The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has selected FlatironDragados as the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) for two pivotal preconstruction packages across the region’s transit network.
The CM/GC approach brings the contractor into the process early (what is known as early contractor involvement), allowing collaboration with the client and designers to optimize cost, schedule, and constructability before major construction begins.
The contracts cover the Southeast Gateway Line, a new 14.5-mile light rail line that will extend from Artesia to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, and Link Union Station, a transformative project that will modernize LA’s historic Union Station by creating through-running tracks to significantly improve regional rail capacity and efficiency.
Together, the projects are valued at approximately $900 million, underscoring Metro’s commitment to delivering future-ready transit solutions across the region.
Southeast Gateway Line and Link Union Station – Details
As part of Metro’s efforts to expand and modernize Los Angeles’ transit system, FlatironDragados will provide Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) services on two transformative projects. Both contracts, together worth approximately $900 million, focus on delivering critical new infrastructure that will improve regional connectivity and mobility.
Southeast Gateway Line
The Southeast Gateway Line is a 14.5-mile light rail corridor extending from Artesia to downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station, connecting key communities across southeast LA County and providing a long-awaited high-capacity transit option for one of the region’s most densely populated areas.
Metro awarded a $10.5 million preconstruction contract to FlatironDragados-Herzog JV, supporting early design coordination and construction planning that is currently underway. The construction phase —expected to exceed $500 million—will include utility relocations, rail installation, one new light rail bridge, a new freight bridge, a pedestrian bridge over the freeway, and a new Metro station at the I-105 freeway.
The early contractor involvement under the CM/GC approach allows FlatironDragados to collaborate closely with Metro and project designers, optimizing constructability, cost, and schedule before major construction begins.
Link Union Station (Link US)
Link Union Station (Link US) will transform Los Angeles’ primary rail hub into a through-running station by constructing an elevated run-through track structure across US-101, allowing trains to bypass the historic stub-end layout.
FlatironDragados was selected for the preconstruction services phase, with a $7 million contract supporting close collaboration with Metro on design and construction planning. This early phase fosters innovation, enables proactive problem-solving, and provides greater budget and schedule certainty.
The full project will deliver elevated run-through tracks, increasing Union Station’s capacity by up to 200%, improving regional transit connectivity, accommodating Amtrak and Metrolink operations, and preparing the corridor for future high-speed rail service. Through early contractor involvement, FlatironDragados will help optimize constructability and scheduling prior to the main construction phase.
FlatironDragados Leadership Comments
“Delivering complex rail infrastructure in one of the country’s busiest urban areas takes ongoing collaboration, technical expertise and a shared commitment to the communities we serve,” said Dale Nelson, FlatironDragados Executive Vice President. “We look forward to working alongside Metro during the design phase – to optimize the project design and phasing to minimize risk – with the ultimate goal of reaching a negotiated construction contract.”
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