The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) has selected AECOM and the Portal Connectors team to provide program management and construction management services for the Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) project, also known as the Portal.

 The tunneling and station megaproject will extend Caltrain service from its current terminal at Fourth and King Streets to the Salesforce Transit Center and accommodate future California High-Speed Rail service. Once complete, the extension will serve as a key regional rail connection with a combined average ridership forecast of 90,000 daily riders connecting with 11 Bay area transit systems. Portal Connectors, a team led by AECOM, will be responsible for implementing an operating model to successfully deliver an array of program management and project supervision services in support of the Portal. This includes effective execution of key activities such as obtaining FTA funding, finalizing the procurement plan in 2024, activating collaborative delivery models, designing and building the tunnel stations, and integrating The Portal with existing rail systems and operations. 

The 1.3-mile rail extension is expected to be constructed principally below grade using cut-and-cover and mined tunneling methods underneath Townsend and Second Streets. The project includes an underground station at Fourth and Townsend Streets along with the Salesforce Transit Center’s basement levels, utility relocation, track and systems work. The Portal is the second phase of the TJPA’s Transbay Program. The first phase replaced the former Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco with the modern, multimodal Salesforce Transit Center.