The East Side Access (ESA) Project brings LIRR service to a new LIRR terminal beneath Grand Central Terminal (GCT) in Manhattan. Access will be provided by outfitting the lower levels of the 63rd Street Tunnel under the East River for LIRR operations. It includes the now complete TBM construction of new tunnels from 63 rd Street to GCT, as well as new tunnels from the 63 rd Street Tunnel to Harold Interlocking in Queens. At GCT, a new passenger concourse was constructed in space previously occupied by Metro-North’s Madison Avenue Yard at an elevation below GCT’s existing lower level.
MCSS has been providing Program Management/CCM Support Services as part of the AECOM Program Management Oversight Team on the ESA Project since 1999. In addition, MCSS has joined the Jacobs/LiRO Consultant Construction Management Team to provide CCM Support Services in 2013 and MCSS is also providing cost control and budget analysis support directly to the LIRR as part of an on-going General Engineering Contract.
MCSS Staff is providing Signal System Support for five (5) Vital Microprocessor Interlocking System during installation phase reviewing shop drawings, field surveys for signal installations, RFIs, breakdown testing verification leading to completion of FRA tests required under contract and PTC System install/commissioning.
MCSS Field Inspectors were responsible for coordinating outages with LIRR and Amtrak to bring the work train and/or any other work-related activities, logging of all protection personnel assigned to work location such as Flagmen, Watchman, Substation, ET, and 60 cycles. They monitored and inspected construction activities performed by the contractor, as well as inspected the communication conduits in duct banks in micro tunnels which include excavation, form work, rebar, concrete pour, backfill and grade the areas. They oversaw demolition and installation of new piers for 39th Street Bridge to accommodate the BC Tunnel new width under the pier’s foundations. Additionally, they inspected new switch gears, electrical panels testing in Amtrak substation from switch boards. Woodside location included inspection of conduits for new substation building with connection to Con Edison manhole in street including sidewalk construction around the building. Responsible for work done by Railroad construction for the new tracks and cross overs with sub grades to track installation such as track profile, ballast, frogs, switch panels, clips, joint plates, and termite welding as per CWP.
MCSS’ Test Engineer is responsible for coordinating the Fire Alarm and Fire Protection system between multiple contracts, contractors, construction management teams, and design engineers. Frontrunner of the testing and progress tracking of the fire alarm, smoke extraction and control, ATC interface sprinkler and standpipe integration, clean agent, and BMS integration for all locations of ESA in accordance with the NYS/NFPA code. Managed the Witness and Acceptance testing with the LIRR Fire Marshall and the Code Compliance Unit throughout Manhattan and Queens by ensuring all prerequisites had been met and all construction deficiencies were corrected. Participated in issuing Change Proposal Requests and negotiating cost and schedule allowance to push the job along. Cultivated comprehensive knowledge of the entire ESA Fire Protection and Fire Alarm System. Led multiple Train Tests throughout the ESA site including the very first train powered by the third rail. Witnessed local system testing for the Fire Alarm, Tunnel SCADA system, Security, and low voltage communications.
MCSS’ CMG Technical Director was responsible for assisting the ESA Systems Facilities Package CM Team to effectively establish and manage all potential field and scope changes. Responsibilities included maintaining an inventory of all potential changes, leading construction modification meetings, collaborating, and engaging all stakeholders including Program Executives, Construction Manager, General Engineering Consultants, Project Engineers, Estimators, Schedulers, Legal and Procurement Team, and Contractor representatives to successfully resolve potential changes and issues. Additional responsibilities included developing, tracking, and maintaining a Testing dashboard to capture Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Local Systems Tests (LST), and Integrated Systems Tests (IST). Directed the newly created Change Management Group to establish, maintain, track, and coordinate critical issues and potential change orders within the East Side Access Program. Responsibilities included working with the Program Management Organization analytics team to identify and track critical issues as it related to individual contract milestones and incremental integrated systems testing. Oversaw the development of CPM schedules developed using Primavera 6 to capture, manage, analyze, and track critical issues from inception until resolved. Prepared and monitored Key Performance Indicators dashboard for the East Side Access Program monthly for project stakeholders.
MCSS’ Systems Program Controls Director was responsible for review of baselines; monthly schedule updates, engaging contractors in weekly schedule meetings, logic changes, risks, change orders and mitigation methods to counter delays. Performed monthly schedule reviews of other key projects such as Track Installation; Caverns Work, GCT Concourse Installation and Mid-Day Storage Yard Signal Installation. Key player in rolling out MCS Schedule (Master Coordination Schedule) Program-wide. Liaised with PMO Analytics, CM Phase Leads and Change Management Group to discuss the MCS heat maps related with Issues/Change Orders, Critical Paths and present the MCS to LIRR. Detailed Time Impact Analysis for numerous change orders contracts, as well as performed detailed schedule analysis for compensability claims. Responsibilities also included review of monthly KPI’s, dashboards, cost and labor curves, planned versus actual progress, critical change orders, etc. Key player in developing risk informed Syndicated Incremental IST schedule or Recovery Schedule and lead the Project Controls Team in preparing Integrated Project Schedule for various contracts, and Harold Contracts. Led the Project Controls team in preparing detailed fragnets for Positive Train Control System, 270 Park Avenue, Track Phasing Plan, Test Train requirements, Power SCADA IST program-wide and integrate with MCS.
MCSS’ Project Controls Engineer responsible for preparing the Access and Protection resource projection for LIRR and Amtrak and developing support analysis on operation sand incorporates into Force Account estimating database. Prepared weekly field production reports (Plan vs. Actual), developing force account Access and Protection estimates for upcoming contracts, additional work and change orders. Prepared monthly cost performance reports for all indirect contracts for LIRR and Amtrak; Prepared 2 week look ahead coordination schedules and weekend outage plan for next 4 months; Reviewed Amtrak, LIRR and NYCT invoices; Prepared and provided the FTE number and actual cost for updating the Monthly and Quarterly Progress Report.
MCSS’ Schedulers were responsible for development and monitoring of internal schedules to assess status and realistic forecast for completion of different contracts in Harold. They were responsible for monitoring Construction Contracts in Harold Interlocking, the busiest rail junction in the United States. Their responsibilities included review and approval of Baseline schedule for construction of approach structures and performing track work in the Harold Interlocking, as well as analyzing multiple compensability claims from 3rd party construction contractors. Developed basis for cost-sharing acceleration of Track A approach structure and Mid-day Storage Yard
Contracts. They worked on resolution of DSCs (Differing Site condition Claims) from the contractors and developed scenarios for resolution of key issues with analysis on cost exposure and time-impact based on resource constraints for programmatic decision making. In charge of maintaining risk contract-level risk register for each contract and participated in program-level risk review meetings to assess the priority, status and the impact of each risk.
MCSS’ Information Technology Officer worked closely with the MTA Director Desktop Support, Office of MTA IT Infrastructure, and other Service Managers to structure IT policy and key performance indicators (KPI) metrics and align IT initiatives with firm business objectives. Managed IT service level agreement (SLA) commitments to ensure deliverables met timelines and were within the agreed-upon cost structure. Coordinated planning, implementation, and management of networks and email services. Worked in close partnership with multi vendors to check new initiatives and daily activities. Responsibilities included collaborating with vendors and Project Management Officers in evaluating network performance and problem tickets to identify issues requiring escalation and subsequent change management implementation. Engaged in fiscal IT Budgetary reviews with office leaders and Project Managers. He managed/mentored/supported local IT staff resources (Internal and External to the firm) for five remote offices. Maintained project Automation Management and Disaster Recovery Plan. Supported Primavera Unifier users; Supported, maintained, installed, and configured WMWare’s Support Network Infrastructure (Cisco Routers and switches).
MCSS has been providing project control support including program/project scheduling, cost estimating and cost control, and document control as part of the AECOM Program Management Oversight Team on the ESA Project since 1999. MCSS has also joined the Jacobs/LiRo Consultant Construction Management Team and is currently preparing cost estimates for additional work orders and performing inspections and office engineering support. Lastly, MCSS is also providing cost control and budget analysis support directly to the LIRR on the East Side Access Project as part of an on-going General Engineering Contract.
Construction costs over $11B