Improving Relationships between DOTs and Utility Companies

Coordination between transportation agencies and utility companies is key to successful implementation of transportation projects and utility accommodation on public rights-of-way (ROWs). Coordination at the programmatic, planning/design, and field levels is particularly important to minimize infrastructure damage and cost overruns, mitigate design-utility conflicts, and anticipate ROW impacts during utility investigation/relocation. Coordination has often been challenging, and the recent combination of several factors has made that coordination even more challenging: staff turnover within transportation agencies and utility companies; increasing numbers and complexity of transportation projects; varying legislation across the states; varying structures of transportation agencies and utility companies; use of innovative project delivery processes; and use of ROWs for broadband and green energy initiatives. The need for enhanced, mutually beneficial partnerships between transportation agencies and utility companies at all levels continues to be critical and could lead to improved coordination and project outcomes. The objective of this research is to develop a guide to improve the interaction and coordination between transportation agencies and utility companies. The guide will focus on successful practices in both transportation agencies and utility companies implemented at the legislative, program, project, and field levels, as they relate to utilities in publicly owned ROWs.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5702
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500,000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 23-44

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Jared, David

• Start Date: 20241209
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperation; Coordination; Public utilities; Right of way (Land); State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919275
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 23-44
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 21 2024 8:17PM