Page 54 • October 19, 2016 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE
Preliminary Work Continues as MBTA Revises Plans
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The Cambridge City Council’s Transportation Subcommittee has recommended that the full Council approve a commitment of $25 million in funding to GLX.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is currently preparing a new bidding process to complete the $1.992 billion Green Line Extension (GLX) project in the greater Boston area.
By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is currently preparing a new bidding process to complete the $1.992 billion Green Line Extension (GLX) project in the greater Boston area. Officials, consultants and commuter activists estimated that the project was $1 billion over budget based mainly on the bidding method. Last November consultants stressed that the MBTA did not create proper systems to monitor the contracting process, which led to costs getting out of control. Some of the JV contracts were cancelled in December. MBTA photo In response to the cancellation, the joint The MBTA is allowing the elements already under construction to venture stated in a press release: “[it was] continue, but is not awarding new contracts. disappointed by the board’s decision to cancel the contract for convenience and that we will not be able a report was released on “the strategy and progress/schedule to see this project through to its completion’’ and that “we for hiring and structuring project management in accordance continue to be a collaborative partner with the MBTA and with the program management plan outlined; recommendathe Commonwealth as we focus on finishing the work that is tions for advancing additional low-cost elements of the GLX Project, during the same time that the FTA process and the already in progress for the Green Line extension project.” The MBTA is allowing the elements already under con- management hiring strategy are being pursued; [and] recomstruction to continue, but is not awarding new contracts. In mendations for a schedule of ‘gates’ at which point staff will May, the re-evaluation of the project was completed and a return to these boards for further consideration and direcreport prepared by the GLX Interim Project Management tion.” In addition, the Cambridge City Council’s Transportation Team had been submitted to the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MBTA Fiscal & Management Control Subcommittee has recommended that the full Council approve a commitment of $25 million in funding to GLX. Board. The plan is to extend transit services along the Green Line MassDOT and the city are currently developing an MOU to beyond its current northern terminus at Lechmere Station in codify the agreement. A similar process is ongoing with the Cambridge so that residents in densely populated municipal- city of Somerville. The next steps are to work with FTA to reach agreement on required review process and timeline, ities of Somerville and Medford will be better served. “Bringing MBTA light rail service to this corridor,” stated create a Staff Interim Project Team to meet FTA requirethe MBTA, “will greatly improve local and regional mobili- ments, provide regular updates to the FMCB and MassDOT Board, and communicate progress with project stakeholders ty, address longstanding transportation inequities.” At a June 20 MassDOT Board and FMCB joint meeting, and the general public.
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The plan is to extend transit services along the Green Line beyond its current northern terminus at Lechmere Station in Cambridge.
Jason Johnson, the MBTA’s deputy press secretary, told The Construction Equipment Guide that “the project is under review by FTA at the moment and an update to the board, and the public, will come in the near future.” Commenting on the key principles behind the redesign, Johnson said that “the redesign should reduce the cost of GLX to as close as possible to the original Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) program cost of $1.992 billion and that it should not violate the requirements of the FFGA or reduce the project’s functionality and benefits. The redesigned project should contain only the most streamlined project elements that are still needed for core functionality and benefits.” The GLX was identified as a top priority and will eliminate the need for bus and rail transfers at Lechmere Station and at Orange and Red Line stations and improve travel times within the project corridor; reduce regional daily vehicle miles traveled by 25,728 mi. (41,405 km) which will improve air quality and reduce traffic; will increase daily see MBTA page 58