NCHRP 20-65 Task 53
Independent Cost Estimates for
Design and Construction of Rural
& Small Urban Transit Facilities
Stuart Anderson, Texas A&M Univ.
Clifford Schexnayder, Arizona State Univ.
Keith Molenaar, Univ. of Colorado
THESE FACILITIES ARE
 Usually small
 Numerous, and
 Geographically dispersed
 Diverse types
DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE BECAUSE:
 Variations in facility function & size
 Features differ
 Projects often involve renovation
 Lack of historical cost data
 Unique risk factors impact cost
 Estimating processes not structured
PRODUCTS
An Excel spreadsheet
Conceptual Estimating Tool
NCHRP Research Results Digest 397:
Independent Cost Estimates for Design
and Construction of Transit Facilities in
Rural and Small Urban Areas (Project 2065/Task 53).
Available late December
In many cases small urban/rural transit
managers only one person trying to
handle everything.
The estimating tool gives this person the
ability to easily develop a
gross estimate number
independent of a consultant.
OUR WORK
 Reviewed the literature
 Interviewed:
DOT staff,
Consultants, and
Transit managers
 Collected design & construction cost data
 Identified risk factors
 Identified risk frequency levels
EARLY IN THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
 Project definition still uncertain.
 Use a parametric estimating
model.
Association for the Advancement of Cost
Engineering International (AACEI) has a
parametric model that supports estimation of
buildings.
SOURCES of ESTIMATING DATA
RS Means Building Construction Cost Data
For feasibility, preliminary, and intermediate cost,
use the square-foot cost section of the manual.
RS Means Square Foot Costs for final estimates.
However, the square-foot cost data fails to reflect small size
and remote location transit facility characteristics.
Judgment is necessary when using square foot data.
Fails to capture the types of facilities
Estimating Tool
Usable Floor Area
Percent of Area Heated
Percent of Area Cooled
Exterior Finish
Escalation Factor
• Rural Area
• US Average
• Innercity urban
TYPICAL PROJECT SIZE
AVERAGE COST FOR FACILITIES
West Coast facilities could be four
times more expensive.
RISK MANAGEMENT
 Soil conditions (contaminated/unexpected).
 Underground features (debris or utilities).
 Neighborhood complaints: noise and dust
cause construction delays.
 Increased scope/ incremental changes in scope.
 Higher transportation expenses: projects in
remote areas.
 Lack of competition (i.e., the number of
bidders).
CONTINGENCY
Contingency set according to project
type, size, location, and
characteristics.
10 to 15 percent of construction cost
is an often suggested appropriate
contingency.
COST ESTIMATING TOOL
For administration, operations, maintenance, and
vehicle storage type facilities. Developed in MS
Excel with five tabs:
The tool supports
 Introduction,
cost estimating for
years 2015 thru
 User’s Guide,
 Project Information, 2025.
 Estimate Report, and
 Estimate Details.
TOOL BASED ON REGRESSION
ANALYSIS
Design and construction costs based on
similar projects.
Functions for costs were obtained
through regression analysis.
The functions used in the tool to predict
future costs during the schematic
development phase.
Estimate
Report
from the
Tool
LIMITATIONS
The tool only supports
conceptual estimating.
The database and tool were
constructed based on actual
historical cost data available for rural
and small urban transit facilities.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Target more practitioners involved in rural and
small urban transit facility projects for historical
data.
2. Instead of actual data use a Delphi process.
3. Most rural and small urban transit projects are
combinations of administration, operation,
maintenance, and vehicle storage. Thus, it may be
better to secure data for such facilities.
4. The data for park and ride, shelter bus stops, unshelter bus stops, and sign-only bus stops is
limited.
THANK YOU
A special thanks to
Patti Monahan, Executive Director
National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP)
For helping us contact Transit agencies across the country.
QUESTIONS
Stuart Anderson, s-anderson5@tamu.edu
Clifford Schexnayder, cliff.s@asu.edu