MBTA Acts on Green Line Extension Contracts

Following a joint meeting of the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB), MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola on Dec. 10, notified several firms working on the Green Line Extension project that the MBTA is acting to end their current contracts.  The FMCB is also planning to restructure the MBTA’s GLX project management team and is taking other actions, which will include appointing a new interim project manager.

The moves follow a meeting yesterday at which the boards met to consider options for the project.  Both boards had been earlier briefed on a Look Back review that identified flaws in the implementation of the construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) project delivery method.  That review also found that unrealistic schedule demands drove decision-making and costs.  The FMCB directed DePaola to notify the MBTA’s CM/GC (White-Skanska-Kiewit), the MBTA’s Project Manager/Construction Manager (HDR/Gilbane), the MBTA’s Independent Cost Estimator (Stanton Constructability Services), and the MBTA’s final designer (Aecom/HNTB) of the decision.  

The decision marks the start of a transitional period, during which no new construction work will be awarded.  During this time, however, much of the construction work that is already under contract and in progress will continue.

As previously disclosed, the GLX project, as currently designed, will significantly exceed previous budget estimates.  The FMCB believes that if the GLX project is to be built, the MBTA must reduce the cost of the remainder of the project by aggressively adjusting its design, accurately determine a budget, determine the best means to procure and deliver the design and construction of the project and ensure sufficient funding by engaging multiple funding sources.

“Today’s actions are necessary steps to resolving the future of the GLX project,” said FMCB Chairman Joseph Aiello. 

“The Look Back report has brought clarity to two important factors in this decision: first, the construction manager/general contractor project delivery method was not successfully implemented; and second, that we need a complete reassessment of the project’s design, scope, and cost,” said DePaola.

The current CM/GC project delivery method has proven to be impracticable to complete a redesigned and affordable GLX project.  The current CM/GC contract and the statute that created this project delivery system combine to render the current process unworkable.  Accordingly, the FMCB needed to recommend the full break from CM/GC and the associated contracts for this project. 

The FMCB has also directed that it must approve all GLX contracts and actions, regardless of value, over the next 90 days, as the MBTA moves forward with cost reduction, accurate budgeting and reprocurement efforts.

The MassDOT board and FMCB will continue their consideration of options for the Green Line extension at a joint meeting scheduled for Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.