PACO Group was the lead subconsultant in a study to review the processes and procedures for the execution of projects being funded by the Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs). The purpose of the study was to identify potential process improvements and the potential benefit in applying Configuration Management (CM) in controlling and mitigating the impact that design and construction contract changes have on a project’s scope, schedule and cost.
For this study, therefore, the Aviation Department was interested in evaluating the use of Configuration Management (CM) to ascertain the effectiveness of the CM methodology in controlling and mitigating the impact that design and construction
contract changes have on a project’s scope, schedule and cost. After evaluating numerous projects at the Port Authority’s three airports that were in the process of implementation, it was determined that a project that had been completed (or substantially completed) and in operation would be the most practical. The logic behind this decision was that the study could be performed and completed in a relatively shorter period than selecting a project that was still in design or the early construction phase. The Aviation Department selected the CA02-417 Runways 4-22 and 13-31 Decks Safety Overrun project and CA02-347, RVSR & Runway Drive project, being funded by the PFCs as a Pilot, since they had previously experienced growth in the scope and cost of these projects whose purpose was to lengthen the runways and provide FAA mandated safety improvements.