TIGER PROGRAM LESSONS LEARNED

Great PA/NJ Regional Trail Projects

Presentation to the Circuit Coalition May 15, 2014

Chris Stanford, P.E., PTOE, PMP

Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

Introduction/Background

• PEC sponsored effort to improve “the process”

• Baker involved with 4 Tiger projects

• Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program

• $17.2 Million in funding for 7 projects in Philadelphia

Projects• Schuylkill River Trail

1. Shawmont Ave to Montgomery County line

2. Walnut Street Gateway

3. CSX Pedestrian Bridge

4. Boardwalk from Locust St. to South St.

5. Bartram’s Garden

• East Coast Greenway6. 58th St. Connector from Bartram’s Garden to Cobbs Creek Trail

7. Delaware Ave./Allegheny Ave. to Lewis St.

Time Analysis

Typical PennDOT Project Development Process:

• Categorical Clearance Evaluation (CEE) Scoping Field View

• Safety Review Approval • Preliminary Engineering • CEE Approval • Final Design Engineering • Final Plans, Specifications & Estimate (PS&E) • Bid Letting

Time Analysis• Environmental Clearance Duration (CEE SFV to CEE

approval)• Average = 1.8 years

• Overall Design Duration (CEE SFV to Let Date)• Average = 3.2 years

• Factors Affecting Schedule• Acquisition of Federal / State Funds• Environmental Clearance• PennDOT Review/Approval process• Completion of Railroad Agreements

Acquisition of Federal/State Funds (i.e. TAP or PennDOT Multimodal)• Positive – Supply 70% -100% Construction funding

• Negative – Federal Highway oversight, Federal requirements

- Requires PennDOT Requirements and Approvals

- 30% match or all pre-construction costs

Environmental Clearance

Historic / Cultural Resource Reviews

• Identify potential historic/cultural resources early • (i.e. parks, historic properties/ structures over 50 years old, etc.)

Recommendations:• Use CRGIS (crgis.state.pa.org) to identify resources in area• Identify in RFP • Gather required data and provide to PennDOT prior to SFV

meeting

Railroad Agreements

Issue: Can delay construction by several months due to required railroad agreements

Recommendation:• Start coordination early in process (after SFV meeting)• Utilize PUC staff

Lessons Learned - City Specific Recommendations• Curb Line Changes - City Plan Change and curb stakes• Sidewalk Bicycling Ordinance – submission/approval by

PCPC & DOS• Curb Extensions – DOS requires geometry and grading

plans

Recommendations:• Include above in Scope of Work

Traffic Signals

Issue: Scope of improvements changed late in design process. ADA requirements changed scope late in the process

Recommendations:• Early field meeting with PennDOT, City design,

maintenance and construction staff to determine improvements

• Identify ADA improvements earlier in process

Overlapping/Adjacent Projects

Issue: PennDOT resurfacing projects and adjacent private projects result in redesign and extra coordination

Recommendations:• Identify adjacent projects and work out work limits prior to

construction, if possible• Contact the City, Municipalities and/or PennDOT to

identify resurfacing and private projects in the area

City / PennDOT Coordination

Issue: Separate plan submissions / separate review comments.

Recommendations:• Combined meetings / conference calls with PennDOT and

City reviewers• Consolidated review comments

Project Management Recommendations

• Scope of work• Scope contracts in separate parts (i.e. preliminary and final design)

• Environmental• Include scope for Cultural / Historic research in RFP or use

PennDOT open end contacts

• Consultant selection• Include PennDOT prequalification as a selection criteria

• Funding• Use 15%-25% of estimated construction cost for req’d design funding• Consider a contingency fund

• Inflation of construction costs• For grants/funding request, add 1%-3% yearly inflation for

construction costs

Project Management Recommendations

• Surveying• Include $10K-25K per mile for field survey work

• Construction Management/Construction Inspection costs• Include 10%-17% for CM/CI in cost estimates

• Construction phase services• Include construction phase services in design contract

• Railroad and PUC coordination• Include considerable design and construction costs for projects

crossing RR tracks

Conclusion• TIGER, TAP, Multimodal projects will have a tremendous

positive impact on regional trail network• Recommendations are designed to streamline and

improve the project development process

Contact Info: Chris Stanford cstanford@mbakercorp.com 215-442-5333