South Dakota Department of Transportation Snowplow Route Optimization Services

Quetica was awarded a project to provide snowplow route optimization services to the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT). SDDOT is responsible for operating nearly 7,800 miles (8,450 lane-miles) of highway consisting predominantly of rural two-lane highway, in addition to rural and urban Interstate highways, and 4-lane rural expressways. Improving public safety and creating better processes are strategic objectives SDDOT is pursuing to meet the needs and expectations of the traveling public. The research project explored how snowplow route optimization could improve current winter maintenance operations and evaluate alternative routing strategies to reduce operational costs, by minimizing deadhead miles, while meeting level of service requirements for both priority and non-priority routes.