Research Triangle Park N.C. – Research Triangle Park, N.C. - United Transit Systems (UTS) has been recommended to supply up to 32 diesel multiple unit (DMU) rail cars for TTA’s Regional Rail Transit System. The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) Board of Trustees this month will be asked to award a contract up to $90.1 million dollars to UTS.

In recommending the contract award, TTA General Manager John Claflin told the TTA Operations and Finance Committee, “TTA was impressed by United Transit System’s experience and expertise in designing, engineering and producing rail cars for major cities throughout the world.” The contract award to UTS is contingent upon a federal “Letter Of No Prejudice” (LONP) which would allow TTA to draw on local and state funds for this part of the $631 million dollar Regional Rail project.

United Transit Systems is a consortium of Sojitz Corporation of America and Rotem Company. Sojitz Corporation is headquarted in Tokyo, Japan, and is one of the world’s largest integrated trading companies. Rotem Company, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the world’s largest rolling stock manufacturers. Since 1964, Rotem has manufactured more than 32,000 railroad vehicles including both passenger and freight vehicles for U.S. clients.

UTS will manufacture the rail car body shells at Rotem’s rolling stock plants in Korea. Final assembly of the planned TTA rail cars will take place at Rotem’s 101,052 square foot facility in Philadelphia. American suppliers will be part of the contract with UTS, ensuring that the vehicle meets the Federal Transit Administration’s 60 percent “Buy America” requirement. Colorado Railcar will supply the propulsion system for TTA’s DMUs. Colorado Railcar currently has a DMU in operation in South Florida.

Federal Railroad Administration compliant DMU’s were selected for the Regional Rail Transit System because they have several unique advantages. DMU’s can operate in existing rail corridors next to freight service and Amtrak passenger service. They are self-propelled, eliminating the need for locomotives or electrification of the rail corridor with an overhead catenary. The technology is cost-effective and powered independently. The DMU’s can be "coupled" together quickly to build trains of varying lengths to efficiently respond to ridership demand.

TTA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in March 2004 for diesel-powered passenger rail vehicles. The vehicles will be used to serve the 12 station, 28-mile Regional Rail Transit System from Durham to the Research Triangle Park, Cary and Raleigh, scheduled to begin operation in 2008.

In June 2004, TTA began evaluating proposals and requested ‘Best And Final Offers” from those suppliers that were within the competitive range set by the agency.

The RFP required that suppliers provide costs on a base for a minimum of 24 railcars configured as 12 married pairs, and an option for additional vehicles for four additional married pairs, bringing the total to 32 railcars configured as 16 married pairs. Each married pair can carry 160 passengers seated.

At its meeting on Thursday, October 7, the TTA Operations and Finance Committee voted to recommend to the Board of Trustees that it authorize the TTA General Manager to negotiate a contract with UTS up to $90.1 million dollars for the DMU’s, engineering, design, project management, spare parts, special tools, training, manuals and sales tax. The Board will consider the recommendation at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 27 at 1:00 P.M. in the TTA Board Room at 68 T.W. Alexander Drive in the Research Triangle Park.

TTA Chairman Carter Worthy said she hopes the board will vote to move ahead with the contract later this month. “We are excited that we will be the first transit system in the country to use this new rail technology. Our extensive evaluation of all the proposals received convinced TTA that UTS will provide our riders a safe, comfortable, reliable vehicle at a reasonable cost.”

In learning of the committee’s decision, UTS representative Hatsuhiko Kageyama said, "We are pleased to have been recommended by TTA for this project. This is (an) epoch-making event for UTS since this will be the first project for UTS (as a consortium) in the U.S. market. We are confident we will produce quality products on time and we will make sure, in every aspect, to satisfy TTA and the people in the Triangle Region."

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on-line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle. TTA plans to implement a rail transit system with stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.