$22 Million Expenditure on Green Line Extension Approved By MBTA

The MBTA authorized an expenditure of nearly $22 million in planning and design work for the Green Line Extension Project on Monday.

The transit authority's in the joint design contract with Gilbane and HDR, but scaled back to approve only about $22 million, according to an email from Joe Pasaturo, spokesman for the MBTA.

The extension project seeks to add up to seven stops to the green line in Somerville and Medford by extending the line along the commuter rail track. It is projected to cost about $1 billion.

About the companies:

Gilbane Inc., based in Providence, is one of the largest privately held family-owned companies in the construction and real estate industry, according to the release from Pesaturo.

One of the company's more significant projects was the new Warwick Intermodal Facility at T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island. Gilbane provided construction management for the $267 million project, which included the construction of an MBTA commuter rail platform, Pesaturo said.

HDR, an Omaha-based, employee-owned architectural, engineering and consulting firm employs  more than 7,800 professionals in 185 locations.

The design firm currently is in charge of the final design and construction for the MBTA's Government Center station modernization project in Boston. The firm also oversaw the planning for a light rail "starter system" in Phoenix, a project with a pricetag of about $1.3 billion, Pesaturo said.

For more information on the board of directors meeting, and green line background, visit the Medford Green Line Alliance's website.