A long time ago Feb 2007 I suggested that one way to save capital costs funding transit would be for cities to pool their capital and buy bulk where possible. I cannot believe this has actually happened through the participation of Toronto in a combined diesel locomotive purchase earlier this year.
Metrolinx, an agency of the Ontario Government and tasked with improving coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, agreed in February to $53 million on 12 quiet diesel locomotives slotted for the new line running from downtown Toronto to the outlying Pearson International Airport.
Effectively, Metrolinx piggy-backed on a competitive tender conducted by Somona-Main County in California for a similar locamotive and knocked-off close to $47 million off the price for a 12 unit deal estimated $100 million had the deal been a stand along contract for Toronto .
Pooling capital resources makes sense on big-ticket item puchases that make sense (and the timing is right) when public transit dollars are hard pressed to be found.
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