Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: P3010 LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE (LRV) COUPLER OVERHAUL
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a firm fixed unit price contract, Contract No. TS127584000 to Dellner, Inc. for the P3010 Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Coupler Overhaul, in an amount Not-To-Exceed (NTE) $8,792,530.00, for a period of 60 months from issuance of a Notice to Proceed, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Dellner, Inc., identified and established an equipment overhaul schedule for the coupler assembly at the 600,000-mile interval. This overhaul is not routine maintenance but a complete teardown, inspection, and replacement of worn parts with new ones. The coupler assembly provides mechanical and electrical coupling between railcars, as there are 2 couplers per LRV. Overhauling couplers at this interval minimizes equipment failures while maintaining the fleet in a constant state of good repair.
Background
BACKGROUND
At its August 2012 meeting, the Board awarded Kinkisharyo International LLC a contract for the purchase of 78 P3010 Light Rail Vehicles (LRV), including four options for a total of 235 vehicles. The P3010 fleet was placed in revenue service between 2016-2023, and with the Regional Connector opening, the fleet operates on all of Metro’s light rail lines.
The P3010 fleet is Metro’s newest and most reliable light rail fleet, with consistent performance, reliability, and safety at over 99,448,995 fleet miles. In order to maintain its reliability and safety, component level overhauls are required on its key systems.
The P3010 fleet Car builder and OEM identified and established a component overhaul plan/schedule for the overhaul of key vehicle systems occurring at the 600,000-mile interval. The coupler assembly provides mechanical coupling and electric signal communications between railcars for multiple train consists.
The P3010 light rail car fleet manufacturer, Kinkisharyo, along with its sub-suppliers, identified component level overhauls to vehicle systems, such as friction brake, propulsion, doors, truck assembly (inclusive of traction motor and gearbox), propulsion/auxiliary power supply, coupler, master controller, pantograph, as well as Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The P3010 component-level overhaul projects necessitate Board authorization for 10 separate contracts over a 5-year period. To date, the Board has approved 5 of 10 overhaul or new purchase contracts, including friction brake, truck systems, battery, slewing ring, and high-speed circuit breaker contracts.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The P3010 fleet Component Overhaul project consists primarily of the repair and replacement of vehicle wear items that require overhaul or replacement of the vehicle's 30-year design life with targeted mileage intervals of 600,000 miles. Rail Fleet Services (RFS) staff will perform the removal, installation, and testing of the overhauled or new equipment.
Metro’s Transit Vehicle Engineering (TVE) Department, along with RFS staff, performed a technical review of the OEM component overhaul tasks and are in concurrence with the work scope and overhaul schedule as described in the Heavy Repair Maintenance Manual. TVE developed the Statement of Work for this project, ensuring the Contractors followed Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Association of American Railroads (AAR), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and Metro’s Corporate Safety Standards.
The rail car manufacturer recommends an overhaul of the coupler assembly at the 600,000-mile interval for inspection/replacement of worn parts, including the coupling device, switches, electrical contacts, and hydraulic dampener.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Passenger safety is of the utmost importance to Metro. The P3010 coupler assembly, two per LRV, is an integral component of the LRV operation as the mechanical/electrical interface between trains for safe and reliable operations. Timely replacement of these components will ensure that safety is preserved by overhauling the coupler assemblies into new condition as defined by the OEM, while achieving regulatory compliance within state and federal regulations, including Metro’s corporate safety standards.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $8,792,530.00 for the coupler assembly overhaul is included in the FY26 budget under approved Capital Project (CP) 214009 - P3010 Fleet Component Overhaul.
Since this is a multi-year project, the cost center Component Overhaul Superintendent, Division Director, and Sr. Executive Officer of Rail Fleet Services will ensure that the balance of funds is budgeted in future years.
Impact to Budget
The current source of funds for this action is Measure M, State of Good Repair 2%. This funding is eligible for Capital Projects. Given approved funding provisions and guidelines, using these funding sources maximizes project funding intent.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Metro’s P3010 LRV fleet provides vital transportation services throughout the County of Los Angeles via A, C, E, and L lines. This includes many underserved communities where regional disparities exist between residents’ access to jobs, housing, education, health, and safety. Metro’s light rail vehicle maintenance programs maintain the fleet’s operations within federally mandated State of Good Repair standards ensuring reliable service, especially for those within the communities that rely on public transportation.
The Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) did not recommend Small Business Enterprise (SBE and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goals for this procurement due to a lack of subcontracting opportunities.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through rail vehicle equipment purchase activities that will maintain and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Approval of the P3010 fleet coupler assembly overhaul supports Strategic Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. This component-level overall project ensures sustained fleet reliability, including safe, accessible, and affordable transportation for all riders of Metro’s light rail system. The recommendation supports Metro’s Strategic Plan Goal 5) Provide Responsive, Accountable, and Trustworthy governance within the Metro organization. Contract Modification Authority and Contract extension safeguard overhaul production continuance while meeting passenger safety and fleet reliability.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
An alternative is to defer the coupler overhaul assembly. However, this alternative is not recommended as the coupler is a vital and safety-sensitive component that could cause a mechanical failure with no coupling for multiple trains.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Contract No. TS127584000 of light rail vehicle coupler assembly with Dellner, Inc. The staff will return to the Board for approval of additional overhaul contract awards, including master controller, low voltage power supply/propulsion, heating, ventilation/air-conditioning, and pantograph overhauls.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Bob Spadafora, Senior Executive Officer, Rail Fleet Services
(213) 922-3144
Richard M. Lozano, Component Overhaul Superintendent, Rail Fleet Services (323)-224-4042
Matthew Dake, Deputy Chief Operations Officer (213) 922-4061
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief, Vendor/Contract Management
(213) 418-3051
Reviewed_by
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer (213) 418-3034
