The new Department of Public Works is taking the City of Arlington to a higher level of service performance.

Transportation and engineering related functions have been consolidated to form the new department, which is comprised of 210 full-time and 34 part-time employees. Effective June 1, the city no longer has a Transportation Department and an Engineering Services Department.

The consolidation is a result of a Fiscal Year 2002 operational review of the Engineering and Transportation departments. Recommendations from the review are being analyzed and implemented to help develop more seamless, effective and cost-conscious operations.

According to new Public Works Director Mike Hasler, the changes are designed to improve service for internal and external customers, including developers and contractors.

"Best practice organizations regularly conduct operational reviews in an effort to continuously improve," Hasler said. "We believe good organizations get even better with operational reviews and self-examinations."

The operational review process took approximately four months and included a combination of best practices research and internal interviews with directors, assistant directors, managers and city staff members.

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted an external focus group of developers, contractors, consulting engineers and real estate brokers who discussed customer service issues.

"A primary objective was to identify alternative operating models for all engineering and transportation related services," said Deputy City Manager of Community Resources Gayle Lacerda.

"A comparative analysis of those alternatives allowed us to examine ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency," she said.

Since February 2003, the departments have been implementing work plans that eliminated positions, reclassified other positions and established administrative, budget and technology services functions.

New division level organization charts have been created and functions have been consolidated in the areas of transportation planning, engineering operations, traffic, signal engineering, geographic information systems, streets and stormwater drainage.

"With the consolidation of like functions, a customer who needs transportation and/or engineering related information will no longer have to interface with multiple departments and divisions," said Assistant Director Kathy Morgan.

Relocation plans are being finalized to locate the new Department of Public Works on the second floor of the Arlington Municipal Building. Public Works personnel can also be found at the following locations:

• Traffic Operations and Traffic Engineering at 801 W. Main St.
• Street Operations at 1101 W. Main St.
• Street and Drainage Operations at the Water South Service Center at 1100 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd.
• The Arlington Municipal Airport at 5000 S. Collins St.
• Handitran Special Transit Operations at 501 W. Sanford St.