LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors awarded the main design-build contract today for its light rail extension from Glendora to Pomona.
The contract was awarded to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and Parsons Corporation, a joint venture, and includes $805.6 million for the first nine miles of the project, with a two-year contract option to complete the full 12.3-mile project to Montclair for a total contract amount of $1.18 billion, if additional funds are secured by September 2021.
``I am happy with the outcome and the selected team and applaud the significant effort staff at the authority put into conducting this procurement,'' Construction Authority Board Chairman and Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval said. ``Ultimately, we had two excellent teams vying for this important project, and the best proposal won.''
The contact includes design and construction for the first segment, including relocation of the existing freight track, installation of the light rail track system, four new light rail stations (in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona), improvements at 40 grade crossings and more. The contract option would extend the work of the design-build team to complete the full project to Montclair and add stations in Claremont and Montclair.
The project will begin major construction in 2020 and take approximately five years to complete to Pomona and eight years to complete to Montclair, if the contract option is activated, according to Construction Authority officials. The project could create as many as 16,000 jobs and up to $2.6 billion of economic output for the region, as well as up to $1 billion in labor income and potentially $40 million in tax revenue, a study by Beacon Economics stated.
``Kiewit and Parsons both enjoy a long-time relationship with the Construction Authority, having both worked with the agency since 1999 when we began design on phase 1 from Union Station to Pasadena,'' said Steve McFadden, the area manager for Kiewit. ``It is an honor to be chosen to continue that work east and to have a chance to work again with the hard-working and dedicated team at the Construction Authority.''
The Foothill Gold Line was the first Measure M-funded light rail project to break ground and is named as one of Los Angeles Metropolitan Authority's 28 priority projects to be completed before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
``Metro has made completing the Gold Line to Claremont a county priority project for many years, and today's award is an important step to making that vision a reality,'' Metro Board Chairman and Inglewood Mayor James Butts said. ``While we still have work to do to ensure the line is completed to Claremont, today's contract award ensures completion of the first project phase to Pomona.''
The project is being built in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The Los Angeles County portion will be funded mostly by Measure M, with residual funds from Measure R not used to complete the Pasadena to Azusa segment. San Bernardino County is responsible to fund its portion of the project to Montclair. The state of California is also providing funding for the project.