BSA Queen City Clean Waters: Leveraging Infrastructure Projects into Community Investment

Effective management of major capital improvement plans (CIPs) is crucial for the successful execution of large-scale infrastructure projects. This presentation will discuss how Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) approached establishing a capital projects program management system to oversee and coordinate the extensive Queen City Clean Waters (QCCW) program initiative and integrate into it the necessary capital work already required to operate and maintain one of the largest and oldest treatment facilities and sewer systems in New York State.

Mission — To create a healthier, more resilient, and equitable Buffalo by modernizing water infrastructure, improving water quality, and enhancing the quality of life for all Buffalo residents.

Why it matters — QCCW will reduce overflows from the City's sewers by helping flow reach the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) during wet weather, instead of entering Buffalo's creeks and river, thus improving water quality and public health. The program will foster partnerships within Buffalo's local communities and ensure residents experience public benefits including workforce opportunities for generational wealth creation.

What we did — QCCW projects include a mix of in-line storage (ILS), off-line storage (OLS), real time control (RTC), green infrastructure (GI), projects; and wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) upgrade, staff training, and systems planning. Additionally, a Community Benefits/Partnership Program and a Stakeholder Advisory Committee was established to better serve and foster partnerships and deliver multiple benefits within our local communities; all community benefits will support nonprofit, charitable, local schools, parks, community services, and/or related activities.

What we learned — By building a local workforce pipeline, partnering with local DBE/MBE/WBE firms and emphasizing the involvement of Buffalo's residents and historically excluded groups, QCCW will foster a culture of participation and multiple benefits that resonates beyond project completion and deliver lasting positive impacts and create community wealth opportunities.

By the numbers — The implementation of BSA Queen City Clean Waters includes 50+ project sites in total and will cost approximately $1B over the next 15 years including $250M+ in treatment facility upgrades.

The approach integrates best practices in project management with strategic planning principles to ensure alignment with organizational goals, optimize resource allocation, and enhance stakeholder engagement. Key components of the framework include the development of a governance structure, the implementation of risk management protocols, implementation of a project management information system (PMIS), and the establishment of cost, schedule, and equity-based performance metrics. The presentation will outline methodologies for integrating these elements into a cohesive program management plan, some of the key challenges and how they may be overcome. This presentation will also outline methodologies to implementing equity and community benefits framework into a decade-planned consent decree driven and capital projects program, through forming contracted local stakeholder partnerships, communications and earned media plan, aspirational small business utilization goals, developing an interactive website for stakeholder ideas and input, and advancing a data-driven strategic community engagement plan.

By providing a structured approach to program oversight, BSA aims to improve project outcomes, streamline processes, and deliver healthier, more resilient, and equitable benefits to all Buffalo residents.