“Stacy and Witbeck is an established leader in the construction of streetcar systems located in urban cores,” said M-1 RAIL Chief Operating Officer Paul Childs. “The company is uniquely qualified to manage all of the moving parts associated with a project of this scale. Stacy and Witbeck set the standard for how to construct the best modern streetcar lines in the United States, and Detroit deserves to have nothing short of the best working on its streetcar project.”
Detroit-based White Construction is a 24-year-old firm that will serve as a key local contractor on the M-1 RAIL streetcar project. The company has also played an important role in other major downtown Detroit construction projects, including: Comerica Park, Ford Field, Campus Martius Park, the Detroit RiverWalk, Detroit Port Authority, and most recently the City of Detroit’s Public Safety Headquarters.
“We are pleased to be working with Stacy and Witbeck as part of its team of local subcontractors that will construct this historically significant Detroit transit project,” said W. Bernard White, P.E., President, White Construction. “M-1 RAIL will benefit from having the very best in local and national construction expertise working together over the next couple of years to complete this project.”
According to Tom Gilman, CM / GC Project Manager for Stacy and Witbeck, “Our team is honored to have been awarded the opportunity to work in Detroit. We have done our homework on what it will require to successfully construct a streetcar along Woodward Avenue.” Gilman added that his team is “confident that with our experience of building streetcar lines, combined with the local knowledge White Construction brings with its portfolio of major downtown Detroit construction projects, and the talented local subcontractors that will join us, we have the right formula to successfully build a state-of-the-art streetcar line for Detroit.”
Stacy and Witbeck will begin pre-construction work including:
• Assist with the development of the Maintenance of Traffic strategy;
• Review design plans and provide input;
• Work with M-1 RAIL designer URS Corporation and owner’s representative HNTB Michigan, Inc. to identify cost efficiencies and value engineering measures to ensure that final construction costs remain within budget;
• Order the necessary materials; and
• Hire sub-contractors and local workforce personnel.
Hiring Local Sub-Contractors
Stacy and Witbeck will host a sub-contractor meeting in the near future for local firms interested in bidding on additional work for the streetcar project. Details will be made available at a later date. Inquiries about sub-contracting opportunities should be sent directly to Stacy and Witbeck CM/ GC Project Manager Tom Gilman at stacy.witbeck@m1rail.org.
Awarding of Contract
M-1 RAIL issued a Request For Proposal for Construction Manager / General Contractor services in April. A committee comprised of representatives from Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and M-1 RAIL extensively reviewed the five proposals received, selecting Stacy and Witbeck using the federally-mandated procurement guidelines.
Costs for construction of the 3.3-mile streetcar circulator are estimated to be between $135 million and $145 million; this costs includes $35 million to $45-million for the State-and Federally-funded Woodward Avenue reconstruction projects that will be completed in conjunction with the streetcar construction in Segment 2.
About M-1 RAIL
M-1 RAIL is the 501(c)3 organization charged with managing the design, construction, and future operation of the 3.3-mile circulating streetcar along Woodward Avenue from Larned Street to E. Grand Boulevard. Construction is scheduled to begin late summer / early fall. Visit www.M-1RAIL.com for more information.
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