Austin Light Rail
Connecting Austin with an Outcome-Certain Approach to Light Rail Infrastructure
The Austin Light Rail Project is a transformational transit system shaping the future of mobility in the city we proudly serve. Kiewit and our design partners AtkinsRealis, Freese & Nichols, Halff, HNTB, Snøhetta and UNStudio, are eager to help Austin realize its vision for sustainable, connected and reliable transportation. Backed by a strong track record for successfully delivering large-scale infrastructure projects in Texas and across North America, our team brings the proven expertise to execute this project with certainty.
Kiewit has ranked as the #1 Mass Transit and Rail Contractor since 2022, according to ENR's National Contractor Sourcebook Rankings
About the Project
The Austin Light Rail Phase 1 Progressive Design-Build Project will transform how people move around Austin with all-electric trains running reliably every 5 to 10 minutes most of the day and connecting people to major job centers, education hubs and iconic destinations. Designed to expand as the city grows, the project includes 15 stations along a nearly 10-mile alignment, miles of new pedestrian and cycling paths, and a new bridge across Lady Bird Lake. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
A Collaborative Partnership
Through collaboration with Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), city officials and stakeholders, Kiewit is committed to ensuring Austin Light Rail meets current needs while creating a lasting investment in the city’s future.
Our approach to large-scale transit projects combines an integrated engineering and construction approach with self-perform construction expertise to identify and mitigate risks throughout the project life cycle, driving cost and schedule advantages. Backed by a deep bench of experts including an organization of more than 1,400 integrated, in-house infrastructure engineers and Mass. Electric Construction Co. (MEC), an industry leader in transit systems integration, our team is equipped to manage every phase of the project with precision.
Light Rail Success Stories
“It is unusual for a large infrastructure project to come in on time and on budget, but KPJV was partners with the construction authority from the start and found ways to innovate and keep the project moving through the COVID-19 pandemic, historic heatwaves and historic rains.”
– Habib Balian, CEO, Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority
South Central Light Rail Extension
The South Central Light Rail project in downtown Phoenix was a successful FTA New Starts program. The project required strategic phasing to ensure seamless integration with existing infrastructure while maintaining operations within a dense urban environment. To consider the construction impacts associated with identified special events, Kiewit collaborated with Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix through phasing workshops to align construction with major events like the 2024 Super Bowl, minimizing disruptions. The team optimized scheduling with night shifts, accelerated shutdowns and marathon weekends to expedite work to finish a year ahead of grant schedule. Kiewit subsidiary Mass. Electric developed a staged tie-in plan incorporating eight new turnouts to enhance system flexibility and headways while minimizing service impacts.
Project Recognition:
- 2025 ENR Award of Merit in Airport/Transit
- 2025 ENR Award of Merit in Safety
- ACEC – AZ Engineering Excellence Award
Federal Way Light Rail Extension
The Federal Way Link Extension opened on December 6, 2025, adding nearly eight miles of light rail. Spanning four municipalities, it includes a mix of at-grade segments, cut-and-fill sections and 2.5 miles of elevated guideway supported by eight bridges. The project scope included design, construction, testing and commissioning of three new stations and parking garages, new street networks, electrical systems, signaling and communications infrastructure.
Kiewit served as the prime contractor with Kiewit Engineering Group as lead designer and Mass. Electric Construction Co. as systems subcontractor. The station areas enhance connectivity to bus networks and pedestrian pathways, while creating opportunities for new development on adjacent parcels. With this extension now open, the system is expected to add 20,000 to 30,000 daily riders, easing congestion along the I-5 corridor.
Project Recognition:
2026 AGC Build Washington Award
Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Extension
Through early collaboration with Valley Metro and partners, the Kiewit-McCarthy joint venture brought unique innovations to the table — including $60 million in savings and 141 value engineering concepts — to deliver this 1.6-mile extension of Valley Metro’s light rail system in Phoenix ahead of schedule and under budget.
Project Recognition:
- ENR Regional Best Projects: Southwest – Airport/Transit
- ENR Regional Best Projects: Southwest – Safety
- Engineering News Record Southwest – Project of the Year
- Engineering News Record – Best of the Best
- AGC Build America Award
- AGC Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence
- NRC Railroad Construction Project of the Year Award
- AZ-AGC Build Arizona Award
- ACEC-National Engineering Excellence Awards
- ADOT AZ Transportation Partnering Excellence Award
- APWA Arizona Public Works Project of the Year
- ACI Excellence in Concrete Regional
- WTS (Women’s Transportation Seminar) Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter
- Railway Track & Structures (RT&S)
- Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence
Foothill Gold Line
The Foothill Gold Line extension enhances transit accessibility, providing a vital connection for residents and commuters in Los Angeles County. Kiewit, as part of the Kiewit-Parsons Joint Venture (KPJV), successfully expanded the A Line from Glendora to Pomona, adding 9.1 miles of new double-track light rail, four stations, 19 bridges and 21 at-grade crossings. KPJV crews logged more than 2.6 million work hours while maintaining a strong safety record.
Kiewit subsidiary Mass. Electric Construction Co. installed the complete systems package, including 356 overhead contact system poles/foundations, traction power, communications and train control.
WMATA Station Platform Rehabilitation Program
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Station Platform Rehabilitation Contract 4 involved critical improvements at five station platforms and six bridges/aerial structures along 11 miles of WMATA’s Orange Line in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Kiewit’s scope of work at each station included demolition, rehabilitation, construction, testing/commissioning and architectural work.
Project Recognition:
ENR Regional Best Projects: Mid-Atlantic
DART Orange Line Expansion
The $585 million DART Orange Line Expansion project involved the design and construction of 14.5 miles of light rail double-track guideway, five complete stations and three deferred stations.
Project Recognition:
- Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)
- 2011 Owner of the Year Award
- Engineering News-Record (ENR)
- 2013 Owner of the Year ENR
- American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
- 2015 ACEC National Recognition Award
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Worksite
- National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) / RT&S
- Safe Contractor of the Year Award – Category IV Silver Winner
- Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)
- Owner of the Year Award
BART Warm Springs Extension
The BART Warm Springs Extension Design-build project consisted of furnishing all management, coordination, professional services, labor, equipment, materials and other services to perform the design and construction of the line, track, station and systems required to extend the BART System further into southern Alameda County from the existing Fremont BART Station to the new Warm Springs Station.
The Warm Springs Extension added 5.4 miles of new tracks from the existing Fremont Station south to a new station in the Warm Springs district of the City of Fremont.
Project Recognition:
California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Project of the Year
Denver Union Station Transit Improvements
The Denver Union Station Transit Improvements project transformed 42 acres of blighted former railyards into the centerpiece of a vibrant, bustling downtown Denver, anchoring and facilitating connections between the region’s transit systems.
I-225 Light Rail Corridor Design-Build
Kiewit facilitated a technical, scope, schedule, pricing and financial solution to perform the design and construction of the I-225 LRT corridor in Denver and Aurora, Colorado. The Kiewit team, including Mass. Electric Construction Co. and AECOM, delivered 10.5 miles of double-track rail, two park-n-rides, eight bridges and eight new stations nearly 10 years ahead of the programmed schedule by working with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the local underwriting team at RBC Capital Markets to collectively develop a finance plan that navigated a complicated path through RTD’s debt capacity constraints.
The concept began with a Kiewit-RBC unsolicited proposal to design, build and finance (DBF) the light rail corridor with much needed service to the Aurora Town Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the new Veterans Administration (VA) hospital along with a transfer connection to the RTD A-line servicing Denver International Airport and Denver Union Station.
The project was constructed in a congested urban area with significant utility conflicts, traffic handling/phasing requirements, and intense coordination with adjacent contractors, local governments and businesses. The Kiewit team was also responsible for the acquisition of 128 right-of-way parcels, including appraisals, RTD approvals and negotiations. The project was the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado 2017 Project of the Year.
Workforce Development: Building Austin's Future
Thoughtful, well-executed DBE engagement and workforce development are critical to the success of large urban transportation projects. The “for Austin by Austin” focus associated with ATP’s LRT project is not only the right approach to take – it’s achievable. We’re excited to bring a proven workforce program to Austin LRT, fostering long-term local talent growth.
Kiewit’s workforce development extends beyond project completion. Our training programs and apprenticeships aim beyond the Austin Light Rail to build careers that serve the community for decades, creating lasting economic opportunities and strengthening Austin’s position as a transportation leader.