Foothill Transit Constructors, a Kiewit-Parsons joint venture, is nearing completion of the $265-million Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia, Calif., built as part of the 11.5-mile Foothill Gold Line light rail transit (LRT) project from Pasadena to Azusa.
The Gold Line Operations Campus, which will be delivered in late May, three months ahead of schedule, is part of a Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority contract in which the Kiewit-Parsons team designed and built the 11.5 miles of double mainline track, six light rail stations, 10 traction power substations, communications systems, and an LRT train control/signals system, as well as a freight signals system for a new freight track on the eastern 3.8 miles of the project. The extension will be substantially complete in September 2015.
“We are pleased to once again complete an outstanding project for the Foothill Gold Line Authority,” said Todd Wager, Parsons Group President. “The Gold Line Operations Campus is one of the only facilities of its kind designed and built to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEEF) Gold standards.”
The 24-acre campus will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, housing up to 84 light rail vehicles and nearly 200 employees. It will contain offices and training facilities for operations and maintenance staff, as well as accommodations for light rail service vehicle inspection and maintenance services. The main shop building was designed to achieve 35% more water efficiency and 32.5% more optimized energy performance than a typical building of its kind, Kiewit-Parsons said.
“The Foothill Gold Line is a tremendous asset for the community, providing residents with a great alternative to congested freeways,” said Matt Scott, Kiewit Vice President and District Manager. “It’s been an honor to work with the Authority on such an important project.”
Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian added, “The Operations Campus provided us a unique challenge to reduce water and energy usage, without significantly impacting the project schedule and budget. With Parsons’ support and guidance, this facility is now a model for others around the country and the nation.”