Project Delivery Method Selection: Analysis of User Perceptions on Transportation Projects

Alternative project delivery methods (APDM) have become more widely used in all industry sectors. Although the infrastructure sector has lagged behind the building sector, transportation projects have considerably increased the use of APDMs in the past several years. The increased use of APDM has led to a preconceived perception of benefits when using delivery methods, such as design-build (DB) and construction manager at risk (CMAR), over traditional design-bid-build (DBB) delivery. This paper is the result of a study of more than 80 transportation project owners. It contributes to the industry's understanding of APDM by analyzing the perceptions of owners on how each delivery method affects project success. The paper also provides a ranking of the factors that influence owners in the delivery method selection process. DBB, DB, and CMAR projects are analyzed using individual t-tests to determine the best delivery method to achieve a specific objective. Study results show owners are highly motivated by controlling cost and schedules for a project, as well as allocating risk appropriately. The paper presents an in-depth comparison of APDM using least significant difference intervals and multiple range tests to assess the significance of the perceptions of transportation project owners.