42.7 million passengers, averaging 143,000 riders a week
US$54 billion Sound Transit 3 plan approved by voters in 2016
Key advisor on Capital Delivery Plan
Challenges
- Sound Transit needed help to evaluate the appropriateness of using the public-private partnership (P3) model to deliver new transit services.
- Sound Transit is mandated to extend existing lines across its comprehensive range of transit services, including local bus, light rail transit, and regional train.
- The first step was to establish a framework for evaluating and potentially implementing a P3 for selected Sound Transit capital projects.
- Following this, determine how to oversee and assist in executing selected P3 projects to accelerate project delivery, reduce capital costs, minimize life-cycle costs, transfer risk, and optimize project outcomes.
Solutions
- Advise Sound Transit's senior leadership about the legal, technical, service, and financial considerations of extending existing light rail lines using various P3 delivery models.
- Analyze and develop the conditions, incentives, and delivery models under which an extension would work and outline a phasing plan to maximize the success of the transition.
- Assist Sound Transit staff in defining transit delivery objectives and structuring procurement documents so that future rail RFPs measure and quantify risk and deliver infrastructure to expectations.
- Identify the value of maintenance and operating components in P3 contracts independent of the building and finance components to refine the future pipeline of projects to pursue.
Highlights
- Insights into optimal project and transaction governance
- Understanding the legal and regulatory environment for P3 transactions
- Value-for-money modelling and implications
- Integrated land use and transportation planning
- Balancing the needs of private and public stakeholders across the project region
- Comprehensive business case analysis to evaluate strategic, financial, and deliverability considerations
- Advise Sound Transit staff on private market engagement and ongoing relationship management
Project numbers
- Sound Transit services carried a total of 42.7 million passengers in 2016
- An average of 143,000 riders on weekdays in 2016
- The new network would include 62 miles (100 km) of additional light rail
- 37 new stations
- The entire, 116-mile (187 km) light-rail system would carry an estimated 600,000 daily passengers