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In a suburb of the greater Los Angeles area, the Van Nuys Station accommodates about 40 trains on any given weekday. However, the station’s lone permanent side platform meant that only one train could safely pass through the station at a time. As a result, any train running behind schedule would result in a complicated domino effect of delays along the route, inconveniencing railroad staff and passengers alike. Regional transportation authority, LA Metro, collaborated with local commuter railway, Metrolink, to propose the construction of a new center platform that would be able to serve both main tracks simultaneously, while also providing safer pedestrian access.

RailPros was able to craft innovative design solutions that accommodated numerous difficult project constraints. The design team developed a construction phasing plan and unique track alignment that kept at least one track in operation at all times, minimizing passenger service outages. Additional innovations simplified impacts to the surrounding structures and utilities.

RailPros’ innovations not only succeeded in enabling construction to run on schedule, but also saved $20 million in costs, keeping the project well under budget.

This platform project features a first-of-its-kind, for the Metrolink system, center platform, which will improve operational flexibility, reduce travel times, and maintain safe, fully grade-separated pedestrian and baggage cart access to the platform. RailPros is assisting with the development of construction phasing on a busy, active railroad corridor by providing innovative design solutions, railroad signal design and communications, fiber optic relocation design, structural retrofit, civil design, ticket vending machines and notifications systems, project management and coordination, and quality assurance and control. The final design for PS&E concluded three months earlier than the client’s original schedule.

WHAT THE CLIENT HAD TO SAY

“I would contract again with RailPros. The expertise and experience of the RailPros team has served Metro very well. RailPros’ experience and expertise in coming up with innovative engineering solutions saved Metro millions of dollars in potential construction costs. The RailPros team is very professional and pays great detail to providing high quality deliverables to Metro.”

AYOKUNLE OGUNRINDE, SENIOR MANAGER, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING – REGIONAL RAIL

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITIAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LA METRO)