Metro will replace carpet in its 1000 and 4000 series cars.
Metro got a lot of riders excited in 2013 when it announced it would do away with the often damp, smelly carpet in its existing rail car fleet in favor of new slip-resistant flooring.
“Resilient flooring does not absorb dirt and spills as carpet does, and will be much easier for Metro maintenance personnel to keep clean,” the transit agency announced in a Nov. 21, 2013, press release. “In addition, flooring is more durable and has a longer lifespan before needing replacement.
So, pardon some Metro customers for flipping out on Wednesday when I tweeted notice of a new Metro request for proposals seeking a contractor to replace rail car carpeting. The cash-strapped Metro expects to spend between $300,000 and $4 million on new carpeting.
“The carpeting, which is unique in North American transit rail cars, is viewed as an important statement of quality and commitment to exemplary service to the customer, which is not equaled by any other transit authority’s equipment,” Metro writes in its RFP, issued in January.
That’s quite the turnaround, from dirty and cleaning-challenged to “an important statement of quality.”
Dan Stessel, Metro spokesman, said the roughly 200 remaining 1000 and 4000 series rail cars, which are scheduled to be replaced with the modern 7000 series over the next four years, will be the subject of the carpet replacement. It is “not prudent,” he said in an email, “for us to go through the elaborate conversion” on those cars.
“As a result, we will still have a need to replace carpet that is worn or defective as part of route maintenance on those fleets over the next few years,” Stessel said.
Michael Neibauer covers economic development, chambers of commerce, transportation and politics.
Carpet to remain in hundreds of Metro rail cars, for now
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