Cleveland RTA scales back next rail car order amid tariff concerns, approves six new cars

By Rich Exner | cleveland.com (TNS)

CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board on Tuesday approved the purchase of six more rail cars as part of its modernization plan, but scaled back from ordering more cars amid tariff concerns and other uncertainties.

This order, anticipated to cost a total of $36 million, will bring the cars ordered to 54 under a contract with Siemens Mobility Inc., increasing the budgeted amount to $344.4 million. RTA has the option to buy up to 60 cars.

Each car is estimated to cost about $6 million, an increase from the original $5.2 million price tag under the contract, which allows for inflation adjustments applied at final assembly. The purchase will be paid for with federal and state dollars that have already been secured, RTA said.

RTA staff had told board members in August that it would seek authorization to buy the final 12 cars as part of its contract. But it later cut the number in half.

In a memo to the board last week, General Manager India Birdsong cited “pending negotiations and uncertainty regarding impacts related to tariffs and schedule, among other items” as the reason for the reduced purchase.

However, Birdsong told board members on Tuesday that the agency “absolutely” intended to eventually complete the purchase of all 60 cars.

The new fleet will replace RTA’s aging rail cars and consolidate light and heavy rail operations to use the same cars on the Red, Green, Blue and Waterfront lines.

The current heavy rail fleet used on the Red Line - RTA’s busiest route for buses or trains - dates back to 1984. The existing light rail fleet on the other lines began service in 1981.

The first test car is expected to arrive in Cleveland next summer, with additional vehicles to follow in phases, a spokesperson said. If the schedule holds, the full fleet will be in service by 2027.

The board on Tuesday also approved spending up to $13.3 million on other rail work:

- $11.2 million with Railworks Track Services for work at the Warrensville-Van Aken light rail station, including platform, electrical and overhead catenary system changes in reconstructing the station.

- $800,000 with Michael Baker International for rail engineering support services on an as-needed basis.

- $746,189 with Osborn Engineering for engineering work in replacing platforms to accommodate the new cars at the Superior, Cedar/University East, West Boulevard and West Park stations on the heavy rail line.

- $586,608 with R.E. Warner & Associates for architect and engineers services involved in widening platforms at 14 light rail stations to accommodate the new cars.

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