Balfour Beatty Lands VTA Catenary Project

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has awarded Balfour Beatty a $16 million contract for its Overhead Contact System (OCS) Rehabilitation Phase 3 project. Balfour Beatty recently completed Phase 2 of this project.

Part of VTA’s Rail Rehabilitation and Replacement Program, the project’s third phase will renew, replace and/or modify light rail segments along the Guadalupe Light Rail Corridor and construct safety improvements in the maintenance facility on the Guadalupe Yard. Balfour Beatty will provide general contracting services to deliver the project, which will include replacing 38 miles of deteriorating main line and crossover contact wire, section insulators, crossing pans, frogs, under-bridge supports and other various OCS components. Construction is expected to get under way in May 2023 with an expected completion in August 2023. At its peak, the job will employ 35 to 40 Balfour Beatty staff and craftspeople.

“We are thrilled to continue our work with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in the delivery of vital rehabilitation services for its Guadalupe Corridor Light Rail track,” said Balfour Beatty Senior Vice President and Managing Director of U.S. Rail operations Mark Konchar. “Our team of highly skilled and innovative rail experts will work to provide safe, reliable, sustainable and technology-driven solutions that will further transform VTA’s OCS infrastructure and its services for passengers across Santa Clara County. We remain committed to meeting our client’s ongoing transportation goals through another successful rehabilitation project that will promote increased vitality within the region.”

The VTA has been Balfour Beatty client for nearly 10 years. “The project team has successfully completed construction contracts in OCS rehabilitation services on Guadalupe rail line between Curtner and Santa Teresa, and recently delivered VTA’s OCS Rehabilitation Phase 2 project in early 2021,” the company noted. “Additionally, the team has provided traction power substation (TPSS) services and upgrades to the VTA’s rail line to Levi Stadium where they engaged Balfour Beatty’s Traction Power Group (TPG) throughout the delivery.”