A Perth-based charity supplying backpacks filled with back-to-school essentials to disadvantaged WA children has seen demand surge so dramatically that it has doubled the size of its headquarters, with support from Mineral Resources (MinRes).
Dandelions WA’s 2026 Back to School campaign is forecast to reach a record 17,000 students at more than 420 schools in the Perth metropolitan area and remote communities, ensuring schoolchildren can start the new school year ready to learn.
The charity began in 2021 supporting just 220 students. By 2022 this had risen to 900, climbed to 6,700 in 2023 and surged to 15,000 last year, highlighting the growing cost‑of‑living pressures facing many families.
An army of volunteers – including MinRes employees – spends months preparing the backpacks with essentials such as pens, pencils, exercise books, lunch boxes, drink bottles, hats and calculators.
Many children also receive toiletry packs containing shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush and deodorant.
Since 2021, MinRes has supported Dandelions WA by contributing to the cost of renting its Malaga headquarters, affectionately known as the Kindness Kubby.
As demand for the WA chairty surged, MinRes increased its financial support to enable Dandelions WA to lease an adjoining unit and effectively double its operational capacity.
Baker McKenzie advised DAAily Platforms, the globally leading digital media company focusing on architecture and design, on the successful sale of Architonic, a global design inspiration platform serving architects and designers, to SANDOW Companies.
With Architonic now part of SANDOW Companies’ comprehensive design portfolio — which includes prominent brands such as Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design, Metropolis and Material Bank — the acquisition will facilitate collaboration across the SANDOW Companies ecosystem. This integration is expected to provide enhanced resources and opportunities for specifiers, architects and designers globally.
Following the sale, DAAily Platforms, which also owns ArchDaily and designboom, will concentrate on editorial excellence for its principal brands, while continuing to work collaboratively with SANDOW Companies to support the global design community.
Baker McKenzie Switzerland advised DAAily Platforms on all legal matters related to this transaction.
M&A partner Matthias Trautmann led the cross-border team, which consisted of Felix Diehl (partner employment, Frankfurt), Christoph Stutz (partner employment, Zurich), Eva Kriechbaumer (counsel M&A, Munich), Andrea Bolliger (counsel tax, Zurich) Sebastian Pfrang (associate employment, Frankfurt), René Kühn (associate M&A, Zurich), Hesam Mirzai (associate M&A, Zurich), Jan Kammler (associate employment, Frankfurt), Collin Stich (associate M&A, Chicago) and Grégory Sarbach (trainee Lawyer, Zurich).
About DAAily Platforms DAAily Platforms brings together leading architecture and design platforms, ArchDaily and designboom, serving global communities of architects and designers. ArchDaily is the world’s most visited architecture platform, providing daily news and project insights, while designboom, founded in 1999, is a pioneering online design magazine sharing creativity and innovation. Together, they reach 2.5 billion page views each year and have over 25 million social media followers, offering unmatched influence in the industry.
About Architonic Architonic is the leading global platform connecting architects, interior designers and specifiers with top design brands and products. Serving over 16 million professionals annually, Architonic offers expertly curated product presentations, editorial content and digital tools to help users discover and specify with confidence. For more than 20 years, it has set industry standards. It remains an indispensable resource for design decision-makers worldwide.
About SANDOW Companies SANDOW Companies, founded by Adam I. Sandow in 2003, reimagines publishing by blending design, materials and luxury. Its portfolio includes SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, featuring brands like Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design, Metropolis, Azure, Design Milk, Architizer, DESIGNTV by SANDOW, SURROUND Podcast Network, ThinkLab, The Agency by SANDOW, The STUDIO by SANDOW, as well as Leaders Magazine, Curator and MediaJet.
Natural England’s risk-averse approach is increasingly affecting well-managed and long-established rural activities. Shooting, predator control, habitat management and gamebird release are being constrained in ways which undermine the contribution these activities make to conservation and practical land management.
BASC submitted detailed evidence to the NAO during the review. It set out how NE frequently prioritises the avoidance of risk over evidence-led decision-making. The NAO’s findings closely reflect those concerns, noting that environmental risk is often treated in absolute terms, where even minimal or theoretical harm leads to a presumption against activity.
The report also supports BASC’s concerns about the use of evidence. The NAO found that NE has not evaluated the impact of its regulatory work for several years and that decisions affecting protected sites are sometimes based on generic or outdated data, rather than robust, site-specific monitoring. BASC has consistently warned that these gaps lead to disproportionate restrictions on land managers and weaken accountability for regulatory outcomes.
Operational issues highlighted by the NAO will be familiar to many BASC members. The report points to inconsistent application of regulation between teams, a loss of local expertise, skills shortages and limited flexibility in engagement. Members regularly report delays, rigid procedures and a lack of practical support or communication, which undermine confidence in the system.
While the NAO notes NE’s stated commitment to reform, BASC believes the report underlines the scale of change required. Without a clear shift towards proportionate, evidence-based regulation, the problems identified will remain.
With an estimated 30% to 40% of the United States’ food supply ending up as waste, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food science and horticulture experts teamed up to study if it could lay the foundation for growing the next bunch of crops.
“It’s capturing food waste that would otherwise go to landfill and produce greenhouse gases and cause harm to the environment in some capacity,” said Matt Bertucci, assistant professor of sustainable fruit and vegetable production with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“Instead, we are utilizing it to generate an organic substrate, an organic amendment compost that can then be utilized for propagating seedlings,” he said.
Bertucci is part of the Department of Horticulture within the Division of Agriculture’s research and outreach arms — the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service — and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the U of A.
The study, “Assessing Food Waste Compost as a Substrate Amendment for Tomato and Watermelon Seedlings,” was published in HortTechnology last year.
Researchers grew tomato and watermelon seedlings in pure food waste substrate, pure commercial peat moss-based potting mix and blends of the two with varying ratios to compare seedling germination, growth and nutrient uptake. The pure food waste substrate was made up of food scraps from a commercial partner and wood chips from a tree service company.
The study found that while food waste compost might not be viable as a standalone alternative to commercial potting mix, it could be suitable as part of a substrate mix.
Results showed that mixtures with less than 50% food waste compost produced better seedling emergence and growth and had better biomass accumulation than pure food waste, a key indicator of a plant’s health and potential yield.
Still, Bertucci underscored the value of composting food waste, which he said prevents waste from going to landfill and offers a usable byproduct.
“Compost is the sweet spot for sustainability,” he said.
Co-authors included former graduate student Allyson Hamilton and professor Kristen Gibson of the Department of Food Science, and department head Mary Savin, program associate D.E. Kirkpatrick and graduate student R.C. Woody-Pumford of the Department of Horticulture. Gibson is a professor of food safety and microbiology, the Donald “Buddy” Wray Endowed Chair in Food Safety and director of the experiment station’s Arkansas Center for Food Safety. Savin is a professor and head of the Department of Horticulture.
This project was funded by an Arkansas Specialty Crop Block Research Grant (award no. AM180100XXXXG157), with additional support from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch project no. 102445.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
The Best of CES™ 2026 awards, which are voted on by leading tech journalists from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET and Lifehacker, awarded Boston Dynamics’ Atlas the title of ‘Best Robot’ at CES 2026 thanks to several key factors, including its natural, human-like walk and sleek design.
Outlining why the voting panel of more than 40 experts selected Atlas as its ‘Best Robot’ at CES 2026, CNET Group said:
“The Atlas was hands-down the best of the humanoid bunch we saw at CES 2026. The prototype version demoed at the show impressed us with its naturalistic walking gait. Meanwhile, the sleek product version is ready to be deployed into Hyundai manufacturing facilities from this year, where it might just be working on your next car.”
According to CNET Group, Best of CES™ award winners are “…the most inspiring, boundary-pushing tech products that will define the technology landscape this year.”
Commenting on receiving the Best of CES™ 2026 by CNET Group award for Atlas, Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said:
Backed by decades of European and international aviation experience, he will lead ACI World’s strategic direction until 2027
Montreal, 12 January 2026 – Airports Council International (ACI) World welcomes Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport, as Chair of the ACI World Governing Board (WGB) for the 2026–2027 term.
Lammers succeeds Candace McGraw, retired CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), who completes her tenure as ACI World’s first woman Chair, after guiding the organization through a period of strong global advocacy and strategic advancement.
The ACI World Governing Board is composed of 28 airport CEOs nominated by ACI’s five regions. The Board provides strategic direction on airport policy, operational priorities, sustainability, and innovation on behalf of airports worldwide.
A global aviation leader with extensive international experience
Lammers has been an active member of the ACI World Governing Board since 2019—serving as Vice Chair from 2024–2025—and served on the Board of ACI EUROPE from 2017–2023. Elected President of ACI EUROPE in 2019, he led the ACI Region through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, strengthening collaboration among airports across Europe and championing recovery.
Since January 2020, Lammers has served as CEO of Munich Airport, one of Europe’s leading international hubs known for service quality, innovation, and sustainable airport development. Prior to this role, he was CEO of Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport from 2008, overseeing significant modernization and growth.
He served two years as President of the German Aviation Association (BDL), representing the entire air transport sector in Germany: airlines, airports, air traffic control, ground handling service providers and retail companies.
Lammers began his aviation career in 1998 at HOCHTIEF AirPort GmbH, where he worked on projects in Düsseldorf and Athens, including the commissioning and opening of the new Athens International Airport. He studied business administration and economics in Bayreuth, Witten-Herdecke, and San Diego. Lammers brings more than 25 years of global aviation and airport leadership experience to his new role as Chair.
Industry leaders speak
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “We are proud to welcome Jost Lammers as Chair of the ACI World Governing Board. His global experience, proven leadership, and deep understanding of airport operations and policy come at a pivotal moment for our industry. As airports accelerate innovation, strengthen operational resilience, and advance sustainability, Jost’s ability to build consensus and drive strategic progress will be instrumental.
I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Candace McGraw for her exceptional leadership as ACI World’s first woman Chair. Her commitment to sustainability, advocacy, and workforce transformation has helped position airports for long-term success.”
Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers said: “It is an honor for me to serve as the Chair of the ACI World Governing Board. My dedication is focused on strengthening ACI’s leadership role on the global stage. By uniting strong advocacy, effective governance, and collaboration with global partners, we can ensure airports evolve as innovative, sustainable, and people-focused organizations, enhancing their role as vital hubs of mobility and economic growth.”
About ACI
Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, is a federated organization comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2025, ACI serves 830 members, operating 2,181 airports in 170 countries.
Editor notes
1. Learn more tabout thte ACI World Governing Board.
The move in Tesco’s fair value estimate from £4.84 to £4.80 per share looks small on the surface, but it reflects a careful rebalancing of risk and growth in the valuation work. A slightly higher discount rate of 8.13% sits alongside a revenue growth assumption of 2.95%, which keeps the long run earnings narrative intact while acknowledging a more cautious backdrop. As you read on, keep an eye on how these subtle shifts feed into the broader story so you can stay tuned on practical ways to track future changes in the narrative around Tesco.
Analyst Price Targets don’t always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Tesco.
Recent analyst commentary on TSCO, which refers to Tractor Supply rather than Tesco, still gives you a useful playbook for thinking about how the street can reward or penalise a retail name when it reassesses fair value. The same themes that show up in these TSCO notes, such as execution on growth plans, clarity on medium term margins and discipline on costs, are often the ones that shape sentiment around Tesco as well.
🐂 Bullish Takeaways
Several firms, including Jefferies and Baird, have highlighted what they see as supportive customer behaviour and “needle moving growth initiatives,” and have raised or set price targets between US$64 and US$67 when they gain confidence that execution and growth plans are on track. For Tesco, similar attention tends to fall on how consistently it delivers against its revenue and margin ambitions.
Analysts at Mizuho and Wells Fargo have pointed to easing concerns around sales trends and more encouraging management commentary on the medium term, including references to 2026 margin potential. When Tesco provides comparable clarity on its multi year margin or cost efficiency goals, that kind of visibility can be a positive input into valuation work.
Jefferies has flagged that, even when a retailer screens as a “hedge” to consumer uncertainty, a discount to its own historical valuation range can be viewed as puzzling. When you look at Tesco, a similar question often comes up, which is how its current share price lines up with its own history and with the quality of its execution and balance sheet.
🐻 Bearish Takeaways
Gordon Haskett, through analyst Chuck Grom, moved from an Accumulate stance to Hold on TSCO with a US$50 price target after trimming same store sales expectations from 3.0% to 1.0% and flagging a lack of near term catalysts. This is a reminder that for a retailer like Tesco, any reset in growth assumptions or perceived lull in upcoming triggers can pull fair value estimates a little lower, even if the long run story feels unchanged.
Across these TSCO updates, a recurring reservation is that upside can look “priced in” when there is limited visibility on achieving stated growth ranges such as 3% to 5% same store sales. For Tesco, that kind of caution typically shows up when analysts see execution risk around planned earnings growth, or when they feel recent share price moves already reflect much of the expected improvement in margins or cash generation.
Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there’s more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives or begin writing your own Narrative!
LSE:TSCO 1-Year Stock Price Chart
Solution International Nordics AB is rolling out a “one stop shop” bathtime product display in Tesco stores within the baby aisle as part of a joint 2026/27 promotional plan. The initiative is aimed at driving incremental sales and highlighting Tesco’s role in bringing new baby ranges to market across UK and Ireland warehouses and stores.
A new Pacvue partnership with Tesco Media, integrated via Epsilon Retail Media, gives brands the ability to run, optimise and measure sponsored product campaigns on Tesco alongside other retailers. This uses a custom “Sales at Checkout” metric that reflects Tesco’s fulfilment based attribution model and is standardised within Pacvue for cross retailer reporting.
Pacvue is extending its full suite of reporting, automation and optimisation tools to Tesco Media campaigns. This includes Share of Voice analytics, custom dashboards and automated bidding and budget pacing, which allows advertisers to manage Tesco and other major marketplaces in a single workflow.
Solution International is expanding its “Grow with Peppa” character merchandise range in Tesco, with six SKUs in two colour formats for early independent eating available in up to 510 stores across the UK and Ireland and on Tesco’s eCommerce platform. This is alongside projected annual revenue of over SEK 3m and plans for a further baby focused initiative in 2026/27.
Fair value was trimmed slightly from £4.84 to £4.80 per share. This is a small adjustment in the model output and suggests that the core thesis remains broadly intact.
The discount rate was nudged higher from 7.96% to 8.13%. This indicates a modestly higher risk input in the valuation work and places a bit more weight on uncertainty in the cash flow outlook.
The revenue growth assumption was lifted from 2.86% to 2.95%. This is a very small step up in the projected top line trend used in the model and leans gently toward a steadier sales profile.
The profit margin was eased from 2.79% to 2.76%. This reflects a minor tweak to long run profitability assumptions and a slightly more cautious stance on how much earnings the business can retain from each pound of sales.
The future P/E was kept effectively steady, moving fractionally from 16.84x to 16.86x. The earnings multiple input is largely unchanged, so the main story sits in the cash flow and margin adjustments rather than in what investors might pay per pound of earnings.
Narratives on Simply Wall St let you connect Tesco’s story to the numbers by linking your view on its future revenue, earnings and margins to a fair value estimate. Instead of just looking at ratios, you see how a clear, written thesis translates into a forecast and then into a valuation. Narratives live on the Community page, update automatically when fresh news or earnings arrive, and help you decide what to do by comparing Fair Value to today’s Price.
Head over to the Simply Wall St Community and follow the Tesco Narrative to stay on top of how the story and the numbers fit together:
How investments in quality, digital expansion and customer experience are tied to forecasts for revenue growth, margins and earnings per share up to about 2028.
Why higher risk assumptions, stable margin expectations and a future P/E of around 16.8x are used to bridge from Tesco’s earnings outlook to an estimated fair value near £4.80.
What could challenge the thesis, including competition, household budget pressure, higher wage and supplier costs, and how these risks might affect the gap between Fair Value and the current share price.
Read the full Tesco Narrative on Simply Wall St to see the complete earnings, margin and valuation story in one place.
Curious how numbers become stories that shape markets? Explore Community Narratives
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include TSCO.L.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The inclusion of no-mow areas in landscaping was mentioned by a board member. If this type of landscaping can save money and labor, why was this not taken into consideration earlier in the landscaping award process?
This meeting involved significant discussion about rail operations but very little about bus operations. Is this reflective of a shift of priorities and/or funds away from bus route operations?
Notes
This was a series of committee meetings for the Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Three committees met during this meeting with separate roll calls and discussions. Committees participating during this meeting were the Organizational, Services & Performance Monitoring Committee, the Operational Planning & Infrastructure Committee Meeting, and the Ad-Hoc Compensation Committee.
The attached committee package includes the meeting notice, agendas for each committee, minutes of past meetings, and additional relevant material such as summaries of proposed awards.
Public comment is not taken during committee meetings, but public comments can generally be made in-person or by phone during designated portions of regular board meetings or via web form in advance of those meetings.
Scene setting: This was an in-person meeting open to the public with the option to view live online. A recording of this meeting is available. Past meeting recordings can be found here. While the meeting was separated into individual committees and only those on the committee took roll call and voted on items, other board members not part of the committees were active participants in discussion and question periods.
Meeting start: The meeting started at 9:02 a.m. with a roll call for the Organizational, Services & Performance Monitoring Committee.
Board members present, those on the committee in bold:
Leadership present seated with board members:
India Birdsong Terry (General Manager and CEO)
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Landscape Maintenance and Parking Lot Snow Removal (Shaker Heights Maintenance Agreement)
James Reed, RTA property manager for Programming and Planning, presented. Since 1982, RTA has entered into a series of three-year agreements with the City of Shaker Heights for landscaping and snow removal along approximately seven miles of property lining the Blue and Green Lines within the City of Shaker Heights.
Last year, the board approved a one-year agreement due to Shaker’s pending labor agreement with service personnel. This proposed two-year agreement will allow the return to a three-year agreement.
The benefits to RTA include Shaker having the staff, equipment and management in place for the work, comparable rates to other landscaping contractors, complaint calls going to the Shaker Public Works department — saving RTA time and expense to respond to calls — and Shaker bearing the risk of any contingencies that may increase the cost during the contract.
The cost is about $595,000 total for 2026 and 2027. The committee voted to advance the proposal to the full board for future consideration.
Non-Rail and HealthLine Landscaping
Dawn Svancara, a contract administrator with RTA, said a recommendation was made to award the Non-Rail and HealthLine landscaping services agreement to ESK Landscaping, LLC, based on their experience with municipal, government and other organizations, their use of digital work orders and GPS-verified tracking. They have the staff, fleet and equipment to support multi-state operations.
There was discussion to clarify the scope of this work, and staff confirmed that this is for landscaping services and does not include snow removal. Snow removal for these areas is handled in-house by RTA.
Whigham expressed appreciation for the efforts negotiating this contract. A board member asked if low or no-mow zones or pollinator habitats had been taken under consideration from a cost savings and environmental standpoint. Jason Rosenlieb, RTA manager of rail facilities, said that they have green roofs for cost savings and have looked at putting in natural grass but haven’t gotten too far into that yet.
Title VI – 2026 Program Update to the Federal Transit Administration
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, states that “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Robert Jefferson, RTA’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities Act Program Administrator, explained that RTA is required to prepare a Title VI program update every three years and submit it to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) following board approval. RTA aims to serve all customers regardless of protected class, equitably distribute benefits and services and provide sufficient services for equal access. Customers have the ability to participate in RTA planning, and remedial action is taken to prevent discriminatory treatment, Jefferson said.
The main requirements are that RTA maintain a Title VI program, provides Title VI notices to the public, has complaint procedures, has a Public Participation Plan and has a Language Assistance Plan.
More information about one element of the Public Participation Plan — the Community Advisory Committee — can be found in past Documenters coverage.
RTA translates vital documents into Spanish as part of the Language Assistance Plan. Spanish speakers are the highest portion of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in the service area, according to Maribeth Feke, director of programming and planning.
Elder asked if the FTA implemented changes to prompt this update. Jefferson said this is a regular three-year update unrelated to FTA changes. Pacetti asked about feedback from this report. Joel Freilich, director of service management, said there is no formal approval of this report on the federal end.
The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
Update from India Birdsong Terry:Terry said that due to the upcoming Browns stadium changes, lots of public meetings will be happening that may not appear to be headed by or include the RTA. That does not mean that they aren’t in the room and part of those meetings. Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) will be having a meeting on Jan. 14 at Brook Park Elementary that is open to the public to discuss traffic impact and connection to the Brook Park station.
Operational Planning & Infrastructure Committee Meeting (Committee Members Sleasman, Pacetti and Love were present)
RFP Procurement – a presentation of a competitive procurement process for a consultant to update our Strategic Plan.
Feke said an outside consultant will offer a broader, global view and insight into what others in the industry are doing.
Feke said revision of the plan would include updates on implementation of activities, establish goals for 2026 and beyond, prioritize Transit Oriented Development (TOD) efforts and reflect on market-driven dynamics, address paratransit funding strategies, consider employee retention and create external engagement.
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. is the recommended firm, at a cost of $465,000. The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
IFB Procurement – a presentation of a competitive procurement for the reconstruction of the transfer table at Track 3 at Central Rail Maintenance Facility (CRMF).
Derek Meinke, RTA engineer project manager, presented. The transfer table brings rail cars from different tracks for various maintenance needs. Currently, the transfer table cannot provide service to Track 3, where internal cleaning occurs, because it becomes stuck at the intersection of the transfer table and Track 3. This project would replace the intersections. Staff recommended Delta Railroad Construction, Inc., for the work, at a cost of about $1 million. The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
Proposed Change Order – a presentation of a negotiated change order to authorize additional construction services under Contract No. 2025-007 with RL Hill/Platform Joint Venture and to reinstate the General Manager’s change order signing authority.
This work will result in boarding ADA customers at the first train car instead of the last at the E. 79th St. Blue and Green Line Station, according to Brian Temming, manager of quality assurance. In the past, a conductor in a rear car would assist the customers. This change, which involves moving ramp platforms, will allow ADA customers to board the front car with the train operator. The additional work bumps the total cost by $67,550 for a total of about $10.5 million. The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
FB Procurement – a presentation of a competitive procurement to make the necessary modifications to the Red Line platforms to support the new railcars.
Don Tereba, project manager for facilities, presented. This contract will involve modification of 22 platforms on the Red Line. The new railcars are a different size than the current railcars. This will increase the gap between the cars and the platform. This project will build extensions onto existing platforms to close this gap. It will also replace damaged tactile warning surfaces and replace guardrails. During the installation of the platform extensions, there will be a planned two-week downtime. RTA plans to do dry runs to test the timeline of the installation to ensure this plan works and will then have a better idea of how long the shutdowns will need to be.
A staff member reminded those present that the first new railcar is still being built. The conversion on the Red Line is targeted to start in August 2027 and on the light rail in August 2028. Terry asked for a schedule update to be prepared.
Schirmer Construction LLC is the recommended vendor, at a cost of about $11 million. The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
IFB Procurement – a presentation of a competitive procurement to make the necessary modifications to CRMF to support the new railcars.
Tereba presented. The existing railcars receive maintenance from underneath. The new railcars will require maintenance from above. RTA needs to build infrastructure to access the top of the railcars. This project will build four new service balconies with fall protection and safety gates.
Standard Contracting & Engineering, Inc., received the staff’s recommendation at a cost of about $9.5 million. The committee voted to advance the update to the full board for future consideration.
Ad-Hoc Compensation Committee:
This committee called the roll and then moved into executive session at 11:01 a.m.
Members returned from executive session. The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 a.m.
Coming Up: Future board meeting dates can be found here.
These notes are by Documenter Jamie Harman.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi has relaunched the sale of his 50 per cent stake in German superfast broadband network OXG Glasfaser, as the French-Israeli billionaire continues to explore ways to cut his debt pile.
Drahi, whose Altice unit partnered with Vodafone’s German operation to launch the network in 2023, sent teaser documents to buyers in recent weeks, according to three people familiar with the matter. OXG is valued at about €2bn, according to estimates from New Street Research.
The attempted sale, which follows an earlier effort to find a buyer last year, comes as Drahi explores options to relieve a debt pile of more than $50bn. The tycoon is considering a sale of his €7bn French fibre network XpFibre and in October rejected a €17bn bid for French mobile operator SFR.
OXG committed to spending €7bn to roll out fibre broadband to more than 7mn homes in Germany over a six-year period following its launch in March 2023. However, progress has been slow, with the network reaching just 500,000 homes by the end of 2025. The speed of the network rollout is expected to accelerate this year.
Infrastructure funds such as Antin Infrastructure Partners, which lost out to Drahi when the network was launched, could be interested in a renewed offer, according to a person familiar with the matter. Antin declined to comment.
However, any agreement to sell his stake will require Drahi to gain approval from Vodafone, which may complicate an attempt at a quick sale process. Vodafone declined to comment.
Drahi, who built a telecoms empire including operations in France, Portugal and the US via a $60bn debt-fuelled acquisition spree a decade ago, has come under increasing pressure to refinance and restructure his debts due to rising interest rates.
Last year he finalised a deal with creditors to Altice France to cut the company’s debt burden from €24bn to €15.5bn, while a similar deal could be struck to reduce the €8bn of debt held against his Altice International operation.
In November the billionaire infuriated Altice International’s creditors by moving the bulk of the group’s assets — including those in Portugal and the Dominican Republic — out of their group of collateral, meaning they could not call on them should the debt not be repaid.
The move was seen by analysts as a threat to creditors ahead of a potential restructuring, in order to generate a more favourable deal for Drahi.
James Ratzer, analyst at New Street Research, said that although investors had been “sceptical” about other German fibre investments, OXG was a more attractive opportunity.
“We are more optimistic of better returns [from OXG] given the potential to build a longer-term monopoly,” he added.
Altice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
