Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JANUARY 15, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: CONTACT WIRES FOR C LINE OVERHEAD CATENARY SYSTEM (OCS) REPLACEMENT
Action
ACTION: AWARD CONTRACT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a 12-month firm-fixed-price contract, Contract No. DR133227(3)000, to Toro Global, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for 133,248 linear feet of contact wire to support the C Line Overhead Catenary System (OCS) Replacement Project for a firm fixed price of $2,234,542.31 inclusive of sales tax, and subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
Contact wires are a central railway infrastructure asset which transmits traction power to Metro rail vehicles. The existing C Line OCS contact wires are approximately 30 years old, as they have been in use since the start of C Line service in 1995, and are reaching the end of their useful life and require replacement. The replacement project is divided into three sections of the C Line. Award of this contract is needed to complete the third section of the C Line OCS project.
Background
BACKGROUND
In May 2021, the Metro Board of Directors established a $38,350,000 Life-of-Project (LOP) budget for the Metro C Line Overhead Catenary System Replacement as part of the FY22 budget adoption. The existing OCS contact wires were designed with a life expectancy of 30 years. The continuous operation of the rail service in various weather conditions has caused the contact wires to wear and are nearing the end of their functional lifespan. The Traction Power Maintenance Department has regularly inspected the contact wires and replaced sections when needed. However, this maintenance work has resulted in disruptions to rail services as affected trains must be single-tracked during the replacement of contact wires. Installing new contact wires will increase the reliability of the C Line while preventing service disruptions caused by sections of old contact wires that have been overworn and require replacement.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The project’s work plan involves dividing the replacement of contact wires into three sections along the C Line. Section A starts at Redondo Beach Station and ends at Aviation Station, with an approximate length of 62,311 feet. Section B starts at the Aviation Station and ends at Long Beach Station, with an approximate length of 133,248 feet. Section C begins at Long Beach Station and ends at Norwalk Station, with an approximate length of 96,838 feet.
Section A was completed in May of 2024. Section C is in progress and is planned to be completed in May of 2026. The project's next phase is to replace contact wires in Section B, which needs 133,248 feet of contact wires.
The recommended Board action is to approve the purchase of contact wire for Section B, which is planned to start in June 2026. The contact wire replacement work is being performed by in-house Traction Power workforces.
This project is part of Metro’s commitment to delivering a robust State of Good Repair (SGR) program that invests in modernization and enhancement to renew asset life and reduce asset breakdowns that impact daily service and customer experience.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
In accordance with Metro’s SGR requirements and Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan, the C Line OCS contact wires are reaching the end of their useful life and must be replaced promptly to comply with safety and reliability standards, alongside meeting California Public Utilities Commission regulations.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
A total of $2,234,542.31 is needed for this action. The budget is contained in Capital Project 205121 - Metro Green Line OCS Wire Replacement. The Life of Project (LOP) budget is $38,350,000.00, which is within the project budget. The FY26 adopted budget includes annual funding of $5,961,341 for this project.
Since this is a multi-year contract, the Project Manager will be responsible for budgeting resources in future Fiscal Years.
Impact to Budget
The current source of funds for this action is Proposition A 35%, which is eligible for rail operations and Capital Projects. Use of Federal, State, and other local funding sources currently maximizes funding allocations given approved funding provisions and guidelines.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The C Line OCS contact wires are located along the 105 freeway throughout Los Angeles County, including through several Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) in the cities or neighborhoods of Downey, Paramount, Lynwood, Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, Westmont, Lennox, Hawthorne, and Lawndale. According to the 2022 Metro Customer Satisfaction Survey, 73% of current C Line passengers originate from households with very low income, and 74% lack access to personal vehicles for transportation. Furthermore, four out of every five riders on the C Line self-identify as belonging to Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The replacement of OCS contact wires improves the reliability of transportation, benefiting riders. Awarding the OCS contact wire purchase will minimize rail service disruption for Metro riders who rely on transit services for their mode of transportation.
This solicitation was issued under the Small Business SB Prime (Set Aside) Program. Toro Global, an SBE Prime, made a 100% SBE commitment.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through capital improvement investments to replace aging Metro C Line OCS contact wires. These capital improvement investments further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Approval of this recommendation supports the following Metro Strategic Plan Goals:
Goal # 1 Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling.
Goal # 2 Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system.
Goal # 3 Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
This project helps maintain system service, reliability, and safety standards to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within Los Angeles County.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Staff considered not purchasing or replacing the third section of the C Line OCS contact wire, but it is not recommended. This option would provide inconsistent level of service between completed sections and the not completed section.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval of the recommendation, Vendor/Contract Management (V/CM) will execute Contract No. DR133227(3)000.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Daniela Amores, Senior Director, Project Control, (213) 617-6283
Geyner Paz, Chief Administrative Analyst, (213) 922-3744
Kelvin Zan, Executive Officer, Projects Engineering, (213) 617-6264
Errol Taylor, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Infrastructure Maintenance and Engineering, (213) 922-3227
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief, Vendor/Contract Management
(213) 418-3051
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
