Owner-Controlled Accelerated Project

Abstract

There is much discussion these days about project delivery methods. Owners want to consider ways of fast-tracking mass transit projects. Design–build, which overlaps design and construction, gets a lot of attention, but owners should consider other alternatives to avoid unintended consequences on light rail projects through an urban area. Design–build shifts the risk and the control to the construction contractor, and in an environment where third parties are ubiquitous and interactions can be intense, owners should think about the consequences of loss of control. In Houston, Texas, the starter line light rail project, MetroRail, used a unique, fast-track project delivery method called the owner-controlled accelerated project (OCAP), which overlapped design and construction but kept the risk and control with the owner. With OCAP, the owner chooses to be placed in the middle of the frenzy and chaos of a highly visible public works project, becoming the arbiter for and brunt of all controversy. But the control that is inextricably coupled to the risk makes it all worthwhile. MetroRail was done in record-breaking time (4 years from start of design to revenue service) and stayed within budget. Its reliability is evidenced by ridership that exceeds Year 2020 projections and by a 99.3% on-time performance.