On November 5, 2007, the California Supreme Court held that the State of California could not enter into a memorandum of understanding with an engineering union which restricted the State from hiring and retaining private engineering firms where such restrictions were barred by a recent amendment to the state constitution. (See Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California, Inc. v. Professional Engineers in California Government, 2007 Cal. LEXIS 12680.)
Continue Reading Restrictions on State of California’s ability to contract with private engineering firms struck down by California Supreme Court
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One Step Closer to the “Grand Central Station of the West”
By Greg Korbel on
Posted in Transportation
On September 20, 2007, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (“TJPA”) selected Pelli Clark Pelli Architects and the Hines development firm to design and develop the new Transbay Transit Center and Transit Tower.
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Continue Reading One Step Closer to the “Grand Central Station of the West”
Third Circuit Court of Appeals holds that state’s ability to contract for private architectural and engineering services mandated by California constitution
By Greg Korbel on
On June 13th, in Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California, Inc. v. Professional Engineers in California Government, (2006) 2006 Cal. App. LEXIS 874, the Third District Court of Appeal struck down provisions of a union agreement between the state and civil service engineers limiting the state’s right to contract with private engineers, holding that the provisions conflict with Proposition 35 and are unconstitutional.
San Jose BART extension in trouble after tax-increase ballot measure defeated
By Greg Korbel on
Posted in Public Works Funding
On June 6, 2006, Santa Clara County voters soundly rejected Measure A, which proposed a half-cent tax increase designed to rescue the financially struggling BART extension to Santa Clara County. Measure A was defeated 127,935 (57.41%) “no” votes to 94,891 (42.59%) “yes” votes.
The $4.7 billion BART extension is now in serious doubt, as without the…
Largest public works bond in California history on November ballot
By Greg Korbel on
Posted in Public Works Funding
On May 5, 2006, California lawmakers approved a series of bills that would place a record $37.3 billion public works spending plan before voters in November, reviving the earlier proposal that failed to pass the Legislature earlier this year when lawmakers and the governor could not reach a compromise.
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Continue Reading Largest public works bond in California history on November ballot
Design, build, finance, operate, and maintain project – BART Oakland Airport Connector project
By Greg Korbel on
http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/oacnews.asp
On February 13, 2006, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (“BART”) issued an advanced notice of a Request for Qualifications for the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of a three-mile connector railway between the existing Coliseum BART station to the Oakland International Airport.