Supply Side: HDR, L.B. Foster
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
HDR assisted in securing FTA funding for four projects that, together, will add nearly 34 miles of light rail, streetcar and commuter rail lines. Pictured: An early-design station concept for Valley Metro's South Central Light Rail Extension/Downtown Hub Project in Phoenix, Ariz.
HDR advisors have helped three transit agencies secure a total of $1.23 billion for four projects under the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant program; L.B. Foster Co. has hired a new Senior Vice President and CFO.
HDR’s work supported four projects that, together, will add nearly 34 miles of light rail, streetcar and commuter rail lines. The consultancy assisted with the preparation of financial plans and ratings materials as well as coordination work of FTA staff and project management oversight consultants, during the projects’ planning, environmental and design phases.
The projects are:
• Valley Metro South Central Light Rail Extension/Downtown Hub Project (Phoenix, Ariz.), $530 million CIG grant, signed Jan. 6, 2021. The project is extending the light rail system 5.5 miles from downtown Phoenix to the South Mountain Village.
• Kansas City (Mo.) Streetcar Main Street Extension, $174 million grant, signed Jan. 8, 2021. The 3.48-route-mile extension will run south from the existing terminus at Union Station to the University of Missouri – Kansas City. It will include 15 new stop platforms at nine stations.
• Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) Double Track Northwest Indiana Project, $173 million grant, signed Jan. 7, 2021. NICTD is adding a 26.6-mile second track to its South Shore commuter rail line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. The project also includes improvements at five stations with nine new platforms.
• NICTD West Lake Corridor Project, $355 million grant, signed Oct. 28, 2020. NICTD is extending South Shore Line service 7.8 miles from Hammond (on the north) to Dyer (on the south). The work includes four new stations—two in Hammond, one in Munster, and one at the border of Muster and Dyer.
“These projects will improve mobility for residents, spur economic development, create jobs, and connect communities with accessible, safe and equitable transit,” said HDR Global Transit Director Tom Waldron, who added: “We’re looking forward to continuing to work with our clients as their projects move to completion and become available to their customers.”
Pittsburgh, Pa.-based L.B. Foster has appointed William (Bill) M. Thalman Senior Vice President and CFO, effective March. 1. He served most recently at Kennametal, Inc., as Vice President-Advanced Material Solutions since 2016 and as Vice President-Transformation Office since 2019. He also worked for Kennametal Europe.
“[Bill] brings a unique set of skills and ideas from years of experience in leadership positions that include financial, operations and business transformation assignments,” President and CEO Robert P. Bauer said. “His demonstrated success and leadership qualities are an excellent fit, and they come at a time when the company is sharply focused on driving performance improvements and adapting to changing markets.”
L.B. Foster recently restructured, creating two primary business units.
