Phone Interview with Reggie Beasley Conducted by Daniel Streufert on 10/07/04from3:00to 3:56 PM

Interviewee Information

Reginald H. Beasley, Jr.

Urban Program Manager

804-786-0335

Interviewer Information

Daniel J. Streufert

Undergraduate in Systems and Information Engineering

Recommended Contact

Charlie Rasnick

Programming Division

804-786-2587

Urban Program Overview Questions

How are Urban Programs (UP) involved in the STIP?

Cities and towns with population > 3500 people have separate construction programs

81 cities and towns receiving urban construction funds

Federal funding allocations:

Primary Roads40%,

Secondary Roads30%

Urban Programs30%

Cities prioritize transportation long range plans

Cities provide programming revolution to apply for funding

What are the functions of UP?

Put the construction project together

Recirculation of draft of project back to MPO

Put together STIP and TIP

Combine all TIPs to form STIPs

How much $ is going into these projects?

Ballparklook at urban programming division then add up all funding for every division

What are the activities involved in UP?

  1. pass programming resolution submitted to department
  2. authorize funding for preliminary engineering
  3. authorize funding for utility adjustment or right away
  4. contract for construction
  5. authorization for construction—dependent on STIP funding (updated estimates every 90 days—reviewed and revised)
  6. advertise construction and take bids
  7. contract awarded—overseen by local resident engineer and construction engineer
  8. implementation of project

Questions about SpecificUP Activities

Activity 1: programming resolution

InputsSomething consumed or modified in the process. (i.e. project requests, records…)

describe the overview of project (i.e. make improvements on a two lane road to four lanes)

Analysis on the limits of the project

Traffic analysis, soil investigation, public hearings and info meetings

ControlsA constraint on the operation of the process. (i.e. $, legislation, requirements…)

Estimates of cost

requirements

MechanismsSomething used to perform the process, but is not itself consumed (i.e. files, external contractors…)

In house analysis

Transportation sector does analysis

Conduct analysis themselves—run counts

Outsource big jobs

Survey crews

Arial photography

OutputsSomething resulting from the process. (i.e. actual projects being implemented)

Predict at least 20 years out

Objectives for the activity

Key decisions that need to be made that directly affect the outcome.

Duration

30 to sixty days

Recommendations

Activity 2: authorize funding (approval for preliminaryengineering)

InputsSomething consumed or modified in the process. (i.e. project requests, records…)

Info from resolution

ControlsA constraint on the operation of the process. (i.e. $, legislation, requirements…)

Budget for prelim engineering

In STIP

Backup data from FHWA to confirm resolutionconfirm or deny

MechanismsSomething used to perform the process, but is not itself consumed (i.e. files, external contractors…)

OutputsSomething resulting from the process. (i.e. actual projects being implemented)

Secure authorization from FHWA

Charge time spent scoping to the project

Objectives for the activity

Confirm or deny resolution

Key decisions that need to be made that directly affect the outcome.

Duration

Approx 14 - 30 days start to finish

Recommendations

Already know final approved STIP—if $ exceeds STIP or if the resolution isn’t in the STIP, then you have to amend the STIP

Activity 3: utility adjustment phase (approval for utility adjustment)

InputsSomething consumed or modified in the process. (i.e. project requests, records…)

Surveying location of utilities

Acquisition of property and right away to build

ControlsA constraint on the operation of the process. (i.e. $, legislation, requirements…)

Private utilities i.e. verizon and above ground utilities

Time frame to adjust utilities

Money

Underground city owned utilitiesincluded in construction project

MechanismsSomething used to perform the process, but is not itself consumed (i.e. files, external contractors…)

Plans for construction sent to utilities

OutputsSomething resulting from the process. (i.e. actual projects being implemented)

The construction path is clear of all private land owners (“parcels”) and utilities

Objectives for the activity

Funds have to be identified

Remove utilities before breaking ground

Buy right of way for utilities

Move poles and lines for utilities

Key decisions that need to be made that directly affect the outcome.

Whether or not to adjust utilities or alter your construction plans.

Duration

6months to three yearsdepend on the number of private property owners and utilities needed to be adjusted

each are adjusted individually

make offer to property owner (FMV)they need time to decide and move

condemn house if they don’t moveapply through court system

Recommendations

Reduce time by condemning all properties up front and settle later

Activity 4: contract for construction

InputsSomething consumed or modified in the process. (i.e. project requests, records…)

Authorization to beginapproval from utility adjustment

Fed authorization

ControlsA constraint on the operation of the process. (i.e. $, legislation, requirements…)

Money

bids from contractors

MechanismsSomething used to perform the process, but is not itself consumed (i.e. files, external contractors…)

External bidders (i.e. construction companies)

OutputsSomething resulting from the process. (i.e. actual projects being implemented)

Award contract to most responsible bidder

Objectives for the activity

City-state agreementidentify responsibilities for both sides, contractor and UP

Maintain project once started

City matches 2% of the cost of the project based on contract prices from prelim engineering and resolution

Key decisions that need to be made that directly affect the outcome.

Duration

60 – 120 daysdepends on how long the contract is left out to bid on and how many times the local city meets to agree on the contract

Construction Implementation Duration

Roads3 to 6 mo

Bridges and heavy equip3 years

Recommendations

Recommended Resources

Website for local assistance division Urban Program manual

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