CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 

The Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) State of Good Repair (SOGR) Traction Power Substation (TPSS) Rehabilitation Project rehabilitated 20 aging traction power equipment for UTA’s TRAX light rail system in Salt Lake City, UT. The selection of design-build as the procurement method, best value procurement process, and utilization of Design-Build Done Right best practices throughout the project were instrumental in achieving the project’s goals of extending useful life, improving service reliability, and capacity, and modernizing communications. Early engagement and partnering between the owner, designer, contractor, trade partners, and key stakeholders in the design phase fueled proactive design solutions including the evaluation and implementation of design enhancements while maintaining the originally planned construction start date. This laid a foundation of trust, collaboration, and transparency and created a project-first culture amongst the project team. Establishing and maintaining this relationship was integral to the project team’s ability to efficiently overcome unexpected obstacles - material and equipment delays, changing project milestones, and design and scope changes - that arose over the course of construction leading to successful project delivery. This presentation is relevant to a wide audience, as it focuses on the implementation and impact of fostering a collaborative ethos for the entire project team.