Metro Gets $150M For Safety Improvements, New Cars
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Metro is getting a $150 million federal grant to replace old rail cars and make other safety improvements.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the grant Thursday.
The National Transportation Safety Board cited the older series of rail cars as a contributing factor in the severity of injuries and deaths in the 2009 crash on the red line.
Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will also provide $150 million in matching funds to help pay for the
improvements.
About $79 million will be spent on up to 300 7000-series cars and about $44 million will go toward track rehabilitation. About $10 million is allocated for addressing other NTSB safety recommendations.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
