Louis Berger and Egis enter joint venture to support U.S. mass transit, rail and freight market

BALTIMORE, June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Louis Berger and Egis today announced a new exclusive partnership formed to meet the project development and delivery needs for mass transit, rail and freight owners and operators in North America. The Louis Berger-Egis joint venture made its debut during the American Public Transportation Association conference in Baltimore, the nation's largest rail conference.

"It is no secret that the rest of the world has been investing in rail and transit, while the United States systems have suffered from years of underfunding," said Nick Ivanoff, Louis Berger's U.S. transportation president. "An estimated $200 billion in investment is needed to meet U.S. rail demand through 2035, and the Louis Berger-Egis joint venture allows us to apply our world-class expertise in modern transit systems here in the United States to support our clients in delivering safer, more efficient rail travel."

Louis Berger and Egis have been collaborating on mass transit and rail projects worldwide for more than a decade, including program and design management for one of the largest metro projects in the world – the $15.4 billion- Doha Metro project in Qatar, which will comprise 95 stations and 230 kilometers (143 miles) of rail upon completion in 2026. The Louis Berger-Egis joint venture offers clients state-of-the-art, global expertise in systems technology combined with unparalleled experience managing some of the most complex infrastructure development projects in the U.S. and abroad through design-bid-build, design-build, P3 and turnkey delivery.

"The partnership unites Egis' expertise in guided urban transportation and rail systems, automation, rolling stock, safety and equipment with Louis Berger's global experience leading civil and structural engineering design and program and construction management for rail systems around the world," said Gilduin Blanchard, director for North America, Egis Rail.

The joint venture will be led by Egis' Gilduin Blanchard and Gilles Autuori, senior vice president for International projects, with Louis Berger's Connie Crawford, senior vice president and rail and transit global practice leader, and Sofia Berger, senior vice president for U.S. transportation.

Louis Berger has provided rail and transit consultant services for more than 50 years, working with our clients to develop new facilities, improve aging systems, increase resiliency, and modernize historic systems in cities across the U.S. The company's venerable portfolio ranges from development of the prototype stations for the Washington, D.C. Metro completed in the 1970s to planning, engineering, environmental, and financial advisory services for the Northeast Corridor Maglev demonstration project, which will provide one hour service between Washington, D.C.  and New York.

In 1968, Egis began designing France's first metro system in Lyon. The development of this subway network catalyzed the transformation of Lyon from a provincial city in the heart of France into a cosmopolitan metropolis in the heart of Europe. This proficiency led Egis to the U.S. in 1997 to assist Amtrak with quality control of the rolling stock to be used on the first U.S. high-speed train service, the Acela Express, running between Boston and Washington D.C. Egis then provided consultancy services to New York City Transit for the implementation of a fully automatic train control system on the Canarsie Line. Working on hundreds of rail and transit systems around the world, Egis has mastered all technologies involved in the planning, design and construction of safe and reliable rail transport systems. Today Egis is a recognized expert in transit communications-based train control (CBTC), positive train control (PTC) and driverless systems, and has engineered innovative solutions to improve operating efficiency and minimize environmental impacts.

Learn more about the Louis Berger-Egis joint venture.

About Louis Berger

Louis Berger is a global professional services corporation that helps infrastructure and development clients solve their most complex challenges. We are a trusted partner to national, state and local government agencies; multilateral institutions; and commercial industry clients worldwide. By focusing on client needs to deliver quality, safe, financially-successful projects with integrity, we are committed to deliver on our promise to provide Solutions for a better world.

Louis Berger operates on every habitable continent. We have a long-standing presence in more than 50 nations, represented by the multidisciplinary expertise of 6,000 engineers, economists, scientists, managers and planners.

About Egis

Egis is an international group offering engineering, project structuring and operations services. In engineering and consulting its sectors of activity include transport, urban development, building, industry, water, environment and energy. In roads and airports its offer is enlarged to encompass project structuring, equity investment, turnkey systems delivery, operation and mobility services. Our vocation is to imagine a sustainable future, working for populations. We are dedicated to meeting the planet's challenges and supporting the energy, ecology, digital and technical transitions, all to serve the common good.

Employing 14,000 people, including over 1,500 dedicated to rail and transit engineering, the group generated a managed turnover of $1.1 billion in 2016.

Egis is 75% owned by the French "Caisse des Dépôts" and 25% owned by Iosis Partenaires, (a "partner" executive and employee shareholding)

Contact:
Regine de la Cruz:
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+1.202.303.2791

Isabelle Bourguet
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Tel.: +33 (0)1 39 41 44 17

Sabine Mendy
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Tel. : +33 (0)1 39 41 43 05

SOURCE Louis Berger