High speed rail programme and project delivery

The Green Line Extension (GLX) provides a much-needed direct rail link connecting Downtown Boston to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford. The project includes the construction of 4.7 miles of new light rail tracks, the addition of six new stations, along with the relocation and reconstruction of Lechmere station, three new traction power sub-stations, a new vehicle maintenance facility, and a community path extension for cyclists and pedestrians that follows much of the length of the GLX route.

Arup’s involvement in the project began in October 2015 when we were hired to perform a full-scale evaluation of all aspects of the project—from scope and schedule to programming and procurement. The assessment identified a variety of interventions that could be used to bring the project’s cost back within original projections.

As a key member of IPMT, we provided critical technical re-engineering, estimating and scheduling that aided the client in cutting the cost of the project by roughly $700 million. Subsequently, Arup has served as Design Professional, overseeing design development, testing and commissioning, and safety and security verification processes helping to usher the project to completion.