FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2019
MARTA CENTRALIZED PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION MAKES IMPACT ON ECONOMY AND DIVERSITY
Jacobs/Russell Joint Venture to Support MARTA’s Largest Expansion in History
ATLANTA – As MARTA’s Centralized Project Management Organization (CPMO), the joint venture of Jacobs Project Management Co. and H.J. Russell will manage approximately $700 million in construction spending in the first five years of the Authority’s More MARTA expansion project. At $3 billion, the project is the largest expansion in MARTA’s history.
It is anticipated that the project will create more than 6,000 jobs and employ 15 subcontractors, 13 of whom are either minority-owned (7), women-owned (4) or small business enterprises (2). Russell, the 40 percent joint venture partner, is a minority-owned firm.
The Jacobs/Russell team will be responsible for the standardization of project management processes. The team will also handle quality assurance and project resources, including planning, monitoring and performance measurements. The acquisition of a CPMO addresses concerns related to a lack of project controls, an issue noted in an independent audit, as well as one conducted by MARTA in 2017.
Jeffrey Parker, MARTA general manager and CEO, said, “The centralized project management model lends itself to efficiency because it provides a singular focus. That’s imperative with an initiative the size and scope of More MARTA. With the expertise and vision the Jacobs/Russell joint venture brings, we are confident that this historic expansion will be delivered efficiently and will make sense in the local and regional context.”
“For more than 40 years, the City of Atlanta and Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties have invested in transit in the Atlanta region. This contract symbolizes a renewed commitment to that investment and is an historic win, not only for the Jacobs/Russell joint venture, but for the Atlanta region,” said Rhonda Briggins, Jacobs’ vice president of Transit Services and MARTA Client Account Manager.
With more than 132 years of combined experience in program and construction management, the Jacobs/ Russell team will undergird MARTA’s commitment to efficient project delivery and innovation, including bringing online a dashboard that will allow the public to track the progress of More MARTA projects.
About MARTA
MARTA was established in 1979 as a combined bus-and-rail transit system to provide safe, convenient and affordable public transportation for Atlanta area residents and visitors. Since then, MARTA has grown to become the ninth largest public transportation system in the United States providing more than 430,000 daily passenger trips. MARTA’s funding is sourced primarily from a 1 percent sales tax in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties and the City of Atlanta. MARTA is a significant part of the regional and state economy contributing an estimated $2.6 billion in economic activity every year and supporting an estimated 24,000 jobs. To find out more, visit
www.itsmarta.com
.
About Jacobs
Jacobs is challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 52,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit
jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on
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About H.J. Russell
H. J. Russell & Company, founded over 60 years ago, is a vertically integrated service provider specializing in real estate development, construction, program management, and property management. We believe to effectively contribute and provide impactful service to our clients, we must take a holistic approach to any assignment.
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