WGI is proud to share that our teams have earned near-perfect performance scores across three recent PD&E studies with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Every professional services contract with FDOT concludes with a formal performance evaluation. Project managers score consultants on a 1–5 scale across quality, schedule, and management criteria. A 3 is satisfactory; the baseline expectation. A 4 means the consultant handled minor issues efficiently and delivered above expectations. A 5 means outstanding: the team was proactive, resolved problems before they escalated, and required minimal Department involvement. Scores above 4.5 put a consultant firmly in that top tier.

Those scores aren’t just a report card, it shows that a pattern of high scores signals that the consultant consistently delivers. For FDOT, that means less rework, fewer surprises, and a team that communicates in a proactive manner.

Across three recent PD&E studies, WGI earned quality scores of 4.7 on each, with management scores ranging from 4.5 to 5.0. We’re proud of what these numbers represent, and even prouder of the teams behind them.

SR 5/US 1 at Aviation Boulevard | FDOT District 4 | Indian River County

Quality: 4.7 | Schedule: 5.0 | Management: 4.5 Final Evaluation | Project Manager: William Evans, PE, AICP

This project had no easy answers from the start. The intersection of US 1 and Aviation Boulevard in Vero Beach serves the regional airport and the city’s historic downtown, and the stakeholders couldn’t agree on a path forward. The MPO and County wanted a grade-separated solution at the FEC Railroad crossing. The City wanted at-grade. WGI developed eight alternatives, navigated an FAA runway protection zone analysis added mid-study, and ultimately advanced an at-grade solution that worked for everyone.

FDOT’s evaluator noted that William “consistently met, often exceeded, expectations” on both environmental documentation and engineering analysis. Public involvement earned a perfect 5.0. The evaluator credited proactive materials preparation, additional public meetings with the City to address right-of-way concerns to complete the study ahead of schedule with full city and county support. That last detail says a lot: finishing early on a study this complex doesn’t happen by accident.

Livingston FPL Trail Extension from Radio Road to Collier/Lee County Line | FDOT District 1 | Collier County

Quality: 4.7 | Schedule: 4.3 | Management: 5.0 Interim Evaluation | Project Manager: Linda Hess, PE, PTOE, RSP

Eleven miles. Two canals. Six major arterials. The FDOT requested WGI to assess the feasibility and conceptual design of a shared-use path within a Florida Power & Light easement in Collier County (part of the SUN Trail Priority Network) and deliver it all in full compliance with FDOT PD&E procedures.

Our team delivered. Environmental documentation and engineering analysis each earned 5.0. The evaluator described strong regulatory knowledge, effective agency coordination, and submittals that came back with minimal comments and no major issues. Management was a perfect 5.0 across all three criteria. FDOT’s evaluator noted that Linda’s team proactively identified issues before they became problems, coordinated efficiently with subconsultants, and stayed consistently responsive to the Department from start to finish.

I-75 Rest Area NB | FDOT District 1 | Lee County

Quality: 4.7 | Schedule: 4.3 | Management: 5.0 Interim Evaluation | Project Manager: Lee Dowden, PE

The I-75 northbound rest area at Daniels Parkway is nearly 40 years old. It needed modernization for safe truck parking and amenities. Currently, it lacks the security, storage, and circulation infrastructure that a modern facility needs. This study matters for the drivers who rely on it and for the communities it serves. WGI is developing a master plan to expand truck parking, improve wayfinding, and create pedestrian paths that safely separate trucks from general traffic.

The scores reflected the team’s commitment to the work. Environmental documentation and engineering analysis both earned 5.0. Management was a perfect 5.0 across all three criteria. FDOT’s evaluator highlighted Lee’s proactive approach to staffing up when deadlines approached and the team’s responsiveness when outside agency changes required schedule adjustments. Consistent, steady, and reliable: exactly what a project like this demands.

What the Scores Reflect

Three projects. Three districts. Three project managers. The same result across the board.

That consistency points to something beyond individual performance on a single study. PD&E work is where transportation projects either gain momentum or lose it. A misstep in environmental documentation or agency coordination can stall a project for months. These evaluations reflect teams that ran tight quality control, communicated ahead of problems, and kept submittals clean enough that FDOT’s reviewers had little to send back.

As agencies navigate constrained budgets, the ability to deliver PD&E studies efficiently, on schedule, and with minimal rework, is exactly what these evaluations measure. WGI’s recent scores show that’s what our teams are delivering.

Continuing a Commitment to Florida’s Communities

We’re proud of these scores, but what they really reflect is the dedication of the people behind them. WGI’s PD&E teams bring together planners, engineers, environmental specialists, and public involvement professionals who care about getting it right. For FDOT, for the communities these projects serve, and for Florida’s transportation future. We look forward to bringing that same commitment to what comes next.

Contact Us

A 4.7 isn’t just a number… it’s a track record.

If you’re looking for a PD&E partner who will show up, communicate, and deliver, we’d love to talk. Reach out to WGI’s transportation planning team today!