Greenbuild to showcase an infrastructure project for the first time

Next week’s Greenbuild Conference & Expo in Los Angeles will include its first-ever program specifically for an infrastructure project, the Expo Light Rail Phase 2, which completes the public transit connection between L.A. and Santa Monica, Calif.

The 6.6-mile project is an extension of the existing 80-station Metro Rail system across L.A. County. The extension adds seven at-grade stations between Culver City and Santa Monica.

Phase 2 has been designed to minimize their environmental impact. This is the first transit project—and, at more than $700 million, the largest project at contract value—to achieve Envision Platinum certification from the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure.

Administered by ISI, Envision consists of a broad range of criteria that address a project’s impact on the surrounding community and environment, technical considerations regarding materials and processes, and other critical choices spanning the project’s lifecycle.

A joint venture between Skanska and Steve P. Rados Construction started this project in 2012. The extension opened on May 20, 2016. The rail line now connects the city of Los Angeles to its beaches in approximately 46 minutes. The system also integrates with other means of transit, such as buses and nearly five miles of parallel bike paths.

Skanska USA Civil has committed that, by 2020, all of its projects will seek Envision certification.

Greenbuild attendees will be able to tour the project at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 3.

The total cost of Expo Light Rail Phase 2 was $1.6 billion, funded in large part by Measure R, passed in 2008, a 30-year, half-cent sales tax increase that kickstarted a public transit construction boom. When the Metro’s Regional Connector subway is completed, around 2021, Expo will link East Los Angeles to downtown Santa Monica.