Productivity, Performance, & Earned Value

Hi All,

Please suggest if there is any document which talks about established productivity rates for activities related to rail transit projects.

Note : RS Means provides reference only for some activities.

Thank you

Arun, 

Unfortunately, no specific documents come to mind that list productivity rates for rail transit projects. Estimating tools such as RS Means and RIB (formerly known as success) typically provide the best information regarding productivity rates.

Hopefully another member of this community can provide some additional context. In the meantime, I asked your question to a few large language models and got the following response. I can't attest to the validity of the response, but hopefully it can point you in the right direction.

1. RSMeans Heavy Construction Cost Data
What it includes: RSMeans publishes cost data that includes productivity rates for various construction activities, including rail projects.
How it's useful: It breaks down unit labor productivity rates for tasks like track laying, ballast placement, concrete work, earthworks, and utility installations.
Access: Available as books, digital subscriptions, and through RSMeans Online.

2. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Reports
The FTA often publishes guidance and technical documents related to transit project costs and productivity benchmarks.
Look for:
Transit Construction Cost Studies: Reports that include cost breakdowns and benchmarks.
Capital Cost Database: Contains historical cost and performance data for rail transit projects in the U.S.
Where to find: FTA's official website or their Research & Technical Assistance publications.

3. American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Manuals
AREMA provides detailed guidelines and standards for railway construction and maintenance.
While it focuses on technical specifications, some productivity benchmarks and typical production rates can be derived from these manuals.
Key Sections: Ballast, track laying, signaling, and rail systems construction.
Access: Available for purchase on the AREMA website.

4. Construction Industry Institute (CII) Productivity Reports
CII publishes research on construction productivity, including infrastructure and rail-specific reports.
Reports often cover benchmarks, best practices, and factors affecting productivity.
Examples:
Reports on heavy civil construction productivity.
Guides for improving productivity in major transit and infrastructure projects.
Access: Membership-based access on the CII website.

5. Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Reports
The TCRP, sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), produces studies on transit infrastructure, costs, and construction productivity.
Examples:
TCRP Report 131: "A Guidebook for the Evaluation of Project Delivery Methods" (includes productivity discussions for rail and infrastructure).
Other reports focusing on rail infrastructure costs and timelines.
Access: Free PDFs are often available on the TRB website.

6. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Although focused on highways, many productivity metrics (e.g., concrete placement, earthworks, structures) can be extrapolated to rail transit construction.
Reports cover cost estimation, labor productivity, and construction techniques.
Access: Available through the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

7. Historical Bid Data and DOT Project Reports
Many Departments of Transportation (DOTs), such as Caltrans, publish detailed historical bid data for infrastructure projects, including rail.
These documents often include unit costs and implied productivity rates for labor, materials, and equipment.
Example: State-specific rail transit projects or capital improvement program reports.

8. International Standards and Reports
Organizations like FIDIC and World Bank sometimes publish cost and productivity studies for international rail transit projects.
Example: World Bank reports on transit infrastructure costs often include productivity rates for light rail, high-speed rail, and metros.

9. Rail-Specific Estimating Guides and Software Databases
Software like HCSS HeavyBid, RIB CostX, and B2W Estimate often include built-in or customizable productivity databases.
These databases are often based on industry-standard data, historical project data, and vendor inputs.

10. Public Works Cost Books
Cost books like BNi Public Works Costbook and Gordian Construction Cost Databases provide unit costs and productivity rates for infrastructure projects, including rail.

Hi All,

Please suggest if there is any document which talks about established productivity rates for activities related to rail transit projects.

Note : RS Means provides reference only for some activities.

Thank you

Hi All,

Please suggest if there is any document which talks about established productivity rates for activities related to rail transit projects.

Note : RS Means provides reference only for some activities.

Thank you