Skanska-Rados Joint Venture Readies for Light Rail Project
March 18, 2011
There's exciting news this afternoon from the Expo Line Construction Authority. Construction of
Expo Phase 2 from Culver City to Santa Monica can now proceed, following the approval of a funding
agreement and the awarding of a design-build contract. Please see the press release below from the
Construction Authority for the full details.
Board of Directors Approves Funding Agreement and Design-Build Contract 
Moving forward to connect the Westside to the county's existing rail network, the Expo Construction
Authority Board of Directors approved two major milestones today. The Funding Agreement and Design-Build
contract approved by the Board clear the way for design and construction to begin on Phase 2 of the project,
which extends the nearly complete light-rail line between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City to its terminus
in Santa Monica.
The $1.5 billion Phase 2 Funding Agreement between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (LACMTA) and the Exposition Construction Authority (Expo Authority) provides the guidelines
by which Metro will fund the project through Measure R half-cent sales tax revenue as well as state and
local funds. The $541.7 million design-build contract was awarded to Skanska/Rados to design and build
Phase 2 of the Expo Line. The Board of Directors approved incorporation of a Project Labor Agreement into
the contract, which includes local hiring provisions and will help ensure that the project will be delivered
on time and on budget. With this contract in place, the Expo Authority will kick off the design-build process
with a series of community meetings along the project corridor in early May.
The Board also gave direction to carry forward previously cleared design options for a grade
separation and aerial station at Expo/Sepulveda and the no parking option at the Expo/Westwood
station. The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion today which commits to funding the estimated
$5.3 million cost differential to add the Sepulveda grade separation and aerial station to the project.
The Expo Line will bring more transportation options to Westside communities traditionally underserved
by public transit and who experience some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. Phase 1 of the
Expo Line, between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City, is 88% complete and expected to partially open
later this year. Pre-construction work and utility relocation on Phase 2 is expected to begin later this
year, with service to Santa Monica scheduled to start in 2015.
--Carter Rubin
Sources:
The Source
Small Business Exchange
