Los Angeles Blue Line Stays on Schedule for 2003 Debut

 By Victoria Newman and John Ryan

The Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authority gave final approval last month to the second of two contracts to design and build a light rail project in Los Angeles County. The second contract, worth $262 million, went to a joint venture between Kiewit Pacific Co. and Washington Group International Inc. in September, but the joint venture could not fully proceed until Jan. 28 this year.

 

The Kiewit Pacific/Washington Group joint venture will design and build the 13.7 mile segment of the Metro Blue Line, which will serve the communities of Los Angeles, Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena.

 

The joint venture of Modern Continental Construction/HNTB Design/Build Inc. won the first contract, worth $22 million, in April.

 

The Modern Continental/HNTB joint venture will design and build a 1-mile extension to the Metro Blue Line, which will run between Los Angeles' Union Station and Chinatown.

 

When both sections of the Metro Blue Line are complete, the construction authority estimates they will serve up to 38,000 passengers on opening day in July 2003 and an average of 68,000 daily passengers by 2015.

 

Los Angeles' Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliot represented the construction authority in both deals. Partners Nancy Smith and Brian Papernik headed the Nossaman Guthner team. From the firm's headquarters, they were assisted by partners Sandra Kanter, Corey Boock, Linda Cunningham, Frederic Kessler, Karla MacCary and Raymond Staton and associate Sharon Wagner. Irvine partner George Joseph also lent a hand.

 

Los Angeles' Richards Watson & Gershon, the construction authority's general counsel, also participated in the transactions. Partners Steven Dorsey, Michael Estrada and John Harris guided associate Maribel Medina.

 

Los Angeles' Robinson & Pearman was a subconsultant to Nossaman Guthner. Partners Carl Robinson and Robert Pearman assisted with contracts and joint development issues.

 

Partner Amy Freilich of Los Angeles' Brand Farrar worked with Nossaman Guthner on joint development issues.

 

Brad Turner and Scott Peters, in-house attorneys for the construction authority's project manager, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, also worked on the deal.

 

J. Samuel Gilmore, in-house counsel for Omaha, Neb.'s Kiewit Pacific, and Keven Holderness, in-house counsel for Washington Group International of Boise, Idaho, were assisted by outside counsel M. Patrick Duffy III of Los Angeles' Monteleone & McCrory.

 

Tarzana contractor Modern Continental/HNTB relied on San Francisco-based Thelen Reid & Priest for representation. Partner Timothy Pierce of the Los Angeles office handled the details.