Sound Transit’s System Expansion Program

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GEMS provides comprehensive design, engineering, and program‑management support to Sound Transit as it delivers one of the nation’s largest and most complex transit expansion programs. 

Our team strengthens Sound Transit’s ability to plan, design, and implement major capital projects across the Puget Sound region, including light rail extensions, bus rapid transit corridors, commuter rail improvements, and supporting infrastructure.

Advancing a Multi‑Decade Regional Transit Vision

Sound Transit’s System Expansion Program represents a historic investment in regional mobility. The program includes new light rail lines, expanded stations, maintenance facilities, BRT corridors, and multimodal improvements that will reshape how people move throughout the Central Puget Sound region.

To deliver this ambitious program, Sound Transit relies on a diverse network of architectural, engineering, and technical partners to support planning, conceptual design, preliminary engineering, final design, permitting, environmental compliance, and construction‑phase services. 

GEMS is proud to support this effort with disciplined, high‑value technical expertise that aligns with Sound Transit’s long‑term capital delivery needs.

Aligned With Sound Transit’s MATOC Structure

GEMS supports Sound Transit through a flexible, multi‑award task‑order contracting framework that enables rapid deployment of technical services across multiple projects. We understand the importance of:

• Clear scopes of work
• Rapid response to Requests for Task Order Proposals
• Strong documentation and design controls
• Seamless integration with Sound Transit’s internal teams
• Consistent quality across concurrent task orders

This alignment ensures that Sound Transit receives responsive, reliable, and technically sound support throughout the program lifecycle.

Supporting Sound Transit’s Core Design and Engineering Needs

GEMS provides specialized expertise across the full lifecycle of Sound Transit’s design and engineering activities, including:

• Project definition, feasibility, and conceptual design
• Basis of design development
• Preliminary and final engineering
• Design services during construction
• Design quality management and design controls
• Permitting, agreements, and regulatory coordination
• Stakeholder and community engagement support
• Technical documentation and administrative support

Our team integrates seamlessly with Sound Transit staff and partner consultants to ensure design packages are accurate, coordinated, and aligned with schedule‑critical milestones.

Strengthening Program Delivery Through Technical Excellence

Sound Transit’s expansion program requires disciplined management of design, engineering, and construction interfaces. GEMS brings the program‑management rigor needed to support these activities, including:

• Scheduling and cost estimating
• Risk management and mitigation planning
• Design QA/QC and configuration management
• Document control and digital engineering integration
• GIS, BIM, and technical modeling support
• Environmental and contaminated materials support
• Site investigations and technical field support
• Procurement and contracting support

Our approach ensures that design decisions are well‑documented, technically sound, and fully coordinated across disciplines reducing rework, minimizing delays, and supporting Sound Transit’s long‑term capital delivery goals.

Why Agencies Choose GEMS

GEMS brings a combination of technical depth, program‑management discipline, and responsive leadership that aligns with Sound Transit’s expectations for MATOC partners. Agencies rely on us because we offer:

• Decades of leadership in transportation, transit, and infrastructure design
• Certified DBE/SBE/LBE/VSBE status in Washington and California
• Nationally certified professionals 
• Integrated GIS, BIM, and project‑controls capabilities
• Proven performance on complex, schedule‑critical capital programs
• A collaborative, owner‑aligned approach to design and engineering support

We understand the importance of accuracy, compliance, and coordination and we deliver the disciplined technical support needed to keep Sound Transit’s projects moving.

Supporting a Transit System That Strengthens Communities

Sound Transit’s System Expansion Program is transforming mobility, sustainability, and economic opportunity across the Puget Sound region. Our work supports a transit system that expands access to jobs, reduces congestion, and strengthens mobility for communities across the region.

GEMS is honored to contribute to this historic effort and to support Sound Transit’s mission of building a connected, reliable, and future‑ready transit network.

Committed to Sound Transit’s Vision

GEMS stands ready to support Sound Transit’s next generation of transit investments with clarity, discipline, and technical excellence delivering the high‑value design and engineering support required for successful program delivery.