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The City of Joliet, the third largest city in Illinois, serves a population of approximately 150,000. Joliet’s existing water source, the deep groundwater aquifer, will not be able to meet the city’s maximum day water demands (estimated at 30 MGD) by the year 2030. Therefore, Joliet went in search of a cost‐effective, sustainable alternative water source for the City of Joliet and, possibly, the region. Joliet began Alternate Water Supply Source Study in July 2018, beginning with fourteen water source alternatives covering the full range of possible water sources from groundwater, rivers, and Lake Michigan. The first phase was completed in January 2019 and recommended four alternatives for further evaluation in 2019 as feasible alternative water sources. In January 2020, the City Council selected Lake Michigan Water as the City’s new water source. The City Council elected to move forward with further evaluation of two Lake Michigan alternatives in 2020: Lake Michigan – Chicago Department of Water Management: Purchasing treated Lake Michigan Water from the Chicago and building the necessary infrastructure to pump and transmit treated drinking water approximately 30 miles from Chicago to Joliet ($550 million construction cost for Joliet alone); Lake Michigan – New Indiana Intake: Constructing a new raw water intake in Lake Michigan along the Indiana shoreline as well as pumping facilities and transmission mains to bring raw water approximately 47 miles to the Joliet for surface water treatment and distribution ($900 million construction cost for Joliet alone). The 2020 Evaluation is focused on refining the two alternatives and providing updated costs to the City Council to allow for a final decision on the alternative water source by the end of 2020, after which the program will proceed into Preliminary Design in 2021. Final Design is anticipated between 2022 and 2024, with a 5-year construction timeframe anticipated between 2025 and 2030.
Read MorePublic works agencies typically have access to a mountain of GIS data from various sources. But often, the data is stagnant, not maintained, and not available in a useful way for the decision makers that need it the most. This presentation discusses how to use that GIS data in implementing risk management (asset management) processes that help agencies make better, more educated decisions on maintaining and replacing critical assets in their infrastructure systems. How can a manager decide which streets to rehab when 40 of them have the same condition assessment? How can an organization keep from siloing projects in ways that causes rework when a new water line replacement project tears up pavement that was just overlayed last year? This presentation answers those questions and more with a deep dive into using complex GIS data in simple ways to implement industry-standard risk management procedures. The presentation also discusses risk management principals such as likelihood of failure and consequence of failure and how these concepts can be applied using GIS data. The speaker will address how to navigate the endless amount of data and how that data can be consolidated to develop wholistic capital improvement project lists that cross departments and even agencies. Examples will be included to visually show how GIS mapping can be used by staff with no capabilities in GIS software and what tools can be provided to make the data usable manageable. Attendees will leave the presentation with the understanding of what their GIS data can do for them in effectively managing risk across all assets in their organization.
Read MoreThe world changed in 2020, and virtual meetings, training, and selection interviews became the norm. Our computers are more than tools to do our work and have become our new medium for developing and building relationships. Everyone is adjusting to the new face of business communication, and it’s critical that governmental and consulting professionals continue to master virtual communication skills. Today’s client/architect/engineer/contractor meetings and project interviews require attention to creating new habits, so everyone makes positive virtual impact that results in better relationship effectiveness and even selection success. Veterans Hilari Weinstein and Barbara Shuck will offer suggestions to improve habits that optimize verbal and visual effectiveness so attendees will walk away knowing how to manage the media, messages and messengers that build memorable and winning virtual connections. The content includes research study results from agency professionals as well as architects, engineers, and contractors, and the content will be fresh for 2021, relevant, and focused.
Read MoreThis session presents key types and contributing factors of roadway crashes as well as identifies low-cost preventative measures, which can be applied utilizing local maintenance forces to reduce crashes and increase roadway safety. The session also introduces the concept of Maintenance Action Plans.
Read MoreEmergencies are equal opportunity occurrences in communities as they impact citizens with and without disabilities. It is vitally important that communities prepare so that they will have solutions to draw from in emergencies while maintaining a person’s dignity at all times. This session will provide attendees with information regarding how to plan for individuals with specific needs, including mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive impairments as well as for people whose survival requires medical equipment. Accessible evacuation plans and shelters will also be addressed along with laws regarding service animals. Attendees will learn about questions that can and cannot be asked of people with disabilities and about politically correct disability-related terminology.
Read MoreThe City of Newton implemented an Accelerated Pavement Management Program after coming to the realization that their 267-centerline mile roadway infrastructure was not meeting resident expectations. This $95 million 10-year program is the first of its kind. The city has leveraged new technologies in pavement management (AI/Machine Learning) in conjunction with custom analysis tools to develop a comprehensive capital improvement plan. This session explains the planning process behind the scenes through implementation of the program. Presenters will focus on issues that commonly face public works professionals such as: selling the program to city leadership, how the city leveraged their pavement management program to better manage their road network and to allocate available funding, how the city has continued to adapt to changes in pavement management technology (AI and machine learning) and utilize new pavement treatments to preserve roadways in good condition, and discuss challenges during planning, implementation and construction. Presenters will also discuss the effects of COVID on the overall program, and the change in approach due to the pandemic.
Read MoreThis tech box provides information on how to use surveys to get both quantitative and qualitative data.
Read MoreThis CLL is a follow up to last year’s webinar on the state of recycling and current market status. Over the last year, recycling markets have turned around and the demand…
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This brochure provides information about the Utilities and Public Rights-of-Way Committee and its Knowledge Team.
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