Pre-Proposal Conference Highlights Opportunities For Firms To Help Ready Next Gold Line Phase For Construction

More than 80 Representatives of Local Consulting Firms Attended Today's Conference to Learn How They Can Get Involved in Advancing Design for the 12.3-mile Light Rail Extension

ARCADIA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) hosted a pre-proposal conference for their upcoming procurement to advance the design and engineering for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project from Azusa to Montclair to a point where it will be ready for a design-build procurement. The 12.3-mile project will extend light rail service from the current terminus under construction in the city of Azusa, to the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair. The project was environmentally cleared earlier this year, and the upcoming procurement will advance the design of the project to a 30 percent level.

"Our job is to advance this project as far as we can, while we continue to look for construction funds," stated Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian to the more than 80 people in attendance. "We are fortunate to have the funding available from Measure R to complete the advanced conceptual engineering work, the reason for today's pre-proposal conference."

Despite attendance not being required for interested contractors, Arcadia City Hall's Council Chambers was filled with representatives from more than 70 firms representing potential prime and sub-contractors.  A panel of speakers – consisting of Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian, Chief Project Officer Chris Burner, and Chief Contracting Officer Mitch Purcell – provided details on the procurement process, scope of work, and timing; and then opened the meeting up to a 20-minute question and answer session.

"I believe the interest was strong today because of the Construction Authority's excellent record of success," added Balian. "We have strong grassroots support to complete the project to Montclair, and potential contractors see the possibility of working with the Construction Authority as a way to be part of a positive, successful project that will impact the County of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley for generations to come."

The Construction Authority intends to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) in early January 2014, with the recommended team up for consideration by the Construction Authority board of directors in April.

Contractors interested in being notified when the RFP is available can register to be included in the Construction Authority's business opportunities database by visiting the agency's website (www.foothillextension.org) and clicking on Contact Us -> Contracting Opportunities. The entire presentation from today's conference, as well as the sign-in sheet is available for viewing on this same page.

About the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension - The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension is a $1.7 billion, 24-mile extension of the Metro Gold Line light rail system, being overseen by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, an independent transportation planning and construction agency created in 1998 by the California State Legislature. The project is planned in two segments – Pasadena to Azusa and Azusa to Montclair. The Pasadena to Azusa segment is fully funded by Los Angeles County's Measure R and is on schedule to be completed in September 2015, when it will be turned over to Metro for testing and pre-revenue service. Measure R is funding the majority of cost associated with the upcoming advanced conceptual engineering and environmental work for the Azusa to Montclair segment (San Bernardino County will fund their portion of the work). The Construction Authority is working with Metro to seek the nearly $1 billion needed construct project to Montclair.

SOURCE Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority