HMM selected for $10 billion Express Lanes program in San Francisco Bay Area

Iselin, N.J. — As subconsultant to a joint venture, Hatch Mott MacDonald was selected to help manage and oversee the 90-mile first portion of the Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA) Express Lanes program in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, Calif.

Traffic congestion in the San Francisco Bay area ranks among the worst in the nation. To help address the problem, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and its partners — Alameda County Transportation Commission, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, FasTrak, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and Solano Transportation Authority — plan to develop and implement 550 miles of authorized express lanes by 2035.

HMM was selected as part of a three-year, $5 million Program Management Consultant contract. The contract is the first step in a $10 billion program to develop express lanes in the San Francisco Bay area.

“The BAIFA contract is just the latest of several major transportation projects Hatch Mott MacDonald has carried out successfully in the San Francisco area,” said President and CEO Nick DeNichilo. “These include program management services for the innovative new east span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.”

When the build-out is complete, the MTC will operate 270 miles of express lanes, first converting 150 miles of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to express lanes and later adding 120 miles of new lanes to close gaps in the express lane system.

The team will primarily be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a control strategy and control tools for the overall program. HMM’s scope includes scheduling, cost estimating, cost control, reporting, and funding compliance services. The team may also support project delivery, and continue and expand oversight of professional service contracts for other express lanes, plan program operations, and support the operations of BAIFA express lanes once they open.