Utility Relocation Course Team

Focus:

Educate the key contributor/team members on how the influence of utilities affects project success from planning through design, construction and maintenance

Idea to implement to consider including:

• Have design staff avoid utilities as they would wetlands, historic sites, etc.
• Develop a training course for roles & responsibilities so there is consistency statewide
• Establish a mechanism to acquire and inspect utility relocates

Team Members:

Don Boswell - Farmers Electric Cooperative

Dan Cannon - Southwestern Bell Telephone

Spencer Hoskins - Central Missouri Electric Cooperative

Earl Keune - MoDOT - D2

Paul Koeper - Penzel Construction Company, Inc.

Kevin Nichols - CH2M Hill

Team Chair:

Tonya Lohman – MoDOT, District Utility Engineer

816-387-2439 Tonya.Lohman@modot.mo.gov

Progress:

The team met June 14th and outlined the basics for the course, the audience, and expected results. The second meeting is scheduled for July 12th. The team does not have representatives from utilities so additional team members will be solicited to join. Initial plans include several courses to truly meet the intended purpose of this team, starting with a class on the basics. The audience will include all involved partners- - MoDOT designers, utility and consultants. Each partner group will also be utilized to present their process.

Processes include:

• Utility Design
• Utility Const.
• Right of Way
• Permits
• Highway/Bridge Design ( include Planning/Scoping)
• HWY/Bridge Const.
• Funding (MoDOT and Utilities)
• Utility “Discovery” Process
• Utility Basics

Expected results include:

• Work with kick off team meeting to ensure success
• Better understanding of partners – how they work, needs, etc.
• Learn to investigate and communicate between partners
• Integration of all partner processes, workflow, information
• Understanding the timing of key questions and decisions
• Do the right thing the first time to reduce resource waste