Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit directors voted Wednesday to seek proposals from manufacturers for the commute line's railcars, which will be the most visible part of the 70-mile passenger rail line.
"It has been a long process to get here," said SMART Chairwoman Debora Fudge. "We are releasing the request for proposals on time; we are meeting our promise to voters."
Even as the agency begins the process to buy cars, however, it still faces critical financial hurdles.
SMART, which is financed by a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2008, is $155 million short of building the entire 70-mile line.
The district is evaluating what it will cost to build the line, segment by segment, and reviewing revenue projections, which should be completed by the end of the summer.
It also is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to try to find money to bridge that gap.
SMART's request for proposals sets out parameters for the cars, but isn't a final design.
"The board is not ordering a particular car, you are ordering the catalog that will decide the vehicle you will buy," said General Manager Lillian Hames.
SMART wants 18 cars that will in run of sets of two, with the ability of having a third car during times of high demand.
The cost is estimated to be $80 million to $90 million.
Hames said that a Houston, Texas, startup line has asked for an option to order 50 of the cars using SMART's specifications, which could lower the per car cost.
The specifications call for seating for 78, storage for 12 bicycles, overhead storage, permanent and folding work tables, reading lights and wireless Internet service.
One of the cars in the pairs will have a bathroom and the other a snack bar.
The exteriors will have aerodynamically slanted noses for a modern look and the cars will be self-propelled with diesel engines.
Proposals will be requested for cars that meet the Buy America requirement of the Federal Transportation Administration for equipment purchased with federal funds and for vehicles that may be purchased solely with local sales tax revenue.
Most of the manufacturers that are expected to bid, however, have assembly plants in the United States or have indicated they could build them.
SMART also is accepting bids from manufacturers of the lighter European-style cars in case the agency can get a waiver from the federal crash standards. Currently, only the heavier American rail cars meet those standards.
Consultant Dominic DiBrito said that a panel of engineers will review the proposals.
Sixth-five percent of the decision will take into account the technology, including ride quality, fuel economy and noise, and 35 percent consideration will be given to cost.
The proposals are due June 25 and a bid is to be awarded in December.
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