LA Transit Projects Enter Preconstruction Phase
Project will increase capacity at LA's Union Station.
Preconstruction work is underway on two Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects that will set the stage for a new light rail transit corridor, and expand capacity at the region’s landmark multimodal hub.
Awarded by LA Metro to the joint venture of FlatironDragados and Herzog in April, the Southeast Gateway Line Advanced Works project will relocate heavy freight rail lines and utilities in advance of a planned 14.5-mile, nine-station light rail line to serve southeast Los Angeles County. The initial $10.5-million preconstruction phase of the construction manager/general contractor enabling project is focused on early design coordination and construction planning for what will eventually include 52,000 ft of new mainline track, 26 new at-grade crossings, and temporary track shooflies to maintain railroad operations during construction. A new vehicle access structure for an existing light rail station and overhead pedestrian rail crossing will also be built.
In October 2024, Metro secured a $231-million grant from California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for the Southeast Gateway, coinciding with the start of advance utility relocation. Construction of the enabling project is expected to exceed $500 million, while the overall cost of the Southeast Gateway is currently projected at $7.2 billion, with operations scheduled to begin in 2035.
Separately, FlatironDragados has begun preconstruction for LA Metro’s Link Union Station project, currently being designed by HDR. The project aims to modernize and expand capacity at Southern California’s busiest multimodal transit hub through the addition of run-through tracks and an elevated rail yard that will improve operational flexibility with Amtrak and Metrolink commuter service, and accommodate future high-speed rail. The construction manager/general contractor project’s $7-million preconstruction phase supports current collaboration with Metro on project design and construction planning.
According to a FlatironDragados spokesperson, each project’s two-year preconstruction phase will focus on maintenance of traffic to minimize effects on surrounding communities, extensive utility and third-party stakeholder coordination, and design efficiency through constructability oversight as the design progresses, including structure type selection for planned new bridges. For the Southeast Gateway, the team will also address potential effects on existing tracks with the Union Pacific Railroad.
As each project’s design is finalized, a construction contract will be negotiated with LA Metro, with their combined value estimated at $900 million, according to FlatironDragados. Full construction on both projects is scheduled to begin in 2027.
