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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is replacing and rehabilitating passenger cars to prepare for future ridership increases.



By December, the agency expects to take delivery of the remaining 192 Series 5000 cars, which are part of a $378 million order awarded to Team AAI/CAF of Madrid, Spain. So far, 110 cars have been delivered.



WMATA also plans to continue rehabilitating and repairing its Series 2000/3000 Breda rail cars, which have been in service for almost 20 years. The $382 million project includes modernizing the propulsion, heating and air conditioning units, and door systems on 32 cars.



Finally, the agency began preliminary design reviews with ALSTOM Transport last month on a new car design that would improve passenger-flow patterns and sight lines. The $148 million project would give WMATA an additional 62 cars by 2006.