Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 10, 2010

Metro gets green light on safety, state of good repair projects

FTA pre-approves spending plan

Metro has received pre-award authority from the Federal Transit Administration to move forward with more than $220 million worth of projects that address Metro’s most urgent safety and state-of-good-repair needs.

The projects are funded under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act that provides Metro with $150 million of federal dollars annually that is matched by $150 million by the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“This pre-approval allows Metro to continue to improve service reliability and safety for our customers and employees,” said Metro General Manager Richard Sarles.

Projects receiving preapproval include:
-Implementing National Transportation Safety Board recommendations – $10.3 million
-Rehabilitating track components such as running rail, cross ties, fasteners, third rail insulators and turnouts– $44.4 million
-Rehabilitating the Orange/Blue/Yellow lines between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations – $34.5 million
-Overhauling rail components such as parking brakes, truck controls, coupler control boxes and air compressors – $20 million
-Replacing and upgrading heavy-duty track maintenance equipment – $17.3 million
-Replacing rail car components such as wheels, trucks, brake systems, HVAC and traction motors – $12.4 million
-Rehabilitating escalators – $4.9 million
-Rehabilitating elevators – $2.4 million
-Rehabilitating Western, Northern and Landover bus garages – $ 18.9 million
-Replacing Automatic Vehicle Location equipment that was installed on buses prior to 2002 – $9.4 million

Pre-approval of Metro's 7000 series rail car procurement is pending as Kawasaki works with the FTA to demonstrate compliance with the Buy America requirements. Kawasaki has notified Metro that it has extended its notice-to-proceed date for the manufacture of Metro’s new railcars from July 5 to August 13 to allow time to work with the FTA.

News release issued at 11:01 am, July 10, 2010.