FTA Oversight Procedures - Federal Transit Administration - U.S. ...

design-to-budget approach that maintains budgetary considerations within each stage of
project development. (Emphasis added.)
The point of using tools like project development risk isolation (PDRI) is to identify, characterize and
precisely describe each critical element in a scope definition package. If this is performed as part of
developing a project execution strategy, the scope reviews allow the PMOC to quickly develop factors
that impact project risk, and then to recommend an execution strategy to address these factors. This
review should comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the Grantee’s definition of
project scope at any point during project implementation, including the basis for the design and
execution approach applied to the project.
During the Preliminary Engineering phase, this effort focuses on the identification and validation of
functional requirements for the project. The review defines the type of capability that is needed and
evaluates various options that meet the stated need of the Grantee’s proposed transit project and its
benefits. At entry to final design, this review supports FTA’s evaluation of project readiness for
advancement and funding recommendation.
FTA’s intent is to accomplish its oversight mission with PMOC deliverables that evaluate the
completeness, consistency and adequacy of the Grantee’s project scope definition and make
recommendations to the Grantee on redirecting or reprioritizing its efforts to correct the inadequately
defined areas prior to commencement or completion of Preliminary Engineering or Final Design.
PMOC or Grantee efforts to analyze individual project scope elements with indications of poor
definition will reveal or confirm the amount of risk each individual element brings to the project. This
provides FTA with a cost effective approach in that the PMOC evaluates inadequately defined areas
highlighted by the project scope. This ensures FTA’s products satisfy the oversight requirement for
accuracy and completeness.
3.0 OBJECTIVES
Assess and evaluate the Grantee’s project using TCRP’s Transit Capacity and Quality of Service,
Report 100, 2nd edition (2003) Rail Capacity Manual and its procedures with respect to the capacity of
individual rail transit system features or functions. Assess and evaluate the proposed level of service
using the same TCRP manual. The capacity sections of the manual provide both planning and more
detailed operations analysis procedures for assessing capacity for rail transit modes, and transit stops,
stations, and terminals. A building-block approach to capacity analysis is presented, initially
addressing the capacity characteristics of individual transit stops and station components, and then
expansion of the concepts to address the capacity of broader transit services, facilities, and systems.
4.0 REFERENCES
The statutes, regulations, policies, circulars, and guidance documents in OP 01 apply.
5.0 PROJECT SPONSOR SUBMITTALS
Information required to accomplish this review will typically include all engineering studies,
preliminary reports, drawings and other documents produced on the project to date, which describe the
project details.
OP 32A Project Capacity Review
Revision 0, June 2008
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