Parsons News - May 2009

PASADENA, CA (May 4, 2009) – Parsons is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $1.46 billion+ facility provider contract by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) for its light rail expansion project in Houston, Texas.

Under this contract, Parsons will be responsible for designing, building, operating, and maintaining the expanded light rail system, which will include four new corridors totaling approximately 20 miles of light rail transit, 32 stations, storage and inspection facilities, and a major renovation to the existing operations center. The project also includes 103 light rail vehicles that are 100% low-floor, the first 100% low-floor vehicles to be purchased for the U.S. market.

“We are very pleased and excited to be working with METRO and our partners on this important project, which will serve as an efficient, dependable, and safe mode of transportation for the entire Houston community,” said Jim Shappell, Parsons Group President. “Our expertise in the area of urban transit is an excellent example of the fully integrated portfolio of services that we are able to deliver to our customers.”

The design-build portion of the project will be completed by the Parsons-led joint venture of Houston Rapid Transit (HRT), which includes Granite Construction Company, Kiewit Texas Construction L.P., and Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. The light rail vehicles will be manufactured by Houston LRV 100 LLC, an entity owned by CAF USA, Inc. and Parsons.

The initial phase of the project is estimated to cost $632 million and includes utility work, 6.4 miles of light rail, a light rail overpass, a service and inspection facility, and the purchase of 29 light rail vehicles. A significant portion of the initial design-build work is expected to be subcontracted to local small and disadvantaged business enterprises. Approximately 25,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the initial phase. An extensive construction skills training program will be offered to assist local residents in qualifying for these jobs.

At the completion of construction, Parsons will remain during the operations and maintenance phase of the project for a period of five years. For more information about the project, please visit the METRO website at www.ridemetro.org.

Parsons, celebrating 65 years of setting industry standards, is a leader in many diversified markets such as transportation, water, life sciences, environmental, construction, infrastructure, planning, commercial, industrial manufacturing, communications, healthcare, education and public buildings, critical facilities, nuclear and special materials, and homeland security. Parsons provides technical and management solutions to private industrial customers worldwide, as well as federal, regional, and local government agencies. For more about Parsons, please visit www.parsons.com.