Del Walker,T-REX Construction Oversight Manager

Del Walker,T-REX Construction Oversight ManagerDel Walker,T-REX Construction Oversight Manager

Project OverviewProject Overview

AASHTO SCOE/SCOD Meeting – June 9, 2004AASHTO SCOE/SCOD Meeting – June 9, 2004

METRO DENVER, COLORADOMETRO DENVER, COLORADO

Transportation Expansion ProjectProject Map with Station Locations

Transportation Expansion ProjectLight Rail Elements

• Double track system (approximately 19 miles)– West side alignment along I-25 (from Broadway to Lincoln

Avenue in Douglas County)– Median alignment along I-225 (from I-25 to Parker Road)

• 13 Stations with parking at 12 stations

• No at-grade crossings (trains will not interfere with traffic)– High speed– Operational efficiency– Increased safety

• Additional light rail vehicles

• New maintenance facility

Transportation Expansion ProjectHighway Elements

• Four through lanes in each direction on I-25 (Logan Street to I-225)

• Five through lanes in each direction on I-25 (I-225 to C-470/E-470)

• Three through lanes in each direction on I-225 (I-225 to Parker Road in Aurora)

• Safety/operational improvements:– Acceleration/deceleration lanes– Shoulders widened where feasible

• Interchange reconstruction at 8 interchanges (not all major)

• Complete reconstruction of I-25/I-225 Interchange• Complete reconstruction of “Narrows” (Broadway to

Steele Street in Denver)• Replace numerous bridges• Drainage upgrades• TransOptions and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)

elements

Transportation Expansion ProjectCorridor Development

• Summer 1995 – Major Investment Study (MIS) began by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

• Fall 1997 – Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) adopted MIS recommendations

• Spring 1998 – CDOT began Preliminary Engineering/ Environmental Impact Statement (PE/EIS)

• Fall 1999 – Final EIS completed

• Spring 2000 – Record of Decision (ROD) filed by the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Transportation Expansion ProjectCDOT and RTD Inter-Governmental Agreement

• CDOT and RTD executed on September 9, 1999

– Establish the foundation for the new relationship

– Work cooperatively together to finance/construct the Southeast Corridor Multi-Modal Project

– Implement the Project using a single Design-Build Contract for the highway and light rail transit improvements

– Agreement on the exclusions from the Design-Build Contract

– Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) is unique nationally for a state DOT and transit agency

Transportation Expansion ProjectProject Goals

• To minimize inconvenience to the public

• To meet or beat the total program budget of $1.67 billion

• To provide for a quality project

• To meet or beat the schedule to be fully operational by June 30, 2008*

* Southeast Corridor Constructors (SECC) committed to complete by Fall 2006 (22 months ahead of schedule)

Transportation Expansion ProjectProject Budget and Funding Sources

• Projected budget: $1.67 billion– Light rail elements: $879 million– Highway elements: $795 million

• Voter approved bond proposals for highway and rail elements (1999 election)

• No new taxes or increases to existing taxes

• Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) of $525 million through FTA signed on November 17, 2000

– Several municipalities and jurisdictions have committed $30 million in local matching funds

Transportation Expansion ProjectDesign-Build Concept

• What is it?– Designing and constructing a project simultaneously

• Why are we doing it this way?– The combination of design work and construction into one

Contract results in cost efficiency and more innovative and fast-tracked solutions

• The T-REX Team provided 30% complete design plans, the Design-Build Contractor completes the design while constructing the project

• Allows for flexibility, creativity, and innovation by the Design-Build Contractor

Transportation Expansion ProjectSoutheast Corridor Constructors Profile

Joint Venture Partnership of Kiewit Construction Companyand Parsons Transportation Group:

• Subcontractors– Mass. Electric Construction – Sturgeon Electric– Rocky Mountain Signing – Elmore Pipe Jacking– GE Transportation Systems – Penhall Company– American Civil Constructors – Dynaelectric– GE Harris Harmon

• Subconsultants– DMJM-Harris – Terracon– Sverdrup Civil – HNTB Corporation– Turner Collie & Braden – Kleinfelder

Transportation Expansion ProjectProject Uniqueness

• Multiple agency coordination

• Multi-modal approach

• Design-Build construction

• Primary goal: minimizing inconvenience to the public

Transportation Expansion Project

Key Elements of EIS Environmental Process

Joint FHWA / FTA Lead Agencies

Extensive Public Involvement Program

Agency Involvement on Task Forces

•Noise

•Air Quality

•Wetlands

Transportation Expansion Project

Policy Committee

Technical Committee

Public Open Houses

Neighborhood Meetings

Website

Focus Groups

Newsletter

Public and Agency Involvement During EIS

Transportation Expansion Project

Air Quality

•Corridor assessment

•Hot spot analysis

Noise

Historic Resources / Section 4(f)

Hazardous Materials

Wetlands (approx. 5 acres)

Acquisitions

•6 houses, 1 duplex, 1 apartment building

•19 office buildings

Key Environmental Issues During EIS

T-REX Environmental Overview

• T-REX Environmental Compliance Approach

– Place the responsibility for compliance on the Design/Build Contractor

– Provide FEIS and ROD documents as Contract requirements– Evaluate Personnel and Environmental program plans as part of the

selection process– Require Approval of Environmental documents prior to construction– Require monthly reporting of compliance activities– Partner with the Design/Build Contractor to facilitate speedy

resolution to issues– Utilize Compliance Auditing techniques to ensure the Design/Build

Contractor is meeting Contract commitment obligations.

T-REX Environmental Overview

Challenges of a project of this scale

•Vast space required

•Design Build

•Efficiency

T-REX Environmental OverviewNoise

• Contractor required to analyze and mitigate noise impacts in accordance with Federal Guidelines

• Noise mitigation measures were identified in the FEIS, ROD, and RFP

– Noise Walls (Highway mitigation)– Ballast mats, spring frogs (LRT mitigation)– Public involvement in consideration of construction

mitigation measures

• Denver noise ordinance adherence/variance– Successfully secured CCD noise variance for construction

operations– Innovative noise mitigation during construction– Continuous monitoring during nighttime Bridge Demolition

and other noise sensitive activities– Provide hotel vouchers for affected residents

T-REX Environmental OverviewNoise Trailers along I-25

T-REX Environmental OverviewAir Quality

• Contractor required to implement an air quality monitoring and mitigation plan

– PM10 monitors throughout project– Project installed meteorological station– Dust suppression during construction

• Report to CDPHE monthly– Raw data and summary report– Mitigation measures taken

• Implement Traffic Demand Management strategies to minimize air quality impacts

– HOV lane implementation– Transit, Van Pool, subsidies– Encourage carpool, telecommuting, and flextime with

businesses

T-REX Environmental Overview

PM10 monitoring siteMeteorological station

Transportation Expansion ProjectWater Quality

• Contractor required to develop strategies to ensure water quality during and after construction

• T-REX obtained permits:– MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer)

• Contractor obtained permits:– CDPHE/CCD Construction discharge permit– CDPHE/CCD Construction dewatering permit– CDPHE General Construction NPDES permit

• Report to CDPHE quarterly– Raw monitoring data and summary report– Stormwater Management Plan revisions– Bi-weekly inspections

• CDOT Erosion Control Advisory Team monthly review

Transportation Expansion ProjectBMP placements and “Lake Logan”

Transportation Expansion Project

CDPHE Notice of Violation/Cease and Desist Order

• May 19, 2003 – Colorado Department of Health and Environment issued NOV to the Southeast Corridor Constructor Contractors

• Citation alleged violations, of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and implementing control regulations associated with the construction activities

• Citation made use of T-REX compliance auditing information as basis for many of the violations

• The Contractor has effectively responded to all action items identified within the NOV.

• Recent T-REX compliance audit activity suggests a significantly improved stormwater quality program is in place to mitigate water quality concerns.

Hazardous SubstancesTransportation Expansion Project

• Phase I and Phase II investigations to identify potential contamination accomplished by T-REX prior to construction. Info made available to the D/B Contractor prior to bidding

• Contractor required to manage, classify, treat, or dispose of hazardous substances, both known and unknown throughout project to prevent exposure to workers and the public

• Approve Health and Safety Plan, and Approve Materials Management Plan

– Sampling and Analysis Plan to identify potential contaminants prior to construction

– Incorporation of CDOT Standard Specifications for Health and Safety Management

– All remediation plans are approved through T-REX

Transportation Expansion ProjectVarious Locations throughout project

Transportation Expansion ProjectProtected Species

• Contractor required to comply with SB 40, SB 99-111 and FEIS

• Minimize impacts to wildlife and their habitat during construction

• Survey of prairie dog, burrowing owl, and swallows nests prior to construction activities (continuously)

• Successfully relocated approximately 100 prairie dogs to Cherry Creek State Park (across County lines)

Transportation Expansion ProjectProtected Species

Burrowing Owl Prairie dog

T-REX Environmental OverviewCultural Resources

• Contractor required to monitor excavations for archaeological/paleontological materials

– Contractor commitment to halting construction operations upon discoveries

– Communication with CDOT’s archaeological resources– Contractor working in cooperation with Denver Museum of

Nature and Science on assessment and recording of significant findings

• T-REX, in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, has been recording historical portions of the project for listing on the State Register of Historic Places

– I-25/I-225 Overpass– General Iron Works– I-25 “Narrows”, between Logan St. and Evans Ave

T-REX Environmental Overview

www.trexproject.com