Maryland Transit Solutions (MTS) joint venture, comprising Dragados USA Inc. and OHL USA Inc. was selected as the design-build contractor to complete the Maryland Purple Line.
According to a comprehensive evaluation made by Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), the consortium offered the best value.
The commercial and financial close is anticipated in February 2022 and next spring the joint venture is expected to mobilise and resume full-scale construction of the Purple Line.
“In their proposal, discussions and oral presentation, MTS showed they possess all the right qualities – thorough knowledge of the project, across-the-board expertise and a demonstrated spirit of partnership – to get the job done efficiently and with excellence,” Jane Garvey, chairman, PLTP Board of Directors said.
The next steps in the procurement process include finalising contracts as PLTP advances efforts to secure required financing. MDOT MTA intends to return to the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) with the selected contractor, replacement design-build contract and amended P3 Agreement, which will include an updated project cost and schedule for completion.
While procurements of this magnitude can take 18 months to two years to complete, the replacement of the Purple Line contractor is on track to be completed in just over a year. The process began in January 2021 when PLTP issued a Request for Qualifications, followed in March by a short-listing of teams and issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP). In October, PLTP received compliant and responsive proposals from MTS and a joint venture of Tutor-Perini and Lunda, while a third shortlisted team, Halmar International, opted not to submit a proposal.
The Maryland Purple Line will be a 25.7 km light rail line with 21 station providing rapid, convenient transit service between New Carrollton in Prince George’s County and Bethesda in Montgomery County.
The east-west line will connect with five branches of Metrorail, three MARC commuter rail lines, Amtrak and bus services.
While supporting community revitalisation and transit-oriented development, the Purple Line also will help reduce dependence on private car transport. It is estimated to take 17,000 vehicles off the road daily, twenty years after service begins.
PLTP holds the public-private partnership agreement with MDOT MTA to design, build, finance, and operate the light rail system for 35 years.
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