CIVIL/HIGHWAY TRANSIT
Ferrovial Construction US Projects Surpass $1 Billion in Payments to DBEs in Past Decade Working on major highway projects can However, the company quickly embraced the requirements are performed in a timely and be challenging for many Disadvantaged program and selected Angela Berry Roberson, professional manner. Business Enterprises. Since DBE firms are an experienced DBE Program professional, to A key factor in Ferrovial’s overall success with small, by definition, the companies often do lead its DBE Program and contract compliance administering a successful DBE Program on its not have the capacity, working capital, and efforts. This hire gave Ferrovial the in-house projects is recruiting experienced professionals staff size necessary to take on projects where expertise to create an effective DBE Program to lead compliance efforts. These positions subcontracts can total millions of dollars. and assist project managers through the provide expertise regarding the DBE Program Ferrovial Construction US (Ferrovial) has faced process of implementing DBE Program – and the skills to effectively serve as a liaison this challenge head-on while working as a lead requirements. between project staff, a government agency’s construction firm on major DBE Program staff, and the highway projects, primarily DBE business community. in the Southeastern U.S., and has found creative ways Transform to partner with DBE firms 285/400 to exceed participation Interchange goals on each project. Improvement These results have helped Project Ferrovial surpass $1 billion in payments to DBEs firms One example of the success since beginning work on of Ferrovial’s DBE Program its first U.S.-based projects is the Georgia Department to build the North Tarrant of Transportation’s $800 Express Freeway and the million Transform 285/400 LBJ Express Freeway in Interchange Improvement the Dallas Metroplex in Project in the Atlanta area. Construction of the collector-distributor lanes of the Georgia 2010. Since that time, The Ferrovial-led North Department of Transportation Transform 285/400 Interchange Ferrovial has been the Perimeter Contractors (NPC) Improvement Project in Atlanta, Georgia. lead construction firm for team hired Nykita Hurt to six additional projects, with serve as diversity contract three currently in progress. compliance manager for One of Roberson’s first initiatives was the project. Hurt joined the NPC team after Ferrovial is the U.S. subsidiary of Ferrovial, S.A., a Spanish multinational infrastructure establishing the practice of hiring a full-time retiring from GDOT as an Equal Employment company based in Madrid, Spain, with diversity contract compliance manager for Opportunity Officer in the Office of Civil Rights, annual revenue exceeding €6.3 billion. The every project. The compliance managers ensure where her role included certifying businesses parent company is involved in the design, Ferrovial maintains day-to-day administration for the DBE Program. This experience allowed construction, financing, operation (DBFO) of the DBE Program on each project; making Hurt to hit the ground running and to advise and maintenance of transport infrastructure sure DBE firms, project staff, and project NPC project staff on GDOT’s expectations and and urban services. Although Ferrovial is a owners have a direct point of contact for requirements regarding working with DBE firms. worldwide leader in the infrastructure industry, the administration of the DBE Program. The “I had a personal connection with many of the company leaders had little experience with presence of a full-time compliance manager DBE firms after retiring from GDOT as an EEO the USDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise also ensures ongoing outreach efforts, Officer in Metro Atlanta where I had certified Program when they entered the U.S. market. contract compliance activities and reporting many of the firms,” Hurt said. “So, I could call
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