This month, we spoke with Ernie Robles, Vice President of Titan Environmental Solutions, Inc. (TES). Ernie is a native of Los Angeles County (born and raised in Whittier), so he is familiar with the traffic challenges of the region. That's why he's excited to be a part of the Purple Line Extension, which will offer commuters a new transportation option that will also have a positive impact on the environment.
As reflected in their name, TES is particularly focused on the environment. The firm monitors construction sites to support the health and safety of project workers. Specifically, TES prepares asbestos- and lead-related construction work safety and health plans, a site specific health and safety plan, and performs lead-related construction air monitoring.
TES is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and is listed on the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) website, which allows prime contractors like Frontier-Kemper/Tutor Perini JV (FKTP JV) to easily find their specialty. This project presented a unique puzzle for TES, since so much work is taking place underground, but Ernie says that his team rose to the challenge. "It was rewarding to know everything went well," he says, "and we accomplished our goal."
Lucas Builders, Inc.
Sam Silva comes from a long line of builders. Originally from Sri Lanka, Sam's father was a contractor. His grandfather worked in construction, too, erecting scaffolding out of bamboo. When Sam joined the U.S. Navy, he served in the Naval Construction Battalion, then went on to study civil engineering.
As the founder and President of Lucas Builders, Inc. (LBI), Sam intends to continue his family's legacy. The company was named after one of his sons and Sam hopes to one day hand the reins to his kids, who are currently gaining experience by working for their father.
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program has been instrumental in helping Sam to grow his company. An initial contract to work with Skanska on the Exposition Light Rail Transit project as a DBE firm then led to work with Skanska, as well as Stacy and Witbeck, on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit project in San Diego. LBI went on to earn a contract for storm drain relocation on the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project in 2016. This initial scope of work led to further contracts. LBI is currently installing fencing along the bridge and ramps.
Like any structure, Sam says that the key to building a company is having a strong foundation. "I focus on hiring and developing a skilled crew," he explains. From this solid infrastructure, the LBI team is able to fulfill whatever client requests are asked of them.
Sam's crew always has to be prepared, since they often work according to others' timetables. LBI will be one of the last teams on the new Sixth Street Viaduct before it opens to the public, so Sam knows his firm cannot be the one to delay the grand opening. Fortunately, his family has been doing this for a while and will be well into the future.
Arellano Associates
Because FKTP JV's tunneling work takes place primarily underground, hidden from view, it can be difficult for the public to know exactly what is happening with the Project.
That's where Arellano Associates comes in. Founded in 1994 by Genoveva Arellano, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified firm provides public outreach and communications support for public sector projects. They work with FKTP JV to raise awareness about traffic closures in the area and generally how construction work will impact the community.
Genoveva's company gained its first foothold in the industry by competing for and ultimately winning a 10-year community relations contract with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (now the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority) on the construction of the 28-mile Route 210 Freeway. Since then, the firm has developed relationships with transportation systems like the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). This includes work on both the Purple Line Extension Section 2 and Section 3.
"Working on a project that is an engineering and construction marvel is always exciting," Genoveva says about the Project's incredible TBMs. She looks forward to helping bring a new public transit option to West Los Angeles and knows that she cannot do it alone. Genoveva realizes that her talented Arellano Associates staff is only "one part of thousands of pieces that make this project happen."
Like the boring machines hiding under the earth, there is a lot of work being done on the Project that sometimes goes unseen. Arellano Associates bring important public updates to the surface, while recognizing all of the additional hard work taking place.
"It is very rewarding," Genoveva says, "to work alongside other such professionals."
American Safety Group, Inc.
"There’s never a dull moment on this project," says Alfredo Valdez, President of American Safety Group, Inc. (ASG). His firm helps to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthful for all employees. On a project as dynamic as the APM, that requires one important element: communication.
"The way we communicate information on a project of this size is always a challenge," Alfredo explains. "Getting the right information out to the field and properly implementing it daily takes tremendous effort." In addition to the usual health and safety protocols for a major construction project, the ASG team also had to adapt to constantly updating COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fortunately, Alfredo knows how to make the most from changing plans.
He began his career in the Marine Corps with the intention of joining law enforcement. After being injured while serving overseas, Alfredo had to adjust his career path. He studied Construction Management at ITT Technical Institute, then found work performing security and safety services. While it was not the type of job he had originally planned, Alfredo had found his calling. "From that day," he says, "I never looked back."
As President of ASG, Alfredo understands the value of building a strong culture around health and safety. He also advocates for his fellow veterans, with half of his workforce made up of veteran employees. They are all used to thinking on their feet. When the pandemic first began, Alfredo says, "the team jumped into action to make adjustments and find solutions to ensure personnel safety while keeping the project moving forward."
Alfredo is proud to work collaboratively with LINXS Constructors and LAWA to find solutions using their practical, technical and regulatory expertise. His company is grateful to be part of such a large and unique project. "The ability to look back in a couple of years and say that you were a part of that amazing, successful project is humbling."
Selbert Perkins Design
Since the year 2000, travelers arriving at the airport have been greeted by the illuminated 32-foot tall letters of "L A X" which are surrounded by color-changing 100-foot pylons of light. This beautiful and iconic welcome to our city was designed by certified firm Selbert Perkins Design (SPD). The company has been working with LAWA for over two decades. In fact, their team also helped to develop LAWA's name and original logo.
This month we spoke with Robin Perkins, a Partner at SPD, who studied graphic design at The Rhode Island School of Design and sculpture at the Massachusetts College of Art. Her company has developed signage and wayfinding systems—that is, signs that help direct people where to go—as well as branded environments during their 30 years in business. Robin has a short commute to LAX from the SPD offices in Playa del Rey; the company also has offices in Chicago, Boston and Shanghai.
SPD's primary scope of work on the APM project is developing a comprehensive signage and wayfinding system for the train, six stations and elevated walkways. This complex system includes static and dynamic digital signs. Fortunately, SPD is well suited for exactly this endeavor since the company developed the Wayfinding Design Standards for LAWA.
"Now we are implementing that system," Robin explained, "to help over 80 million [annual] passengers get to their gate for take-off!"
Robin and her team are excited for travelers to ride the APM for the first time and see the landmark LAX letters and pylons from a brand new perspective. While her firm has been working with LAWA for quite some time by helping travelers find their way and greeting visitors upon arrival to our city, Robin is still incredibly grateful to be part of such an impactful project.
"We are excited to be part of a team that is contributing to the transformation of the City of Los Angeles and the L.A. experience," Robin tells us, "as well as working to prepare the city for the 2028 Olympics!"
Lynn Capouya Inc.
You often have to hear “no” quite a few times before you find the right “yes.” Lynn Capouya knows this lesson better than most. When she founded her landscape architecture firm Lynn Capouya, Inc. (LCI) in 1979, she relentlessly called prime contractors about opportunities and potential needs for woman-owned business participation. Lynn was fortunate to have accomplished Los Angeles architect and advocate Robert A. Kennard as a mentor. He gave Lynn a list of firms to introduce her firm to and pursue for future projects. After enough calls, Lynn connected with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and has since worked on several projects with them at LAX, Ontario, Van Nuys and Palmdale airports.
Certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), LCI has also recently completed work for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project. During this project, Lynn learned about upcoming opportunities at the LAWA Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), including the APM. Her past relationships and extensive experience led to an invitation to join the LINXS team to work on landscape master planning and irrigation design.
On the project, LCI has also worked with the LINXS Certified Firm Technical Advisor (CFTA). The CFTA is a resource accessible to all certified firms on the project and is able to assist with contracts, payments, marketing or any other areas a firm may need additional support. “The LINXS CFTA [Martha Valenzuela] has been very helpful in facilitating the resolution of various project related issues our team has encountered,” Lynn said of the experience. “They have been very diplomatic in their approach fostering communication, then following up to ensure completion.”
Lynn earned her degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona before moving to Los Angeles. She is originally from Alabama, but visited family in the area throughout her childhood. Her memories of the city often involve transportation—whether fondly recalling Blue Bus trips to the beach or embarrassing recollections of going the wrong direction on the 405 Freeway—so it seems only fitting that Lynn’s company is involved with so many major public transportation projects in the city.
While the complexity and coordination of the project can be challenging at times, Lynn’s work is also incredibly fulfilling. The most rewarding moment so far? When the Master Landscape Plan that LCI helped design was approved by LAWA, setting a landscaping vision for the future of the development.
That was a “yes” worth waiting for.
MTGL Testing Laboratories
With so much of the work on the Project taking place deep underground, it is important to closely monitor the surroundings. That's where MTGL Testing Laboratories comes in. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified firm has been testing and inspecting soil and other materials for 27 years.
On the Project specifically, MTGL is tasked with daily testing of the tunnel's soil to confirm that it meets compaction specifications that ensure safety throughout construction. As the TBMs progress underground, curved pre-cast concrete walls are installed to form the interior walls of the subway tunnel. MTGL also tests and inspects the grout used during installation of these walls to check safe conformance.
MTGL has been operating in Southern California for nearly three decades and has three fully certified laboratories to conduct geotechnical analysis. The firm discovered an opportunity to work on this project through a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) newsletter (like this one!), then followed up with a direct phone call to Frontier-Kemper that eventually led to a contract. Working so far beneath the surface can be challenging, but MTGL is grateful for the chance to work on a premier project for Metro.
Caminiti Consulting Company, Inc
Although Debra Caminiti is a native of New York, she has lived in Boston for almost 30 years now. She studied civil engineering in college and worked as a structural engineer after graduation, but quickly found a passion for construction management instead. As a construction manager, she has had the opportunity to work on many large and challenging projects at high profile locations such as the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and Logan International Airport.
Then, in 2009, Debra became the Founder and President of her own WBE/DBE certified firm: Caminiti Consulting Company, Inc . The company has been providing services to projects with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for the past six years, so Debra and her team keep track of all MBTA opportunities that become available.
On the GLX Project, Caminiti Consulting is a second tier firm supporting the Project's lead Design firm STV, Inc. with project controls, quality control tasks, and administrative work. Debra told us that she thinks all improvements to the public transit system in and around Boston are exciting, and this project is particularly interesting because of its ambitious size.
The planned size of the project also presents challenges. In order to add additional tracks, existing tracks must be relocated so that train service is not disrupted. Debra has experience working on challenging transportation projects in Boston, so she's confident in her team's ability to help keep all the trains running on time!