COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Preparing and practicing effective utility relocation requirements are critical for success in today's highway projects! Impacts from inefficiencies in the utility coordination process include cost overruns and time delays in transportation projects. Further, the lack of utility information in bid packages increases construction contractor's risks, which can lead to the possibility of fewer qualified bidders or higher bids. This self-paced, web-based training provides the information you need to understand the purpose and value of utility agreements as well as the requirements for them.

How do you know if this course is right for you? Read on to find out what you will learn and be able to apply to your role.

-If your role includes preparing and communicating utility agreements and their supporting documents, then this course can guide you through which elements to include and how to properly prepare them. Explore effective techniques for relocation plans; utility relocation cost estimates; and utility relocation schedules.

-FHWA division personnel will gain knowledge and tools for understanding utility agreements and construction bid packages and to evaluate the effectiveness of a State utility program.

-STAs and LPAs could significantly improve project delivery and minimize cost and time change orders through the preparation of complete, effective, documentation of utility agreements and utility-related construction bid packages.

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate effective supporting documents (utility relocation plans, utility relocation cost estimates, and utility relocation schedules) from ineffective supporting documents in a utility agreement.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a utility agreement.
• Differentiate effective utility statements from ineffective utility statements.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of utility information in construction bid packages.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

-Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) division officials and Federal Land Highway Division officials, including utility leads and area engineers -State transportation agencies (STAs) and local public agencies (LPAs) including utility practitioners (utility coordinators, utility engineers, and utility directors); design project managers and designers; construction engineers and project managers -Highway and utility consultants who handle utility coordination and relocations as part of a project delivery team, including utility coordination consultants, subsurface utility engineering firms, and design and construction consultants -Utility owner officials and their construction contractors. General, acceptable levels of experience or education include the following: -Some familiarity with utility agreements and what is communicated in project documents -Familiarity with utility accommodation and relocation regulations and practices -Familiarity with the transportation project delivery process -Familiarity with typical project documents such as plans, specifications, special provisions, cost estimates, and project schedules Additional helpful background: -Working knowledge of reading plans -Familiarity with Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) -FHWA-NHI-310110 "Federal-Aid Highways - 101" (State Version) or equivalent knowledge -FHWA-NHI-134006A "Introduction to Utility Coordination for Highway Projects" or equivalent knowledge

If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 877.558.6873.