Last week, Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian announced that the $878 million light rail segment meant to extend the A Line from Pomona to Montclair was delayed due to a contract impasse with Nebraska-based construction and engineering firm Kiewit.

“Kiewit’s final bid was just over $994 million (54% higher than our most conservative cost estimate of $645.6 million),” wrote Lisa Levy Buch, the construction authority’s chief communications and strategic development officer, in an email.

“After close review, the Authority believes Kiewit’s final bid included unreasonably high risk pricing for the contractor and their subs based in part on the sole source bidding and the use of design-build, a delivery method that has become unattractive to contractors due to the risk it transfers to them,” she wrote. “Kiewit’s final bid price was deemed unreasonable according to accepted procurement guidelines and practice.” Buch added general acceptable practice in procurement law is a sole source bid should be within 10-20% of the independent cost estimate.

Construction authority staff is set to return this month with a timeline for delivering the project using a construction manager at risk model, Buch said, adding a request for proposal for design services is planned for a June release.

“The board believes this is the best approach to put available dollars to their best use and prioritize efficient construction,” Bailan wrote in an email.

Next steps include hiring a design firm to design the segment, followed by the hiring of a construction manager Buch said. “Overall, we believe that the new plan delays full project completion to Montclair by about one year (Spring 2031 completion); but again, we will have more details at our meeting in April,” Buch wrote.

“We’ve identified the best path forward in an attempt to deliver this project successfully within the available funding,” Claremont City Council member and Construction Authority Chair Ed Reece wrote in a statement. “Despite challenges, we’re confident in our ability to complete this project with this new plan by adapting our approach and finding the most effective solution.”

Visit foothillgoldline.org for more info.