e-Mail

Print

KANSAS CITY, MO. — In the last 15 years, the design-build project delivery approach has gained traction in the United States, according to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). It’s known for its speed, cost effectiveness, and reduced risk. This year, the DBIA is hosting its Design-Build in Transportation Conference, March 28-30 in Kansas City, Mo., inviting transportation planners, economic development professionals, state agency representatives, contractors, and other stakeholders from around the country representing rails, ports, airports, highways, roads, or bridges.

By participating in the full conference, attendees can earn as many as 15 hours of continuing education units (CEUs). One of four feature presentations comes on the second day of the conference, Tuesday, March 29, from Susan Martinovich, P.E., director of the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT) and 2011 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) president. In her role as director of the Nevada DOT, Martinovich oversees an annual operating budget of more than $800 million, 5,400 highway miles, and more than 1,750 employees. In this session, she will discuss the significance of federal transportation funding and AASHTO’s efforts to obtain legislation in 2011. The session will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

After Martinovich’s presentation, attendees will have the chance to attend concurrent sessions from the following four tracks: Owners Perspective, Lessons Learned, Emerging Innovation, and Contracts & Finance. Following is a sampling of sessions at the event:

• Public-Private Partnerships: Learning from Alberta (Emerging Innovation)
• Case Study and Lessons Learned on the kcICON Design-Build Project (Lessons Learned)
• Denver Eagle P3 Project: P3 Success Story (Contracts & Finance)
• DBIA Best Practices (Owners Perspective)

To see the program guide with a full list of sessions, visit http://bit.ly/fCYObn. DBIA also will host its second annual Lessons Learned Forum on March 29, where attendees can ask anonymous questions and get audience feedback and responses from expert panelists representing multiple design-build perspectives.

A joint presentation between the Design-Build in Transportation Conference and the Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conference will take place on March 30. This session comes from “Money Man” Chris Butler, as he’s known in Kansas City. Butler will take a detailed look at what drives national and global business and make some projections for the coming two years, according to DBIA. He will explain the correlation between national economic growth and project flow at the state/municipal level. Transportation and water/wastewater funding are tied to state and municipal finance and can mirror — or diverge from — the national outlook. Butler will examine why and how this occurs.

During the conference, owner organizations and individuals in the transportation field will be awarded for making significant contributions to advancing design-build awareness and understanding. Owner organizations — public or private owner organizations in the field of transportation that have utilized design-build as one of their project delivery methods — will be honored with the 2011 DBIA Transportation Owner of the Year Award, while individuals — owners or practitioners who have used design-build as one of their project delivery methods — will receive the 2011 DBIA Transportation Leadership Award.

Another conference event for owners takes place on March 28. The Owners Forum & Boot Camp enables face-to-face networking with owners experienced in all methods of project delivery.

DBIA has reserved rooms at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at a special group rate. The government room block rate is $107 per night, while the general room block is $139 per night. To receive these rates, call 888-421-1442 and let the hotel know you are attending the DBIA meeting. You may also book your room online at http://bit.ly/fsvdZK. Hotel rooms are available at these rates on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to receive DBIA's special group rate is Monday, March 7.

To register online for the conference, visit www.dbia.org/conferences/transportation/register.htm. Group discounts also are available. For more information, visit www.dbia.org/conferences/transportation.