Reimagining Project Delivery: Valley Metro’s Innovative Approach to Light Rail Expansion

Chief Executive Officer
Valley Metro,
Phoenix, AZ

As capital projects grow more complex and costly, Valley Metro is taking a bold step toward rethinking how public transit agencies determine project delivery methods. This fall, the agency will host a first-of-its-kind technical workshop that brings together subject matter experts (SMEs) from transit agencies, transportation departments, design firms, and construction contractors from across the country. The objective: to collaboratively evaluate the most effective approach for delivering the agency’s largest light rail expansion since our starter line in 2008.

The workshop, set for November, centers around the 10-mile, I-10 West Extension—a critical corridor that will connect downtown Phoenix to the rapidly growing West Valley. We are determined to deliver the best possible project and highest quality service to the community while controlling the cost to our taxpayers.

Rather than selecting a delivery method through a traditional analysis followed by scope development and procurement, Valley Metro is turning the process on its head. This innovative workshop invites SMEs to tour the proposed alignment and engage in strategic dialogue to help determine the optimal delivery method for design and construction, timeline acceleration, and cost effectiveness.

A National Conversation on Delivery Method

Public transportation agencies commonly rely on three project delivery methods to execute capital programs, and Valley Metro has employed all three delivery methods during construction of our now 35-mile light rail system. The Design-Bid-Build (DBB) model offers strong design control and transparency but can result in longer timelines and less flexibility. With Design-Build (DB), it can limit owner control once the construction is underway and may create challenges in accountability. The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) model combines some of the advantages of both DBB and DB, with a construction manager brought on during design to offer input.

Driving Innovation Through Collaboration

The upcoming workshop reflects Valley Metro’s commitment to continuous improvement, cost discipline, industry collaboration, and project delivery innovation. By gathering diverse expertise to evaluate delivery methods at the outset, the agency hopes to identify the most strategic, efficient, and context-sensitive approach to deliver the I-10 West Extension.

In doing so, Valley Metro is not only advancing its own planning process but also contributing to a national conversation about how public transit agencies can improve project outcomes by identifying the best delivery strategy tailored to the unique aspects of each project.