Overview

The Urban Construction Initiative (also known as the First Cities Initiative) was established as the result of a modification to the Code of Virginia in 2003. Traditionally, cities identified construction projects, which the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) would construct and the locality would then maintain. 

Over the past several years, increasing emphasis has been placed on local administration of construction projects. The Urban Construction Initiative moves local administration from the project level to the program level, providing municipalities with the opportunity to manage their entire construction program.

The initiative places greater responsibility and control of the urban construction program in the hands of the local government. However, this includes the responsibility for meeting all federal and state legal and regulatory requirements, and Commonwealth Transportation Board policy.
 

Program Information

PDFs.

• Project Delivery Options Available (326 KB)  
• Urban Construction Initiative Program Administration Guide (1.2 MB)
• How to join the Urban Construction Initiative (13 KB)  
• Benefits and realities of participation (87 KB)

WORD

• Standard Construction Contract Bid Document - Template

UCI in the News

• Moving in a New Direction (179 KB)
• Our local partner’s perspective (223 KB)

Member Municipalities

• Fiscal Year 2005: Hampton, Richmond (city) and Virginia Beach
• Fiscal Year 2006: Charlottesville
• Fiscal Year 2007: Harrisonburg and Bridgewater
• Fiscal Year 2008: Lynchburg
• Fiscal Year 2009: Blacksburg and Dumfries
• Fiscal Year 2010: Colonial Heights
• Fiscal Year 2011: Newport News
• Fiscal Year 2012: Chesapeake and Purcellville
• Fiscal Year 2013: Danville

Annual Reports

• 2012 (229 KB)
  • UCI 12 month goals
• 2011 (180 KB)
• 2010 (103 KB)
• 2009 (280 KB)
• 2008 (120 KB)
• 2007 (138 KB)
• 2006 (115 KB)
• 2005 (192 KB)

Certification Program

Localities that are participating in the VDOT Urban Construction Initiative Program may apply to be certified to deliver projects with streamlined oversight from VDOT. 

Certification with streamlined oversight applies to all projects, except for those located on the National Highway System, that have been noted as requiring federal oversight or that have been identified by the commissioner as requiring VDOT oversight.

• Overview (282 KB)
• Presentation (242 KB)
• Guidance document (17 KB)
• Certification from Federal Highway Administration (102 KB)
• Certification letter to localities (33 KB)
• UCI Certification letter of intent (31 KB)

Triannual Meetings

• March 23, 2013
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations and Handouts
    • Items of Interest
    • Eminent Domain Law Change
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • Compliance Reviews
    • Environmental)
    • Proprietary and Sole Source)
• October 23, 2012
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations and Handouts
    • Administrative UPC’s/VDOT Billing
    • Handout - Project Funding Worksheet
    • Project Schedule Summary Sample
    • Arterial Roads Pavement Data Collection
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • UCI Certification Program
• July 11 - 12, 2012
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations and Handouts
    • Day 1: July 11th, 2012
      • Pre Award Audit:
        • Pre Award Evaluation Presentation
        • Pre Award Example
        • Pre Award Checklist
      • Civil Rights Presentation
      • Work Order/ Claims Presentation
      • Right of Way Presentation
    • Day 2: July 12th, 2012
      • VDOT Update
      • UCI 2012 Satisfaction Survey
      • UCI Workgroup Update
      • Innovative Project Financing – Chesapeake
      • Route 250 Interchange Project – Charlottesville
      • Indian River Road and Kempsville Road Intersection Project – Virginia Beach
• March 15, 2012
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations
    • VDOT Update
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • UCI Timeline
• Nov. 17,  2011
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentationsd
    • VDOT Update
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • OIG Action Plan and Partnership with LTAP
    • UCI Certification Program Update
• July 27 - 28, 2011
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations
    • VDOT Update
    • UCI Certification Update
    • 2011 Satisfaction Survey
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • Program Performance and Path Forward
    • Every Day Counts – FHWA
    • Blacksburg Main Street Project
    • Harrisonburg Erickson/Stone Spring Project
    • VDOT Tier I/ Tier II Project Delivery
    •      - Project Delivery Links
    • Newport News Best Practice
• March 24, 2011
  •  Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • Items of Interest - General Assembly Information and Revenue Sharing
    • FHWA Perspective
    • Right of Way - Land Acquisition
    • RUMS Demo
    • Follow up and Q&A Information
• Nov. 18, 2010
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
  • Presentations
    • VDOT Performance Audit Summary
    • UCI Certification Process - VA Beach
    • UCI Workgroup Update
    • Risk based approach

 

Contact

Todd Halacy, P.E., 804-786-3438  
Virginia Department of Transportation
Local Assistance Division
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219