MARLTON, N.J. and IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International (NYSE:HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today that it has been selected by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, an affiliate of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), to provide program management services in connection with design and construction of the $458 million Phase 2A of the Foothill Extension, an 11.4-mile extension of Metro's Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa in Southern California.
Construction of the Foothill Extension, which continues the Metro Gold Line from its current terminus in East Pasadena through the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa, will create nearly 30,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs. Under the Construction Authority's schedule, the project could be completed by December 2013 if it receives funding from Metro by 2010.
"The Foothill Extension is the only rail project in Los Angeles County that is ready to go, and the board's selection of a program manager indicates how close we are to getting construction boots on the ground," said Metro Gold Line Chief Executive Officer Habib Balian, who was authorized to negotiate the terms of the contract with Hill.
Hill's responsibilities as program manager will include overseeing the implementation of a design/build contract including design, construction, quality assurance/quality control, safety, community involvement, business impact, environmental mitigations, maintenance of traffic oversight and related issues. Hill's primary subconsultant on the project is Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (NYSE:JEC).
"I am honored to be part of the Foothill Extension having been part of Phase 1 of the project," said John K. Skoury, Hill's Vice President and Program Manager. "The Phase 2A extension is even more exciting to me personally and the Hill team is ready to help our client deliver this ambitious project," Skoury added.
Hill International, with 2,400 employees in 80 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and construction claims and consulting services. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the 11th largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com.
Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information contained in this press release, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any projections of earnings or other financial items; any statements concerning our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include: modifications and termination of client contracts; control and operational issues pertaining to business activities that we conduct on our own behalf or pursuant to joint ventures with other parties; difficulties we may incur in implementing our acquisition strategy; the need to retain and recruit key technical and management personnel; and unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
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