D.C. Metro pre-approved for $220M in safety projects

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) received pre-award authority from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 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, which 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.

Projects receiving pre-approval 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.