US$57.2M released for San Francisco Central Subway TBMs

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) today announced that the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) Board has voted unanimously to approve US$57.2M in Proposition K funds for the Central Subway Project. The funds will allow the purchase of two 6.4m diameter TBMs for the construction of the project’s 2.7km long twin bore tunnels. The vital allocation puts a large portion of the funding in place for the US$233M Guideway Tunnel contract that the SFMTA Board of Directors approved at its last meeting.

“The SFCTA is pleased to assist the SFMTA in moving this important project forward,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Chair of the SFCTA Board. “The density and vibrancy of the neighborhoods that surround this corridor advocate not only for the construction of the subway itself, but also for the use of tunnel-boring machines that will help mitigate construction impacts.”

“This funding by the SFCTA clearly signals to the federal government that San Francisco’s leadership is committed to completing this project on time and on budget,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “I want to thank our partners at the SFCTA for their continued support of this crucial project.”

The Central Subway is Phase 2 of the Third Street Light Rail Project. When service begins, this 2.7km long extension of the existing T Third Line will connect communities from Visitacion Valley to Chinatown with modern, convenient light rail service.

The project has consistently received positive reviews as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts program. The Central Subway has received $92M in New Starts federal funding to date.

Environmental clearance for the project was granted by the FTA in November 2008, while approval to begin final design was granted January, 2010. The total project cost, with contingency, is expected to be US$1.57bn. The Central Subway is scheduled to open to the public in 2018.

Proposition K is a San Francisco voter-approved initiative which sets aside local sales tax dollars to finance transportation infrastructure improvements. It was approved by voters in 2003, and the Central Subway Project is included in Proposition K’s 30-year Transportation Expenditure Plan under Major Capital Projects.

The SFMTA last month awarded the tunnelling contract for the second phase of the Central Subway, to Barnard Impregilo Healy joint venture, Bozeman, Mont. The partnership’s bid was $233,584,015, the lowest responsive and responsible bid of six total packages submitted. The agency engineer’s estimated cost for the project was $225M.

The other opening bids were submitted by Shea Traylor JV ($257.8M), Frontier-Kemper/Tutor Perini JV ($296.3M), Obayashi Corp./Kenny Construction Co. JV ($274.5M), Judlau + Shimmick JV ($266.8M) and Dragados USA-Flatiron West JV ($234.8M).