Good News on Metro Rail, Finally! Thanks to Utah, Metro will get rail cars in 2012 (Houston: buying, live)

[HouTXmetro]

Thanks to Utah, Metro will get rail cars in 2012 | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Metro will take delivery of 19 new rail cars for its Main Street line in late 2012 from an unlikely source — Utah.
Metro, along with San Diego's transit agency, has piggybacked on a contract the Utah Transit Authority negotiated with rail car manufacturer Siemens.
Houston gains in two ways. First, the Salt Lake City-based agency already has completed the arduous federal procurement process - including meeting Buy America provisions, which torpedoed Metro's previous attempt to buy rail cars. Second, Metro will get the cars quicker, helping to accommodate ridership that is ahead of projections.

VERY INTERESTING

Metro's Main Street line reached 75 million boardings last December, four years ahead of schedule, he said. During big events - sports games, the rodeo - riders are turned away, officials said. The additional cars would double capacity during those peak times.
The new cars will begin being shipped in October 2012, and will enter service that December, Greanias said, at least 10 months earlier than the 39 cars for which Metro now is seeking bids are expected to enter service.

[mikey713]

yeah I heard today. Very good work.

[glorplaxy]

So what? Based on what they told us a few years ago, 2012 should have been the year that we got new rail lines t, not just new rail cars for the one rail that we have now.

When the hell are these new lines actually going to come? Are we just going to spend all the money on tearing apart streets and feeders and highways every other week?

[DANNYY]

Pessimists will be on this thread like clockwork, I see it coming.

Anyways METRO's shaping up and getting its act together, even though with some actions I may not agree with, they're gunning to be the best transit system in Texas. Totally do able too. Personally, I think its a total win with the given situation they're in too, not much standard in Texas either way.

[LiteRail]

Is it possible that you don't know about Siemens' bribery history?
Google: "Siemens Bribery Scandal"

It's very interesting how the wording in the article makes it appear that Houston is getting cars from Utah.
-Houston is getting the cars from Siemens.

-Check the chronology of events leading to the CAF cancellation
1.Siemens contacts the new administration
2.Parker visits FTA
3.FTA suddenly reverses itself and says that CAF is not compliant with Buy America
4.New Metro Board cancels CAF contract
5.Siemens awarded sole source contract for new cars
-So let's see if I've got this straight:
1. CAF's car (which includes all necessary air conditioning) costs 3.15 million.
2. The Siemens car (which needs additional AC) cost 3.8 million...2 years ago.
3. In order to save jobs and taxpayer dollars, Metro cancels the contract for the 3.15m car and buys the 3.8m car for 4.36m. ???

-Greanias, along with the FTA, say that this "small" increase is justified because they want to add things like Air Conditioning. Small? The Siemens' car costs 38% more than the CAF car. An Air Conditioning unit for a light rail vehicle cost $100K tops.

-Greanias stood in front of the press and claimed that they needed the cars immediately because of increased ridership however Metro's own ridership reports, posted on their website, show a decline in ridership. Why would he lie?

Once the Siemens' car is in service Metro will say that they must get the additional 84 cars from Siemens for compatibility reasons...this will cost the city of Houston $125 million ($125,000,000) MORE than the CAF cars.
Follow the facts. Connect the dots.
Google: "Siemens Bribery Scandal"

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by LiteRail

Is it possible that you don't know about Siemens' bribery history?
Google: "Siemens Bribery Scandal"

It's very interesting how the wording in the article makes it appear that Houston is getting cars from Utah.
-Houston is getting the cars from Siemens.

-Check the chronology of events leading to the CAF cancellation
1.Siemens contacts the new administration
2.Parker visits FTA
3.FTA suddenly reverses itself and says that CAF is not compliant with Buy America
4.New Metro Board cancels CAF contract
5.Siemens awarded sole source contract for new cars
-So let's see if I've got this straight:
1. CAF's car (which includes all necessary air conditioning) costs 3.15 million.
2. The Siemens car (which needs additional AC) cost 3.8 million...2 years ago.
3. In order to save jobs and taxpayer dollars, Metro cancels the contract for the 3.15m car and buys the 3.8m car for 4.36m. ???

-Greanias, along with the FTA, say that this "small" increase is justified because they want to add things like Air Conditioning. Small? The Siemens' car costs 38% more than the CAF car. An Air Conditioning unit for a light rail vehicle cost $100K tops.

-Greanias stood in front of the press and claimed that they needed the cars immediately because of increased ridership however Metro's own ridership reports, posted on their website, show a decline in ridership. Why would he lie?

Once the Siemens' car is in service Metro will say that they must get the additional 84 cars from Siemens for compatibility reasons...this will cost the city of Houston $125 million ($125,000,000) MORE than the CAF cars.
Follow the facts. Connect the dots.
Google: "Siemens Bribery Scandal"

Are you referring to the case that was settled in 2008? Utah's transit agency already made FTA's requirements in the procurements of these cars so everything is nice and legal now. Seems you are delving into a bunch of "what-ifs".

Furthermore, do you not understand how ridership can decline systemwide, but still increase in the certain areas? Do you not see how buying these 19 cars at this time, using $64 million federal dollars for $84 million worth of cars is beneficial?

[SouthernBoy205]

Good job!

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by HouTXmetro

Thanks to Utah, Metro will get rail cars in 2012 | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle



VERY INTERESTING

This is awesome! It's about time Metro got some new rails because it gets pretty crazy during peak hours.


However, it's too bad Metro only has one worthless line and we won't expect to see any other expansions at least for another 10 to 50 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_R-G_i4Xk

[dubidu]

Originally Posted by dv1033

Are you referring to the case that was settled in 2008? Utah's transit agency already made FTA's requirements in the procurements of these cars so everything is nice and legal now. Seems you are delving into a bunch of "what-ifs".

Furthermore, do you not understand how ridership can decline systemwide, but still increase in the certain areas? Do you not see how buying these 19 cars at this time, using $64 million federal dollars for $84 million worth of cars is beneficial?

When you could buy 26 cars instead of 19. The going rate in 2010 (last contract awarded in Minneapolis) was 3.2 million per car.

[buzzpost]

Originally Posted by HouTXmetro

Thanks to Utah, Metro will get rail cars in 2012 | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle



VERY INTERESTING

That is AWESOME news. I'd like to eventually see DFW and Houston hook up via heavy rail.