Purple Line Transit Partners Announces Timeline for New Contractor

By Adam Pagnucco.

Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), the consortium partnering with the state to build the Purple Line, has announced a timeline for selecting a new design-build contractor to complete the project. The previous contractor left the project in November. PLTP’s press release is reprinted below.

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For Immediate Release
January 8, 2021

Contact: John Undeland
Purple Line Transit Partners

Purple Line Transit Partners Takes First Step in Procuring a New Design-Build Contractor

Riverdale, MD – In collaboration with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) today took the first step in engaging a new design-build contractor to complete the project. PLTP shared a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) with a host of highly qualified contractors that had previously expressed interest in being considered for the work.

As per the settlement agreement approved by the Board of Public Works on December 16, PLTP is responsible for procuring the replacement contractor. During the weeks since the terms of the settlement were agreed to, PLTP and MTA have been working closely to prepare the RFQ.

“Today marks the start of a sprint to bring on a new contractor, enabling us to swiftly resume full-scale construction and deliver the Purple Line to the people of Maryland as soon as possible,” said Jane Garvey, Chairman of PLTP. “We again thank Governor Hogan, Secretary Slater, Administrator Quinn and our MTA Purple Line counterparts for helping us get to this milestone and for their participation in the rapid-paced process going forward.”

“A great deal of progress has been made on the Purple Line since the Board of Public Works approved the settlement agreement three weeks ago,” said MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. “We have an in-depth construction plan in place during this interim period, and today’s solicitation for qualified, experienced design-build firms represents another positive step in advancing this important project to completion. Every step and investment that we make during this interim period is designed to create value on the rebid.”

The following are the 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:

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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