Airport Runway Project

Airport Runway Project
Philadelphia, PA

AGC | Airport Partnering Lesson:

  • Design review and revisions done jointly and quickly
  • Multiple agencies worked together to meet critical milestones on schedule
  • Weekly project review meetings promoted progress

Project Description:
Philadelphia District organized an interagency partnering team in conjunction with processing a DA permit application for expansion of the Philadelphia Airport. This partnership culminated in the issuance of Federal and State permits authorizing the use of dredged material from the federal navigation channel as runway fill. This beneficial use of dredged material resulted in savings of more than $15 million of federal and state tax dollars.

Project Challenges:

  • Environmental permitting requirements
  • Willingness to share resources
  • Multiple agency involvement

Issue 1:
Given the various agencies involved, the formulation of a team working together to accomplish one common goal was critical.. Considering the team built for this project was comprised of multiple agencies (local, state and federal) that in the past viewed their work function as the most important, the airport group came together to gain a better appreciation of the various missions other organizations perform. This resulting synergy also highlighted how various agencies depend on each other to accomplish their work.

Issue 2:

  • Secured customer buy-in
  • Kept everyone on "Same Page"
  • Prevented a piece of the working plan from falling in the cracks
  • Created a feeling that the plan selected to accomplish work was the best available

Benefits of Partnering:

  • Project completed one year ahead of schedule
  • Financial savings $15 million
  • Many environmental impacts eliminated
  • Corps dredge disposal capacity conserved

Contact:
City of Philadelphia, Division of Aviation, Buckley Construction, EPA, PADEP, NJDEP, Corps of Engineers, NMFS, PAQ Environmental, US FWS, D and Z Transport Services.

Awards:
Vice President Al Gore's "Hammer Award" for Innovation in Government