October 06, 2020 Project of the Week
Project Name: RTD N Line
Company Name: Stantec
Project Location: Denver, Colorado United States
Project Information/Details: The Regional Transportation District (RTD) recently announced the opening of its newest commuter rail corridor, the N line. The new rail line—the first electrified commuter rail line that RTD will operate—adds service to connect the metro Denver region, significantly improving mobility from the city’s northern suburbs to downtown Denver. Global architecture, engineering, and design firm, Stantec, provided project management, track design, structural design, site civil design, and drainage services on the $429 million project. The contractor was Regional Rail Partners, a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Construction. Construction on the line began in March of 2014. The N Line features six new stations and 2,480 new parking spaces for riders. The first 13 miles of the proposed 18.5-mile line will provide service from Union Station through Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn, and Thornton. The entire 18.5-mile N Line is part of RTD’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks program to expand transit across the city. When the corridor is fully complete, it will include two additional stations, for a total of eight new stations. The remaining 5.5 miles will be constructed as funds become available. A trip between Union Station and Eastlake-124th Station, currently the last stop on the line, will take about 29 minutes. The project includes updated public crossing areas, with gates and lights, to ensure public safety. The N Line includes quiet zones—railroad segments where train operators don’t have to sound their horns on a routine basis–in consideration of neighbors and the public. The rail corridor features wireless positive train control (PTC) technology, a complex system that reduces the risk of potentially fatal accidents. RTD is the first transit agency in the US to build PTC technology into a new rail system from the ground up. “The N Line will make a significant difference in the lives of Denver residents, safely reducing travel time across the city and greatly improving mobility,” said Jim Bader, a Stantec structural engineer based in Denver. “This year has presented unprecedented challenges, and it’s exciting to reach this milestone alongside RTD and Regional Rail Partners. We are proud to play a role in delivering the first 13 miles of the N Line.” As part of the North Metro Rail Line’s construction, RTD also built Skyway Bridge, designed by Stantec. The curvilinear Skyway Bridge is nearly two miles, making it the longest bridge in Colorado. The innovative design, which uses direct fixation techniques, makes for a resilient structure and a smoother ride, with reduced maintenance over the long run. The new bridge avoids at-grade crossings, which increases safety by limiting interaction with other traffic. The Skyway Bridge was named to the Top 10 Bridges list in 2019 by Roads and Bridges Magazine.
September 29, 2020 Project of the Week
Project Name: Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) Program
Company Name: HDR
Project Location: Los Angeles, California United States
Project Information/Details: The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has selected HDR to provide program management services for Phase 1 of the transformative Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program. The $10 billion capital improvement program, developed to take a proactive approach to growing populations and service demands, will make significant upgrades to the Metrolink system ahead of the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. The first phase of the program, planned through 2023, is focused on the expansion of services on the Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino lines and will involve more than a dozen individual projects including track additions, station and signal improvements. The goal is to achieve 30-minute, bi-directional service in peak periods on the lines. This will enable more frequent and reliable service, and more one-seat rides, with better first/last mile connectivity — all while integrating with other regional and local operators. As program manager, HDR will provide oversight of projects for Metrolink and undertake key management activities such as project controls, environmental clearance and regulatory permitting, planning and grant management, design management, alternative delivery advisory services, and right of way services. HDR also developed a robust, tailored project management information services dashboard to help Metrolink manage program risk, make informed, defensible decisions and provide real-time program status reporting. “Metrolink’s far-reaching plan to deliver new levels of service in the coming decades is visionary and exciting,” said HDR Project Manager Tom Horkan, P.E. “We’re thrilled to play a part in helping them create value for residents and exceed their riders’ expectations.” Drawing from its national expertise, HDR’s services will include contributions from more than 50 staff based in more than 10 offices across the continent. This assignment will add to HDR’s already extensive transit portfolio, including iconic projects in Los Angeles, Toronto, New York, Seattle, Dallas, Honolulu, Denver and more. HDR had been serving as interim program management consultant for the SCORE program since August 2019. This new contract extends well into Phase 2 of the SCORE program, which is scheduled to be completed in 2028. Metrolink has secured $1.5 billion in funding for initial work and anticipates continued funding in coming years to reach its total expected program budget of $10 billion. “HDR has served Metrolink since its inception in 1992 by providing engineering services, planning and operations support,” said HDR Global Transit Director Tom Waldron. “This latest contract builds upon that strong foundation, and we look forward to continuing to help bring their ambitious vision to reality.”
September 22, 2020 Project of the Week
Project Name: The Green at West Village Student Housing
Company Name: Stantec
Project Location: Davis, California United States
Project Information/Details:
| The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) opened the first phase of The Green at West Village student housing project, adding more than 1,000 beds to the University’s West Village neighborhood. Once the entire project is complete, the housing complex will add nearly 3,300 beds to the campus, making it the largest student housing development currently under construction in the US. Students officially moved into Phase I on September 15. The full $575 million in project costs will come from the proceeds of a tax-exempt bond sale, the largest bond sale ever in the US for a student housing project. The Michaels Organization, a national leader in residential real estate, is working with global design, architecture, and engineering firm Stantec, which is providing lead architectural, interiors, buildings engineering, and landscape architecture services for the project. CBG Building Company is the general contractor. Once completed, the project will be comprised of nine four-story apartment buildings along with indoor and outdoor community space and recreational fields across 34 acres. A 10,000-square-foot community building will house a fitness center, multipurpose room, and support services. With its expansive solar electric arrays, The Green contributes to the overall neighborhood goal of zero net energy, which means the project is designed to generate as much energy as it uses within a year. During Phase I, the project team delivered the first three residential buildings, a utility building (including workspace for operations and maintenance staff), as well as outdoor courtyards between the residential buildings for students to gather. Each apartment building includes furnished bedroom and living spaces, full kitchen and common space, as well as social and study areas on each floor. “This student housing community demonstrates what is possible when the public sector and private sector form partnerships, leveraging the strengths of both,” said Joe Coyle, president of Michaels Student Living. “We are thankful for the leadership of our University partners and honored to deliver this first phase of our affordable, sustainable living environment for the students of UC Davis.” “We’re excited to hit this critical milestone—on schedule,” said Richey Madison, Stantec principal, West Coast Education. “This year has presented unprecedented obstacles with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, and to see the first wave of students move into The Green is humbling for our entire public-private partnership team. This is a truly transformative project for the UC Davis student body, and one we are proud to help deliver.” The apartment community will be operated by Michaels Student Living Management. Collegiate Housing Foundation will hold the ground lease with the University of California. UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services will be responsible for marketing, leasing, and on-site residence life support services. |
