ATP
Kiewit Austin Partnership (KAP), a joint venture of global infrastructure construction firm Kiewit Building Group Inc. (Kiewit) and local firm Austin Commercial, has been selected as the design-build contractor for the Austin Light Rail system’s Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF), ATP reported April 15.
KAP will lead the design and construction of the OMF, where light rail vehicles will be stored, serviced and dispatched. The facility will also serve as a workplace for operators, maintenance crews and support staff.
The selected team includes approximately 10 subcontractors for the design phase of work (roughly half in the Austin region) and will provide many more opportunities for local businesses to participate in construction. The OMF project is expected to support thousands of jobs during design and construction, including roles for architects, engineers, skilled construction trades, and suppliers, according to ATP, which noted that once operational, the facility will also create hundreds of jobs in operations and maintenance.
The ATP Board’s approval of the KAP team enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities, including advancing design, initiating permitting and preparing the site for future construction. KAP will co-locate in the ATP office.
This is the second major contract award in as many months for Austin Light Rail, which is slated to feature 15 stations along a nearly 10-mile alignment with trains running every 5-10 minutes throughout most of the day. ATP in February selected Austin Rail Constructors as the light rail system’s construction contractor.
“This is another major step forward, and we now have the full construction team that will deliver Austin’s light rail system,” ATP CEO Greg Canally said. “The OMF is integral to the success of the system—it’s where trains are maintained, cleaned and prepared for service each day. By bringing together a world-class construction partner with deep local experience, we are setting this project up for long-term success while creating jobs and economic opportunity across Central Texas.”
“Kiewit brings extensive experience delivering complex transit infrastructure and design-build projects across North America,” said Mike Johnson, Executive Vice President of Kiewit Building Group Inc. “We’re proud to support this important investment in Austin’s mobility and deliver a high-quality project that will serve the community for years to come.”
“Austin Commercial is pleased to serve the City of Austin and ATP as part of the Kiewit Austin Partnership,” added Jack Archer, Austin Commercial Senior Vice President for Central Texas. “Having lived and worked in Austin for more than 40 years, we’re committed to delivering a project that serves this community with excellence.”
“ATP continues to deliver this major investment with an eye on how we can learn from and improve on other mega projects,” ATP Board Chair Veronica Castro de Barrera said. “As with the previous solicitation, ATP involved the industry early to encourage competition and structured the process to foster partnerships between national firms and local businesses. Looking ahead, awarding the light rail vehicle contract will be another key step and we remain laser focused on delivering a system that serves Austin for generations.”
Separately, ATP in January reported that the Federal Transit Administration issued a Record of Decision for Austin Light Rail’s Final Environmental Impact Statement. This federal action officially affirmed compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); signified that the federal government has formally accepted the project’s environmental analysis, community engagement, and technical planning to date, “demonstrating project readiness, strong federal partnership, and continued progress toward federal funding”; and allowed ATP to continue in the federal funding process, as well as progress with more detailed project work, such as advanced design and early construction activity for utilities.
CTDOT
CTDOT on April 14 conducted a hybrid public information meeting concerning improving the platforms at New Haven Union Station, an approximately $402 million project that is expected to be undertaken with federal and state funds (see presentation above).
The phased project will replace the existing high-level platforms and construct a new canopy structure for passengers. It includes supporting rail, power, and station utility improvements needed to complete the work, as well as supplementary improvements to the pedestrian tunnel, stairs, and elevators, according to CTDOT, which noted that right-of-way impacts are not expected.
Construction is anticipated to begin spring 2029 based on the availability of funding and approval of permit(s), CTDOT said.
“The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the existing platforms and construct a new canopy which will increase the overall longevity of the station’s service to passengers and provide shelter during various weather conditions,” CTDOT Project Manager Jonathan Kang said.
The canopy’s design “was inspired by the Station in Vienna, Austria,” according to the CT Insider, which noted that “a ‘refreshed’ tunnel between the main Union Station and the platforms” is also part of the project and has been “designed to open up that space compared to what’s there now.”
Project plans are 30% complete, the media outlet reported, and “could change” before construction begins, CTDOT engineers and planners said during the public meeting.
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