Proposal

Introduction

With construction expanding at a rising rate in Lubbock, it is time for an alternative method of road construction. The proposal aims at getting Granite Construction Company to focus on smaller projects being implemented at a faster pace before moving on to the next project.

Lubbock is failing to keep up with the increasing rise of construction. The construction projects at Brownfield Highway are sizeable and put Lubbock drivers at a huge disadvantage. Breaking down the larger pieces of construction into smaller projects will help to eliminate wrecks and traffic jams and allow for easier access to stores and businesses.

We propose that the Granite Construction Company construct the projects at Brownfield Highway into smaller sections. Each small piece of construction should be completed before moving on to the next phase. This will allow more time for drivers to get from place to place as well as reduce vehicle stops and delays leading to savings in fuel consumption and lost time. This proposal contains information on the contents of the proposed problem and solution, our schedule to complete this project, our costs and budgets, and our qualifications to produce a plan that aims at easier access and overall effectiveness for Lubbock drivers.


Statement of Problem
Many Lubbock drivers use the Brownfield Highway every day on their commute to work or school. Also, Lubbock stores are along the Brownfield Highway and have been for many years. The construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway through the Brownfield Highway has caused many delays and wrecks for Lubbock drivers. It has also caused Lubbock stores a decline in sale and has disturbed their peace in the stores. We understand that updates to Lubbock roads must be made in order to keep up with the times but we believe this phase of the project could have been done better if it had been split up into sub-phases and each sub-phase worked on until complete.
In order to determine the importance of completing the Brownfield Highway portion of the Marsha Sharp Freeway, we created a small survey that permits us to get some insight of the already recognized problem and how it affects the sample. Due to the short amount of time to allocate this sample, we decided to get 30 subjects to take the survey. Since this is a problem that affects nearly all of Lubbock, rather it be driving or business related, it was not hard to find samples.
From the information we collected from the survey, we were able to determine that overall, 95% of the people surveyed agreed that the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway in the Brownfield Highway area was a nuisance.
In related research, we tested and compared our subject’s likely hood of being delayed, getting into an accident, avoiding stores and losing customers due to the construction.
· 30 subjects had delays due to the construction
· 7 subjects had gotten into an accident due to the construction
· 13 subjects had avoided stores in the area due to the construction
· 4 subjects had experienced lower customer data due to the construction
These results emphasize the necessity of changing the way the Marsha Sharp Freeway be constructed along the Brownfield Highway. Lubbock drivers and stores cannot afford the stress and money that these delays, accidents and consumer cuts have been put upon them.

Currently, there are many situations that support the need for the Marsha Sharp Freeway construction along the Brownfield Highway to be revised. According to our survey, all subjects interviewed experienced delays because of the construction in this area. These delays could be costing Lubbock drives more than just their time; they could be costing them their jobs too. According to an article by James Gallagher, Lubbock drivers can expect to have delays anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour due to the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway. “Some areas of town, such as the section of Slide and the Brownfield Highway, are so congested, have many more lights and have so much construction delays, it's hard to pass through it without hitting a red light and being delayed longer than expected” (Gallagher 1). It is important that the City of Lubbock recognize these problems that the construction is causing.
“Lubbock drivers have experienced a 34% increase in traffic accidents since the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway has begun,” as said by Robin Pyle (Pyle 3). In relation with Pyle’s opinion on the increase of traffic accidents since the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway began, it does seem to ring true based on the information obtained from our survey. I believe that this problem related with the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway is the biggest one of all. Lubbock drivers can get past the delays brought on but it is harder to get over a traffic accident that could possibly be fatal. Bad weather can also add to the already hectic driving situations in the construction areas.

Proposed Solution

We would like to see all construction on Brownfield Highway be broken down into smaller projects. We would also like to see each phase of the project completed before changing to the next. This would be very useful for Lubbock drivers because it would allow for them to get where they need to in a timely fashion as well as help to eliminate traffic jams and backups. Granite Construction Company has everything at their convenience to do this in a sensible manner as well as a low cost budget. One of the main costs of the proposal is equipment and supplies. The other costs are construction employees, engineers and land price. The Texas Transportation Commissions is in charge of funding as well as responsibilities that include: planning and making policies for the location, construction and maintenance of state highways as well as overseeing the design, construction, and operation of the project.


Scope
Since the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway in the Brownfield Highway area is still underway, the proposal to break up the phases into sub-phases and work on each sub-phase until complete in a very important and also cost effective. Breaking the phases up into sub-phases and working on each sub-phase until the sub-phase is complete will create fewer delays and a safer environment for Lubbock drivers.
Most Lubbock drivers do not have the time it takes to spend sitting in traffic and waiting on closed intersections. If major intersections were not closed and the construction along the Brownfield Highway was broken down into sub-phases, Lubbock drivers would spend less time in traffic and more time using their time in a better suited manner. Lubbock drivers would be able to get to work, school, meetings and home on time causing them to be happier people.
Through the research that we have accomplished we feel that this would be a valuable outflow for the City of Lubbock to take on. This minor alteration to the plan will increase the happiness, safety and sales of Lubbock drivers and stores.

Methods
To find support for our proposal, we conducted Internet research and had surveys completed by Lubbock drivers and stores who use the Brownfield Highway in one way or another. In our Internet research we found information about funding, phases, and timelines. We found evidence that costs could possibly be cut back on if our plan was implemented.
The survey that we completed showed that 95% of Lubbock drivers and stores thought that splitting phase II of the Marsha Sharp Freeway into sub-phases and having the workers complete each sub-phase before moving on would be an effective project that would make traffic delays, accidents and store inventory more manageable.

Qualifications
While preparing this proposal our group found that the three of us have a range of backgrounds qualifying us to write and present it to the Granite Construction Company, UCA and the City of Lubbock. Lindsey Davis is a senior and has used the Brownfield Highway daily to get to class for the past 4 years. Her actual hands on experience with the traffic delays are a very valuable asset to our project. Jaycé Lowe is a junior and has also used the Brownfield Highway to get to work daily for the past 4 months. The past 2 months would be considered the height of delays and traffic accidents in the Brownfield Highway construction area. Susan Brashear has lived in Lubbock from the time the Marsh Sharp Freeway construction started until the present. Her brother-n-law, Taylor Condit, also works for UCA, one of the main companies working on the Marsha Sharp Freeway. Due to this extra insight from Mr. Condit, our group was able to get the questions we needed answered in a timely manner.

Project Schedule
There are several steps that need to be completed in order to begin the construction. We will first need to present our proposal that will take at least one month, then we will obtain approval from the project manager that can take up to three months, then purchase equipment which can take up to six months, then plan into action which can take three months, and finally implement our plan which can take six months. The final step will be to make the part of the Brownfield Highway from the West Loop 289 to 19th Street Quaker Intersection accessible; this step can take up to nine months.





Month 1
Month 3
Month 6
Month 9
Month 12
Month 15
Present
Proposal






Obtain
Approval






Purchase
Equipment






Plan Into
Action






Implement
Plan






Make
Accessible








Budget
In order to implement our plan to Phase II-2 of the Marsha Sharp Freeway, there is already a budget that is in effect for the project, but our proposal can lower the expense of this phase. The original budget for the project that is expected to be finished in two and a half years and is quoted at costing $44.7 million dollars; the cost for our proposal can lower the cost by $10 million dollars and take up to fifteen months to complete.
The cost of the construction employees is pretty expensive but considering that there will be over five hundred employees for the entire project the cost for them would be approximately $2 million dollars for the entire project.
The construction engineers are also a vital role for this project and to keep all twenty of them on this project their services will cost $4 million dollars. For the entire Phase II of the project there are over fifty engineers on the phase, but for our Phase II-2 the project will only need twenty.
The supplies for the project can range in many different categories from concrete barricades for the freeway, to traffic signs that will be placed in the intersections. The cost for these supplies will total $8 million dollars; all of these supplies are bought out right and are not leased or rented.
The next item is equipment, which can be categorized into driving equipment like bulldozers or freightliners. It also contains any power equipment like drills, welders, and digging augers. These items will cost approximately $10 million dollars, but most of this equipment is rented and is already figured to cost for the time rented which is nine months.
The final item is the price for the land that was purchased by TXDOT. Which for this specific Phase is, Brownfield Highway from the West Loop 289 to the 19th Street intersection at Quaker. This Phase II land price is $28.6 million but since our section contains one part of the three part section it is totaled at $9.7 million dollars.
The total cost of the entire project will be $33.7 million dollars, but as I stated in the beginning our phase will lower the other price by $10 million dollars since the time spent on the project will be cut by nine months.
Item
Cost
Construction Employees
$2 Million
Construction Engineers
$4 Million
Supplies
$8 Million
Equipment
$10 Million
Land Price
$9.7 Million
TOTAL COST:
$33.7 Million



Conclusions

In conclusion, from our research we feel that it is essential for Granite Construction Company to implement our suggestions to make Brownfield Highway more beneficial to Lubbock drivers. It is apparent from our survey that in order to keep traffic accidents low and sales consistent for local businesses, the construction company needs to cut down the huge construction projects in that area. The process is a minor adjustment to the already mass amounts of construction projects and will overall be relatively inexpensive. It will lead to an easier flow of traffic, less traffic jams, and reduce vehicle delays. It will also benefit the local businesses that surround the construction area by making it easier for drivers to access their stores. We hope this proposal helps aim at overall success of Lubbock drivers.






Works Cited
Gallagher, James. “Driving Delays and Problems.” Article (Summer 2006): Vol. 28, Issue 17.
Hopmman, Randy. TxDot Expressway. April 12, 2008. .
Pyle, Robin. “Is it Worth the Traffic Accidents?” Article (November 2007): Vol. 33, Issue 4.



APPENDICES
1) Has this inconsistent construction affected your daily commute?

Yes
30
No
0


2) Has this inconsistent construction affected your business?

Yes
3
No
1


3) Have sales dropped if the construction is near the place of business?

Yes
2
No
2


4) Have sales increased since the construction is past your business?

Yes
1
No
3


5) Have you experienced a traffic accident in the construction area?

Yes
7
No
23




6) Have you avoided stores in the construction area?

Yes
13
No
17


7) How often do you drive in the construction area?
Everyday
16
Once a week
5
Monthly
3
Never
2

8) How often are you delayed to your destination due to construction?
Everyday
11
Once a week
7
Monthly
5
Never
3

Ages of the Lubbock drivers Surveyed
52 – 2
35 – 7
30 – 3
24 – 5
21 – 8
18 – 5