An Improved Approach to Collaboration on Airport Projects
HDR’s Scott Jarvis and John Thomas Discuss Importance of Treating AHJs as Partners
Major airport improvements depend on more than what happens inside the terminal footprint. Utility conflicts, permitting and project access challenges often fall outside an airport's control yet can have large impacts on project schedules and costs. When that happens, effective collaboration with local governments, agencies and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) is important for reducing project risk and improving program delivery.
In the latest from HDR’s Experts Talk interview series, Scott Jarvis and John Thomas discuss effective collaboration with outside authorities, particularly on airports’ alternative delivery projects. They explain how early coordination reduces friction, the importance of ongoing coordination during execution, and the value of treating AHJs as partners during project delivery.
Jarvis and Thomas are leaders of HDR’s work on the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program Roadway Improvements Project at Los Angeles International Airport and are experts in program management and alternative delivery. The progressive design-build project at LAX has required coordination with numerous AHJs, including Caltrans, Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, and Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, among others.
As Jarvis explained, improved coordination carries compelling benefits.
“On major airport projects, every day of delay can add hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost,” he said. “For airports trying to improve operations alongside delivering substantial public capital improvements, those schedule hits can become business-critical problems very quickly. Partnering with AHJs and working closely with them from the beginning does add some upfront cost, but it’s much smaller than the risk of a long delay or claim.”
For more, read the whole interview with Jarvis and Thomas on improved collaboration with AHJs.
HDR’s Experts Talk interview series shines a light on various aspects of transportation infrastructure design and delivery. Each subject matter expert offers unique expertise and insights about new and ongoing trends, emerging technologies and the human side of infrastructure.
About HDR
HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges.
