May 12, 2008

Charlotte, NC -- Charlotte City Council voted tonight to exercise the final remaining contract option with Siemens Transportation System to purchase four additional light rail vehicles for the LYNX Blue Line.  "In just five months the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has carried more than 1.9 million passengers on the LYNX Blue Line," said Keith Parker, Chief Executive Officer for CATS.  "The rail vehicles are full with riders morning, noon and night.  Commuters are looking for alternate modes of travel to save money and light rail has quickly become a popular option."

Under the original purchase agreement, an option was included to purchase up to 25 additional rail vehicles.  Placing an order for the four vehicles before the end of May will allow delivery within 24 months.  "We need to act now to secure these light rail vehicles due to the rising costs of raw materials and the weakness of the dollar compared to the Euro," Parker said.  The original 16 rail cars were purchased for $2.8 million four years ago.  The current price is approximately $3.8 million.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is expected to finalize its $15.2 million in unanticipated grants to CATS on May 14.  This money will free up funds currently programmed for specific projects in the CATS budget, allowing the purchase of additional rail vehicles.

To learn more about CATS and its services, please log onto the website at www.ridetransit.org or call 704-336-RIDE.