provided financial support for training, and hosted some courses; we've hosted others. The courses have pulled in not only TDOT personnel, but also city project personnel. This training has laid the groundwork for functional and cost-effective ITS deployment — to put something out on the street that works at all levels and at reasonable cost.