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CITT backs $5.59 million contract to replace Metrorail public-address system
Summary
The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust voted to recommend the county award a $5,593,005.77 contract to replace the 30-year-old Metrorail public-address system, citing ADA intelligibility requirements and aging equipment; the board approved the item's transmittal to the County Commission.
The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust on Feb. 26 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve a $5,593,005.77 contract award to Conseco Electrical Contractors Inc. to replace the Miami‑Dade Metrorail public‑address (PA) system.
The Trust's county attorney read an amended resolution for item 7(a) that authorized county execution of the contract and the use of People’s Transportation Plan bond funds up to $5,593,005.77. The board voted in favor by voice vote; no roll‑call tally is recorded in the meeting transcript.
Why it matters: trustees and staff said the current PA system is more than 30 years old and does not meet current clarity and intelligibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Colin Omra of Transit told the Trust, “The answer to your question is yes. The system does currently provide announcements between arrivals both in English and Spanish,” but staff said audio quality and speech intelligibility fall short of ADA expectations and modern standards.
Discussion and scope: Transit staff described the replacement as a technology‑heavy project that will include new speakers, microphones, mixers and software to deliver clearer, configurable public messages at stations. The contract includes a contingency allowance of $499,800 to address unforeseen items discovered during installation of new equipment in the existing stations. Staff said the existing onboard train PA capability is separate from the station PA work; the trains have their own onboard systems.
Next steps: With CITT approval, the item will move to the County Commission for final action. The contract award text read at the meeting removed a previously confusing clause referring to “other amounts set forth in the People’s Transportation Plan five‑year implementation plan.”
Ending: The Trust approved the resolution after brief discussion; the item will be transmitted to county commissioners for final approval.
