AECOM provided a broad range of services, including owner’s representative, program management, planning, preliminary engineering, construction, and operations oversight for the $2.3 billion Tren Urbano Rail System project. As the first FTA-sponsored design-build/operate/maintain (DBOM) transit project, Tren Urbano’s specialized contractor procurement and program management strategy was developed and carried out by AECOM to ensure the client’s control over the process and results. Tren Urbano is a high-capacity, third rail-powered transit system encompassing 16 stations in the densely developed, adjacent municipalities of Bayamon, Guaynabo, and San Juan. Phase I delivered rail transit to Puerto Rico by 2004, connecting key commercial, institutional, and residential destinations.

The Tren Urbano project represents many significant accomplishments, including:

  • It is the first rapid transit rail system and most significant civil works initiative undertaken in Puerto Rico.
  • It is one of four FTA turnkey demonstration projects selected as an innovative design-build approach to rail construction.
  • It features the unprecedented completion and delivery of a DEIS/FEIS and Record of Decision in 18 months.
  • It involved administration of the largest technology-transfer program to date in Puerto Rico, and involved college students and non technical personnel from the local community during the planning, design, construction, and start-up phases.

As the program manager, AECOM developed conceptual design, performed transportation and urban planning, preliminary design for the line structure, tunnel and stations, provided systems design, and performed construction oversight.