Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 24, 2010

Metro continues work to comply with NTSB recommendation

Exterior door release devices to be installed on 4000 and 5000 series of cars

The Metro Board of Directors approved a contract today (June 24) that will enable the transit agency to fully comply with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to install exterior manual door release devices on the remaining cars in the transit agency’s fleet.

The exterior manual door releases will allow first responders and Metro staff to open rail car doors to gain entry to the cars from the outside of trains in the event of an emergency.

Today’s action by the Board of Directors will allow the transit agency to complete installation of the devices on all of its rail cars, with this specific action addressing all 290 of the rail cars that comprise the 4000 and 5000 series of cars. Last spring, the Metro Board of Directors approved the installation of exterior manual door releases on its 1000, 2000, 3000 and 6000 series rail cars (846 total rail cars). Metro anticipates having the devices installed on those cars by spring 2011.

The installation of these devices on the series 4000 and 5000 rail cars will be complete by winter 2012 at a cost of $774,000.

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News release issued at 3:14 pm, June 24, 2010.