Appendix C Review and post-completion evaluation - transport focus vs detailed engineering focus

The ATAP Guidelines focus on best practice for transport system management. This includes system planning and the associated identification and justification of initiatives to solve priority problems (which in turn contributes to achieving transport system objectives).

The post-completion evaluation or review guidelines (described in this document, F7) seek to evaluate how effective a selected strategy, policy, plan or initiative has been in achieving set targets and goals. The findings seek to inform future decision-making in planning and initiative selection, and provide a basis for continuous improvement and development in transport system management.

The purpose of this appendix is to note that some post-completion evaluations and reviews focus specifically on detailed engineering aspects of individual initiatives, rather than their transport aspects. These reviews cover specific engineering aspects of an initiative, such as design, construction and project management. There can also be a specific design review, which considers specialist design discipline aspects, such as structural, civil, fire engineering, building services/mechanical, architectural, network architecture, etc. The purpose of these reviews is to critically assess the achievement of an initiative’s engineering outcomes and provide feedback that allows for continuous improvement in the project management, design, construction and delivery processes.

These engineering reviews seek to achieve the following:

• Ascertain whether the initiative has delivered and met the original user requirements, design philosophy and instructions as well as efficiency of design and functionality
• Ascertain whether the user groups are satisfied with the end product (specific high points) or not (specific low points – what and why?). This should also include design, engineering and project management consultant feedback
• Advise on any general or specific project control, management, health and safety, cost and design efficiency observations
• Provide details on the achievement against project budgets
• Provide details on the effective and efficient use of contingency funds
• Review the effectiveness of the contract in mitigating risk and contributing to a successful project outcome, consistent with the project scope.