LACMTA taps KinkiSharyo for LRT order
Written by Douglas John BowenLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Board of Directors on Monday gave a preliminary nod to an $890 million contract to KinkiSharyo for up to 235 light rail cars.
KinkiSharyo edged out bids by Siemens Mobility and CAF USA. Acknowledging the contentious issue of American jobs, LACMTA noted that KinkiSharyo’s bid would generate 348 jobs in the U.S, while Siemens’ bid would generate 391 U.S. jobs. A counter-analysis by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, which backed Siemens, said Siemens was penalized because it already employs a large workforce in Sacramento, the state capital, and did not get credit for creating new jobs.
According to the group, the Siemens contract would have created or sustained 923 more jobs than Kinkisharyo’s. But Siemens’ bid, at $940 million, was $50 million more than the winning bid. LACMTA staff reportedly also expressed concern over Siemens’ ability to deliver Siemens expeditiously.
The new cars are needed for expanded LRT services in Los Angeles County, including the Expo Line extension, the Crenshaw Line, and the Gold Line Foothill extension.
Osaka, Japan-based KinkiSharyo’s U.S. subsidiary, KinkiSharyo International LLC, is based in Westwood, Mass.
