AASHTOWare Project

Paving the Way to Quality Transportation Software

Each AASHTO fiscal year, the AASHTOWare Project^™ Task Force (PTF) reviews and makes decisions related to enhancements and new development requests for the AASHTOWare Project software.    All enhancements and new development to the generic AASHTOWare Project system must have the approval of the PTF prior to being implemented.  One aspect that contributes to the PTF decision process is user input on the value and benefits of requested enhancements.  This user input is facilitated through a ballot process conducted each fiscal year as defined by the Project Users Group (PUG) Board and administered by the PTF.

The ballot process helps to ensure that end users have a voice in the ongoing and strategic direction of AASHTOWare Project software. Through an Automated Ballot System (ABS) on the AASHTOWare Project Users website, each member agency is given the opportunity to vote for improvements it considers most important. The results of the voting are forwarded to the PUG Chair for review, and then to the PTF to be considered for inclusion in AASHTOWare Project software.

Enhancements, which are submitted throughout the year as Ticketed Modification Requests (TMRs), are requests to change the software programs or documentation to extend or improve functionality or performance.  The TMR tracking system that supports the ABS is regularly updated to reflect the current status of each request.  During the fiscal year, users, Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), Technical Review Teams (TRTs), and Infotech, Inc. (Infotech) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) review and comment on requested enhancements prior to the official ballot process.  The TAGs represent specific AASHTOWare Project functional areas and have the opportunity to endorse ballot items or recommend removal; the ballot reflects the date of the TAG’s last endorsement for a TMR.  The TAGs facilitate collaboration and input across multiple agencies and product areas.  

The current year’s ballot is a combination of newly reported enhancement items and the open ballot items from the previous year for the software modules applicable to the current year.  This information is available throughout the year to members of aashtowareproject.org on the Project User Group page, PUG Ballot link.  Depending on the status of the AASHTOWare Project development, enhancement backlog item requests may not appear during the year on the pre-ballot until assessed by the PTF or appointed TRT.  The pre-ballot format is a replica of the “live” ballot (ABS), without the functionality to cast a vote.  The secure, web-based voting process is activated once a year, shortly after the PUG Conference.