Ohio Department of Transportation

Under a task order contract, LZA leads VE studies for ODOT's major construction projects—approximately 20 VE studies in 1999-2000. The projects include new construction as well as upgrades and reconstruction. A significant ODOT project is Toledo's Maumee River Crossing–Cable Stayed Bridge. Citizens groups worked with ODOT and Figg Bridge Engineering, the designer, to choose a theme of glass for the project and add aesthetic accents to the structure in the form of four full-height glass curtain walls constructed as part of the pylon; the shape of the pylon and its cap, the shapes of the piers and the railings along the bridge. The decision to use a cable-stayed bridge was a decision by all participants to create a landmark structure. Environmental considerations and unusually high loading conditions also added to the constraints imposed on the VE team during the analysis. ODOT, the citizens groups, the designer, and the program manager defined the objectives of the VE study as:

	Control initial cost
	Simplify construction
	Reduce life cycle cost
	Minimize construction effect on transportation
	Minimize construction effect on neighbors
	Reduce maintenance issues

The VE Team consisted of engineering and construction experts from ODOT, the FHWA, and construction consultants. The group determined during the Information and Function Analysis Phases that schedule, maintenance of traffic, and the use of new and innovative products represented the greatest challenges to ODOT in terms of successfully completing this project. Therefore, the VE team concentrated on these issues, and offered VE alternatives that enabled the ODOT team to manage this construction of this complex and striking structure. Implementation was approximately $10 million on this $157,210,600 project.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

LZA is currently performing under its fifth open-ended VE contract with SEPTA. Providing services in value engineering, constructibility reviews, cost estimating, CPM scheduling, Project Management Oversight (PMO) work, VE training, and management briefings, LZA has performed VE on:

	Stations and transportation centers,
	Bridges,
	Shops and garages,
	Signaling, lighting and traction power systems,
	Sections of elevated railway,
	ADA compliance issues, and
	Master CPM Scheduling of the Blue Line Construction

Additionally, LZA facilitated a three-month cost-benefit analysis to compare alternative radio systems to link SEPTA's light rail, buses, maintenance vehicles, and handheld units. The analysis encompassed all available technology, as well as lease or buy options. The team also analyzed Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems and the effect of such systems on SEPTA. SEPTA adopted LZA's recommendations and implemented the chosen strategy.

Sound Transit—Link Light Rail

Link Light Rail is an electric light rail service on almost 25 miles of new tracks and 21 stations in three segments. By 2001 in Tacoma, 1.6 miles of Link Light Rail tracks will whisk passengers between downtown Tacoma and the Tacoma Dome Station with stops in between. By 2009, 23 miles of Link Light Rail will connect Sea-Tac International Airport, the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila, Southeast Seattle, downtown Seattle, the University District, and Northgate. This initial central corridor is envisioned to be part of a regional system serving all three counties within Sound Transit's district: Snohomish, King, and Pierce.

Connecting the region's highest concentration of jobs and residences, Link will attract more than 125,000 passengers daily. Link trains will offer reliable, rapid transit service 18 to 20 hours each day, running every four to eight minutes. The tracks will be elevated, at street level, and in subway tunnels. Total cost of the Link Light Rail program is approximately $3.6 billion.

LZA is providing all value engineering services on the civil and systems designs for all of the facilities on the Central Link and Tacoma Link Light Rail systems during Preliminary Engineering. This includes two very large design/build tunnel contracts and more than 25 traditional contract packages. In addition to workshops, LZA is developing Sound Transit's Value Engineering Program and is participating on the 60%, 90%, and 100% constructibility reviews.