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    1. Rail

    Atkins Tapped by FTA for Nationwide Project Oversight

    Jan. 23, 2015
    The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected Atkins for a second 5-year, $13 million contract to provide project management oversight of federally funded mass transit projects nationwide.
    Related To: Atkins North America, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group

    The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected Atkins for a second 5-year, $13 million contract to provide project management oversight of federally funded mass transit projects nationwide. Atkins helps evaluate state or local public agency (grantee) technical capacity and capability to successfully plan and implement federal investments in major transit projects.

    “Atkins’ business is built by developing strong, long-standing relationships with clients and the communities we serve,” said L. Joe Boyer, chief executive officer, Atkins, North America. “This reselection allows us to continue assisting FTA as they help local and state transit providers fund new transit systems or improve the operation of existing systems.”

    Since 2009, Atkins has served as FTA’s project management oversight consultant on assignments that include:

    • Portland Streetcar Loop, Oregon. Atkins provided project management oversight for this $125 million project, which included approximately 3.3 miles of new alignment and 28 new streetcar stops to extend the existing streetcar system into Portland’s eastside.
    • Tucson Modern Streetcar, Arizona. Atkins performed project management oversight for the $196 million, 3.9-mile-long initial streetcar line that will connect the University of Arizona and many of the city’s major centers.
    • Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley 10-Mile Berryessa Extension, California. Atkins was recently appointed to oversee the $2.2 billion first phase of a planned 16-mile extension of the BART regional heavy rail system, linking San Jose to the soon-to-be-completed Warm Springs station in Fremont.

    Atkins’ services include monitoring FTA projects to determine whether they are progressing on time, within budget, and according to approved grantee plans and specifications. Other activities include tracking constructability reviews, planning and implementing risk assessment and/or risk mitigation, performing change order reviews, and providing value engineering services. Atkins also offers workshops to help grantees prepare FTA documents to satisfy grant requirements.

    Jon McDonald, PE, Atkins’ transit and rail sector manager, said, “Atkins is honored to continue serving FTA and supporting the project management oversight program’s long and successful history of safeguarding the integrity of FTA’s capital grant programs.”

    FTA is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). FTA administers grants and loans to help state and local public agencies finance the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and capital improvement of transit facilities. The agency has substantial oversight responsibilities to ensure capital projects are delivered under the terms of the grant or loan agreement and meet all federal requirements.