ARCADIS Awarded Tennessee Segment of a High Speed Ground Transportation Maglev Project

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ARCADIS (NASDAQ: ARCAF)(EURONEXT: ARCAD) is very pleased to announce that the firm has been awarded a contract to provide project management and engineering services for the Chattanooga to Nashville, Tennessee segment of a High Speed Ground Transportation/Maglev project by the Chattanooga Enterprise Center. The project will be funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.

“ARCADIS brings a wealth of experience for this exciting project along with strong regional experience. Our selection is a major step forward”

ARCADIS’ services will focus on performing feasibility studies, both technological and environmental, as well as providing stakeholder outreach for the northern portion of the Atlanta-Chattanooga-Nashville High Speed Rail Corridor. The 140-mile-long corridor traverses sections of dense urban areas, as well as rural mountainous regions bisected by the Tennessee River watershed.

Maglev, short for magnetic levitation, is an advanced passenger and freight transport technology in which magnetic forces lift, propel, and guide the train over an elevated guideway. Using electric power and state-of-the-art control systems, the need for wheels is eliminated, allowing for minimal resistance, excellent acceleration rates, and cruising speeds of 275 to 300 miles per hour. Maglev trains are presently in commercial operation in Shanghai, China and Nagoya, Japan. The primary goals for this mode of transportation are safety, environmental friendliness, operational simplicity and reliability. Other forms of high speed rail technologies have been previously evaluated in the Chattanooga-Nashville corridor. ARCADIS has done a previous work for the Tennessee Department of Transportation to evaluate other forms of high speed rail technologies in the Chattanooga-Nashville corridor. The previous report considered more conventional rail technologies that could sustain speeds of 90 mph.

“ARCADIS is excited about bringing our world-class rail experience to such an innovative project in the United States," said Dave Thomas, executive vice president of ARCADIS. "We're committed to providing the Chattanooga Enterprise Center with a signature project and hope to explore other opportunities for future high speed ground transportation."

“ARCADIS brings a wealth of experience for this exciting project along with strong regional experience. Our selection is a major step forward," said John Hensley, senior vice president of ARCADIS.

ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, engineering and management services in infrastructure, environment and facilities, to enhance mobility, sustainability and quality of life. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With more than 11,000 employees and over $1.5 billion in gross revenue, the company has an extensive international network that is supported by strong local market positions. Please visit our website at www.arcadis-us.com.