Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 1, 2010
Metro one step closer to ordering new rail cars
Purchase of new cars will meet NTSB recommendation; provide cars for Dulles extension
Metro’s Board of Directors today (July 1) approved the terms of an agreement between the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Commonwealth of Virginia on the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 that, if approved by Virginia, will bring the transit agency one step closer to authorizing the purchase of new rail cars.
A critical part of Metro’s capital improvement program relies upon a contribution of $50 million annually each from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia for the transit agency to receive a matching $150 million annual contribution from the federal government.
After the agreement with Virginia is finalized, Metro will seek pre-award authority from the Federal Transit Administration, which will allow it to give a notice to proceed to the manufacturer of its new rail cars, Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. The pre-award authority is dependent on execution of the agreement by Virginia.
Metro has until July 5 to sign the rail car contract, but since July 5 is a holiday, the deal must be completed by Friday (July 2).
Metro’s Board of Directors approved the rail car contract on May 27 for the manufacture of 428 new generation Metrorail cars known as the Series 7000 cars at a cost of $886 million. The cars will address Metro’s number one safety priority: to replace its oldest rail cars (Series 1000).
Of the 428 cars, 128 of the cars will enable the expansion of Metro service on the Dulles rail corridor and 300 of the cars will be used to replace Metro’s oldest rail cars (Series 1000), which will improve safety and reliability of Metro’s fleet. The Dulles rail cars will be funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
The delivery schedule calls for the cars to start arriving on Metro property in 2013, and undergo a rigorous, months-long inspection process. All 428 cars are scheduled to go into service by 2016.
News release issued at 3:50 pm, July 1, 2010.