Maryland's horrifically-behind-schedule-and-overbudget Purple Line light rail project may be getting some adult supervision. Egis, a global engineering and consulting firm, has been selected to serve as the Independent Engineer for the project. In this role, Egis will act as an impartial reviewer, ensuring the project meets standards of quality and safety. The firm will provide independent assessments for both the Concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, and the owner, the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration.
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| Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station platform under construction |
The 16-mile Purple Line will connect Prince George's and Montgomery counties. "We are thrilled to contribute to this vital infrastructure project, which will transform the daily commutes of thousands of riders," Yann Jaouan, Chief Commercial Officer, Egis in the U.S. said in a statement this morning. "This appointment underscores the trust placed in Egis by the Maryland DOT, MTA, and Purple Line Transit Partners."
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| Stairs leading up to rider platform at Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station |
Egis' responsibilities will encompass a range of tasks, including:
- Reviewing technical submissions and drawings
- Conducting on-site inspections
- Supporting the commissioning of the Purple Line LRT
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| Purple Line station rider platform |
A dedicated team of LRT and P3 experts from the U.S., Canada, and Europe will execute the 4-year contract, the cost of which was not announced. Egis has an extensive history of involvement in complex rail projects across the United States, including some that have faced setbacks and troubles like the Purple Line. The firm's experience includes:
- Asset condition assessment of rolling stock for Amtrak
- Implementation of a fully automatic train control system on two New York City subway lines
- Current support for the delivery of the California High-Speed Rail program
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| View from Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station rider platform |
The appointment of Egis as Independent Engineer for the Purple Line marks a significant development, as costs continue to spiral out of control, and the launch of the rail line keeps being pushed further into the future. It has become the state-level version of Montgomery County's infamous Silver Spring Transit Center on steroids.
11 comments:
16 miles of this isn't gonna end well.
Mmmm. . . boondoggle
"[T]his vital infrastructure project, which will transform the daily commutes of thousands of riders". You got that right, although I predict not in the positive light the speaker wants folks to envision it.
Yes, Hogan bears much responsibility for this (delaying the project to value engineer it, cancelling the initial contract and signing a new one that costs billions more, etc), but privatizing the project in the first place was obviously a mistake.
*sigh* Years behind and billions over ... on par with most if not all large infrastructure and transportation projects (think ICC and Robert's note of the SS gateway).
I remember getting a ton of push back when challenging the original estimates as completely unrealistic. The powers that be never seem to listen to us ...
Original: $2 billion, 5 years
Current: $10 billion, 10 years
So it’s now costing more money because they don’t work for free. A four year contract brings it into 2029. What a joke.
Is this commissioning agent part of the original plan, as many developments include such oversight, or is this a new element to the project?
Hogan demanded the private general contractor be added between the Maryland Department of Transportation and the other contractors. The general contractor collapsed in 2020 and that is the reason for the multi-year delay in the project. That is on Hogan alone.
It’s an utter MESS. One wonders if the contractors even know well in advance if different parts of the route are DEDICATED apart from traffic or SHARED with traffic ????
If they don’t know and are forced to guess, then we are all in trouble !!
I will not at all be surprised if the ending cost is 12 to14 Billion. It will be the most expensive Light Rail EVER built in the World !!
I predict it goes over 12 Billion when all is said and done.
I still treasure my Build Communities NOT Canyons bumper sticker from the Elm Street Park protest rally against that project...
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