A closer look
“This is the biggest ask we've had yet,” said Brad Cummings, who oversees procurement and contract management for ATP.
The four-year contract with AECOM, a globally recognized consulting firm, comes after ATP’s lengthy solicitation process over the past couple of years, Cummings explained. He said his team used a multistep evaluation process to assess a large applicant pool, including reviewing qualifications, conducting interviews, evaluating each team’s technical expertise and considering their potential for collaboration.
“[AECOM] will clearly be critical to the successful delivery of the project,” board member John Langmore said.
Several board members emphasized the importance of a collaborative consulting partner.
“I truly care how we collaborate with the community, as they own this program. They’re our shareholders,” ATP board Chair Veronica Castro de Barrera said. “... I'm wholeheartedly in favor of the collaborative approach, in that we all own it together.”
It was noted AECOM has previously partnered on several other large transportation projects, including the $25 billion Crossrail system in London and the $9 billion Purple Line rail project in Maryland.
With board members' unanimous approval, ATP staff expect to move swiftly into the design and construction phase of the light rail project.
“It took a long time to get here, but we go slow to go fast, right?” Castro de Barrera said. “We go methodically and with rigor so that we can advance [into] something that's generational.”
What’s next?
During the same board meeting, two additional contracts received approval, totaling $7.4 million for business information technology and services. These commitments will enable ATP to track project data, report progress, and manage construction and development more effectively, according to ATP documents.
With a delivery partner and associated technology secured, the organization will focus on mapping out a timeline and defining future milestones, Cummings told board members.
Construction for Austin’s 9.8-mile Project Connect light rail system is slated to kick off in 2027, which ATP announced earlier this year.
Trains could be up and running throughout Central Austin by 2033; however, the agency continues to seek federal funding expected to cover half of the project costs.
