Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), the private consortium overseeing development of the 16-mile Maryland Purple Line light rail system, shortlisted three teams.

ENR reports that Bechtel and Clark Construction was among the interested parties bu t they did not make it into the shortlist!

The chosen team will replace the Fluor-led construction group that withdrew from the half-finished project in September amid a long-running dispute over $800 million cost overruns.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released the following:

Purple Line Transit Partners Short-Lists 3 Design-Build Contractor Teams

Riverdale, MD – Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), working in close partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), announced the short-listing of three highly-qualified design-build teams to compete for the contract to finish the Purple Line. Listed in alphabetical order, the teams are:

• Halmar International;

• Maryland Transit Solutions (comprised of Dragados USA Inc. and OHL USA Inc.); and 

• Tutor-Perini/Lunda, a Joint Venture.

Demonstrating strong interest from the transportation construction industry, PLTP last month received statements of qualifications from five design-build teams and short-listed those with the best qualifications to complete the project. In mid March, PLTP will issue a Request for Proposals to the advancing teams, with selection planned in mid June.

“Today we took an important step toward delivering the Purple Line to the Maryland public as soon as possible,”    said Jane Garvey, Chairman of PLTP.  “Collaborating closely with our MDOT and MTA partners, we look forward to rapidly bringing on a new contractor and resuming full-scale construction.”

“PLTP short-listing three qualified firms represents the next step in moving the Purple Line forward,” said MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. “MDOT is committed to successfully delivering this important transit project for the citizens of Maryland, and we appreciate PLTP’s continued partnership to make this a reality.”

The following are key milestones in the procurement process. After reaching terms with the selected contractor, PLTP anticipates a rapid mobilization and full-scale construction to resume as quickly as possible:

Milestone                                             Timing

Issue Request for Qualifications          January 8

Receive Statements of Qualifications February18

Short-List Teams                                 March 3

Issue Request for Proposals              Mid-March

Select Contractor                                June

Reach Financial Close with Contractor September

Purple  Line  Transit  Partners  is headquartered  in  Riverdale  Maryland  and  holds  the  Public-Private Partnership Agreement (P3 Agreement) with MDOT MTA to design, build, finance, and operate the Purple Line Light Rail Project. PLTP is comprised of majority partner Meridiam and Star America. Meridiam is a leading equity investor, developer, asset manager, and long-term partner with $8 billion of assets under management and over eighty P3 projects in U.S., Canada, Europe, and Africa. Star America, a subsidiary of  Tikehau  Capital,  is  a  U.S.-headquartered  developer  and  manager  of  infrastructure  assets  in  North  America with investments in projects that have a total asset value of more than $5 billion as of September 30, 2020.

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