Get to know your least favorite government agency (and me) AMA

"TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief" (trusttheengineer) 08/21/2015 at 20:55 • Filed to: None

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I’m pretty new around here, and I wanted to offer something up to the community in the form of answers to questions you didn’t know you had. I’m a mechanical engineering student currently working for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Often, we (or any DOT) can be the cause of many of your driving frustrations, so I wanted to open up my vast/limited (depending on the topic) knowledge of what we do to clear any questions up for you Opponauts. Plus, it’ll give me a chance to get to know some of you a bit better, and for you to get to know me a bit better, as I’ll hopefully be posting a lot more often in the future.

Tuthill 911-RGT for your time.

RallyWrench > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 20:59

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What is the public’s single biggest misconception about the DOT? What is the biggest waste of your and the agency’s time?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > RallyWrench 08/21/2015 at 21:05

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From what I’ve encountered, the biggest misconception is about which roads we manage. I have a lot of friends asking me things along the lines of “Hey, why is such and such road closed/ what’s going on on this road/ why is CDOT taking so long to pave this local road”, but we only manage and do work on Interstates, US Highways, and State highways. So blame us for anything going on there, but not on your local roads. That’s county or municipal responsibility.

As for the biggest waste of time, I’ll have to think about that for a little bit and get back to you. I have a few ideas...

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:16

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As an ME student starting sophomore year Monday, I'd like to know what your biggest coursework hurdle has been so far.

desertdog5051 > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:18

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How many pens do you carry in your shirt pocket? And what brand of pocket protector do you use? :)

Just kidding. I have a couple of engineer friends and I sometimes have to tell them to take off their engineer hat and put on their regular guy hat.

Welcome to Oppo.

Baeromez > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:28

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How do you sleep at night?

Also, what is your favorite color?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 21:29

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Prepare for a novel of an answer, engineering is something I’m extremely passionate about, and I really enjoy being able to offer help to other engineering students.

I’ll be going into my senior year this semester, so some of my most advanced courses are still ahead of me. Besides these, I have my most true answer that probably won’t help you, and a still true but less of an issue to me answer that will probably be more relevant.

1) I’m pursuing a minor in physics in addition to my Bachelor’s in ME, with the eventual goal of a master’s degree in both Physics and Mechanical. The upper level physics courses that I have taken, especially Mathematical Physics and Quantum Mechanics, have been my most challenging BY FAR. However, these courses have also contributed more than I ever could have expected to my mechanical classes. The thought processes and points of view you get from taking classes unrelated to your major (which I highly, highly recommend in the engineering field) will give you a massive advantage in the rest of your coursework, but will likely be much more difficult than the standard ME classes. They will be time consuming, force you to re-evaluate how you look at problems, and the exams will give you a run for your money. In the end, you will be glad to have added these experiences to your learning, though.

2) I’m very mechanically minded as it is, so none of my classes have been particularly difficult for me, and I’ve actually been working as a tutor for all of them. How you can handle the material is never the whole story though. Time management has been by far a larger hurdle than any specific course in mechanical. There’s a lot of things outside of school I enjoy doing, and often school took a backseat to these activities. As I became busier and busier, I was forced to manage my time well to fit everything I had to do just for school and work into my schedule. Once I started figuring this out, I was able to find time for school, work, and even lots of biking and snowboarding. If I never got my time management skills together, I would’ve been stuck having to choose between class and fun, and fun would have often won out, which could have proven detrimental, and it often did cause me problems. Overcoming my ability to manage time might be one of the most difficult hurdles and most useful experiences I’ve gained from school.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > desertdog5051 08/21/2015 at 21:30

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Thanks!

I actually prefer dress shirts without pockets, but I might have a free pen or two from the library in my pants pocket... And engineer hats are so comfortable, I hate taking it off!

smobgirl > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:31

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Why do you post signs that say “Left lane closed ahead” when you really mean “Four lanes of highway are coned off and all of you will be driving in the exit lane for a mile”?

Why doesn’t Colorado use reflective paint or reflectors for lane markings like the rest of the country?

How is Peña always clear when there’s feet of snow and 5mph traffic on every interstate leading up to it? Is it secretly heated?

What's in the secret officey areas in the Eisenhower tunnels?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > Baeromez 08/21/2015 at 21:32

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I count Legendre polynomials instead of sheep. And I like to think some of my work will keep our highway tunnels from falling on people in the future.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:32

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Thanks for the response. Like you, this is something I'm very passionate about. I've known I wanted to do ME since fourth grade. Also, just like you, I have a lot of issues with time management. I'm working on remedying that this semester though.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 21:33

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Do it as early as possible, it’s harder to change your GPA as you move through school. And the sooner you get your time figured out, I guarantee the sooner you’ll be able to do more things you love without class suffering.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > Baeromez 08/21/2015 at 21:34

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Favorite color? Purple, I think. I wish I had a more creative description for it.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:34

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I had an ok GPA last year (I kept my scholarships), but it's not where I want it to be. Got any tips for time management?

promoted by the color red > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:36

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How do your road crews tote around those temporary crash barriers that you fill with water/anti-freeze? Which brand do you guys go with?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > smobgirl 08/21/2015 at 21:43

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1) That’s bad traffic control by the contractors, there should really be a sign a mile ahead of each closure to give ample warning in order to (try) to minimize the impact on traffic flow. Not all of the guys we hire follow the M&S standards as well as they should though.

2) I’m actually not too sure about this one, my focus is more on avalanche and tunnels than pavement. However, if you’ve seen the new LED markings on I70 east of the Veterans Memorial Tunnel, those will hopefully becoming more prevalent to fix this.

3) I think they might have a different crew clearing the road on Pena, I’ll have to check my map at work to be sure though. It might even be not under our control. Often the plow guys are extremely overworked, and don’t get paid enough, so a better managed crew on Pena might be why they get it done so well.

4) A massive control room that can see traffic in many, many places in the state (100+ screens constantly switching through cameras on the road), ventilation fans that are 30 feet high and move 375,000 cubic feet of air per minute, garages for maintenance vehicles and fire trucks, conference rooms, offices for the tunnel superintendent and his workers, and two huge air shafts that runs along the length of the tunnel for intake and exhaust air. Many cool things up there, if you ever get a chance to see it, do it!

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 21:45

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Do the work you like best first, because you’ll crank through it and get done a week early. Then do your work from least favorite to 2nd favorite after that. And pick at least one free day a week to only do work, and crank out as much as possible. Usually I did school work all day Saturday, then had Sunday wide open for fun. Party Friday night, because it makes the weekend seem a lot longer.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:48

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Cool. What about minimizing distractions? Even if I only have my study materials with me and leave my phone and laptop in my room, I still get distracted. I’m thinking about running/working out to help me focus cause I've heard that works. Do you have the same type of problem?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > promoted by the color red 08/21/2015 at 21:52

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Not exactly my area of specialty, but I think I have enough information to give an answer. We have these yellow barrel “barriers” that go in the gore zones and sometimes at the end of runaway truck ramps to slow down out of control, crashing cars. Each layer is filled with increasing amounts of sand, actually, to slow the car down more as it moves through them. These are carried on the back of flatbed trucks usually (not semis though), and I believe (but don’t quote me) that some are filled onsite. I couldn’t tell you the brand, but if that’s not the type of barrier you meant, let me know. We also have Attenuator trucks (many are International trucks with “Scorpion” attenuator barriers on the back), which have big fold down crumple zones in the back that can take an impact from a car and protect the crews working in front of them.

Here’s an example of one of those trucks, although this isn’t the same exact type that we use, but similar.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 21:56

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I definitely run into that problem. However, I usually don’t bike (my chosen form of activity) until after most of my work is done. I found that there’s certain people I can work with that help me stay focused, and also a lot of people that just help me get distracted even more, so try to find the ones that help you stay focused, and you’ll both get lots of work done. A huge chunk of it is mental, I psych myself up and tell myself I’m gonna go hard for 2 hours and crank out work, and set a goal. I’m very competitive, even with myself, so it makes me focus so I can beat that goal. Then I’ll take a break, make some food, read a bit, grab a beer and do it again.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > smobgirl 08/21/2015 at 21:58

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And thanks for asking about the EJMT (Eisenhower tunnel), it’s probably my favorite part of my work so far, I could go on and on about it.

smobgirl > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:58

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It’s like Christmas in August! And I want nothing more than to look in the tunnel building :)

Yeah I’m not sure who is responsible for Peña. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the airport helps pay for some of that. It was such a weird political deal between the city and the counties and all.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 21:58

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Thanks man. Good luck this year!

smobgirl > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:03

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I do building inspections, mostly just apartments and nursing homes but I’ve seen some cool buildings being put up for adaptive reuse. Nothing makes me happier than exploring industrial/mechanical areas. I got to poke around this building in Baltimore that had been a brewery from the 1850s, built in stages, and the crazy secret basements and subbasements and brewing equipment and boiler rooms in that place were amazing.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > smobgirl 08/21/2015 at 22:05

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That sounds super awesome! I’d love to explore something like that, big mechanical areas are so cool! Hopefully you won’t have to get caught up in inspecting the Denver VA hospital at any point, it’s a mess.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 22:07

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Thanks! Good luck to you as well, hopefully this was some useful input! Don’t be afraid to ask if you have any questions about engineering/school/time/anything, I’d love to help!

Out of curiosity, where are you studying? (For full disclosure, I’m at the Colorado School of Mines)

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:09

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Do the engineers still argue with the construction contractors?

Why are there usually three construction workers doing nothing/observing and one doing the work?

Also hello from a fellow mechie student on the east coast.

Baeromez > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:11

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You can’t go wrong with a good purple.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:16

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It's a smaller private school in Nashville. Our whole department is only around 150 students, but it's a great program and there's lots of personalized attention. Also, I think we have a 97(?)% pass rate on the licensing exam over 13-ish years so I'm in good hands.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 08/21/2015 at 22:16

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The engineers definitely still argue, we’re bad at taking into account practical situations and think our cost estimates and ways of doing things theoretically are the best.

Part of me wants to say “Unions, man”. But some jobs, depending on where funding comes from, have federally mandated “On-the-Job-Training (OJT)“ requirements, in which a certain number of hours must also be used to give personnel real world training in order to make them better off on jobs in the future. Also, if part of the work requires using certain equipment, and only one guy is certified/can be payed (it’s more expensive to pay someone to operate equipment) to use it, guys might have to sit around until that part is done before they can move on to the next part. It would be a lot more efficient if that didn’t happen though. But contractors like getting paid...

Mechie mafia unite!

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 22:18

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A small program can have huge advantages. It does seem like you’re in good hands for the F.E., and congratulations on your choice of study!

andthelike > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:18

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as someone who just completed a government internship which saw me handling a lot of constituents for a senator, let me tell you, peoples least favorite government agency is whichever one they are thinking about.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > andthelike 08/21/2015 at 22:21

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I drive a lot, so I often think about my agency. But I think you nailed it with that!

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:24

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The only downside is no FSAE and we have pretty limited human and monetary resources for SAE Baja. Other than that, I love it. Thanks again!

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > RallyWrench 08/21/2015 at 22:28

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I’ve been in meetings that cost $20,000 and accomplished nothing, and it happens way more often than anyone would ever want. A lot of it is bureaucratic things like “Let’s set some goals”, and is kind of bullshit.

The overall biggest waste of time would have to be getting projects ready, though. It’s the rule rather than the exception to go through a 6 month process just to get a job bid, and that’s before design or construction has even started yet. This is especially wasteful, timewise, when the budget for a fiscal year needs to be spent within 18 months. Sometimes we get unsolicited bids on projects, and those are great, because it means we can jump right into design without wasting time. I’ve also seen 18 months allotted to just the design for a tunnel lighting system, which is completely ridiculous. Between the advertising/bidding/awarding a contract and design phases of a project, that’s where all of our time goes.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE 08/21/2015 at 22:31

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FSAE is just rebuilding a carbon fiber floor pan 12 times because curing your own CF is hard, anyway, so don’t worry too much about missing out on it!

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:38

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I had a civil engineer professor in statics. He was an adjunct prof who would tell his work stories. The most notable was his arguments with the contractors on a overpass refusing to work to code and his suggestions on the rebar. They acted like know it alls when it came to materials suggestions.

I have a beef with construction unions. Maybe that’s just me since I try to work efficient and not waste time.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 08/21/2015 at 22:42

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I fortunately haven’t heard about those kind of arguments with contractors on our jobs, most of the ones that seem to go on regard traffic control procedures more than anything else. I’m also not a big fan of unions, for the same reason. Working conditions aren’t like they were in the 1800s/early 1900s anymore, so I think they’re no longer necessary.

The best advice I ever heard my statics professor give someone was: “If you can’t cut it as an engineer, go be a doctor. You can only kill one peson at a time if you’re bad at that.”

RallyWrench > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 22:45

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Sounds about right for government work, thanks for the detail. The DOT isn’t the worst, you guys are at least 3rd behind the IRS and DMV, so cut yourself some slack!

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > smobgirl 08/21/2015 at 22:54

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Update: Peña isn’t in our Right-of-way, it looks like the snow removal there is taken care of by the airport. There may be, and likely is, state funding provided, but it doesn’t look like CDOT crews are responsible for that road. That makes sense as to why it gets taken care of so quickly, as the airport has a large snow removal team with not as many total lane-miles to plow as each of our patrols (typically 3-10 guys each, covering much more area).

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > RallyWrench 08/21/2015 at 22:58

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Thanks, I won’t rest until we can get close to my personal (non-sarcastic) favorite though, the BLM.

RallyWrench > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 23:09

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Good luck in that endeavor, I’m an avid mountain biker and trailbuilder and would happily work for the BLM or Forest Service.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > RallyWrench 08/21/2015 at 23:14

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What do you ride? I love mountain biking, and have done some volunteering with the local county open space to build/repair trails.

fhrblig > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 23:16

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I don’t have a question, I’m just really looking forward to the I-25/6th interchange being completed.

RallyWrench > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 23:21

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An Ibis Mojo, and a Kona Stinky Six for parks & DH. I do loads of volunteer trailwork, love it.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > fhrblig 08/21/2015 at 23:29

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I have to drive through there whenever I go from my office to HQ... I’m ready for it to be done too. But its supposed to be safer and have better flow with the new design once it’s done!

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > RallyWrench 08/21/2015 at 23:32

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Is the Mojo carbon? It’s a great looking bike. And for downhill, the Stinky is just... damnnnnn. As soon as someone tells me “and for DH I have ...”, I’m like, “wow, you must be really good!”

RallyWrench > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/21/2015 at 23:43

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Yup, carbon. I’m not that good, i just got lucky trading some work on a buddy’s car for the frame and built it up with spare or bro deal parts. The Kona was my only bike for awhile.

fhrblig > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/22/2015 at 00:09

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I drive through it twice every day. It looks like it will be a massive improvement.

911e46z06 > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/22/2015 at 00:39

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If you had 250 grand to spend on 6 vehicles, what would they be?

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > 911e46z06 08/22/2015 at 17:56

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Oooh, this is a good one. That price cap is gonna kill me. 993 turbo S and RS6 avant are both out since I’d have very little to spend on the other 5.

B7 S4 Avant (6-speed, Nogaro Blue), or an early B8 with the 4.2 - $20-30k

4 door JK Rubicon + 3 inch lift + 35s +bumpers + light bar + winch + tire mount that sits on top of the fastback top - $40k

E9 BMW - $30-50k (for a 3.0 CS, though I’d love a CSL)

Caterham Seven - $45k

W12 Phaeton - $20k

Ferrari 456 - $70k

Cars that made me go back and forth for a bit: Cayman R - $65k, Jaguar XKR - $55k, Golf R or S3 - $45-50k, and I reaaaaaaallly wanted a 911 to slot in here, but couldn’t really pick out any one that did.

That made me think really very hard, but I think this is the list.

911e46z06 > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/23/2015 at 02:01

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Solid choices. I like asking this question and comparing the answer to my garage. We’re pretty different lol. Although I am currently in the market for an e9. I’ve been agonizing over whether to pick up a plain vanilla 3.0 CS for cheap, or spend double or triple for a CSI or CSL.

TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief > 911e46z06 08/23/2015 at 11:00

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If I had the ability to spend double or triple for the CSI or CSL, I know I’d constantly regret not doing so if I bought the CS. I love the E9, so I can see myself buying the CS early on, due to the lower price, but selling it and dropping the coin on a CSL as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Is your garage what’s in your name, or is there more? I’m actually a bit of a ‘Vette fan too, thanks to my dad, but the C2 is really where that loyalty lies, although I’d love to have a C5 Z06 as well.

911e46z06 > TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief 08/23/2015 at 12:47

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Yeah, ‘87 911 Turbo-look Cab, C6 Z06, e46 M3, plus a CTS V-Sport, ‘09 Silverado 2500, and ‘97 Tahoe expedition rig.

My dilemma with the e9 is that I’m not really looking for an investment. I just love the look of them, and I want to cruise one around to car shows and such. If I drop 60 grand on something that’s only going to appreciate, I wouldn’t be as willing to take it around town and put miles on it. It’s like with my Porsche. When I bought it for 20 grand, I drove the shit out of it, but now that it’s worth a hundred, I’m nervous about taking it out of the garage.