Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Issued within days of Maryland’s new P3 legislation being signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley.

Act allows for a board to examine and approve potential public-private transportation projects. If the board determines a state operation would be more cost-effectively administered by a private company, the company will be authorized to either completely or partially take over that operation.

Several units will provide the equipment for the cars: Wabtec Passenger Transit (brakes and couplers), Wabtec Railway Electronics (PTC equipment), Bach-Simpson (event recorders) and Vapor Stone (doors).

Will use loan to fund a portion of its contribution to the project and will begin drawing on the funds in 2013. In addition to FTA's contribution to the project, a consortium of private companies, known as the Denver Transit Partners, is responsible for financing around 24% of the project through tax-exempt private-activity bonds issued by RTD, equity contributions and other means.

The Denver RTD is the first transit agency in the nation to successfully pursue a comprehensive public-private partnership that encompasses the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of its regional transit projects.