SAVING TIME AND MONEY THROUGH PROPER UTILITY COORDINATION

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SAVING TIME AND MONEYTHROUGH PROPER UTILITY
COORDINATION

• Presented by
• Mark Washing, P.E.
• M.H. Hamilton
• Gresham, Smith Partners
• TRANSPO 2004
• December 7, 2004

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Biography of Presenters
TRANSPO 2004
Mark Washing has over 15 years experience in
Traffic Signal Systems and ITS development and
design. He was project engineer for the Nashville
region ITS deployment phases I and II and is
currently serving as project engineer for the
Memphis region ITS deployment. Mark came to
Gresham Smith Partners after serving as Traffic
Signal System Manager for the City of Lexington
Kentucky where he worked in the traffic signal
department for 10 years. Mickey Hamilton has
over 25 years experience in managing and
coordinating utility problems, first with Bell
South in Nashville and now with Gresham Smith
Partners. Mickey has worked on utility
coordination and trouble shooting for both the
Nashville and Memphis ITS projects. and numerous
other roadway projects where utility coordination
and utility trouble shooting during construction
was required.
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• This presentation demonstrates how proper
  coordination with utility companies adds value
  to ITS and other transportation projects.

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• This coordination during the initial
  design and construction phases of ITS projects
  can result in mutually beneficial results for
  local and state governments, not to mention the
  utility companies.

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• This initial attention to detail will not
  only save in ITS construction cost , but also
  result in time and material savings.

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ITS Is all about reducing congestion,
accidents, and improving customer service to
motorists through improved communications along
the State highway system.
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ITS The Early Days!
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ITS today has a different look
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• that includes real time traffic management with
  the use of computers, communications, and
  information technologies.

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The key component being Communication
and Communication is everything
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It must be accurateand reliable
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Memphis Early Deployment ITS summary
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• Focused around the I-40 and I-55 Mississippi
  River Bridges (116,000 ADT)
• Includes 25 CCTV Cameras and 3 DMS
• Communications is all wireless

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Early Deployment Project Limits
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Memphis Smart Way Project
TRANSPO 2004

• Design team is GSP/URS/THY
• Design will be completed in the spring of 2005
• Scope of Services include Planning, Design,
  Program Management and Construction Engineering
  Inspection.

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TRANSPO 2004
Utility Coordination
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After the initial design of the proposed ITS
equipment such as CCTV, DMS, HAR, and detection
systems, has been located and the power and
communications feeds are proposed, coordination
with the utility companies must begin.
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Properly approached utility companies will
provide good service
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However we are not saying that it will be easy..
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• Dry Run

Utility Coordination Points
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Make a dry run through the project to pre survey
the proposed demarcation sites and determine if
problems such as inadequate clearances, lack of
utility availability, extensive trimming issues,
multiple utility involvement, NESC issues, etc.
exists.
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• Dry Run

• Kick Off Meeting

Utility Coordination Points
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Coordinate a kick off meeting with the utility
agencies during the design phase to get them
involved early in the process. Obtain names, and
convince the electric and/or telephone utility to
appoint one engineer/project manger for the
entire ITS project.
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• Dry Run

• Kick Off Meeting

• Field Review

Utility Coordination Points
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Field Review
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Schedule a field visit with the utility project
manager to review each site. Three things to
focus on

• Safety

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• Safety
• Note location of utilities that may create
  constructability conflicts (gas, fiber, water,
  etc.).
• NESC-Vertical clearances over roads, railroads,
  parking lots, driveways, etc.
• Condition of serving pole
• Is it rotten?,
• Note bonding and grounding.
• Parking near location

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Field Review
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Schedule a field visit with the project managers
to review each site. Note the sites that may
present constructability problems. Three things
to look for

• Safety

• Accessibility

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Accessibility Are easements required? Note
location where easement may have to be purchased
to get utilities to the site. This will minimize
the utility construction costs and assure that
the demarcation site is at the best location.
Utilize side roads close to the interstate for
safe utility accessibility, and place a gate with
daisy chain lock.
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Accessibility Identify areas where utility will
bill to build facilities and obtain a cost
estimate. Many sites may require extra
construction by the utility companies. By knowing
the cost up front, value engineering can take
place and adjustments to the location of
demarcation points can be proposed.
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Field Review
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Schedule a field visit with the project managers
to review each site. Note the sites that may
present constructability problems. Three things
to look for

• Safety

• Accessibility

• Locations or addresses of feeds

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Addresses Pole numbers and/or Transformer
numbers. This will help in the processing of
utility work orders.
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Addresses Get nearby property addresses if
possible, this will aid the utility companies in
locating the sites.
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Successes Some examples
of how working closely with the ITS designer and
MLGW (Memphis, Light, Gas and Water) and other
power utility companies, realigning and/or
eliminating demarcation points saved money are
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Bill Morris Parkway near Sta. 535700
approximately 35-40,000 utility construction
costs saved. Bill Morris Parkway near Sta.
531400 placed conduit and eliminated
construction of a pole line with savings of
approximately 12-14,000. SR 300 near Sta.
302500 demarcation eliminated due to excessive
utility construction estimated in excess of
50,000. Would have required building a pole line
through a forest. Realigned other demarcs.
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Successes Many other
smaller cost savings directly attributable to
good coordination have already saved the project
over 100,000.00
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CEI Once
construction begins, working around unexpected
utility problems can be the real costly. Having
individuals with the knowledge to coordinate
between the contractors, who want to get the job
done as quickly and cheaply as possible, along
with the utility company that wants to keep their
customer serviced at the lowest cost possible, is
essential.
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Utility Coordination. Utility
coordination during the design and construction
of jobs has saved TDOT over 2.4 million and
approximately 959 days construction over a 2 -
year period by making engineering changes to
utility and road drawings.
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QUESTIONS?
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Thank You
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