CAF USA wins KC streetcar contract
Written by Douglas John BowenKansas City has awarded CAF USA, Inc. a $22 million contract for five streetcars to cover service on its initial 2.2-mile streetcar line downtown.
CAF USA, a subsidiary of Spain’s Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A., will assemble the vehicles at its plant in Elmira, N.Y. The order follows (and is linked to) CAF USA’s contract with Cincinnati, which also involves five streetcars. Kansas City officials last April said they planned to seek streetcar rolling stock through options already held by either Cincinnati or Salt Lake City,
Kansas City Mayor Sly James announced the choice Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, during a press conference. The city expects to receive the rolling stock late next year, allowing revenue operation to begin in 2015.
Last month the Kansas City Council awarded a contract to a joint venture for construction of the line, involving St. Joseph, Mo.-based Herzog Contracting Corp. and Alameda, Calif.-based Stacy and Witbeck.
