With IIJA funding, utility modernization, and AI-driven infrastructure expansion accelerating across the country, Right-of-Way (ROW) activity is increasing at an unprecedented pace. Agencies are managing more parcels, more stakeholders, and tighter timelines, often simultaneously, across multiple projects and jurisdictions.

This surge in activity is exposing a growing challenge: traditional tools like spreadsheets weren’t designed for the complexity of modern ROW programs.

Why Spreadsheets Fall Short for ROW Management

Spreadsheets can track individual data points, but ROW acquisition is far more than a list of parcels. It involves evolving negotiations, legal documentation, coordination across departments and consultants, and constant status change.  All of which must be accurate, traceable, and defensible.

As projects scale, spreadsheet-based processes often lead to:

• Fragmented or duplicated parcel data
• Limited visibility into acquisition status and risk
• Manual updates that introduce errors and delays
• Difficulty coordinating with engineering, legal, and other stakeholders

When ROW data breaks down, the impacts ripple downstream, causing project delays, cost overruns, and increased legal exposure.

Purpose-Built ROW Solutions: Designed for Complexity

Purpose-built ROW software platforms, like those offered by RTVision, are designed specifically to manage the realities of large-scale land acquisition programs. Rather than forcing complex workflows into spreadsheets, these systems support the full lifecycle of ROW activities.

Modern ROW solutions enable agencies to:

• Centralize acquisition data and workflows
  Maintain a single source of truth for parcels, contacts, appraisals, offers, negotiations, and documentation.
• Improve coordination across departments and consultants
  Ensure engineering, ROW, legal, and construction teams are working from the same, up-to-date information.
• Integrate ROW data with GIS and parcel systems
  Visualize acquisition status spatially and connect ROW activity directly to project and asset data.
• Reduce downstream delays and legal disputes
  Create a complete, auditable record of decisions, communications, and approvals – strengthening defensibility and compliance.

ROW as a Critical Path, Not a Side Process

As infrastructure programs expand, ROW can no longer be treated as a disconnected pre-construction task. It is a critical path activity that directly impacts schedules, budgets, and long-term asset outcomes.

By replacing spreadsheets with purpose-built ROW solutions, agencies gain clarity, control, and confidence, allowing them to keep projects moving while managing risk in an increasingly complex environment.