From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit NEWS" Subject: Public Opportunity to Participate in Vehicle Design Date: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 11:24 PM For More Information, contact: Daina Mann, Communications Manager (602) 744-5592 or (602) 291-RAIL (7245) cellular Light Rail Project Provides Public Opportunity to Participate in Vehicle Design (October 15, 2001 - Phoenix) - Wonder what the light rail trains will look like when they begin traveling through the Valley in 2006? You'll have a chance to help determine the final design through a survey released by the Light Rail Project on Wednesday. The Project has developed initial exterior design concepts for the light rail vehicles and wants your opinion about them. The vehicle exterior designs will be displayed on the Light Rail Project's web site, www.valleyconnections.com, until November 6 for the public to view and vote for their favorite design. A survey on the site also allows the public to determine which design is the most timeless, streamlined and modern, as well as give specific comments about what they like and don't like about each of the vehicle design concepts. A sample of a current vehicle style being used in other light rail systems is also included on the site for comparison. Using the public's feedback about the designs, project vehicle designers will develop a final vehicle design concept. Ultimately, the vehicle produced may vary somewhat from the design sent to the manufacturer because of cost, engineering or manufacturing constraints. Each of the designs is expected to cost approximately the same to manufacture - about $3 million per vehicle. The Light Rail Project is scheduled to seek bids from light rail vehicle manufacturers in Summer 2002, and select the vehicle manufacturer in Spring 2003. The Light Rail Project plans to purchase 40 vehicles for the initial system. Light rail vehicles are approximately 90 feet long and can be linked into trains of up to three cars. Each car can comfortably carry up to 150 passengers, for a total passenger capacity of 450 passengers per train. The 20.3-mile starter segment of the light rail line is scheduled to begin construction in 2003 and start operations in late 2006. The initial route begins in Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road and travels through downtown Phoenix and Tempe and about a mile into Mesa, ending at Longmore and Main Streets.