A New Project
Today, I have signed up another project, which will be as challenging as ever. The technical part is not that difficult. However, we are participating in designing three intersections, two of which are in the area of interests of three different jurisdictions.
Here, transportation facilities are normally owned and controlled by one jurisdiction. For example, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, owns and operates and maintains provincial highways, and therefore intersections along them, with all associated projects and facilities. Then there are municipality governments, like City of Surrey and City of Vancouver, who control and operate local roadways and intersections. There is another authority here, called TransLink (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority), who was first formed to oversee the operation of public transportation systems. However, as we talk now, they cover a major part of transportation network infrastructures, ranging from collectors, arterials, to park and ride facilities and intersections.
Now, the confusing issue here is that each of these jurisdictions has its own set of standards. So the consultant must comply with them. The law says that the provincial standards will overcome the rest if it comes to a conflict of interest. However, the result of such enforcement will be a non-cooperative process in the stakeholders’ relationships with each other! The only way left will be to customize a project in such a way that satisfies all of them together and none of them alone! This in turn will need a highly sensitive communication method, as well as keeping a wide open flexible schedule at all times!
Here, transportation facilities are normally owned and controlled by one jurisdiction. For example, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, owns and operates and maintains provincial highways, and therefore intersections along them, with all associated projects and facilities. Then there are municipality governments, like City of Surrey and City of Vancouver, who control and operate local roadways and intersections. There is another authority here, called TransLink (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority), who was first formed to oversee the operation of public transportation systems. However, as we talk now, they cover a major part of transportation network infrastructures, ranging from collectors, arterials, to park and ride facilities and intersections.
Now, the confusing issue here is that each of these jurisdictions has its own set of standards. So the consultant must comply with them. The law says that the provincial standards will overcome the rest if it comes to a conflict of interest. However, the result of such enforcement will be a non-cooperative process in the stakeholders’ relationships with each other! The only way left will be to customize a project in such a way that satisfies all of them together and none of them alone! This in turn will need a highly sensitive communication method, as well as keeping a wide open flexible schedule at all times!
