Granite embarks on $24M Southern California rail project

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Granite Building is on observe to construct out a key element of Southern California’s Metrolink regional commuter rail system with an improve at an end-of-the-line station. 

Watsonville, California-based Granite gained a $24 million contract to rework the Perris South Metrolink Station and Layover Facility challenge, based on a Dec. 9 information launch. 

The challenge’s objective is to enhance service reliability and tackle rising commuter demand on the terminus of Metrolink’s State Route 91/Perris Valley Line in Riverside County east of Los Angeles. Mission funding comes from a mix of native and state sources, together with California’s Measure A gross sales tax and a $25 million state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant.

Initially opened in 2016, the 24-mile line connects Perris to Downtown Riverside and from there, to jobs in Los Angeles. It was constructed to alleviate site visitors on Interstate 215 and enhance transit choices for Southwestern Riverside County residents, who’ve a few of the longest commutes in Southern California, based on the Riverside County Transportation Fee.

Ridership on the line surged by 22% year-over-year to a mean of two,098 weekday riders in 2024, based on a Metrolink truth sheet, placing it among the many 5 quickest rising routes within the 547-mile system.     

The Perris South station presently runs as a single-track terminus, which limits prepare motion and creates service bottlenecks. Granite’s scope is to transform the tip level right into a high-capacity, versatile hub to help bidirectional peak service. 

Key facets embrace:

• A second passenger boarding platform and greater than 1,100 toes of recent observe to permit two trains to load and unload concurrently whereas sustaining operations when a single prepare is out of service.  
• Lengthening the prevailing platform to accommodate eight-car Metrolink trains and upgraded canopies, digital shows and emergency telephones.
• A brand new at-grade crossing with energetic warning gates and flashing lights for protected pedestrian entry to the second platform.
• A further fourth layover observe and new switching infrastructure, permitting extra trains to be saved in a single day and enhancing operational flexibility.

The challenge helps Granite, an organization with a core give attention to roadbuilding, broaden its attain within the rail finish market, in addition to initiatives within the Inland Empire area, based on the discharge. The corporate opened a new office in Ontario, California, final 12 months and lately accomplished Metrolink’s Moreno Valley/March Field station growth 13 miles away, a challenge it was awarded in 2022 for $22 million. 

“This challenge builds on our profitable partnership with RCTC and Metrolink and leverages Granite’s core strengths in heavy civil building and rail,” Invoice Moore, Granite’s vp of regional operations, mentioned within the launch. 

Building on the Perris South challenge is anticipated to start early subsequent 12 months, with completion slated for 2028