Whittier- The construction process is beginning at Rio Hondo College. The Colleges Program Management Team has sent out a Request for Proposal to six pre-qualified Construction Management Firms to find the Construction Manager for the Learning Resource Center (LRC) and Library project.
The Construction Manager plays a vital role in building projects. They enforce the provisions of the construction contract, issue status reports, and coordinate the activities of the Architect, Inspector, Owners Representative, and the Contractor. All six of the firms attended a Job Walk on March 20th and are expected to submit proposals.
The Program Management Team has done a good job in pre-qualifying the firms in our pool, said Gary Mendez, President of the Rio Hondo College. I am confident that we will have an excellent Construction Manager for this project. I am delighted that the construction process is underway and look forward to the ground breaking ceremony for the LRC.
A firm will be recommended by the Rio Hondo College Program Management Team to the Board of Trustees at the April 19th meeting. Construction on the LRC is set to begin by Fall 2006.
This is an exciting time, said Dr. Rose Marie Joyce, President of Rio Hondo College. We are beginning to see all of the planning we have done come to fruition.
Located in Whittier, California, Rio Hondo College is a collaborative center of lifelong learning which provides innovative, challenging, and quality educational offering - including programs and courses leading to transfer and vocational degrees and certificates - for its diverse students and community. For information on the College or its programs, please call 562-692-0921 or visit www.riohondo.edu
TRANSPORTATION
WHITTIER - Rio Hondo College officials are working on a new public transportation program to coax students out of their cars and possibly avoid having to build expensive new parking structures.
Saying many students are paying more for transportation than tuition, the college is proposing a two-year pilot program that would dole out free bus passes to full-time students, or those taking more than 12 units.
In turn, the college would improve bus shelters and tram service to off-campus bus stops to make bus transportation more convenient for students, officials said.
"It's going to take a couple of years to change people's habits because most everyone is used to driving their own car," said Andy Howard, executive director of planning and development.
"If we increase ridership, we hope to persuade the transit agencies to increase their service. And if there is better service, it will be more frequent and people will be more likely to ride the bus," he added.
Only about 2 percent of the more than 20,000 students who attend Rio Hondo College use public transportation.
Fewer cars on campus also would eliminate the need to create more parking, which would then free up more bond money for new classroom construction, officials said.
Regional traffic and air pollution would also improve, officials added.
