Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Design and Construction Strategies > Coordinating Road Projects

FHWA Work Zone Project Coordination Webinar

slide 1: FHWA Project Coordination Webinar

Presented by John Speroni
New York City Department of Transportation

September 24, 2012

Download the Printable Version [PDF, 650 KB]
PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®.



slide 2: NYC DOT Statistics

Scope of Operations

  • 6000 linear miles of streets, 20,000 lane miles
  • 12,300 signalized intersections
  • 787 bridge structures
  • 9 Staten Island Ferry boats, 22 million riders per year

During FY12

  • 325,000 permits for construction on/under streets
  • 564,000 inspections of permit sites


slide 3: Project Types

NYC DOT and its coordination partners perform:

  • Capital reconstruction
  • Street resurfacing
  • Bridge maintenance
  • Plazas, parks, and other public spaces
  • Other activities that affect sidewalk or street usage
    • Utility work
    • Parades, filming, and other special events
    • Building construction
    • Transit construction


slide 4: Project Coordination Goals

  • Coordinate different projects that are at the same location
  • Deliver quality streets by reducing street cuts
  • Avoid transportation capacity reductions and other construction inconveniences
  • Provide an efficient construction environment to the people and businesses of New York City


slide 5: General Coordination Process

  1. Advance Coordination & Planning
    • City agencies
    • High-volume permittees (utilities)
  2. Permit to Work in Street
  3. Perform Street Work
    • Work Safely
    • Restore the Street
    • Inspections Throughout the Process


slide 6: DOT Coordination Toolbox

  • Work Rules
    • Permits needed to close or cut street
    • Inspections during work, after street restoration
    • Protected Streets – special rules apply five years after new pavement
    • Construction Embargoes – no street work allowed in areas used for NYC Marathon, Thanksgiving DayParade, etc.
  • Coordination Meetings
  • Permit and Project Management Software
  • Notifications to Stakeholders
    • Repair Schedules, Protected Streets, Embargoes posted online
    • DOTMap and NYCityMap GIS
  • Street Works Manual


slide 7: DOTMap

Screenshot of the DOTMap page.



slide 8: Street Works Manual

  • http://www.nyc.gov/streetworks/
  • Explains the importance of coordination and documents processes for all stakeholders
  • Chapters
    • Introduction
    • Advance Notice and Coordination of Planned Street Work
    • Permits and approvals
    • Executing Work in the Street
  • Formal Announcement of New Policies
    • DOTMap and other information sharing
    • Incentives for Coordination and Compliance
    • Permit and Inspection Technology Enhancements


slide 9: Internal Stakeholders

  • Capital Program Management
  • Roadway Repair & Maintenance
  • Traffic & Planning
  • Office of Construction Mitigation and Control
  • Permit Office
  • Highway Inspection & Quality Assurance
  • Office of Special Events
  • Etc.

slide notes:

Project Management

  • CPM – Initiates and manages street capital reconstruction. Final design and construction contractor management by DDC.
  • RRM – Performs all phases of in-house resurfacing.
  • T&P – Multiple units manage projects for traffic signals, plazas, bikes, sustainability, etc.

Coordination

  • OCMC
  • Permit Office

Inspection

  • HIQA

Parades, Filming

  • Special Events


slide 10: External Stakeholders

  • NYC Agencies
    • Department of Design and Construction (DDC)
    • Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
    • Department of Buildings (DOB)
    • Police Department (NYPD)
    • Etc.
  • State and Federal Agencies
  • Utilities
  • Construction contractors
  • Call before you dig (New York 811)
  • Residents, businesses, and other street users


slide 11: Extensive Infrastructure Below NYC Streets

  • Sewer and water by a City agency
  • Subway, 4 Commuter Rail systems, AMTRAK
  • Telecom, CATV, Electric, Gas, Steam by licensed utilities

Photo of the underground pipes and wires remaining after a road surface has been taken up.

slide notes:

55% of all street cut permits are taken by major utilities



slide 12: Street Cuts

  • Ideally, utilities and others should perform subsurface work just before the City repaves. Not always feasible:
    • New service, component failure, system upgrades, etc.
  • Impacts of Street Cuts
    • Accelerated pavement deterioration
    • Inconvenience for road users
    • Disruption to surrounding community
    • Construction and permit fees for businesses


slide 13: Benefits in Fewer Street Cuts

Image depicts three overlapping circles, each one containing benefits to a group of stakeholders. Benefits to city residents include less inconvenience and reduced utility rates. Benefits for utilities include lower fees/cost and less stringent restoration requirements. Benefits for the DOT include longer street life and the preservation of the investment in pavement infrastructure.



slide 14: Recent Results

  • Web Permits initiative
    • 80% of permits are now issued online
    • Improved customer convenience and DOT efficiency
  • Improved Street Quality
    • Streets Rated Good increased to 73% in FY12 vs 66% in FY08
  • Ongoing Process Improvements
    • Increased coordination with the major utilities who request 55% of all street cut permits
    • Research into legislative and procedural changes that may further improve project coordination
    • Research into improved construction methods and materials

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