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Providing the Southern California construction industry the information they need now.

CTC authorizes local design-build projects

In April, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) authorized two regional projects to move forward under California's new Design-Build Program. Express Lane Project (I-10 and I-110) and the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project are the first local design-build projects authorized by CTC under Senate Bill 4, SBX2 4, which was signed in 2009 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

SBX2 4 authorizes use of the design-build method of procurement by regional transportation agencies for up to five projects and by Caltrans for as many as 10 projects, subject to authorization by the CTC. The bill also permits design-build status for certain other types of public projects and allows the use of public-private partnerships for transportation projects.

"The Commission's action is the start of a new era for highway construction in California," said then Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki. "Both projects are excellent designbuild procurement candidates that have the potential for achieving improved delivery efficiency and significant job creation."

The LA Metro/Caltrans Express Lane Project is a joint state/local project slated for implementation by Caltrans on the state highway system utilizing one of the 10 slots allocated to Caltrans. The project will take existing carpool lanes on the 10 and 110 Harbor Transitway and convert them to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or express lanes.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission’s SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project is a $1.3-billion plan to widen State Route 91 through Corona, including the addition of new freeway lanes, toll/ express lanes, expanded freeway-to-freeway connectors and better access to and from congested locations. The project is expected to create 20,000 jobs.

The Caltrans engineers union (Professional Engineers in California Government) is expected to file suit on both awards.

The design-build portion of SBX2 4 will sunset January 1, 2014. For more information, visit www.catc.ca. gov/ programs/DB-P3/DB/DB_Proposed_ Projects.pdf. SBX2 4 authorizes use of the design-build method of procurement.