A joint venture of three construction firms was recommended on Monday to receive a $1.6 billion contract to build the first phase of the Metro Purple Line subway extension toward the Westside.
The staff of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recommended that the joint venture of Skanska, Traylor Bros. and J.F. Shea — or STS — be awarded the contract to build the 3.9-mile project.
The extension will take the line from its terminus at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue to Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards.
The Metro Board of Directors is expected to consider the recommendation at its July 24 meeting. The board’s construction committee will review the proposal at its meeting July 17.
Metro officials noted that the STS bid was the highest in terms of dollars, but the joint venture’s project management and technical approach scored higher than two other bidders.
Metro noted that the three firms in the venture have more than 300 years of combined experience, including work on the Metro Gold Line Eastside project, the Metro Expo Line extension to Santa Monica and the Regional Connector in downtown Los Angeles.
The proposed contract calls for the extension to be completed in October 2024, although the bidders have proposed an early completion schedule that would save 300 days, according to Metro.
According to Metro, the 3.9-mile extension would include underground stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega.
The Purple Line, which begins at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, is ultimately planned to reach just beyond Westwood.
