NCHRP 20-07 Task 407, Utility Coordination Efficiency, Safety, Cost, and Schedule Impacts Using Various Contracting Methods

Utility coordination practices are well documented for traditional design-bid-build contracting. However, many states are using alternative contracting methods such as Design-Build, Cost-Plus Time, Lane Rental, and the Construction Management/General Contractor (CM/GC) for expediting project execution, fostering innovation, minimizing impacts to traffic flow, better delivery coordination, and other reasons. Utility coordination is an element of both project development and delivery and can be fundamentally influenced by the contracting method used. Despite this influence, little research exists that defines the impacts of alternative contracting methods on utility coordination, nor the recommended best practices for incorporating utility coordination into the various alternative contracting methods. The objective of this research is to develop proposed AASHTO best practices guidance for the execution of utility coordination in various types of alternative contracting methods in public transportation construction projects, including specific task assignments of responsibility based on the type of contracting method and means of project execution.