Design-build and P3s have become more prevalent project funding and delivery methods, with more than half of project owners using or planning to use design-build due to the ability to fast track, integrate planning, and innovate more easily. The value of utility coordination and reliable information in streamlining design-build projects has been recognized. Over the past decade, T2ue has had the opportunity to support many major light rail and highway design-build projects in Canada and the US. Integrating investigation, conflict identification, related management and mitigation along with comprehensive utility coordination and other Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) services enhances the efficiency of project design and planning.
Dozens of major light rail transit expansion projects across Canada have used various forms of the design-build/P3 approach and T2ue is proud to have provided utility engineering expertise for these and more; HuLRT, HaLRT, YRT-VIVA, FWLRT, OLRT, BRCE, SSE. The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) developed guidelines for the coordination of utility relocation to support improved processes and efficiencies. Those TAC guidelines were the basis of the new Building Transit Faster Act 2020 (BFTA) that the Government of Ontario just passed. The Act reinforces the importance of professional utility coordination and Subsurface Utility Engineering to improve the timely planning and construction of transit projects currently underway. T2ue has a long history of providing industry-leading insight and professional utility engineering services to mitigate and manage utility-related risk for light rail and infrastructure projects.
Across the US, design-build has become more frequently used for highway infrastructure projects. The advantages that integrated Utility Engineering services provide are the same for this type of project as light rail detailed above. Integrating utility coordination and Subsurface Utility Engineering investigations early in the design phase yield benefits across the life of the project. Investigations can include mapping the horizontal and vertical position of utilities, the size and type of utilities, and identifying conflicts that allow for redesign, mitigation or relocation early in the project. T2ue provides a full range of services that benefit design-build highway and light rail projects across the US.; utility coordination, full survey and SUE designating and locating to ASCE Quality standards. Contact us to learn more.