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Met Council approves transit equipment contracts, authorizes lease of excess Northstar equipment
Summary
The Metropolitan Council authorized a sole-source contract for on-route systems and a railcar mover, and approved negotiation of a lease of excess Northstar equipment to Amtrak/DART, subject to federal concurrence and lessee responsibilities.
The Metropolitan Council on May 14, 2025 authorized procurement and leasing actions for regional transit equipment, including a sole-source contract to provide on-route systems, authorization to negotiate a lease of excess Northstar equipment for special events, and a sole-source purchase of railcar mover equipment needed for system testing on the Green Line Extension.
Council member Barber presented the transportation items. The council authorized the regional administrator to negotiate and execute a sole-source contract (24P103) with Pontus (transcript also references the name Fontes) to provide 31 on-route systems — 10 units for Southwest Transit (phase 1), 17 for Metro Micro (phase 2) and 12 for the MTS network (phase 3) — including installation, licensing and configuration in an amount not to exceed $897,685. Barber described the on-route system as a long-used technology that supports driver schedule adherence, continual vehicle location for dispatchers, emergency response notifications and real-time customer information.
The council also authorized the regional administrator to negotiate a lease agreement to permit Amtrak or Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to use excess Northstar equipment for events and service needs of national significance, subject to Federal Transit Administration concurrence. Staff told the council the equipment requested is not currently in use and that insurance, transportation and Federal Railroad Administration-required maintenance while away from Metro Transit would be the lessee’s responsibility.
Finally, the council authorized a sole-source contract 24P298R with Ryan Equipment to procure railcar mover equipment, in an amount not to exceed $572,320. The mover is required for system integration testing on the Green Line Extension because traction power will not be fully energized before testing; testing is planned to commence later this year and revenue service is expected in 2027.
All three items were approved by voice vote. The council record indicates regional transit capital funding will support the on-route systems contract and that staff conducted a market search before identifying the sole-source railcar mover supplier.
