Managing the Right of Way (ROW) is crucial for urban environments because it encompasses everything from utility work to street events and involves overseeing public land used for infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and utilities. Effective ROW management is essential for local governments, utility companies, and contractors to ensure public safety, minimize disruption, and protect critical infrastructure. Without effective ROW management, cities can face costly delays, redundant work, and frustrated citizens.
The Challenges of Traditional Right of Way Management
Historically, managing the right of way has been a cumbersome and inefficient process since it often relies on outdated methods that lead to significant challenges.
Manual Permitting Processes
Manual, paper-based permitting creates a significant administrative burden. In-person submissions and the lack of standardized procedures lead to errors and delays, slowing down approvals and increasing costs for agencies, contractors, and utility companies alike.
Lack of Coordination
Departments and external stakeholders often operate in silos, making it difficult to coordinate work. This disconnect can result in redundant street excavations, conflicting projects, and costly rework—all of which could be avoided with better communication and visibility.
Inconsistent Enforcement and Inspection Delays
Enforcement and compliance tracking are often inconsistent in traditional ROW systems. Manually routing applications and scheduling inspections creates bottlenecks that delay project timelines and drive up costs, especially for time-sensitive infrastructure work.
Limited Transparency
Citizens and contractors alike suffer from a lack of real-time information. Residents may experience sudden disruptions without notice, while contractors face challenges getting timely updates on permit statuses, making efficient planning nearly impossible.
How Accela Modernizes Right of Way Management
The Accela Civic Platform’s Right of Way Management solution addresses these traditional challenges by providing a comprehensive, integrated platform that digitizes and streamlines the entire ROW process.
Permit Application and Routing
Accela offers an online self-service portal that allows contractors and utility companies to submit permit applications digitally. This reduces paperwork, eliminates in-person submissions, and speeds up the initial stages of the permitting process.
GIS Integration
With a map-based interface, users can visualize ongoing and upcoming projects, identify overlapping work zones, and locate underground assets. This spatial awareness helps agencies avoid conflicts and better coordinate work across departments and contractors.
Workflow Automation
Accela automates key steps in the permitting process, from application routing to alerts and approvals. By minimizing manual intervention, the platform reduces processing time, lowers the risk of human error, and keeps projects moving forward efficiently.
Mobile Inspections
Field inspectors can use mobile devices to complete inspections on-site, capture photos, and issue notices in real time. This capability improves accuracy, speeds up the inspection process, and eliminates the need for paper-based documentation.
Dashboards and Reporting
Agencies gain real-time visibility into all ROW activities with customizable dashboards. Teams can monitor project statuses, track deadlines, and generate reports to uncover trends, improve decision-making, and identify areas for operational improvement.
Right-of-Way Management Benefits for Agencies and Communities
The implementation of Accela for Right of Way management brings a multitude of benefits for both government agencies and the communities they serve.
Faster Permit Turnaround and Reduced Staff Workload
Accela automates many of the manual tasks involved in permitting, allowing staff to focus on higher-value work. This leads to quicker approvals, greater efficiency, and less administrative burden for agency teams.
Improved Project Coordination
With a centralized, map-based view of planned and ongoing work, agencies and external entities can better coordinate construction activities. This enhanced visibility helps prevent scheduling conflicts, reduces delays, and keeps projects on track.
Fewer Street Cuts and Utility Conflicts
Accela’s visualization tools allow agencies to identify overlapping projects and plan accordingly. By minimizing unnecessary street cuts and avoiding utility clashes, agencies can extend pavement life and reduce costly disruptions.
Greater Transparency and Citizen Trust
Public-facing portals and interactive maps keep residents informed about road closures, construction timelines, and detour routes.
Increased Compliance with Codes and Standards
Automated workflows and tracking tools make it easier to enforce municipal regulations and monitor compliance. Agencies can quickly identify violations, ensure adherence to local codes, and maintain safer, more organized public spaces.
Real-World Impact: Baltimore, Maryland
The City of Baltimore provides a compelling real-world example of the significant impact of Accela’s Right of Way Management solution. Faced with the challenge of managing thousands of infrastructure projects, street incidents, and events annually, and dealing with costly oversights due to traditional, manual processes, Baltimore turned to Accela.
The City implemented Accela Right of Way Management to improve coordination and reduce impacts in the public right of ways. They brought in an ecosystem of users, including the Departments of Public Works, Transportation, and General Services, along with area utilities like BGE, Veolia Energy, and Verizon. Combined, these entities uploaded over 1,500 projects into the right-of-way database.
The results have been transformative and measurable. Baltimore projects an impressive $900,000 in annual savings as a result of using the solution. Margaret B. Martin, PE, Division Chief III, Department of General Services, stated, “The amount of savings we’ve realized in such a short time really shows how this solution provides immediate, measurable benefits.” Specifically, the City has realized $390,000 in paving cost savings.
Beyond cost savings, the City and its ecosystem partners have avoided hundreds of costly conflicts and proactively improved project efficiencies. BGE, a key utility partner, has also realized substantial benefits, with similar paving cost savings of $380,000, and a projected annual cost savings reaching over $1 million.
Baltimore is continuing to expand its use of the solution to include street incidents and improve inter-agency communication, with Margaret B. Martin seeing Accela as a “real game changer in how municipal infrastructure construction can be managed more efficiently and effectively.”
To read more about Baltimore’s ROW management solution, download the case study.
3SG Plus and Accela ROW Management
Implementing a robust solution like Accela for Right of Way management requires expertise and a deep understanding of both the technology and the unique needs of government agencies. At 3SG Plus, our team is adept at navigating the complexities of transitioning from traditional, manual processes to a digitized, automated system. We understand that every agency has unique workflows and requirements, and we pride ourselves on our ability to configure Accela to precisely meet those needs.
Our commitment to our clients goes beyond just software implementation. We place a strong emphasis on training, configuration, and ongoing support. We ensure that your staff is fully equipped to utilize the Accela platform effectively, providing comprehensive training programs tailored to different user roles.
Our configuration services ensure the system is optimized for your specific operational procedures, from permit application workflows to reporting dashboards. Furthermore, our dedicated support team is always available to assist with any questions or challenges that may arise, ensuring a smooth and continuous operation.
Ultimately, we are committed to helping agencies like yours digitize and streamline public infrastructure processes. We understand the critical importance of efficient ROW management for public safety, economic development, and citizen satisfaction. By partnering with us, you gain not just a technology solution, but a strategic partner dedicated to helping you achieve your operational goals and deliver exceptional public services.