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Tools available for coordinating transportation projects with utilities
Coordinating with utilities early in the design of a transportation project minimizes the amount of effort needed later in the design life or during the construction of a project and helps avoid costly, unexpected issues.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has developed a utility coordination process that emphasizes communication among all those whose work affects utility coordination in transportation projects. The process encourages communication within Mn/DOT and between Mn/DOT and utility owners to accurately identify and resolve issues as early as possible in the design of a project.
As part of the process, Mn/DOT developed several tools for use by transportation agencies:
- A 15-step utility coordination process adapted for projects led by local agencies on Mn/DOT right-of-way
- A project manager checklist that walks through the 15-step process
- A dispute resolution process that includes an overview of the process, a step-by-step process description, and a process flow chart
These items are available for download on the Minnesota LTAP Web site at www.mnltap.umn.edu/Publications.
The full Utilities Manual (5.6 MB PDF) is available for download on the Mn/DOT Utilities Web site.
Minnesota LTAP is offering utility training for locals later this year. The course is designed to train local agency staff and their consultant representatives on the Mn/DOT utility coordination process and on proper utility coordination practices in general. For workshop dates, check upcoming issues of the Exchange or see www.mnltap.umn.edu/Events.