GOTIME: PennDOT to Save More Than $28 Million with New Mobile Construction App Through Improved Efficiency
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf lauded PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards for the department’s innovative mobile construction app displayed today at an Interstate 83 construction site, noting that use of the mobile technology by field staff is helping save money and meeting the administration’s GO-TIME challenge for state government to work smarter.
“This innovation translates into savings in two years of more than $28 million and provides a clear and exciting example of how technology improvement can make government both more efficient and effective,” Governor Wolf said.
“We have nearly 400 inspectors on staff and 1,200 under contract to check on the roughly $2.5 billion worth of construction work we have underway each year,” Sec. Richards said. “The mobile construction app reduces time spent on administrative tasks. As a result, inspectors are in the field an additional one and a half hours per a day, or nearly 300,000 additional person hours each year. Last year, the first it was rolled out, saw $11 million in productivity savings, and we expect an additional $17 million this fiscal year.”
Inspector Dave Haverstock demonstrated the app for media representatives. Media who could not attend the event today may contact the PennDOT press office to schedule a demonstration.
Prior to adoption of the mobile app, inspectors had to consult large paper documents and spend time traveling back and forth between their offices and construction sites to submit reports. Now, inspectors use the app to perform these same tasks directly from the field. The app was recognized by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers as a 2015 State IT Finalist in the category of Improving State Operations.
PennDOT is looking to extend the technology to other state agencies that rely on labor-intensive, paper–based processes to conduct inspections.
“The mobile construction inspection app is a great example of what Governor Wolf is trying to accomplish through GO-TIME,” said Sharon Ward, director of the Governor’s Office of Transformation, Innovation, Management and Efficiency (GO-TIME). “Not only is PennDOT improving the efficiency of its own staff, they are sharing their expertise with other agencies to provide even greater benefit to taxpayers.”
GO-TIME works with state agencies to maximize efficiency, modernize operations and improve the delivery of services. These efforts saved more than $156 million in FY 15-16, exceeding the $150 million savings goal he set by the Governor.
To learn more about GO-TIME, visit www.governor.pa.gov/go-time/.
