Perris Valley Line

Metrolink is a commuter rail network operating through Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside Counties. The Perris Valley Line (PVL) was proposed from downtown Riverside to Perris to increase the mobility of the local residents. The 24 mile route runs from RCTC’s downtown Riverside Metrolink station ending in south Perris.

The project required extensive track rehabilitation, constructing new track, constructing three Stations and expansion and system upgrades on the downtown Perris Multimodal Center. Associated construction includes grading and paving, bridges and drainage structures, upgrading 21 grade crossings, and relocating existing and installing new utilities.

Our team was chosen to provide quality assurance (QA) geotechnical and materials testing and hazmat review and confirmation sampling. The project involved multiple agencies oversight including Caltrans, RCTC and local cities.

Our quick response to address unexpected construction related issues such as unstable cut slopes along various segments of the alignment and pumping subgrade soils at South Perris Station was critical to the project schedule. We also provided source inspection services and reviewed the Quality Control Plan by the plant manufacturing the precast panels.

A hazardous materials corridor study and limited environmental soil sampling and testing identified chemicals of concern (COC) along the PVL alignment. As part of the construction management team, our experts prepared a hazardous material handling and disposal plan to coordinate the identification, evaluation, waste characterization, and documentation of the final disposition of chemically-impacted soils generated at the site. A direct communication plan was established to dispatch HAZWOPER trained environmental professionals upon discovery of potential COC. This immediate response limited any delay to the project schedule. Additionally, several senior professionals were included in our project team to prepare fast-track characterization strategies.

Strategies included sample quantities and analytical testing required from trenches and/or potholes excavated by the construction contractor and analyzed for COCs utilizing mobile or fixed-based laboratories. Analytical turn-around times were established to meet the immediate schedule demands of the project, with review and reporting by a registered geologist or engineer. Volume estimates and soil management plans were incorporated quickly into the bid documents to adequately address soil disposition and off-site reuse or disposal.