Betterments incorporated into utility work will fall into one of the following categories:

Forced betterments
: also known as non-elective betterments; those necessitated by transportation project construction, as shown below; this type is usually a
reimbursable
cost item. The following are reimbursable items and must be properly documented by the utility:
non‑stocked items that are uneconomical to purchase;
items to comply with governmental laws and regulated industry standards (signed and sealed engineering determination letter may be required);
appropriate regulatory commission codes;
published, current design practices regularly followed by the utility in its own work;
installment of replacements of equivalent standard, although not identical;
betterments for which there are direct benefits to, and /or are required for, the transportation project.
The following are not considered as the basis of a forced betterment:
International Fire Code, amendments, and appendixes;
Fire suppression measure that is not installed on existing facility
TAC codes that are not directly related to pipe size or capacity;
City ordinances that are adopted for TxDOT projects only or non-regulatory commission codes;
Master Plans implemented for TxDOT only projects;
Design standards that are not followed by the utility's own practice.
Elective betterments: those constructed at the election of the utility and are not attributable to the transportation project, i.e., increased service capacity or service improvements; this type is always a
non-reimbursable
cost item. Credit will be required and must be indicated in the estimate for elective betterments.

TxDOT cost participation is based on the cost of providing the most economical replacement facility or restoration of functionally equivalent service to the facility being replaced. The costs of elective betterment items

are ineligible

for TxDOT and Federal participation. Such elective betterments should be depicted on the plan as part of the work proposed.

The utility should record all relocation costs on a

single

work order account. It is impractical for a utility to accurately separate reimbursable and non-reimbursable portions of the relocation cost, particularly labor, overhead, equipment, and transportation. Use the following procedures (below) to determine State cost participation.