LACMTA recommends Skanska joint venture for Regional Connector design/build contract

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) staff have recommended awarding a $927.2 million design/build contract to Regional Connector Constructors for the Regional Connector project, officials announced yesterday.

Regional Connector Constructors is a joint venture between Skanska USA Civil West California District Inc. and Traylor Bros Inc. The 1.9-mile underground Regional Connector rail line will connect the Gold Line to the Blue and Expo lines, and allow trains to travel from Azusa to Long Beach, and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica, according to LACMTA's blog.

LACMTA's board is scheduled to consider the contract on April 24. When awarded, the Regional Connector will become the agency's fourth rail project under construction. The others are the Crenshaw/LAX Line, Expo Line Phase 2 and the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Agency officials anticipate the Purple Line Extension contract will be awarded this summer, according to the blog.

LACMTA also is spending $1.2 billion to overhaul the Metro Blue Line, including the purchase of new light-rail vehicles.

Meanwhile, the draft environmental impact report and impact statement for the State Route 710 North study has been delayed, LACMTA officials said yesterday.

Agency officials hoped to release the draft environmental documents this spring, but additional time is needed to complete related technical studies. LACMTA has been working with community representatives, technical consultants and the California Department of Transportation on various alternatives for addressing traffic and environmental impacts within east/northeast Los Angeles, the western San Gabriel Valley and the region generated by a 4.5-mile gap in the original 710 Freeway design that exists between Alhambra and Pasadena.

The draft environmental report and impact statements will analyze five alternatives: light-rail transit, bus rapid transit, transportation system management/transportation demand management, a freeway tunnel and a no-build option.