advertisement

---

The North County Transit District (NCTD) has reached a construction milestone. The San Diego agency is halfway through construction of its 22-mile SPRINTER light-rail project.

NCTD also recently awarded a contract to Veolia Transportation (formerly Connex North America) to operate, dispatch and maintain the new line. In addition, the first of 12 diesel multiple unit trains — which are being manufactured by Siemens Transportation Systems for the line — have rolled off the production line and are being tested in Germany. The first two vehicles are scheduled to arrive in California in August for final assembly and testing.

To be complete in December 2007, the $385.6 million, 15-station SPRINTER line will serve the cities of Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido, Calif.