Level: Intermediate
TCM Section(s):
7.3. Cost Estimating and Budgeting
10.4. Project Historical Database Management
Venue: 2023 AACE International Conference & Expo
Abstract: The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA), aka Sound Transit (ST), which services Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties in Washington State, is undertaking one of the most ambitious transit expansions in the country including a network of 116 miles of link light rail construction. Sound Transit’s portfolio has been broken down into several alignments with multiple construction contracts. The most common project delivery methods at Sound Transit are DBB (design-bid-build), DB (design-build), and GC/CM (general contractor / construction manager). These methods often yield only lump sum bids/proposals or high-level bid packages, which are not conducive to developing historical cost-models. This poses a challenge to Sound Transit cost engineers and cost consultants that are tasked to establish accurate budgets for guideway, track, stations, garages, etc. This paper presents a solution for developing a cost-model that is derived from a contractor’s cost-loaded construction schedule by cross-coding it with Sound Transit’s hierarchical estimate breakdown structure (EBS). A comprehensive look at the benefits and challenges of this method are explained.
TCM Section(s):
7.3. Cost Estimating and Budgeting
10.4. Project Historical Database Management
Venue: 2023 AACE International Conference & Expo
Abstract: The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA), aka Sound Transit (ST), which services Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties in Washington State, is undertaking one of the most ambitious transit expansions in the country including a network of 116 miles of link light rail construction. Sound Transit’s portfolio has been broken down into several alignments with multiple construction contracts. The most common project delivery methods at Sound Transit are DBB (design-bid-build), DB (design-build), and GC/CM (general contractor / construction manager). These methods often yield only lump sum bids/proposals or high-level bid packages, which are not conducive to developing historical cost-models. This poses a challenge to Sound Transit cost engineers and cost consultants that are tasked to establish accurate budgets for guideway, track, stations, garages, etc. This paper presents a solution for developing a cost-model that is derived from a contractor’s cost-loaded construction schedule by cross-coding it with Sound Transit’s hierarchical estimate breakdown structure (EBS). A comprehensive look at the benefits and challenges of this method are explained.