The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail Transit (HBLRT) System was the first Design-Build-Operate-Maintain contract in the United States for a transit system. This ambitious FTA-funded transportation project is a public-private partnership with NJ Transit and is the largest light rail system in the USA, currently serving 54,000 customers daily. The project was completed by URS which became a part of the AECOM family of companies in October 2014.
Twenty-First Century Rail Corporation, a special purpose company formed by AECOM, was responsible for the design and construction of the $1.9 billion HBLRT, and is now operating and maintaining the system. The system was designed to interface at street level with commercial, industrial, retail, residential, and intermodal facilities. AECOM worked closely with elected officials, public agencies and community-based organizations to ensure the success of the project.
As construction manager and prime contractor, AECOM was responsible for engineering and design, procurement, construction management, start-up and commissioning for stations, bridges, vehicle maintenance facilities, utilities, and track. In addition to managing subcontractors performing certain civil, electrical and tunnelling work, AECOM self-performed the civil and architectural work for the light rail stations construction, as well as some of the rail systems work.
There were over 40 contract packages in phase one and more than 60 in the second phase. Commissioning the system was a multi-task multi-disciplinary effort that incorporated activities such as engineering systems (rail and civil/facilities systems), systems management/ integration, start-up, rail activation, safety certification, and operational demonstration. AECOM was also responsible for the design, subsystems, supplier selections, system integration, first article inspection, and system testing in the factory, as well as commissioning and testing 53 vehicles.
AECOM also managed the design of the 40-acre yard with maintenance and storage buildings. As the yard site is in the natural low-lying area of the city which is the path of the storm water surface run off, the design of the yard includes a system of culverts and a detention pond.
Since its inaugural opening in April 2000, AECOM has operated the HBLRT and maintained the infrastructure, rail system, stations and facilities.
Finch West Light Rail Transit Toronto, Ontario, Canada
AECOM is providing technical advisory services to Metrolinx for the procurement and implementation phases of the Finch West LRT in Northwest Toronto, Canada.
The Finch West LRT comprises seven miles (11kms) of guideway with 17 surface stops, one underground stop, and one underground station. The $1.2 billion project is being delivered under an Infrastructure Ontario AFP (Alternative Finance and Procurement) model as a Design-Build-Finance-Maintain.
AECOM has employed a full-range of discipline subject matter experts across the gamut of project areas including specialists in environmental assessment, facilities, civil, traffic, LRT systems and operations, utilities, construction oversight, and schedule analysis.
Significant savings were made through the early relocation a 30-inch utility gas line during the procurement period. This significantly changed the risk profile of the project. As a result, the awarded bid was significantly lower than the affordability cap due to realized schedule savings of around eight months.
The AECOM team has developed the Reference Concept Design (RCD), Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) amendments, project specific output specifications, technical components of the request for proposal (RFP), and project agreement schedules.
During the consultation process, we supported requests for information, led design presentation meetings and commercially confidential meetings, produced technical addenda and RFP compliance evaluation, and conducted preferred proponent negotiations.
As the LRT moves into the construction phase, the AECOM team has been leading the design submittal review, technical compliance monitoring and requirements management, construction quality and progress monitoring, testing and commissioning oversight, and is supporting third party interfaces, schedule analysis, and commercial matters.