Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Value Engineering for State DOT Bridge Projects under FHWA Guidelines

Course Description

What makes a bridge design worth funding?

In today’s competitive infrastructure landscape, it’s no longer enough for a proposal to be technically sound. To win support, designs must prove their value over time, economically, environmentally, and operationally. This course equips you with two essential tools for that job: Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Value Engineering (VE). Whether you’re preparing a grant application, reviewing design alternatives, or advising on public infrastructure, you’ll learn how to use LCCA and VE not just as compliance measures, but as persuasive decision-making tools that can secure funding and build long-term trust.

We’ll walk through each method step by step, show how they apply to real DOT projects, and wrap up with a scenario-based challenge where you’ll apply what you’ve learned. You’ll leave with the confidence to analyze, justify, and communicate the full value of your engineering choices, because the best projects aren’t just built well. They’re defended well.

Learning Objectives

1. Apply FHWA-recommended LCCA methodologies to bridge project proposals.

2. Evaluate alternative design solutions using Value Engineering principles aligned with state DOT requirements.

3. Interpret and utilize RFP language and grant scoring criteria related to cost-benefit analysis.

4. Identify opportunities to improve long-term performance and reduce life cycle costs in bridge design.

5. Navigate regulatory and funding frameworks impacting bridge project evaluations (IIJA/BIL, FAST Act, etc.).