Transcript How maximizing communication of the fastest billion

At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
A $1.7 Billion design/build project to
improve I-15
-two ways to build infrastructure
1. Design and then build. SEQUENTIAL. Building
starts after design is finished. Two different
contracts.
2. Design/build. SIMULTANEOUS. Building begins
before design is complete. Same contract for both
design and build. Easier to “lowball”.
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 1
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
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Most Utahns live in the Wasatch Front, a narrow strip of land between
the Great Salt and Utah Lakes and the Wasatch Mountains. Salt
Lake County and its neighbor, Utah County, are the two most
populated counties, and are home to over 1.5 million people, more
than half of the entire state population.
I-15 is the primary link between the cities of the Wasatch Front
1-15 to the north in Salt Lake County was improved for the 2002
Olympics; the CORE project is a logical extension from Salt Lake to
Provo
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 2
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 3
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE SCANDAL
1. Low bidder did not get the project; second lowest
bidder did.
2. Winning bidder had contributed to governor’s
campaign.
3. One of the officers of the winning team was married
to one of the UDOT selection officials.
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 4
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE COVER-UP
1. UDOT paid rejected low bidder $13 million to not
sue. UDOT determined that this amount was the
amount the low bidder spent preparing the
proposal.
2. UDOT employee who exposed the scandal was
fired.
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 5
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE FALL-OUT
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The official reason given for paying the $13 Million was that UDOT
didn’t want to delay the project with a lawsuit, which had happened
on the Heritage Pkwy project in Salt Lake and was delayed several
years.
UDOT employee who exposed the scandal was reinstated by a
judge, but then told to sign a letter promising not to talk about the
scandal.
Public confidence in UDOT dropped substantially.
Governor tried to distance himself from situation.
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 6
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE REBOUND
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Emphasis on the positive aspects of the project.
Website, http://www.i15core.utah.gov/
Interaction with the media and public.
Governor’s public challenge to finish work ahead of schedule.
Innovative design, including third DDI and first CFI in Utah
County.
6. Finished early and under budget
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 7
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE WEBSITE PR
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Interactive map
News and updates
Progress
Fun facts
Twitter
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 8
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE
RESULTS
1. CFI
2. DDI
3. Widened I15 with HOV
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 9
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE
RESULTS
1. CFI
2. DDI
3. Widened I15 with HOV
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 10
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE
RESULTS
1. CFI
2. DDI
3. Widened I15 with HOV
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 11
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE FOLLOW-UP
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Governor says I-15 work vindicates controversial bid award
More than $200 under budget
Approximate 2 years ahead of schedule
Positive public opinion of UDOT
Positive write-ups in trade journals such as “Better Road”
and the “AASHTO Journal”
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 12
At The Core - How Maximizing Communication
Of The Fastest Billion-Dollar Public Highway
Project Helped Overcome The Largest Scandal
In UDOT History
The I-15 CORE Project, Utah Co, Utah
THE QUESTIONS
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In terms of the public relations, could the scandal have been avoided?
When they fired the whistleblower, UDOT tried the “scapegoat” approach, and said the
whistleblower should not have revealed the information. If there was a breach of
confidentiality that was a cause of termination, what would be an appropriate public
relations strategy to neutralize UDOT from criticism?
Would you view the heavy positive publicity for the project as a diversionary tactic or a
bona fide effort to engage the public?
In your opinion, why do you think UDOT was successful in rehabilitating its reputation?
If you were the PR person for UDOT, what advice would you give the governor?
March 4, 2014
COM 7140
Michael H Schrader - 13