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Program Management Team Secured to Lead Construction Planning and Building of High-Speed Train

Posted on: Thursday, 9 November 2006, 00:01 CST

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA/Authority) today approved selection of Parsons Brinkerhoff as the Program Manager to oversee the design and construction of California's fully-electrified, high performance high-speed passenger train system.

Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB), an internationally recognized expert in the high-speed train arena, along with SYSTRA, an international consulting engineering firm and Deutschman Communications Group, overseeing public affairs and communications, rounds out the Program Management team. Specialized subconsultants to the PB team include: Cordoba Corporation, SC Consultants, AllTransitConsultants, Kleinfelder, The Duffey Company, Turner Engineering Corporation, and Paragon Partners Ltd., which bring a combined force of over 11,000 experts to guide construction of the train system.

"The Program Manager Team will effectively manage the contractors to ensure quality, maintenance of the construction schedule and cost control," said Judge Quentin L. Kopp, CHSRA board chair. "We've met our goal of bringing together experts with experience from around the world on high-speed rail, intercity, commuter and transit systems with those who know the origins of California's high-speed train program and California's transportation needs. The PB Team intimately understands the project and possesses a clear vision of project implementation."

The Program Manager will facilitate overall agreements between the lead agencies (CHSRA and FRA) and the state and federal regulatory and resource agencies (EPA, USACE) regarding mitigation measures and monitoring. Because the United States does not have high-speed trains in operation, the Program Manager will work with regulatory bodies to ensure that the project meets the varied demands and complies with present and future statues and regulations.

"Our team is uniquely qualified to manage design and construction of this first-in-the nation high-speed train system and make it a reality for Californians by the year 2020," said Tony Daniels, PB's senior vice president and project director. "PB has been responsible for program management, planning, design and construction oversight for more than $100 billion in construction for infrastructure rail and transit projects throughout the world, and $20 billion transit and rail programs in California alone. We've been working very effectively as a team with the Authority over the past 12 years and we believe we can bring the right management to ensure efficiency and accountability."

Public education and outreach on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of high-speed trains will be the charge of Sacramento-based, Deutschman Communications Group. Educating elected officials, stakeholders and the general public is vital to continued funding and project progress at this critical juncture.

"Our research and experience show that once people understand high-speed trains are the most ecologically, safe, and price competitive transportation option for California's growing population, they come on board," said Kris Deutschman, CEO of Deutschman Communications Group and a part of the Program Manager Team. "California's high-speed train system will achieve two significant transportation goals -- provide short-term opportunities for regional and local transportation improvements as well as a long-term solution for how best to keep our goods, people and economy moving throughout future decades."

The Program Manager will also assist the Authority in adopting a contracting strategy for the construction and ultimate operation of the high-speed train service. PB will be responsible for developing the construction phasing and contract packaging so the project will be built in the shortest possible time consistent with available resources and that benefits to the public can be realized as soon as possible.

The Authority board also recently announced the selection of Newlands & Company Inc. (NC3D) to produce a visual simulation for the high-speed train system. NC3D specializes in photo simulation, 3D modeling, video production and interactive 3D environments for transportation projects. It uses leading-edge technology to achieve realistic representations of major urban design projects often merging 3D graphics with photography.

"This simulation will be used in many different uses, but primarily to help with planning, engineering and educating the public about the high-speed train system and how it will be integrated into cities along the route," added Kopp.

Source: Business Wire

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