The document summarizes the City of Tampa's Utility Capital Improvement Projects (UCAP), a $110 million, five-year program to improve water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure through 25 individual projects. UCAP used a progressive design-build approach with a single program management team for flexibility, accountability, and cost savings. Key benefits included improved reliability, water quality, and stimulating the local economy. Public outreach was essential for success. The program achieved its goals, delivered economic benefits, and received positive feedback from satisfied customers.

1. Progressive Design-Build Delivery of
Multiple, Complex Utility Infrastructure
Projects: The City of Tampa’s Utility
Capital Improvement Projects
Florida Chapter of APWA
2012 APWA Annual Meeting and Trade Show
Tampa, Florida
April 3, 2012

2. Background: What is UCAP?
Utility Capital Improvement Projects
§ Series of progressive design/build projects working
under a single program management umbrella
§ $110 million, five-year program
§ 25 individual water, wastewater, and stormwater
projects
§ Scope of work included program management,
permitting, design, construction, MOT, and public
involvement

3. Background: UCAP Goals
l Improve service reliability
l Improve water pressure
l Reduce pipe breaks
l Improve water quality (Tampa Bay)
l Improve safety and fire protection
l Stimulate local economy
l Encourage W/MBE involvement

4. 100 Year Old Water Main
Downtown Tampa

5. Background: UCAP By the Numbers
l 657,000 staff hours booked on UCAP
l 112,000 total LF of pipeline installed
l 59,000 LF of installed pipe 6 through 36 inches in diameter
l 53,000 LF of installed pipe greater than 42 inches in diameter
l 51,000 website hits through December 2011
l 5,400 LF of pipe installed via trenchless technology
l 530 public involvement calls received
l 400 valves installed
l 235 project updates issued
l 120 media alerts sent
l 100 plus fire hydrants installed
l 25 stand-alone projects

6. Progressive Design Build
Benefits: City of Tampa
l Focused Team (5 years)
l Single point of Responsibility and Accountability
§
Management
§
Design
§
Construction
§
Safety and Health
§
Public Outreach
l Project Flexibility (Design and Construction)
l Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) – open-book
transparency
§
$2.5 million in returned savings

7. Benefit: Focused Team
Qualifications Based Selection

8. Benefit: Single Point of Responsibility
PROGRAM
MANAGEMEN
T
Tier 1
D
E
Ti
S
er
I
2
G
N
CONSTRUCTI
ON
Tier 3

9. Benefit: Single Point of Accountability
Example, Safety….
l Accumulated over 657,000 man-hours
l 1 OSHA Recordable & No DART incidents in 2011
l 3.1 OSHA recordable for program
l 1.2 OSHA DART rate for program
l Hazards: up to 18 feet deep excavation, low overhead power
lines, many unidentified underground utilities, limited work
spaces with large equipment

10. Benefit: Flexibility (Design)
12th St. Force Main

11. 29th St. WM Design accelerated to
allow construction with 12th St. FM

12. Benefit: Flexibility (Construction)
19th St. Water Main

13. Benefit: Flexibility (Add-On Projects)
York St. Project
l The York Street project provided capacity for
present and future stormwater drainage.
l A new 20 ft X 10 ft stormwater storage vault and
drain was installed, which will help protect water
quality in Tampa Bay
l York Street construction also included new
stormwater pipelines, an associated stormwater
water quality pump station, and an outfall
structure.

14. York Street Construction
20FtX10Ft Box Culvert

15. Open for Business….

16. Benefit: Unique Construction
Capabilities
l 47 Trenchless Crossings for total 5,400 LF
l 2,300 LF of Microtunnel Crossings
l 800 LF of Horizontal Directional Drill Crossings
l Low Profile Construction Equipment with
Maximum height of 20 Feet to protect low
arching tree canopies

17. Benefit: Sustainable Construction
Techniques
l Used more than 45,000 tons of
crushed concrete for road base
material in lieu of lime rock
base saved the City $135,000
l By recycling 27,000 tons of
asphalt which ultimately saved
the City $54,000
l $200,000 Realized Savings!

18. Lessons Learned: What you see is
not always what you get!

19. Lessons Learned: Third Party Backup
Utility Locates Minimizes Surprise

20. Lessons Learned: Standardize
Construction Equipment

21. Lessons Learned: Shared Risks
l Include Contingencies in Contract
§
Unforeseen Site Conditions
l Include Allowances in Contract
§
Soils and/or Groundwater
Shared Risks = Shared Savings

22. Final Thought…..
Monthly Leadership Meetings
Program involved interactions with:
l 15 Internal City Departments
l 8 Separate Permitting Agencies
l 7 Unique Funding Sources
l Joint City-County Projects
l Political, Business, and Residential Entities
Monthly Partnering Sessions = No Surprises!!!

23. Public Outreach

24. Effective public outreach is
essential to program success
l Vision
§
Better relationship with community after the
project(s)
§
No calls to elected officials or senior staff
l Approach
§
Communicate with the “same message”
§
Anticipate challenges and mitigate in planning
and design (including specs) when possible
§
Address at “street level” to avoid escalation
§
Customize activity for start-up, design and
construction

25. Talking with stakeholders before the issue
minimizes the issue…
and allows the team to create win-win
solutions, not focus on “the fix”

26. Understanding program issues
provides communication framework
l Trees
l Very tight work areas
l Impacts to public events/venues
l Traffic impacts
l Business and property access
l “NIMBY,” neighborhood concerns
l Noise, dust, inconvenience
l Public and worker safety
l Field emergencies
l Coordination between projects

27. Managing construction and
communication downtown

34. Managing construction and
communication in residential areas

41. Public outreach fundamentals:
start-up
l Program Logo
l Identify stakeholders
l Media training
l Identify spokesperson, other team members
l Presentation
l Contact log/hotline

42. Public involvement tools: website,
inspectors & hotline

43. Program-wide communications ensure consistent
and effective outreach for all projects
l Design phase
§
Key messages
§
Project fact sheets,
Q&A
§
Program website
§
Stakeholder meetings
§
Issues matrix

44. Program-wide communications ensure consistent
and effective outreach for all projects
l Construction phase
§
Field
Communications
Manual
§
Media alerts
§
Door hangers
§
VMB’s
§
Weekly updates
§
Field Ambassadors
§
Neighborhood
meetings

45. Tools during construction

46. Plan around special events

47. A simple thank you goes a long way

48. Be a community partner to create
stronger communities
Over 400 bikes distributed to schools
and families in East Tampa!

49. Lessons learned
l Emergencies will happen, have a crisis
communications plan available
l Anticipate and proactively address issues
throughout program
l Proactive communication “takes the edge off”
l On the ground response is the single most
important PR you can do
l Interaction of the entire team is required on a daily
basis
l Acknowledge their pain, do what you say you will
do, and always say THANK YOU!

50. Consistent communications from design
through construction will gain public
support
“I just wanted to compliment you and
your team for one of the most
organized projects I've ever seen. Your
work is impressive! ”
Best regards,
M. Lisa Shasteen, Esq.
President & CEO

51. Public Outreach Metrics…….
94% Reduction in Complaints!

52. Economic Benefits

53. Direct Economic Benefits:
Key Financial Metrics
l Cumulative Program Value $110 M
l W/MBE Program 11.7%
l Returned Savings to the City $2.5 M
l Jobs created 2,300
l Estimated Economic Benefit $220 M

54. Primary UCAP Goals
Achieved!!!
l Improve service reliability 
l Improve water pressure 
l Reduce pipe breaks 
l Improve water quality (Tampa Bay) 
l Improve safety and fire protection 
l Stimulate local economy 
l Encourage W/MBE involvement 

55. Other Benefits
l Reduced Roadway Flooding
l Environmental Remediation
l Neighborhood Improvements
– Streetscape and Property Values
l Good Will!!!

56. Satisfied Customers….
“I just wanted to compliment you and your team for
“You and your team have been absolutely terrific during one of the most organized projects I’ve ever seen.
these construction projects. Your promptness and attention Your work is impressive!”
to our residents’ concerns has made our job a whole lot
easier and most certainly reduced the discomfort they may B est regards,
have felt during the construction. Thank you for your
professionalism and caring while working here.” M . Lisa S hasteen, E sq.
P resident & C E O
M ichelle, E d and C indy
M ichelle Van Loan “For the past 4 weeks your construction crew have been
E ast Tampa D evelopment working tirelessly putting new pipes down. I have to inform
E conomic and Urban D evelopment D epartment you that M r. Andrew O zolnieks, the crew coordinator is a
wonderful person. He came in on the first day before the
construction started in front of our business to inform us of
the process and how long it would las t and left his business
card in case any inconvenience should arise. He even went
A phone call was received from B rad Latourrette, a further to find out from us each W ednesday what our
motorist calling to express his appreciation for C .J.'s schedule will be for our clients who usually come in on
(G arney C onstruction) assistance. M r. Latourrette Fridays to visit their love ones . M r. O zolnieks always make
wanted to make C H2M HILL aware of his kindness sure the crew is on time every Friday to enable our clients to
and his help with his vehicle problems. get in and out without any problem during the visitation time
frame. He is very devoted to his job, even getting our
M aricelle Venegas schedule before taking a few days off and letting the crew
QC Ausa know what is required of them to accommodate us.”
Thanks,
P aulette Thomas
W ilson Funeral Home

57. Discussion

58. UCAP Contacts
Theresa B. Meyer, PE Randy Houston, PE
UCAP Program Manager Construction Manager
City of Tampa CH2M Hill Constructors, Inc.
Theresa.meyer@tampagov.net Randy.houston@ch2m.com
Wendy Nero Robert H. Garland, PE
Public Outreach Manager Project Director/Design
CH2M Hill Greeley and Hansen
Wendy.nero@ch2m.com rgarland@greeley-hansen.com