The regional connector has become “about 6% construction project, with the remainder being a utilities project,” Metro director Jacqueline Dupont-Walker said Thursday at a committee meeting. The original budget set aside about $92.7 million, or 6.5% of the total project budget. The latest budget increase request comes as Metro’s Washington seeks more authority to negotiate contract modifications without board approval. “This is central to our ability to keep these projects on time and on budget,” Washington said. One month of delay can cost Metro at least $2 million in additional labor costs, and often more, he said.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 19, 2017 23:38 UTC