Granite Wins $51.5 Million Metrolink Contract Under SCORE

By Amara Osei

Granite has secured a $51.5 million contract from the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, also known as Metrolink, to build two rail siding extensions under the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program.

The Watsonville, California-based infrastructure construction and materials company expects construction to start in January 2027 and finish in July 2028, ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

What does the contract cover?

The award covers the Marengo and Rancho Cucamonga siding extensions within SCORE. The two work sites are:

• One rail siding extension near downtown Los Angeles.
• One rail siding extension in Rancho Cucamonga.

Granite said the improvements will increase passenger rail capacity and give Metrolink more flexibility to manage trains across the regional network. The company said the project also supports Metrolink’s effort to accommodate increasing regional transportation demand.

Rail sidings allow trains to pass one another, wait, or be accommodated along sections of track. Granite said that operating flexibility helps transportation agencies manage scheduling and capacity constraints as demand rises.

Why does the 2028 schedule matter?

Granite said the siding extensions should improve mobility during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, when Southern California is expected to experience increased travel activity. The company said the infrastructure is also intended to support passenger rail service and regional transportation connectivity beyond the games.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with completion scheduled for July 2028. Granite said the timeline positions the project for completion ahead of the major international sporting events. Once complete, Granite expects the extensions to provide additional operating flexibility and infrastructure capacity for communities throughout Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

How will Granite account for the award?

Granite expects to include the $51.5 million contract in its fourth-quarter 2026 committed and awarded projects, or CAP. The award marks Granite’s first contract procured through SCORE. Granite said the win supports its regional rail strategy and positions the company to pursue future work as the program advances.

Granite has previously completed rail infrastructure projects for the Riverside County Transportation Commission. Granite’s management expects to apply that experience in its new relationship with Metrolink. The company views the award as an opportunity to expand its regional rail construction business and position itself for additional infrastructure work as SCORE progresses.

Bill Moore, Regional Vice President at Granite, said:

“Winning the first project procured under the SCORE program supports our regional rail strategy and positions us well to pursue future work as the program advances.

We have had successful rail projects with the Riverside County Transportation Commission, and I look forward to bringing that experience to our new relationship with Metrolink.

I’m excited that Granite is so involved in increasing the mobility of the travelling public in LA and the Inland Empire.”

What does the award add to Granite?

Granite said the Metrolink contract adds a passenger rail infrastructure project to its construction portfolio and supports Southern California’s transportation modernization plans. For Granite, the deal combines a new customer relationship with its first project under SCORE. It also builds on the company’s earlier rail work for the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

Granite was incorporated in 1922 and has developed into one of the largest diversified infrastructure construction and construction materials businesses in the United States, according to the company. The company’s operations include civil construction services and materials used in transportation and other infrastructure projects. Granite also works on highways, bridges, rail transportation and other public infrastructure systems.

Granite’s next milestone is the January 2027 construction start, followed by completion in July 2028. Meeting that schedule would give the company a completed SCORE project as it pursues additional regional rail work under the program.