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KCS Utility Permitting & Construction Observation – A Proven Process for Risk Mitigation & Safety (Room Sagamore 1)

During the past eight years, utility contractors have completed nearly 1,000 utility installations/relocations/repairs/improvement projects throughout KCSR’s USA system. These installations required a diverse mix of personnel from utility companies, contractors and municipalities to come in contact with railroad assets and operations. The rail industry has well-established AREMA guidelines that most (if not all) railroads use to develop their own standards and guidelines and sometimes follow as is for installations of various utilities. These guidelines and standards establish requirements and expectations for those companies installing utilities along, under or over railroad right-of-way. Mitigating risk and driving safety with minimal interruptions to railroad traffic is at the core of these requirements and expectations. KCSR has developed and maintained a process that establishes utility installation and safety requirements. KCSR has been a leader in taking the utility installation process a step further to ensure these requirements are being followed in the field through completion of utility projects system wide. This paper will provide a high level overview of the process/technology used, some of the field issues that have been encountered over the years, and the benefits (some obvious and some not so obvious) of the KCSR’s Utility Construction Observation process.