Rejection of French buses urged

Friday, March 28, 2003 | 10:54 a.m.

First it was "freedom fries," proudly served in the County Government Center. Then fine French wine ran red down the gutters.

Now a group of older advisers to the Regional Transportation Commission says we should dump French technology.

Staff members cautioned that they don't agree with the recommendations by the RTC's Older Americans with Disabilities Advisory Committee. The agency has already signed a $10 million contract to purchase 10 French-built Civis, the first of which should arrive in July, said RTC spokeswoman Ingrid Reisman.

"Any time they make any recommendation, it will go to the board, but staff is not supporting the recommendation," she said.

Reisman said her agency does not ordinarily comment on international or national issues, and while she understands the concerns of the 17 members of the citizens committee, the staff will not reverse their recommendation unless directed by the board.

"We will move forward with projects that are in the best interests of the community," she said. "The French-made Civis buses happen to be the technology that best fits the community's needs."

Ed Guthrie, chairman of the advisory group, said the members understand that dumping the contract with the French company might be difficult at this point.

"What they asked is that if there is a way, we ought to find an American company that manufacturers these buses," Guthrie said. "We know it's kind of late in the game. But if they can find a way, they should."

He said the committee members do not want to create a legal problem over the issue.

"They really felt that we ought to support those folks who are supporting the troops," he said.

The RTC sought and received a required waiver to use federal transit funds to purchase the French technology. The foreign-buy waiver is granted for experimental programs where no domestic equivalent is available.

The Civis system marries a bus with a light-rail, commuter train. The articulated cars are scheduled to serve one of the RTC's busiest bus routes, from downtown to near Nellis Air Force Base.

The program has been in development for several years.