HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8711INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
No.
DATE August 20, 2005
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: PAVEMENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
In response to a disturbing trend of premature failures in new streets in recent years, the City of
Fort Worth retained a consultant, Gregory Geotechnical, to investigate these failures and identify
corrective actions. That study concluded that the failures occurred primarily due to poor
construction coupled with design standards that failed to take into account variations in soil and
other specific site conditions. The following steps have been taken to reverse this trend:
Inspection
Staff is implementing both short term and long term initiatives to increase inspection presence
and better assure materials testing accuracy and integrity. In the short term, we are recruiting
and hiring four S01 (temporary) inspectors to increase the amount of on -site time on developer
initiated projects. Our goal is to provide a minimum of 2 hours of on -site inspection per project
per day.
Material Testing
Six material testing firms have been interviewed from which staff will be choosing 4 or more firms
AIN to provide construction material testing services under contract with the City. Staff has been
oriefing the Development Advisory Committee on both logistical and cost issues. In September,
we plan to conduct a pilot project utilizing contract labs to help determine the appropriate fees for
these services. During this same timeframe, the City Council will be asked to approve a minimum
of four material testing contracts with private sector firms to begin testing under the new City
controlled format. Ultimately, all testing services for public facility construction will be under direct
control of the City.
Design Standards
A committee of consultant engineers and developers worked with staff (the committee met in 8
workshops from January to June 2005) to develop the proposed Pavement Design Manual.
On July 1, 2005, letters were sent to all local engineering consultants requesting their comments
prior to the finalization of the Manual. A digital copy of the Manual was posted on TPW's web site
from July 1, 2005 to August 1, 2005. Copies of the proposed manual were also sent to the City
Plan Commission. Staff subsequently briefed Plan Commission members on July 27th.
No substantive comments have been received during the 30 -day review period. Accordingly, staff
will implement the new Pavement Design Manual for projects that are submitted on or after
August 20, 2005.
s R. Boswell
Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS