RFP out for California light rail deal

California’s Metro Gold Line Authority has issued a request for proposals to its three shortlisted bidders for a light rail PPP. The project is estimated at over $450m with proposals due on January 2011.

California’s Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Authority has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the second phase of a light rail line towards Azusa city, in California, the procuring authority announced in a statement.

The light rail project is estimated to cost more than $450 million and will be procured through a public-private partnership. The winning team will be required to design, build and finance 11.5 miles of track as well as a 25-acre maintenance facility that will service about 80 to 100 vehicles.

The RFP was released to three pre-qualified firms, shortlisted earlier this year. They include a consortium of Kiewit Pacific and Parsons Transportation Group; a consortium comprising Shimmick Construction Company and URS Corporation; and a Skanska USA/Balfour Beatty Rail team. Proposals are due by January 27 2011 with the project to be awarded in April 2011.

The first phase of the light rail contract was awarded as a design-build contract in June to a Skanska/AECOM team for $18 million.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority is an independent transportation planning and construction agency created in 1999 by the California state legislature with the purpose of planning, designing and constructing the Metro Gold Line light rail from Union Station to the San Bernardino County Line.