A Public Agency Perspective on the Implementation of Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Caltrans Case Study
Conference
Shrestha, R, Nacir, C, Calahorra-Jimenez, M et al. (2026). A Public Agency Perspective on the Implementation of Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Caltrans Case Study
. 3 472-481. 10.1061/9780784486986.046
Shrestha, R, Nacir, C, Calahorra-Jimenez, M et al. (2026). A Public Agency Perspective on the Implementation of Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Caltrans Case Study
. 3 472-481. 10.1061/9780784486986.046
As public agencies increasingly consider Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC), Design-Build (DB), and Progressive Design-Build (PDB) to meet rising infrastructure demands, there is a critical need to understand how these methods function within large, complex institutions. This study conducts an in-depth case analysis of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), a public transportation agency, to examine agency-level approaches to selection factors, advantages, challenges, and effectiveness in CMGC, DB, and PDB. Caltrans serves as a valuable model due to its statewide influence, diverse project portfolio, and pioneering role in the early adoption of alternative delivery approaches. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with Caltrans personnel across multiple organizational levels, the research found that the selection and approval of these APDM involves the input of different Caltrans' organizational levels and depends on enabling legislation, project characteristics, and agency's goals. The findings indicate that APDM effectiveness is difficult to measure against DBB and instead evaluated in terms of lowering the incidence of claims, improved constructability, and getting more predictable outcomes.
