The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has opened bids for the Foothill Extension Phase 2A light rail alignment work.
The $450-million design-build-finance project will involve final design, construction and financing of 11.5-mi of track, utilities, crossings and systems; six stations and multiple bridges; and a 25+-acre light rail maintenance facility.
Phase 2A will extend the Metro Gold Line light rail line from its current terminus in East Pasadena, adding stations in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.
The Construction Authority will be entering into a public-private partnership with the winning bidder, who will finance the gaps between the Construction Authority’s funding stream and the project’s cost curve during the first several years of the project. This financing plan will afford project completion years ahead of the anticipated public funding stream.
“Our communities are eagerly awaiting arrival of the Gold Line,” says Construction Authority Board Chairman, Azusa Councilman Keith Hanks. “With the construction industry’s enthusiasm for the financing component of the project, it is incredibly exciting that we will be able to realize those dreams years earlier than we would through traditional financing.”
The Request For Proposal was released to three prequalified firms, shortlisted through a competitive process earlier this year. The RFP includes more than 10,000 pages of updated engineering drawings and project information, including details of each station and the 11.5-mi corridor.
The shortlisted teams include Foothill Transit Constructors (Kiewit Pacific Co. and Parsons Transportation Group Inc.), Shimmick Construction Co./URS Corp. and Skanska USA Civil West California District/Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc.
“This has taken a significant effort,” says Construction Authority CEO, Habib F. Balian. “My staff has spent the last five months drafting procurement documents, coordinating decisions with corridor cities, Caltrans and Metro and going through an extensive external review process which included a peer review panel of transportation agency representatives from around the country.
“Because of the level of detail we are able to provide the bidders, as well as today’s very competitive bidding environment, we believe the final bids will save millions of tax dollars over the next four years.”
Proposals are due Jan. 27 and an award is anticipated in April.
The Phase 2A alignment procurement is one of three procurements planned by the Construction Authority for completion of Phase 2A. The first contract was awarded in June to Skanska/AECOM for $18 million, to design and build a 584-linear-ft bridge over the I-210 Freeway that will allow connection between the existing Sierra Madre Villa and future Arcadia stations. A third procurement process will begin in late 2011 to select a team to design and construct parking facilities planned at the six Phase 2A stations.
Phase 2A is anticipated to generate 7,000 jobs and $1 billion of economic output for the region during construction.
