Agency: Riverside County Transportation Commission
Soteria’s Role: Safety and Security Planning and Analysis Startup, Commissioning and Technical Expertise
Completion Date: 2015
Project Overview
The Perris Valley Line (PVL) Project is a 24-mile extension of the Metrolink 91 Line that previously provided service only from Riverside to Fullerton and downtown Los Angeles. The extension begins at a junction with the BNSF San Bernardino Subdivision mainline, north of the city of Riverside, and turns southeast along the San Jacinto Branch Line. The terminus of the PVL Line is in the City of Perris at Route 74 and Ethanac Road. The line is operated and controlled from the Dispatch Operations Center (DOC) in Pomona, CA. The DOC serves as the dispatching center for all Metrolink lines and is the central location for coordinating emergency response actions if there is an accident or other event requiring Fire Services or Law Enforcement response.
The PVL Project constructed four new stations and operates through three cities: Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris.
Soteria’s Contribution
Teaming with HDR Construction Control Corp., Soteria managed the System Safety and Security Certification program, led the start-up and commissioning phase and provided technical expertise for integrated testing.
During the design phase, Soteria:
- Developed the Design Conformance Checklists and facilitated their verification by the Design Team. As the Design Checklists were completed Soteria planned and facilitated audits by Metrolink, RCTC, PMOC and the Construction Management Team. Final verified and audited checklists were presented to the Safety and Security Certification Committee (SSCC) for final certification.
- Assisted with the preparation and verification of a Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA).
- Prepared an Operating Hazard Analysis (OHA) and a Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (TVA). The recommendations and mitigations identified in these documents were verified in design, with the evidence presented at SSCRT meetings to certify the Hazard Identification and Resolution process.
- Prepared and reviewed selected construction specifications and reviewed the construction plans prior to their release for bid.
During Construction and Start-up, Soteria:
- Continued its management and facilitation of the safety and security certification program to ensure a structured coordination of FTA regulatory requirements, FRA regulations, Fire/Life Safety requirements, field inspections, integrated testing and rail activation.
- Developed a Construction Conformance Checklist and presented it to the construction team for verification. Soteria worked closely with field inspectors to ensure that appropriate evidence was collected and documented to verify all the Construction Checklist items.
- Developed a Test Management Oversight Plan and facilitated the integrated testing and commissioning process to support the collection of testing evidence for the Construction Conformance Checklist.
- Soteria established and managed the following regular committees throughout the construction phase of the project:
- Safety and Security Certification Committee
- Fire/Life Safety and Security Committee
- Integration Testing Committee, and
- Rail Activation Committee
- The PHA, OHA and TVA were verified in construction and testing and presented at SSCC meetings for final certification.
- Soteria planned and facilitated training exercises for local law enforcement and fire services, including a Tabletop Exercise and a large-scale emergency drill.
- When all the certification evidence was completed, Soteria prepared the Final Safety and Security Certification Verification Report (SSCVR) and coordinated all required signatures. The SSCVR was presented to Metrolink, RCTC and the FTA for review and comment. Soteria coordinated the resolution of all comments and issued the Final SSCVR which allowed the new line to enter revenue service.
