A brochure has been developed to answer many common questions about the Design Advisory Teams. This brochure is available in various municipal locations and the offices of Olszak Management Consulting Incorporated. Download a copy of the FAQ brochure [PDF 1.26MB]

How will the DAT members work with the design team professionals?

Community stakeholder DAT members will help design team members understand the community's perspectives and goals. They will be the voice of the community. Design team members will help community stakeholder members understand the technical perspective of DAT recommendations and produce the design documents required to implement solutions that are agreed upon. The exchange between community stakeholder members and design team members will focus on fostering mutual understanding and agreement regarding the design elements of the project.

How can DAT members really make a difference in the design of the expressway?

The intent in establishing the five DATs is to create a final product in which the project sponsors and the communities can take pride. The collaborative process is designed to create genuine opportunity for constructive exchange. DAT members will participate in sincere and focused discussions with design team professionals. They will jointly establish discussion items and develop solutions that meet transportation needs and community goals. The PTC understands the need to develop good relationships with communities and neighbors for the long-term and believes that working with DATs in these areas will result in a project that meets the transportation needs, while being sensitive to the issues and concerns of the communities.

Who will make the final decisions regarding design elements?

By the nature of the project and associated legal mandates, the PTC has the responsibility for final design decisions on all projects. The Commission, however, recognizes that the expressway must serve the communities as well as motorists using the roadway and is firmly committed to incorporating community-based ideas wherever technically and financially feasible.

How often and where do DAT members meet?

The number and frequency of meetings is determined by the DAT members, PTC, and the facilitator based on the number of issues and schedule of the design. At a minimum, DAT teams will meet once each month. The meetings will be held at a location that accommodates the materials to be presented and number of attendees at a date and time that has been selected by DAT members and the PTC.

How do community members in the DAT communities participate in the process?

The primary role of each DAT member is to enhance the exchange of information and opinions between the community and the design professionals by providing input throughout the process that reflects the general sense of the group they represent and by relaying appropriate information back to their communities. DAT members will make recommendations that reflect the perspective of the community they represent.

What are the Record of Decision (ROD) and Programmatic Agreement?

There are two legal documents that set the stage for the work of the Design Advisory Teams.

The Record of Decision (ROD) is a public document prepared by the Federal Highway Administration that presents the basis for the decision reached on a Selected Alternative. The ROD summarizes the alternatives considered, acknowledges the environmentally preferred alternative, provides the rationale for which alternative was selected, summarizes the mitigation commitments, provides the basis for the Section 4(f) approval and describes the measures to minimize harm that were incorporated into the Selected Alternative.
[Download the Abbreviated Record of Decision | PDF 924K]

The Programmatic Agreement is an agreement between the Federal Highway Administration and the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office that addresses mitigation for historic properties adversely affected by the Selected Alternative. Historic properties will be agenda items for the Braddock/Rankin/Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Glenwood to Bates Street Design Advisory Teams.
[Download the Programmatic Agreement | PDF 14.75MB LARGE]

What is the role of Olszak Management Consulting Incorporated?

Olszak Management Consulting Incorporated (OMC) will provide professionals who will act as neutral facilitators. The facilitators' primary role will be to assure that the process creates genuine opportunities for exchange that results in mutual understanding and agreement. In addition, OMC, as an organization, will play a key role in developing and guiding the interactive process.

How are communities without DATs being included in the final design phase?

The five DATs were identified during the project's environmental study phase. The Federal Highway Administration's Record of Decision on the project confirmed that:

"Design Advisory Teams (DAT) will be established during final design in the following communities:

• Dravosburg
• Turtle Creek
• Braddock, Rankin and Swissvale
• Nine Mile Run (including Duck Hollow)
• Glenwood to Bates Street (including Hazelwood and South Oakland)"

During the final design phase of the project, the PTC will continue the project's public outreach efforts. The PTC is committed to acceptance and consideration of input from all communities within the project corridor regardless of whether or not there is a DAT established in the community.