USA Metro | Fluor-led JV begins construction on $5.6bn Purple Line project

USA: A Fluor-led joint venture (JV) team has started construction of the $5.6bn Purple Line Light Rail project in Maryland, US.

The Purple Line Transit Partners JV team consists of Fluor, Meridiam Infrastructure Purple Line and Star America Purple Line.

The construction project is being carried out on behalf of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), and began with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Fluor infrastructure business line president Hans Dekker said: “Fluor is honoured to break ground today on the second transit public-private partnership project in the US.

“We bring robust megaproject experience and industry-leading abilities to successfully design, build, finance and manage complex projects.”

The US Federal Transit Administration is granting $900m from its capital investment grant programme to facilitate the construction of the project.

The 16-mile line is situated within the Washington Metropolitan Region and will serve a total of 21 stations, extending from Bethesda to New Carrollton in Maryland.

It is expected to improve commuter access to major economic and job centres in the area, as well as connect multiple existing transit providers.

Commercial operations on the line are currently scheduled to begin in early 2022.

Fluor will serve as the managing partner of the design-build team, Purple Line Transit Constructors, which also includes The Lane Construction and Traylor Bros besides Fluor Enterprises.

A team consisting of Fluor Enterprises, Alternate Concepts and CAF USA known as Purple Line Transit Operators is expected to provide operations and maintenance services for a 30-year period following the line"s completion.