METRO DENVER, COLORADO
Project Overview
Del Walker,T-REX Construction Oversight Manager
AASHTO SCOE/SCOD Meeting – June 9, 2004
Transportation Expansion Project
Project Map with Station Locations
Transportation Expansion Project
Light Rail Elements
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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)
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13 Stations with parking at 12 stations
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No at-grade crossings (trains will not interfere with traffic)
– High speed
– Operational efficiency
– Increased safety
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Additional light rail vehicles
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New maintenance facility
Transportation Expansion Project
Highway Elements
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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
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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 Project
Corridor Development
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Summer 1995 – Major Investment Study (MIS) began by
the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
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Fall 1997 – Denver Regional Council of Governments
(DRCOG) adopted MIS recommendations
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Spring 1998 – CDOT began Preliminary Engineering/
Environmental Impact Statement (PE/EIS)
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Fall 1999 – Final EIS completed
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Spring 2000 – Record of Decision (ROD) filed by the
Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) and Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA)
Transportation Expansion Project
CDOT and RTD Inter-Governmental Agreement
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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 Project
Project Goals
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To minimize inconvenience to the public
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To meet or beat the total program budget of $1.67 billion
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To provide for a quality project
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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 Project
Project Budget and Funding Sources
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Projected budget: $1.67 billion
– Light rail elements: $879 million
– Highway elements: $795 million
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Voter approved bond proposals for highway and rail
elements (1999 election)
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No new taxes or increases to existing taxes
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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 Project
Design-Build Concept
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What is it?
– Designing and constructing a project simultaneously
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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
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The T-REX Team provided 30% complete design plans,
the Design-Build Contractor completes the design while
constructing the project
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Allows for flexibility, creativity, and innovation by the
Design-Build Contractor
Transportation Expansion Project
Southeast Corridor Constructors Profile
Joint Venture Partnership of Kiewit Construction Company
and Parsons Transportation Group:
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Subcontractors
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Mass. Electric Construction
Rocky Mountain Signing
GE Transportation Systems
American Civil Constructors
GE Harris Harmon
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Sturgeon Electric
Elmore Pipe Jacking
Penhall Company
Dynaelectric
Subconsultants
– DMJM-Harris
– Sverdrup Civil
– Turner Collie & Braden
– Terracon
– HNTB Corporation
– Kleinfelder
Transportation Expansion Project
Project Uniqueness
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Multiple agency coordination
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Multi-modal approach
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Design-Build construction
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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
Public and Agency Involvement During EIS
Policy Committee
Technical Committee
Public Open Houses
Neighborhood Meetings
Website
Focus Groups
Newsletter
Transportation Expansion Project
Key Environmental Issues During EIS
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
T-REX Environmental Overview
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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 Overview
Noise
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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
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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 Overview
Noise Trailers along I-25
T-REX Environmental Overview
Air Quality
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Contractor required to implement an air quality
monitoring and mitigation plan
– PM10 monitors throughout project
– Project installed meteorological station
– Dust suppression during construction
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Report to CDPHE monthly
– Raw data and summary report
– Mitigation measures taken
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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
Meteorological station
PM10 monitoring site
Transportation Expansion Project
Water Quality
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Contractor required to develop strategies to ensure
water quality during and after construction
T-REX obtained permits:
– MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer)
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Contractor obtained permits:
– CDPHE/CCD Construction discharge permit
– CDPHE/CCD Construction dewatering permit
– CDPHE General Construction NPDES permit
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Report to CDPHE quarterly
– Raw monitoring data and summary report
– Stormwater Management Plan revisions
– Bi-weekly inspections
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CDOT Erosion Control Advisory Team monthly review
Transportation Expansion Project
BMP 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.
Transportation Expansion Project
Hazardous Substances
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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
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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
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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 Project
Various Locations throughout project
Transportation Expansion Project
Protected Species
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Contractor required to comply with SB 40, SB 99-111
and FEIS
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Minimize impacts to wildlife and their habitat during
construction
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Survey of prairie dog, burrowing owl, and swallows nests
prior to construction activities (continuously)
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Successfully relocated approximately 100 prairie dogs to
Cherry Creek State Park (across County lines)
Transportation Expansion Project
Protected Species
Burrowing Owl
Prairie dog
T-REX Environmental Overview
Cultural Resources
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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
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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