The K Line Extension to Torrance is a 4.5-mile light rail extension that connects to the existing Redondo Beach (Marine) Station and travels southeast through the cities of Lawndale, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. This extension is a critical piece of the regional rail network, offering opportunities for the County to access the jobs, schools, healthcare, and other needs in the South Bay. Additionally, it provides access for those in the South Bay to connect to the greater Los Angeles region.
The Project will connect travelers to the rail network and provide easy transfers to two new regional bus centers immediately adjacent to the proposed rail stations: the Redondo Beach Transit Center and the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center (Torrance Transit Center), which opened in Spring and Summer of 2023. These bus centers include parking, drop-off, bike parking, and bus connections to connect rail passengers further into the South Bay and Peninsula. The K Line Extension will also provide rapid rail service north to LAX, Inglewood, and Central Los Angeles.
Soteria is providing support and expertise to STV, including the System Safety and Security Review and Management and Certification Plans.
Services Provided
The West Valley Connector project will be a 100% zero-emission Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the first stage of the San Bernardino County Zero-Emission Bus Initiative and the second BRT route in San Bernardino County.
Phase 1 of this project includes 19 miles between the Pomona Metrolink station and Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, with 33 station sites serving major destinations and transfer points, such as downtown Ontario, Ontario International Airport, and the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink Station.
This phase of the project includes 3.5 miles of center-running, dedicated BRT lanes through central Ontario and 15.5 miles of curb lane mixed flow operation. The Phase 1 alignment will operate 10-minute peak and 15-minute off-peak service for 14 hours per day, Monday through Friday, which is projected to reduce travel time by 28% and increase corridor ridership by 30% in the opening year, 2024.
This project will provide faster, more frequent, and more direct bus service connecting major destinations throughout the western part of the San Bernardino Valley, and will provide enhanced amenities for passengers and improvements over existing local service.
Soteria is providing Safety and Security Certification for Construction for Phase 1 of this project. Responsibilities include:
The West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor (WSAB) project is a new light rail transit line that will connect southeast LA County to Downtown Los Angeles. With nine new stations, the 14.5-mile segment will transform the way people move across the Gateway Cities and Southeast Los Angeles, connecting Artesia, Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, Vernon, unincorporated Florence-Firestone, and Downtown LA.
Metro Board approved the 14.8-mile Slauson/A Line to Pioneer route, with the maintenance storage facility located in the City of Bellflower, as the Locally Preferred(LPA) for the project’s initial operating segment between Artesia and south of Downtown Los Angeles. The final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/R) is being prepared for the LPA with the Record of Decision (ROD) anticipated to be issued by the Federal Transit Administration in May 2024.
Soteria will coordinate with the Fire/Life Safety and Security (FLSS) Committee for review of design work in-progress including the review of any proposed exceptions to criteria. Soteria will identify fire/life safety and security issues impacting the design early in the design process so that cost-effective alternative solutions can be developed during the design phase of the Project.
Sotera will prepare an FLSS Emergency Plan report documenting the safety components for first responders that clarifies the location of the access, egress, water availability, and traction power shut down, and includes drawings and supporting meeting minutes.
The $500 million Division 20 project is for the upgrade of Metro’s Division 20 Rail Yard to provide better rail service on the Metro B Line (Red) and D Line (Purple). The Project will widen a rail tunnel south of the US-101 (Hollywood) Freeway, build a new turnback facility, and readjust rail storage tracks, allowing Metro to operate more trains on their expanding rail network and accommodate increased service levels on the Metro Red/Purple Lines.
Soteria Company is providing Safety and Security Systems Assurance and Verification for the Division 20 Portal Widening Turnback work, including:
Sound Transit builds and operates regional transit service throughout the urban areas of Pierce, King and Snohomish Counties in the state of Washington. Transit services include Link light rail; Sounder trains; ST Express Bus; Tacoma Link light rail; and soon, Bus Rapid Transit.
With voter approval in 1996, 2008, and 2016, Sound Transit is engaged in the expansion of their system, with new light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail services coming online every few years.
In support of that expansion, Sound Transit’s Safety Department has contracted for assistance in a variety of Safety and Security Certification and engineering consultant services. The contracted support is intended to strengthen and establish a proactive culture of safety and security that is well defined, sustainable and documented through its processes, policies, and procedures.
Soteria is providing support and expertise to WSP, the consultant to Sound Transit under this agreement. Support will be provided as needed to assist the Sound Transit Safety Department in a variety of Safety and Security Certification and engineering consultant
The Edmonton Valley Line LRV Project is an LRV system that connects the Mill Woods area with downtown Edmonton. It is comprised of low-floor, urban styled LRVs which run on a dedicated right-of-way that is integrated into the city landscape. LRVs are guided by a manual line of sight train control system that is integrated with the traffic controllers.
The System consists of approximately 13km of dual guideway, with approximately 2km of the guideway elevated. The line also runs through a 0.5km tunnel (Quarters Tunnel), and over two fully dedicated LRV bridges (Tawatina Bridge and Whitemud LRT Bridge). The major bridge is over the environmentally sensitive North Saskatchewan River.
There are 12 stops on the route, an elevated station which is integrated into a newly constructed transit center and park and ride facility. The project also includes a transfer point in the downtown area at Churchill Square. The transfer point, called the Churchill Connector, is a modification to the existing underground station whereby an additional access point with stairs/escalators/elevators is provided at Churchill Square.
The line runs through 44 intersections, and has 11 crossovers located to facilitate system operation and maintenance. Train movement is guided by a signaling system. Movement through intersections is supported by LRV traffic signals and grade crossing warning systems. Power is provided to vehicles from 11 Traction Power Substations (TPSSs) spaced along the right-of-way via and Overhead Catenary System and returned through the track. An Operations and Maintenance Facility is powered from its own dedicated TPSS. A fleet of 26 LRVs will be operated in different configurations (single or double) depending on planned service level requirements.
Soteria is leading the Safety and Security Certification Program and the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Process, including the following activities:
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) is a major component of the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP). Under the LAMP, the APM will provide fast, free and efficient transportation to and from the Central Terminal Area (CTA) for travelers, employees, and other users of LAX during all hours of the day and night. The project is intended to relieve congestion in the CTA and the surrounding streets, improve the travel experience, and provide a user-friendly connection to the LA Metro transit system.
The APM Project will provide an elevated guideway with an at-grade Maintenance and Storage Facility and six stations:
In the role of subcontractor to LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), a consortium of seven contractors that will design, construct, operate and maintain the APM, Soteria will perform the following tasks:
System Safety Program Plan
Hazard Analysis
Safety and Security Certification
Design Criteria Conformance
Construction/Installation/Testing Conformance Checklists
Safety and Security Meetings
System Security Plan
This project is for a major transit hub that will connect the Metro Crenshaw/LAX and Green rail lines, area bus routes, and the LAX Automated People Mover.
The Aviation/96th Street Station will be a light-rail station on the Crenshaw/LAX line. This station will be a gateway to LAX and provide the connection for passengers, employees and visitors between LAX and the regional bus and rail transit system, minimizing the impact to airport facilities and surrounding communities. Project features include:
Soteria Company developed the Threat and Vulnerability Analysis report and prepared graphics to support and communicate the security and crime data research findings. Soteria is actively working on the certification and audit process of the design conformance checklists and will also develop the construction conformance checklists and facilitate the certification process.
The Sound Transit Northgate and East Link Extension Project encompasses two transformative light rail extensions that will serve tens of thousands of Sound Transit commuters in Washington state.
The Northgate Extension adds three new stations in Seattle, two underground stations (U District and Roosevelt stations), and an elevated station at Northgate. It is estimated that this extension will serve more than 60,000 weekday riders by 2030 and connect Northgate residents to Sea-Tac Airport in 47 minutes and downtown Seattle in 14 minutes, operating in twin tunnels from the University of Washington Station.
The East Link Extension is a 14-mile-long extension connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. It is projected to serve an estimated 50,000 people per day by 2030. Once completed, the extension will be the world’s only passenger light rail service operating over a floating bridge, the section of I-90 over Lake Washington connecting Mercer Island and Seattle.
Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension Project is for an 8.5-mile link light rail extension from Northgate into Snohomish County, serving four stations: Shoreline South/148th, Shoreline North/185th, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood City Center. Upon its opening in 2024, the Project will provide fast and frequent connections between south Snohomish County and the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, the Eastside, Sea-Tac Airport, and more.
Working with Mass. Electric Construction Company, Soteria Company is preparing the Traction Power Substation (TPSS) Reliability Program Plan and Analysis, and preparing and implementing the TPSS Reliability Demonstration Test Plan and Procedures for the Project. The 2024 projected completion will accommodate the estimated 47,000 – 55,000 daily riders expected to use this system by 2026.
This project extends Sound Transit’s light rail from Angle Lake Station in the city of Seattle/Tacoma to the Federal Way Transit Center, and further to a temporary maintenance facility for vehicle inspection and interior cleaning at the southerly end of the track. Guideway types on this project include at-grade, retained fill, retained cut, and elevated structure.
Three stations will be built: Kent/Des Moines Station, Star Lake Station, and FWTC Station. The project’s scope of work includes all civil, structural, architectural, landscaping, artwork coordination, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and systems elements to provide a fully functioning light rail extension.
Working with Mass. Electric Construction Company, Soteria
Company is preparing the Traction Power Substation (TPSS)
Reliability Program Plan, and preparing and implementing the
TPSS Reliability Demonstration Test Plan and Procedures for
the two light rail extensions under this Project.
Deliverables to Mass. Electric include:
The Gold Line Foothill Extension will extend the Los Angeles Metro Gold Line light rail corridor by 12.3 miles. The corridor formerly terminated in Pasadena; the project extends it east through Los Angeles County’s “Foothill Cities” into San Bernardino County. When completed, the line will be 23.9 miles. Phase 2A of the project completed in 2016. Phase 2B is projected to complete in 2026.
Soteria developed a Preliminary Hazard Analysis and a Threat and Vulnerability Assessment in support of the safe operation of Project 2B. For the Glendora to Montclair segment, Soteria developed the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) to identify and systematically assess conditions that could potentially affect the safe operation of the transit system. The PHA identified hazardous conditions, documented the safety concepts and mitigating measures, provided a checklist for guiding the design, and provided a basis for requiring more detailed safety analyses and testing for specific system elements and subsystems.
Soteria developed the project’s Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (TVA) to craft an effective set of risk-reducing security mitigations to be integrated into the Gold Line Foothill Extension Project 2B design, construction, startup and operations. The assessment process allowed for mitigations to be chosen for optimal safety and be tailored for the identified risks to project assets for transit agency patrons and employees. The TVA also provided a framework to quantify and then rank the potential risks for the occurrence of various detrimental security events. The proposed protective countermeasures, when implemented correctly, serve to minimize risk across a wide range of security events, making possible an overall safer and more secure transit system.
The Zero Emissions Bus Project was a demonstration project to develop and demonstrate advanced charging controls and reduced costs through deploying an integrated, smart charging platform. The Project also informed VTA’s long-term electric bus infrastructure strategy for comprehensive bus electrification.
The state approved the fuel-cell experiment in 2000, with VTA and SamTrans each contributing $6 million to the project and with federal and state money covering the final $6 million. Hybrid buses running on diesel and electricity weren’t included in the demonstration since those buses contribute more to smog levels than do hydrogen buses.
The three zero-emission buses began running in 2005 in Santa Clara County, from express routes to its most heavily traveled lines.
Soteria led the Safety Certification Program for the hydrogen fuel cell buses, a maintenance facility, and a hydrogen fueling island.
SBCTA’s Redlands Passenger Rail Project (RPRP) will develop and implement a modern, safe and reliable passenger rail transit system to connect the San Bernardino Transit Center (SBTC) and the University of Redlands.
In San Bernardino, stops will be located at the SBTC and Tippecanoe Avenue. In Redlands, stops will be located at New York Street, Orange Street in Downtown and University Street at the University of Redlands.
The system takes advantage of an existing but underutilized railroad line originally constructed in 1888 by the Santa Fe Railway to serve the region’s then rapidly growing population and citrus economy. In 1993 SBCTA acquired the railroad line from the Santa Fe Railway and began preliminary studies on how to turn the potential in this line into improved mobility and reduced traffic congestion for the people of San Bernardino County.
The current service model proposed is a frequent-headway diesel multiple unit (HCV) commuter service operating between San Bernardino and Redlands, augmented by a limited number of Metrolink conventional express trains providing access to its region-wide network. This model also preserves limited freight service for the remaining customers on the line.
As part of the Construction Management team, Soteria is providing safety and security planning, analysis and certification services. We are leading the safety and security program for the design and construction phases of the project. All services will be performed in accordance with SCRRA, CPUC, FRA and FTA guidelines, regulations, policies, procedures, manuals, and standards
Soteria is leading the following tasks and activities:
The Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor project is an 8.5-mile light commuter rail line that will run between the Expo Line on Exposition Boulevard and the METRO Green Line. The southern end of the new line will follow along a portion of an abandoned BNSF freight line until it reaches the intersection of West 67th Street and Crenshaw Blvd. From the intersection of West 67th Street and Crenshaw Blvd, the line will continue north along Crenshaw Blvd where it will ultimately tie in to the Expo line at West Exposition Blvd.
Additional construction elements of the project consist of 5.5 miles of at grade track with 16 grade crossings, 3600’ of bridge, 4600’ of U-wall, 4700’ of cut & cover trench and 6000’ of bored tunnel. Systems for the project will include 10 Traction Power Sub-Stations, train control and signals, traffic signals and grade crossing protection, communications and a Metro furnished and installed fare collection system.
The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project will serve the Crenshaw District, Inglewood, Westchester and surrounding area with the following eight stations
Soteria Company is leading the system safety, security and assurance planning, analysis and certification through all phases of the safety and security certification process through design and construction and start-up. We are also responsible for the reliability and maintainability planning, analysis and demonstration program.
Soteria is a subcontractor to the Design-Build contractor, Walsh-Shea Corridor Constructors JV, and is leading the following system safety and security planning, analysis and security tasks for the project:
Soteria is leading the following Reliability, Availability and Maintainability tasks:
Valley Metro has several Light Rail projects that require systems design work associated with the existing alignment and new extensions. The light rail extension projects include Capitol/I-10 West, Northwest Phase 2, South Central in Phoenix, and others as assigned.
The Project includes stations, Park and Rides (PNRs), embedded trackwork, traction power substations, signals for crossovers and at gated intersections, communications, and ticket vending machines. The system elements shall be consistent and seamlessly compatible with existing Valley Metro corridors and systems.
Soteria provided a technical review of the completed and verified Design Criteria Conformance Checklists for the following systems:
Comments were provided to the responsible designers for the final update and certification of the checklists. Reliability and maintainability analyses were carried out for four existing corridors and three new corridors under design.
Sample As-Built drawings were analyzed from the existing corridors to provide a component list. The components and quantities, according to the As-Built drawings, were entered into the analysis database, which had been populated with the failure rates for most components. Failure rates for components without manufacturer’s data were assigned failure rates from similar equipment. The major components are from manufacturer-provided data.
A typical Siemens Traction Power Substation configuration was assumed for all substations, using data existing “As Built” drawings and data gathered from the analysis of similar transit systems.
The Communications equipment counts are based on the Systems Major Subsystem Component List provided by VMR Systems staff, supplemented by information from the drawing sets
To determine part counts for the new corridors, IFC, 60% and preliminary drawings were used. Typical signaling configurations were used as actual equipment has not been ordered at the time of the report. Typical Siemens TPSS were again assumed in these corridors.
The component and configuration data were compiled in a RAM database to produce the following reports:
List of systems included in the reports:
The Perris Valley Line (PVL) Project is a 24-mile extension of the Metrolink 91 Line that previously provided service only from Riverside to Fullerton and downtown Los Angeles. The extension begins at a junction with the BNSF San Bernardino Subdivision mainline, north of the city of Riverside, and turns southeast along the San Jacinto Branch Line. The terminus of the PVL Line is in the City of Perris at Route 74 and Ethanac Road. The line is operated and controlled from the Dispatch Operations Center (DOC) in Pomona, CA. The DOC serves as the dispatching center for all Metrolink lines and is the central location for coordinating emergency response actions if there is an accident or other event requiring Fire Services or Law Enforcement response.
The PVL Project constructed four new stations and operates through three cities: Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris.
Teaming with HDR Construction Control Corp., Soteria managed the System Safety and Security Certification program, led the start-up and commissioning phase and provided technical expertise for integrated testing.
During the design phase, Soteria:
During Construction and Start-up, Soteria:
The Expo LRT Project is approximately 9.6 miles long, extending from Downtown Los Angeles to Exposition Park and then to Venice Boulevard/Robertson Boulevard in Culver City. The Project constructed nine new stations (three of them aerial) and utilized two existing stations that are shared with the currently operating Metro Blue Line.
The Project operates in a dual track configuration in the center or curb lanes of selected streets and the Exposition Right-of-Way (ROW), with high platform stations similar to those in use on the Metro Blue Line. The ROW was widened to accommodate dual track LRT operations and a wide landscaped median for the Exposition Transit Parkway. Exposition Boulevard has two vehicular travel lanes in the east and west directions.
The Expo LRT Project, including shared tracks with the Metro Blue Line (MBL), comprises approximately 9.6 miles of double-track rail, oriented in a roughly east-west direction between the existing MBL 7th & Metro Station in downtown Los Angeles and Venice/Robertson Station in Culver City. The alignment turns north from Exposition Boulevard onto Flower Street (using a grade separation) to Washington Boulevard, where the Expo LRT connects with the MBL.
The Project has a trench structure that begins on Flower St. and turns onto Exposition Blvd. The trench structure is approximately 2500 ft in length with openings in the roof at some locations. Four jet fans provide additional ventilation; two fans are located just after the entrance at each end of the trench.
Soteria Company was sub to the Flatiron Fluor Parsons JV, and was responsible for Safety and Security Planning and Analysis for Phase I of this project. In Phase I, Soteria:
The Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension is an extension of the Metro Gold Line from Pasadena to Los Angeles. It begins at the southern limit of the Los Angeles Union Station, and extends from Alameda Street in Central Los Angeles east through the Boyle Heights community in the City of Los Angeles, and the City Terrace, Belvedere and East Los Angeles communities of unincorporated Los Angeles County, California.
Upon leaving Union Station the MGLEE double-track alignment will cross over the Hollywood Freeway and head south along Alameda Street. It will turn east onto 1st Street and cross over the LA River to a point just beyond Gless Street for a total distance of approximately 1.5 miles from Union Station. It will then enter a tunnel and continue in a south-easterly direction under 1st Street for approximately 1.7 miles before exiting the tunnel prior to reaching Lorena Street. The alignment will continue at-grade along 1st Street to Indiana Street, turn south onto Indiana Street and then turn east onto 3rd Street. Along 3rd Street the alignment will cross under the Pomona Freeway and over the Long Beach Freeway for approximately 2.6 miles.
The alignment will terminate on Pomona Boulevard immediately before its intersection with Atlantic Boulevard.
The following Hazards Analyses were prepared for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension (MGLEE) to identify and systematically assess conditions that could potentially affect the safe operation of the MGLEE: