Atkins re-selected for 5-year FTA oversight contract
Services include monitoring FTA projects to determine whether they are progressing on time, within budget, and according to approved grantee plans and specifications.
A new streetcar undergoes testing as part of the Tucson Modern Streetcar project in Arizona. Atkins provided project management oversight for the $196 million project under the company’s previous contract with FTA. Photo credit: City of Tucson. Used with permission.
2 min to read
A new streetcar undergoes testing as part of the Tucson Modern Streetcar project in Arizona. Atkins provided project management oversight for the $196 million project under the company’s previous contract with FTA. Photo credit: City of Tucson. Used with permission.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) selected Atkins for a second five-year, $13 million contract to provide project management oversight of federally funded mass transit projects nationwide. Atkins helps evaluate state or local public agency (grantee) technical capacity and capability to successfully plan and implement federal investments in major transit projects.
“Atkins’ business is built by developing strong, long-standing relationships with clients and the communities we serve,” said L. Joe Boyer, chief executive officer, Atkins, North America. “This re-selection allows us to continue assisting FTA as they help local and state transit providers fund new transit systems or improve the operation of existing systems.”
Ad Loading...
Since 2009, Atkins has served as FTA’s project management oversight consultant on assignments that include:
Tucson Modern Streetcar, Ariz. Atkins performed project management oversight for the $196 million, 3.9-mile-long initial streetcar line that will connect the University of Arizona and many of the city’s major centers.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley 10-Mile Berryessa Extension, Calif. Atkins was recently appointed to oversee the $2.2 billion first phase of a planned 16-mile extension of the BART regional heavy rail system, linking San Jose to the soon-to-be-completed Warm Springs station in Fremont.
Atkins’ services include monitoring FTA projects to determine whether they are progressing on time, within budget, and according to approved grantee plans and specifications. Other activities include tracking constructability reviews, planning, and implementing risk assessment and/or risk mitigation, performing change order reviews, and providing value engineering services. Atkins also offers workshops to help grantees prepare FTA documents to satisfy grant requirements.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
