Help save proposed formula one race in austin, tx sign petit
HELP SAVE PROPOSED FORMULA ONE RACE IN AUSTIN, TX SIGN PETITION NOW:
Tomorrow 6/23, Austin City Council will vote on tax issues that will mean the difference between hosting the F1 US GP or not. The Circuit of The Americas may not be built if there is not enough support for it.
Please sign the petition then we can work on getting a FM race at the F1 race. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportusgpracing/
Racing in the United States needs your support!
Thank you.
Tara Wilson
Moses Smith Racing
Texas Autosports
Formula Mazda
Welcome, let's set a spell...........
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Originally Posted by
bluedogok
This isn't a public works project, I have done both public and private projects (23 years now) and public projects can get done fast if the money is in place. The toll roads went in very quickly because they were fully funded from bonds and there was a desire to get them making money as fast as possible. Everything that I have ever worked on in California seemed to take twice as long as it should have elsewhere and had more red tape than anyone could ever imagine, I can understand why that could affect your judgment, I know that it would mine for any work done out there. It's just that I have seen some projects get done much quicker than I ever expected, it seems like we only have two types of projects down here anymore, fast track and super fast track.
This is privately funded and a very large incentive is in place to get it done on time. This is located in pretty rural area, outside of the City of Austin. Since that is the case there is a much lower threshold of permitting to deal with which speeds along the project, plus the fact they were much further along than was let onto at the announcement. More cows will be disturbed than people by the activities out there.
[FONT=Monaco]You’re new around these parts, ain’t ya stranger? Don’t recall seeing your brand on the original Austin threads, but maybe you were. Well whatever, I’m glad you’re here to set me straight and help me out by answering some construction management type questions. Here, let me pour you a whiskey. [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]First, what’s your take, that this race is in the bag and you have inside PM 411 that it is? Or just pointing out that this is Texas; that anything is possible in Texas and nobody gets ‘er done like a Texan? Just wondering. [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]And I’m curious where you’re coming from in the project management world and if you aren’t part Dilbert looking for things to worry about. As a PM, I get paid to worry about things going sideways, but maybe that’s just me or the way that non-Texans look at management? Which explains why I don’t make much of a distinction between whether it’s public or private. Sure it’s private by definition, but from my PM POV it’s needing or impacting a substantial amount of public infrastructure and is therefore subject to public input and review. It’s not just a Walmart going in on a vacant lot in town. And of course, it’s way too early to rule out a lawsuit or 5. But on to real progress questions. [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]My first thought is, the clock is ticking. So how are they doing with construction? As a PM who knows that press releases (not many yet) are sugar coated BS, how do you know where they are? How much have they spent and how does that compare to the construction schedule’s cash flow curve? What other project management proof is there that they are on schedule or will get back on schedule? [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]What about the budget? They said $250 million, but do you believe that? How was the bid structured? Unless this thing was under the radar for months before the announcements, we know that the design was not complete and a fixed price bid was not possible. So, it’s a design-build/phased type construction contract, isn’t it? Lots of contingency needed, no? [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]Roads. What’s the progress there? Last I heard, no construction has started, so I assume they’re hopefully at final design and that the dreaded, critical path right of way acquisition is well underway? In your opinion, how adequately will they address that need, or will a lengthy traffic jam be just fine with the County and State DOT? Of course, whatever existing utility relocation or dry utility planning/work in the public R/W is needed is already under way, right? [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]Rainy season. Are stormwater controls unchanged from the ‘90’s? So they’ll work through rain just as easily as dry weather? Or………..do you actually get better productivity simply because it’s cooler? Pardon me, but I gotta have a little fun here. I’ll bet the average laborer probably thinks BMP means “buff my pickle.” :D[/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]But seriously, I’m looking for details and local insight that will explain why this construction project has a high probability of getting done on time. We’ll leave conjecture about the “Bernie/F-1 political/non-construction bombs” for another time. [/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]OK enough of that, time to take off my big hat, chill out and watch some Austin City Limits. Yeah, not a bad idea; Robert Earl Keen’s on. :thumbsup:[/FONT]
[FONT=Monaco]Looking forward to the dialog. :beer::beer::beer:[/FONT]
Money and Power; how much is enough.......
[FONT=Verdana]Blue dog, thanks for the complete and considered response. I now understand where your confidence lies and I hope you’re right. We’ll know after the race is over and Bernie says “good job, we’ll be back”. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]I find it interesting and significant that you’re an architect and I’m an engineer (road/bridge PM for the past 20 years). From my perspective and time at CH2M Hill and URS, architects and engineers see the world thru different prisms. We should be like brothers but often we’re more like cousins and sometimes like the Hatfields and McCoys. I’m sure you’ve had some fun at engineers’ expense before, huh? [/FONT]
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I just know that through previous experience that things can get done in a hurry if there is enough incentive and money to make that incentive worthwhile. McCombs and some of the other not so public financial partners have the requisite resources to make it happen......
When it comes to the money, I have no idea other than McCombs and partners have the cash on hand to handle the requirements of the project through completion for the entire project......
So, first off, since you speak my language, I’ll accept that you have local knowledge and specifics that I do not and that your confidence in the deep pockets is the foundation for this project’s success. I can accept that’s possible, but you’ll understand our outsider’s skepticism since there has been some epic fails in the development arena not only around the country but around the world. And since the first thing we heard about Tavo was he loves racing and knows Bernie…… well c’mon, that doesn’t exactly instill confidence, now does it? And the lack of PR is unusual, wouldn’t you say? It seems like there should be more sugar coated press releases and when there’s not, it begs the question; did he learn something from Peter Windsor and doesn’t want to expose his weakness. But, maybe not………just maybe, these guys are different and will under-promise and over-deliver. Very rare in today’s world, but god, what a breath of fresh air if that were true.
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I also know through working on large public projects just how things can get bogged down due to bureaucracy, this project has high level officials at the state behind it and the state tends to dominate and override local politics in many cases.
Again confidence in deep pockets; of the political influence kind. A good point, as I appreciate the power of politics and benefitted from it during the most recent boom years. Permitting and bureaucracy was a major question 6-8 months but apparently the influence and money has been sufficient to squash the typical midlevel regulators who want to ask hard questions and make a name for themselves. Money and power; yep, indisputable.
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I have friends who work………………………
The first inside information I’ve heard from locals so far.
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It is a design/build project and from my understanding a contractor has been on board from the schematic design phase to asses both cost, time line and construction ability. There have also been buildings and amenities added since the initial announcement, I would imagine something closer $400 million is a more realistic budget number now.
[FONT=Verdana]Yep, contractors can do amazing things if they're making money and don't have to continually dicker over change orders. And the good news is that bid prices are still rock bottom, so $400 mill sounds good. I pulled $500 mill out of the air about a year ago, because a factor of 2 was a nice round number. But we all count our money differently, so depending on who he wants to impress for what reasons, I think Tavo will be heard quoting a bottom line anywhere from $280 million to $780 million. [/FONT]
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We are in the middle of a year and a half long drought and have received very little rainfall,…………. ……… I do know that to get approval for the project a SWPPP had to be submitted......
As you no doubt are aware, erosion and sediment control are a costly BFD in California projects. But would I be wrong to think that the NPDES and stormwater regs will be laughably “irrelevant” in this project if not all of Texas?
And as for simply bogging down the scrapers, graders and rollers, hopefully the rains will hold off until the project is out of the ground and the structures are on the critical path.
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I just feel with the money people and state officials involved to the level they are, it will get done. With the penalties out there for not making the date, I think they will throw enough money at it to make sure it gets done on time.
[FONT=Verdana]As we all know, Murphy’s Law (including lawsuits) is always the joker in the deck. But hopefully that also becomes a moot point and the political and financial hammer will be wielded unmercifully when it pops up. :thumbsup:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]So, is it safe to say that the architects, engineers, equipment operators and other mere mortals have the tools and are doing everything within their control? And that only Bernie can make it or break it from here on out? [/FONT]
We'll see what the rowdies in Curmudgeon Central have to say now. ;)
Update -- now hosting Australia V8 Supercars
the best $50 bet I ever lost
It was really something, especially if you listened to Varsha's partial summary of all the hurdles that had to be overcome.
It's one thing for this project to be completed on the aggressive schedule, especially since it was pronounced DOA more than once, but for every detail to be addressed so completely, right down to cowboy hats on the podium, that's world class. :thumbsup:
Thanks bluedog for providing the inside story in the early stages of development. That probably saved me from betting $1000. :beer:
And in case anyone's wondering, Curmudgeon Central is alive and well. :D